Feedback Hints
by Maeve
eBay Staff Member

The eBay Feedback Forum was created early in eBay's history. It was designed as a peer rating system to help members feel more comfortable trading with each other. Knowing what kind of feedback is appropriate, when to leave feedback and how to interpret feedback that is left for you can enhance your eBay experience. This month, I asked for best practices regarding feedback from the expert members on the Feedback Board.

"Always express gratitude, at least with a simple 'thank you' or 'your interest in my auctions is most appreciated'. I try to make my feedback a little different and unusual and I think then my buyers will recall me when they look through their old feedback and they may decide to glance at my current offerings."—block36

"A buyer is best judged by feedback left -- not feedback received."—waskydiver

"Leave calm, factual feedback, free of name-calling and caps locks. Don't expect to receive feedback just because you paid. Email the seller when your widget arrives and you need no further support from them if you don't want to leave feedback first."—paying_forward

"Come to the Feedback Board and discuss with others before leaving a negative or neutral."—*aurora-*-borealis*

"Please don't leave unfavorable ratings for very minor events (overcharged .60 on shipping, or a delay caused by the post office), or terms that you agreed to when you bid, like the cost of handling or the time frame of mailing. If you didn't read the auction carefully, kick yourself. But don't take it out on a seller, and the community, by marring a profile."—fullmetalpjs

"Make it concise and about the transaction and your experience. Whether you leave feedback first or no, do it when you think it is appropriate for each transaction. Never react with Feedback - you will always regret words you print in anger after the initial emotional release is done. Count to 10 (or 100) so you can see the transaction with a calm and factual assessment. Calm, professional feedback is always more effective, anyway. Look at your feedback from an outsider's perspective. Make it understandable to all, and easy to see what exactly took place. Reserve a follow-up comment in case resolution was made, and/or a response is given which requires your factual clarification. Never ever hold feedback over anyone's head in regards to performance in selling and buying. Let your own conduct speak for itself."—intenselan

"If there is a problem, reread the auction to see if you missed anything. Don't leave neutral or negative feedback for your own error in not reading the seller's description or terms of sale. Don't leave neutral/negative feedback for payment methods the seller does not accept. Wait until you received your item and have fully examined it prior to leaving feedback."—myopinionis

"I look at the feedback before bidding - always. I look at the number, then go back to find the negs. If I see that they are obviously written by someone who is not rational, I don't put much merit into it. However, if I see that the person had a legit complaint and the seller was irrational and appeared to flame all of their negs received with retaliatory negs, I will avoid that seller. I think feedback is important to make an informed purchase."—katrina2000

"Look at your prospective seller's 'feedback about others' link before you bid. If it's feedback you must have, then buy from the sellers who have left more than received. After you get past ten you won't care about it anymore."—okeba

"For me, since I'm a major buyer, I like to see the feedback left for me as a way of indicating that the seller received the payment and fast. That's my reputation-fast payer. On the other end, if I get the item in a timely fashion, I indicate so in my feedback left for the seller. I also note when a seller does a good job in packing the item. I believe that the feedback is just a tool that measures service on both sides of the fence and nothing more or less."—tank440

"In basic form, a member's feedback profile is a reflection of how one conducts business on eBay as measured by your peers. Each transaction has the chance to be evaluated and recorded by all parties involved. The account holder may make this information public or private. I generally use this information to evaluate how I will conduct business transactions with other members. For this reason I feel it's my duty to leave appropriate feedback once a transaction is completed."—aatcollectibles