I would like to offer a few thoughts on the feedback/dispute system as employed by Ebay. First, I think it is a laudable idea that the site wants to protect both buyers and sellers in their transactions. In some respects, the system is about as \good an idea as possible for this particular forum. The problem is that the system is misused and abused by a few unscrupulous people who use it to extort various concessions from their trading partner. I recently had such a dispute,in which I paid for an item that was never delivered. Well, after the item not received dispute was over, and I had received my refund, imagine my shock when the selfsame seller made an unpaid item dispute against me! It took numerous emails to resolve, and needless to say untold stress. And as to the strike system, I believe it is patently unfair to put a buyer in a position where only the seller can remove a strike. I believe that there should be some reform to the system where an impartial third party can be allowed to hear the dispute, and basically act as arbitrators. I know about Square Deal, what I'm talking about is a less formal means by which differences between trading partners can be resolved without going through the time and expense of going to a professional mediator. If negative feedback is going to be given, let there be some specific examples of the party's grievance. Instead of "worst customer ever" say something like failed to pay for the item within the time frame provided, or whatever the case may be. Not only does this give the party a chance to know exactly what the problem is, it prevents at least to a certain extent abuse and retaliation by the leaving of vague, unspecific and in most cases unsubstantiated character attacks on a person, which then become part of their member profile. Even in our court system, fatally flawed as it is, there are specific appeals which are available. In summary, if I mess up something in my business, I will take responsibility and do the best I can to make ammends. But that is hardly possible when the feedback is vague and unspecific, made for the sole purpose of retaliation,
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