Learn more
SANITY IS HIGHLY OVER-RATED
11 comments

DOUBLE BLIND & AUTOMATIC FEEDBACK.....INTERESTED?

Posted Jun-11-08 20:53:34 PDT

Don't like the new/current feedback system, then fight for change. How about double blind & automatic feedback which would work as follows.

Double blind feedback means that until both parties have left feedback, it can't be seen, and isn't credited to the ratings.

Automatic feedback means just that. If feedback is not left, then at the end of 45 days, eBAY automatically gives the buyer/seller a positive rating, and for sellers, 5 across the board for DSR's.

Why shouldn't each buyer/seller get credit for each and every transaction?

In double blind, you can't be held hostage because you can't see the comments until both parties have left them. Any party that chooses not to provide feedback will effectively be giving the other party an automatic positive. In this system, everyone gets credit for each and every transaction. It's not one-sided like so many transactions currently are.

In this system, neutrals should be just that, neutral, and not count against the ratings. A perfect example of a neutral would be a transaction in which the seller did everything right, but the package was delayed, or lost, by the shipper/carrier. If a neutral doesn't count against you, then why fret about it? It could've been a negative.

Negatives should be allowed against both parties. Especially since double blind prevents either party from seeing the feedback until both parties have left it. You may not be happy with the feedback you received, but it won't be retaliatory and there will be no hostage holding.

If eBAy insists on not allowing sellers to give buyers negatives, then they need to be more responsive to sellers problems.

Please comment and let me know if you see any drawbacks to this system. If you like what you have read, then please send a letter to eBAY immediately. Don't wait, cuz you KNOW you'll get distracted and forget.  Send a real letter, not an e-mail, to the following address.

eBAY Inc.

2145 Hamilton Ave

San Jose, CA 95125

RE: Feedback changes/suggestions

 

C'mon! We complain collectively, right? So let's fight for change collectively. BOO YAH!...or some other suitable war cry. I just happen to like....SPOOOOOOON!

Oh...and hi everyone.

Disclaimer: The rabbit writing this blog has been accused of being 'completely mental' by family, friends and complete strangers. His comments should be taken with a grain of salt and 10cc's of Thorazine, if at all possible. If change occurs, great!. If not, the rabbit blames society and wants them locked up. Whoo Hoo!

Comment|Report this post
Comments
gymmomj
Not a bad idea. The double blind. The best thing of course would be communicative buyers and responsive sellers. With the feedback system the way it is currently, the seller has been silenced. We no longer have a say. We are sitting ducks. I had a buyer purchase an item and it didn't fit her. She simply left a neutral. Now the neutrals count negatively in the percentage so they are no longer neutral. They should not count if they are neutral. They to be done away with and there should just be pos and neg. I could go on and on all night. I hate it. I will write an analog letter. What the hell.
Jun-11-08 21:04:57 PDT Report this comment
perfumeandpharmacy
I'm with ya darlin'.....here's a nice bunch of fresh carrots and a big hug!
Jun-11-08 21:09:53 PDT Report this comment
jerryw1812
CARROTS! WHOOO HOOOO! Thanks perf! I'M RICH, RICH I TELL YOU!!!!!! (tosses carrots around then catches them before they hit the floor)WHOO HOOO!
Jun-11-08 21:11:20 PDT Report this comment
jerryw1812
I agree gymmom..but since we both know that not all buyer and sellers are communicative, at least we'd still get feedback. I think clothes need to be rated differently anyway since the sizes of any given product are completely different from another. Thus, one small is a different size from another. People order based on size then get upset when it doesn't fit. Unless the item is damaged, or not as described, I think people who sell clothes shouldn't be dinged when someone claims the small they ordered is not the small they were expecting. That's why I rarely sell clothes. Too many complaints. And your example is a perfect reason why a neutral should be neutral. You did nothing wrong and the customer wasn't happy. I neutral is reasonable as long as they don't count negatively. Like you said...we could go on forever. Write a letter...make a difference...hopefully.
Jun-11-08 21:17:32 PDT Report this comment
peddlingplastic
i did send a suggestion that they should give buyers a tutorial on what they are leaving feedback on(based on the dsr as that is what ebay thinks they should be rating)
description: did the tag say small and you ordered a small not that you thought you were a small
was it blue if it said blue.
was it new if it said new etc
communication: how much communication is really needed? buyers can track their items if the sellers use paypal labels if they do not they should be required to to click the shipped box which auto includes the date and if using a tracking number manually enter it there
if there are no other specific questions why do we need all these extra emails buyers need to be a little responsible too. i constantly stay at 4.8 for communication because i am not taking the extra time to let a buyer know that i shipped the item when they could look it up themselves and chose not to
shipping time:
most items in ebay ship via usps or ups. it does not matter if you print a label or take an item to the post office with usps there is a date postmark, buyers should look at that mark to determine shipping time . if you pay the 6th and it ships the 7th good 5 stars
if you pay the 6th and it ships the 12th maybe there is a lower star unless the buyer has stated in their listing they only ship 1 day a week
not well it was shipped the 7th i paid the 6th and i did not get it till the 25th how is that the sellers fault
i always check the postmark to see how many days from the date i paid. determines what star i give
shipping & handling charges:
buyers sometimes have no idea that sellers do no get to mail their packages for free, the post office just went up again and most of the items on ebay are a package not 42 cents stamp.
so when figuring shipping charges, they need to understand package, ink, paper, bubble wrap, tape or other items cost money, and if we add the cost to the price of the item ebay makes more and i am not paying fees on my shipping supplie
Jun-11-08 22:16:53 PDT Report this comment
jerryw1812
Yeah..the two things I get dinged on are communications and shipping charges.

Communications is a laugh. I acknowledge when they've won, I send invoices, I acknowledge payments and provide a shipping notice. I'm not sure what else they are expecting and I have even asked for that info...no replies of course.

As for shipping, I think many forget that sellers have to pay packaging costs, in addition to the postage, and don't even think about the cost of gas needed to deliver the package to the post office. Of course, my real amazement is that they complain after they bid and win an item. I just can't help wondering why they bid on the item when the shipping charges are clearly shown at the top of the listing. Ah well...the life of a seller....
Jun-11-08 23:35:52 PDT Report this comment
straykitty
I think Ebay has really gone to the buyers so to speak now with the new feedback policy of "no neg or neutrals to buyers" They can get away with anything they want to. Sellers don't have a chance now but to kiss up, and that won't be enough. Last time I sold I got some deductions for shipping time especially. It was from those who I told in the description that if they sent a check I would hold 10 days before shipping for it to clear, they still sent a check and then complained. All those with a money order I mailed with in 36 hours. The dead beats that didn't pay I got ripped off from Ebay fees. That one keep replying to the unpaid bidders complaint I filed, with such sweet things as so sorry, checks in the mail, ect, right up til the deadline in which I could no longer do anything or get my fees back. I looked at his feedback and found that was what he was doing to everyone. He had something like 17 neg in a 3 month period, odd before that he had good feedback. As long as he was answering the unpaid bidders complaint then Ebay wouldn't do anything. He knew exactly how to handle it. If the bidder doesn't respond to the complaint Ebay will give him a point for non payment, I think he can get 3 in a 6 month period or something before they do something. There are ways around it. Now that the sellers can have any kind of feedback put on them but buyers are off limits, FEEDBACK WILL MEAN NOTHING ANYMORE. It will be just a number that has no purpose.
I personally always ask the shipping before buying, and simply refuse to bid if shipping is high. I try to just start the bidding with the cost of item, packaging, gas, ect already figured in the price of the item, then try and charge just actually shipping price. Sellers are getting a bad rep from those who are making their money off the shipping, (such as item lists for .99 then read shipping is $19.99) for a postcard or something. That's a deceitful seller and they do hurt everyone.
Jun-12-08 16:36:10 PDT Report this comment
thebelle2
I am amazed that we, as sellers, no longer have the option to WARN other sellers of buyers who aren't following through transactions, are a high risk bidder and so forth. Basically ebay is telling us that, as sellers, we don't count.... aren't we the ones paying the fee's?? I mean, yes we make money (sometimes) from our stores, but WE pay the listing fee's and the percentage fee's and the subscription fee's - yet OUR hands are held against keeping a safe enviorment to sell in as well as buy in.
Jun-16-08 15:54:47 PDT Report this comment
robert_coiner
Even though you left me rude comments about my blog I still have to agree on this one.
If you thought you were funny then...
Ha Ha Ha
Jun-24-08 09:19:31 PDT Report this comment
jerryw1812
Hello robert...I believe you misunderstood my comments or, perhaps, I misunderstood your blog. My comments were meant to be a humorous rejoinder based on the topic of your blog. Apparently it wasn't as funny as I thought. My apologies. Thank you taking the time to comment in this blog....I also left an explanation and apology on your most current blog. Sorry again for the misunderstanding.
Jun-29-08 00:58:53 PDT Report this comment
delnerocomputers
Well Ebay just shut my store down for 30-days. They said my DSRs went farr below the average. Many sellers on Ebay are tired of this new system. Sellers beware of this. Ebay can shut you down without warning. Perhaps a petition should formualted against this new system.
Jul-04-08 19:51:19 PDT Report this comment

About eBay | Announcements | Security Center | eBay Toolbar | Policies | Government Relations | Site Map | Help
Copyright © 1995-2008 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the eBay User Agreement and Privacy Policy.
eBay official time