new Ebay rule

[loulou]

What do you think of the new rule that is being introduced where only buyers can leave feedback and sellers no longer can.  Do you think it leaves sellers wide open to abuse ?

I haven't used Ebay for ages.

Is it a bad thing?

[loulou]

I think so. Another new rule is that all sellers must show their addresses so if someone is selling from home they may not be very keen.

That's ok then. I don't have any dresses.

Smashing blouse you've got on there, by the way.

[loulou]

Pham i don't understand all this blouse talk. Please explain.

[smurfboy]

This rule is ridiculous. A buyer could make up any old rubbish and you've got no comeback. Can you still reply to feedback left?

[Logger]

Well, it works in one way.

I'm an Ebay buyer and I never ever leave negative feedback although sometimes I feel I should as I know that i will get negative feedback unfairly left in return.

I think that on balance this will probably clean things up a bit.

Pham i don't understand all this blouse talk. Please explain.

I posted earlier in the week elsewhere, it all stems from watching Bottom on Dave last weekend.

Richie is apparently great with the chicks, so I thought I'd give it a go.

So far, so bad.

[loulou]

The ebay rule will be totally useless when non paying bidders start leaving negative feedback for sellers.  As a seller i should be able to see if a buyer is reliable or up to no good. Anyway stuff ebay i am off to amazon.

[smurfboy]

Well, it works in one way.

I'm an Ebay buyer and I never ever leave negative feedback although sometimes I feel I should as I know that i will get negative feedback unfairly left in return.

I think that on balance this will probably clean things up a bit.

But surely that would work both ways - i.e. if a buyer hasn't paid, or had taken weeks to pay, the seller should be able to leave negative feedback. There's just as much risk that the buyer would retaliate with negative feedback.

[Logger]

Well, it works in one way.

I'm an Ebay buyer and I never ever leave negative feedback although sometimes I feel I should as I know that i will get negative feedback unfairly left in return.

I think that on balance this will probably clean things up a bit.

But surely that would work both ways - i.e. if a buyer hasn't paid, or had taken weeks to pay, the seller should be able to leave negative feedback. There's just as much risk that the buyer would retaliate with negative feedback.

 

Yeah, of course that is true but I think generally the buyer is more at risk from a dodgy seller than vice versa.

If I was to buy an item and it wasn't sent to me or it was in awful condition, I would be worse off than a seller whose buyer doesn't pay.  At least the seller would still possess the goods and wouldn't therefore be any worse off.

 

Don't get me wrong though, I'm sure there are some unscrupulous buyers out there...

 

Perhaps Ebay could employ a different ratings system more suitable for the purpose of stating whether a seller had any problems with a particular customer?

[MayRae]

Ebay is useless. Their system is obsolete because it doesn't work for buyers or sellers.

For all the reasons listed here.

I will join you on Amazon if you don't mind Loulou, as I've had enough of Ebay!

[loulou]

I've been on Amazon a little over a week and already had 4 successful sales.  I have had enough of Ebay buyers trying to scam me and say they have not received then when i have announced i have a tracking number for their parcel it somehow miraculously turns up that hour.

[smurfboy]

This is what I have sent to eBay:

For over four years I have been a regular eBay buyer and
seller. I have positive feedback of over 200 and regular customers who consider
me an asset to the eBay community. Not anymore. Now that you have introduced
this ridiculous new rule that strips sellers of their protection, I will no
longer be using your service. I am disgusted that dishonest buyers who simply
change their mind or don't bother to pay can now get away with it, because they
know no matter how badly they behave, they have all the power. They can not pay
for weeks on end or start demanding discounts and extras, knowing the seller is
toothless and cannot leave negative feedback. Your PR department might argue
that sellers can report non-paying buyers - fine, but:

a) Buyers can report fraudulent sellers too - why do they
get the extra protection of being able to leave negative feedback?

b) Non-payment is only one way in which a buyer can behave
badly. What if they start claiming a seller's description is misleading when it
clearly isn't? What if after the sale is completed they decide they don't like
your postage charge and start demanding free delivery? If the poor old seller
doesn't comply, they are at risk from negative feedback - with absolutely no
recourse!

I have been becoming dissatisfied with eBay for some time
now, and one look at the forums will tell you I'm not alone. But this is the
final shot that has finished off the dying beast. Just remember, it is SELLERS
who pay the fees on eBay, not buyers - and you have just shown them all utter
contempt in one fell swoop. I never thought I'd have to tell a multi-million
pound company that the first rule of business is don't piss off the very people
who make you your money.

[loulou]

Very good smurfy.