New Change to eBay Feedback System

nencoin · April 25, 2007 7:32AM

I did a quick search, and it doesn't appear this has been posted yet. I apologize if it already has:

New Ways For Bidders To Leave Feedback

I'm curious as to why they won't be adding any feedback options for sellers, such as rating how quickly a buyer pays, how many items they've returned, how many times they paid using an unnaccepted payment method, etc.

Amigo · April 25, 2007 7:39AM

I agree with you. It takes (2) to mate.

I'd love to rate some buyers on likewise criteria.

Ebay have made some very screwry changes this year.

Wolf359 · April 25, 2007 7:45AM

I may be wrong, but in my opinion it falls apart as unworkable and confusing after implementation.

airplanenut · April 25, 2007 8:08AM

This will instantly cause new retaliatory feedbacks

ziggy29 · April 25, 2007 8:10AM

More ways to use feedback extortion. I love it.

BobaFett72 · April 25, 2007 8:30AM

it's hard enough to get them to leave simple positive feedback, soon its going to be like taking the SAT's

and we should rank buyers the same way; timeliness of payment, communication etc!~

thisnamztaken · April 25, 2007 8:32AM

It looks to me like eBay has once again ignored the wise, tried and true addage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!"

stockwiz · April 25, 2007 8:36AM

what they should do is have a system where the ratings or the feedback itself aren't shown or even counted until both parties leave each other feedback.. ... it would make things more honest, imo and help eliminate feedback extortion. A powerscrewer that takes 3 weeks to ship something might get upset, but he wouldn't be able to use the negative feedback he receives against the other person except to perhaps block them from future auctions.

Zoins · April 25, 2007 8:37AM

<< It looks to me like eBay has once again ignored the wise, tried and true addage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!"

>>

But is the existing feedback system really considered not broken? For them to do this, someone must feel the current system isn't good enough and thus broken.

Russ · April 25, 2007 8:42AM

<< But is the existing feedback system really considered not broken? >>

It is broken. But, this lame change doesn't fix it. Considering the high dummy density on eBay, it just makes it worse.

Russ, NCNE

poorguy · April 25, 2007 8:51AM

<< It looks to me like eBay has once again ignored the wise, tried and true addage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!"

>>

The new feedback system is NOTHING compared to the new mountain of crap "sell your item" form that goes into effect May 7th. It's perfect for people who love popups (yes, popups EVERYWHERE), love to have to constantly update their JRE (Java Runtime Environment) which is used mainly to generate the army of popups the form uses, and love to meander through show/hide options to find the right fields.

ebaytrader · April 25, 2007 9:07AM

I see something entirely different. I see eBay using this new rating system, through buyer feedback, as a means to pressure sellers into lowering shipping and handling that they do not profit from.

If you think some coin sellers have high shipping charges, wade through the high tech area for eye popping shipping charges. While it violates eBay TOS now, they are loath to act against high dollar volume sellers for fear of them fleeing and loosing all of the juice. They already lost some of their biggest sellers last year. This new rating system will result in bringing pressure from buyers. As sellers attempt to maintain their margins, look for higher prices.

droopyd · April 25, 2007 9:10AM

So as a seller you get rated on several items on a 1-5 point scale.

Many people on general principle won't give a "5" -- so immediately you're screwed.

Russ · April 25, 2007 9:11AM

<< The new feedback system is NOTHING compared to the new mountain of crap "sell your item" form that goes into effect May 7th. >>

Turbolister is your friend.

Russ, NCNE

hockeyfan9 · April 25, 2007 9:17AM

I Like it. The cream always rises to the top. As a seller I want to know if I am doing something wrong. I want to know so the next customer has a better experience. As a buyer it will weed out those guys who suck!

poorguy · April 25, 2007 9:29AM

<< 

<< The new feedback system is NOTHING compared to the new mountain of crap "sell your item" form that goes into effect May 7th. >>

Turbolister is your friend.

Russ, NCNE >>

Yeah, I've used TL for some odd listing updates. Look for the File Management tool under subscriptions and just fill out an excel file and upload it to add new listings or update old ones. It's alot easier to automate.

DJCoinz · April 25, 2007 10:02AM

<< It looks to me like eBay has once again ignored the wise, tried and true addage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!"

>>

I agree! If they had to do this they could at least have done it for sellers too!

DJCoinz · April 25, 2007 10:04AM

<< The new feedback system is NOTHING compared to the new mountain of crap "sell your item" form that goes into effect May 7th. It's perfect for people who love popups (yes, popups EVERYWHERE), love to have to constantly update their JRE (Java Runtime Environment) which is used mainly to generate the army of popups the form uses, and love to meander through show/hide options to find the right fields. >>

I also agree with that, I hate the new syi form.

Russ · April 25, 2007 10:12AM

<< I also agree with that, I hate the new syi form. >>

Turbolister is your friend.

Russ, NCNE

poorguy · April 25, 2007 10:15AM

<< 

<< I also agree with that, I hate the new syi form. >>

Turbolister is your friend.

Russ, NCNE >>

I bet eBay is making the new syi form so crappy that people will almost nearly be forced to use turbolister and when the masses begin the trend, eBay will start charging to use that too.

Russ · April 25, 2007 10:16AM

That thought had crossed my mind.

Russ, NCNE

messydesk · April 25, 2007 10:25AM

<< 

<< I also agree with that, I hate the new syi form. >>

Turbolister is your friend.

Russ, NCNE >>

TurboLister is your smelly, retarded friend with poor social graces that you wish would just go away if it weren't for the fact that it's mildly useful.

moonshine · April 25, 2007 12:23PM

<< << The new feedback system is NOTHING compared to the new mountain of crap "sell your item" form that goes into effect May 7th. >>

what changes are these?

P.S. This completely sucks -- Why should they be able to rate us, and not visa versa? Good grief! What next? This is completey stupid.

Texast · April 25, 2007 12:51PM

Something missed is the fact that the feedback ratings will become anonymous, you will not know which buyer left the ratings:
From eBay:

“After a seller receives 10 of these rankings, the average scores will appear as a series of stars under a new section on the Feedback Profile page titled "Detailed Seller Ratings."
This new feature will provide more transparency to boost shopper confidence--and help your good reputation stand out at a glance.”

This in my opinion should have been the case long ago, but I do feel it should also apply the same way to buyers.

garsmith · April 25, 2007 1:04PM

So I guess the feedback sent to transaction proportion of 60% is going to drop to 20%.

80% of ebayers are not going to want to spend thier time going through all this B.S. when it doesn't benefit them!

DJCoinz · April 25, 2007 1:14PM

<< Turbolister is your friend.

Russ, NCNE >>

I mostly use TL to just save my descriptions, but I'm probably going to start uploading listings when the new syi takes over.

StrikeOutXXX · April 25, 2007 1:29PM

I think they read our boards, this is from a post I made June 10, 2006 in a thread about do you think ebay would be different if... (I'm kidding of course, but it is quite a coincidence)

Old thread

Since a "Negative" means so many different things to different people, I think they should break up the feedback into major categories and rate them individually. and still allow a free text block.

Communication: 1-5
Accuracy/Clarity of Auction: 1-5
Shipping Promptness/Packaging: 1-5
Overall Experience: 1-5

(1 - Piss Poor, 2 - Below Average, 3 - Neutral, 4 - above average, 5 - Excellent) type of scale and give averages for each category instead of a % who was 100% satisfied.

So if a seller communicates great, has a quality auction description, ships quickly, attempts to package correctly, but has a minor snafu with the bubble wrap or whatever but the product still survives, you can give them a 5 for communication, 5 for accuracy, a 3 for shipping and a 4 for overall. Today - many buyers would just give a negative.

LeeG · April 25, 2007 7:10PM

I haven't sold on eBay in quite a while now. It's going to stay that way.

seemyauction · April 25, 2007 7:20PM

guess I'm a little slow on the draw.....I just checked my email 4-26-07 4:58 AM and thought I would blast in here and break the news....

I'm glad I did a search....lol

As for my not so expert analiss on the Feedback Makeover.

The feedback system was very important back in the early days, 1997, 1998.....

eBay still views the system as one of the main features of the site, a core value if you will.

The bay has seen a market change, usage is down, sales are down, traffic is down, and the one thing they care about most is the $$$ they used to make and do not anymore. Keep an eye on their quarterly reports....

I think this feedback change is an attempt to "Fix" or enhance one of their core values.

In my opinion they are "Fixing" the wrong thing, they are looking at the wrong core value.

FEES.....ebay charges sellers to provide content......as long as the sellers are willing to provide the content ebay will flurish, when the sellers can provide their content somewhere else for less money, guess what, the content moves.......traffic goes down......sales go down....

For eBay to survive the next decade they need to figure out a way to increase content while decreasing their fees to users. Its not rocket science just the Google business model.

AL

RichieURich · April 25, 2007 11:30PM

<< In my opinion they are "Fixing" the wrong thing, they are looking at the wrong core value.

FEES.....ebay charges sellers to provide content......as long as the sellers are willing to provide the content ebay will flurish, when the sellers can provide their content somewhere else for less money, guess what, the content moves.......traffic goes down......sales go down....

For eBay to survive the next decade they need to figure out a way to increase content while decreasing their fees to users. Its not rocket science just the Google business model. >>

I doubt eBay will be making this type of change. EBay is definitely NOT about decreasing their fees.

ziggy29 · April 25, 2007 11:33PM

<< I doubt eBay will be making this type of change. EBay is definitely NOT about decreasing their fees. >>

As long as they have a moat that's very wide and very deep, this is true.

It would be good to see someone knock them off their pedestal and make them compete for business, but unfortunately the nature of the service they provide lends itself to natural monopolies.

New Change to eBay Feedback System

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