Ebay etiquette
 

I'm an ebay newbie....got my user id in 2002 or something like that but never bid or won anything until recently....so I've bought 4 items all successful and easy transactions, I've left positive feedback for all 4 sellers, but only 2 have left feedback for me, is it rude to ask for some feedback?

I've only got a "2" rating right now and would like to increase it...

thoughts?

Adam

not rude at all.

buy paperback books or something really cheap... drive up your rating.

If I was the seller, I'll usually drop them an email or eBay message asking if everything was alright. Usually it's all that it takes to get them to put in some feedback.

Then again, some people just don't leave feedback.

I get busy with business and only get around to leaving feedback once a month. Its not rude to ask the seller to please leave you feedback.

"I was just dropping you a note to say 'thanks' for the great service you provided during our recent Ebay transaction (#xxxxxx). I've left positive feedback for you and would appreciate the same in return."

Alright, cool, I will. I did start small, a couple of DVDs, a pair of shoes (sweet tommy bahamas, brand new, $35!) some ipod stuff...easy, low risk....now I've got my eye on a 2002 Volvo.....

When I am the buyer I look at it this way: I sent the money first, if they got it ok, they should give me positive feed back first. If I got the product OK I email them that I got it and say " I will reciprocate positive feedback." If they never give me feedback first, I never give it to them.
KB

I always leave positive feedback immediately after the transaction ends, then wait a week or so and then send an email (or two) asking for feedback in return. So far, over 85% of the others have responded, but some take their sweet time and about 15% never leave feedback. I've been on eBay since 1998 and have over 210 positive feedback entries. Heck, I bought my 911 on eBay!!!

Out of the hundereds of postive transactions I've had I'm still only at 89. Guess by the time I'm done with selling batches of junk from home I'm too frustrated to pursue feedback. The Account frontpage does make things easier though. You can go to one page to leave feedback for everyone.
I also think it's not at all rude to drop a note asking for feedback. Just make sure they'll respond positively.

feedback
 

The feed back system is flawed in that if you are truthful about some not so good dealings, you stand the good chance of retributive feedback from the other half of the transaction, warrented or not.The one bad feedback that I have received was because of this. The seller was a complete flake and I had to threaten legal action to get my item. I was generous and left him neutral feedback to which he negatived me.The only saving factor was that his negative diatribe was so over the top, that it was unbeliveable.

I take the softball approach first and "ask them to please leave good feedback as I have done the same for them"

There are those few that don't give a s--t and won't leave any feedback.

Re: feedback
 

I aggree. I recently had a situation with a seller that did high volume on items under $100. After he burned me I looked at his feedback and and there were lots of either negative or neutral feedback from others but the his % rating was still high because in one month he had over 800 transactions.

Read feedback ... ALL of it. Don't bid on Private auctions or where there is a seller with Private feedback unless you KNOW them.

Check out this place, and USE it: http://www.toolhaus.org/cgi-bin/negs

This will show you what the seller is really about.

Also, remember you are trying to get the lowest price -- not see your name up in lights. Wait and wait, and then WAIT some more. Don't "bid early and bid often", you only want that if you are the seller. Look at the sellers other items, maybe they are selling the same thing Buy It Now for cheaper than you were gonna bid. Watch market pricing and use the Completed Auction search so you don't overpay.

Enjoy and don't take it too seriously.

Thanks Erric, that is a a nice tool.
I usually never bid on a seller with a feedback rating lower than 98%.
Also I wont give a positive feedback to a seller before receiving one from him. I figure that as soon that he has my money in his pocket, my part of the deal is completed.

Exactly. When a seller tells you they're waiting for positive feedback before they post they're basically holding you hostage.

This is some really good advice. Deserves to be repeated. Also look for spelling/grammatical errors and the tone implied in the ad or any dealings gone bad. If they aren't concerned about spelling they may not be concerned about the transaction and your satisfaction either. The few bad deals (out of 150+)I have had were preventable if I would have looked harder at the spelling and tone of the seller. I proceeded because I thought I was getting a deal. A bad deal is not a deal. I am sure there are some poor spellers out there that are OK, but be cautious.

KB

Well I sent requests to both, so far one has left me very nice feedback...I deserved it....paid the minute the auction was over, used paypal, etc...

Some sellers won't even bother answer your questions before the end of their auction. Of course I won't bother bidding on it.

Very good tip about read feedback!
You also get to see how the person reacts to negative feedback - this is very informative - some of the reponses to negative feedback are crude, rude and very obviously from absolute tossers.