THE IMPORTANCE OF HONEST FEEDBACK

TODAY WE RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM EBAY THAT A CUSTOMER HAD OPENED A DISPUTE FOR A WEDDING GOWN WE SOLD OVER A MONTH AGO. IT WAS SHIPPED TO CANADA . THE BUYER NEVER CONTACTED US TO LET US KNOW IT WAS NOT RECEIVED SO WE WERE QUITE SHOCKED TO GET THE DISPUTE NOTICE.

AS ALL SELLERS KNOW, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO INSURE SHIPMENTS TO OTHER COUNTRIES AND YOU ARE TAKING A RISK WHEN YOU SHIP WITHOUT INSURANCE-ESPECIALLY A PRICEY ITEM. YOU MUST DEPEND ON THE HONESTY OF THE BUYER TO SAY THEY HAVE ACTUALLY RECEIVED THE ITEM.

NOW FOR THE FEEDBACK PART. IF YOU LEAVE FEEDBACK AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE PAYMENT, YOU ARE TAKING A CHANCE THAT THE BUYER WILL ACTUALLY RECEIVE THE ITEM OR SAY THEY DID NOT RECEIVE THE ITEM. YOU DO NOT GET A SECOND CHANCE TO LEAVE FEEDBACK THAT SAYS BUYER DID NOT RECEIVE ITEM AND FILED A DISPUTE.

THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE MAY BE A FEW BUYERS WHO MAKE A LIVING BUYING ITEMS ON EBAY AND THEN FILE A DISPUTE AND GET A REFUND. YOU ARE THEN WITHOUT YOUR ITEM AND WITHOUT PAYMENT.

IF YOU DID NOT LEAVE FEEDBACK, YOU COULD NOTE THAT THE BUYER REPORTED THE ITEM AS NOT RECEIVED AND PERHAPS IF THIS SAME BUYER RECEIVES MANY ‘NOT RECEIVED’ FEEDBACK ITEMS YOU CAN IDENTIFY A PATTERN IN THEIR BEHAVIOR AND KEEP THEM FROM BIDDING ON YOUR ITEMS IN THE FUTURE.

YOU WOULD THINK THAT IF THE BUYER DID NOT PAY FOR INSURANCE THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE GIVEN A REFUND, BUT EBAY AND PAYPAL MOST OFTEN GIVE THE BUYER THE BREAK IF THEY REPORT AN ITEM AS NOT RECEIVED. THIS HAPPENS EVEN IF YOU USED PAYPAL TO PRINT YOUR POSTAGE.

SO, FEEDBACK IS VERY IMPORTANT AND CAN HELP SELLERS IDENTIFY POTENTIAL PROBLEM BUYERS BEFORE THE HAVE A PROBLEM.

WAIT UNTIL THE BUYER REPORTS THE ITEM AS RECEIVED BEFORE YOU LEAVE FEEDBACK.