Re: Why the new eBay feedback system stinks: a real life story


"Bill Krummel" <dqueen@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:g5qfk3$kk2$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Mr. Jaggers" <lugburzman[at]yahoo[dot]com> wrote in message
news:g5qd9c06om@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Bill Krummel wrote:
"Mr. Jaggers" <lugburzman[at]yahoo[dot]com> wrote in message
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Bones wrote:
No system of feedback is perfect. Surprise!

What you have given us is _your_ side of the story. It does read as
if you were slighted, when presented from _your_ perspective. But,
you are asking us to vindicate you based upon hearing only what you
have to say. How is that different from your complaint? A strong
error in logic here.

The problem here is that everyone thinks that "neutral" is bad. Why?
When I first started my relationship with eBay (about 10 years ago)
I would leave neutral ratings with the comment "Got everything I
asked for." The sellers would then complain that I dinged them for
no reason. I didn't think I had, but I didn't think they gave me
anything particularly good to rave about either. Should we really
expect accolades for doing what is expected?
I don't leave neutral ratings anymore, but I am bothered by the
system.

I believe the whole system is skewed to the positive end of ratings,
so that we cannot separate the truly good sellers from the merely
adequate. Your presentation reads like you were "merely adequate" in
fulfilling your responsibilities to the buyer -- nothing bad, but
nothing particularly good either. You did only what was reasonably
expected of you. Now, tell me why those phrases (forget whether you
agree with them or not) should not equate to a neutral rating?

What do you expect a seller to do in order to really rate a positive
from you, kiss your... -er, grits? If I send payment immediately
via PayPal, then the seller packs the item well and ships the same
or next day, and it's exactly as described, what more can he or I
ask? These days, that's far from just a ho-hum, "neutral"
experience, in my book. James

Dang, now I really wish I could give something besides positive fb as
an eBay seller. All these years of giving positives to the buyers
who did what was reasonably expected of them when I should have been
giving neutrals for quick payment, reserving positives only for when
the buyer tossed in an extra $20 or more. Yep. That would be beyond
the call, a really great buyer.

And the first time I patronize your DQ (incognito, of course) I shall expect my large
vanilla cone to be topped with a plump, sweet, maraschino cherry, without my asking.
Otherwise, neutral for you, heh heh.

James

Understood. Cherries for all. I don't like neutrals.

A neutral on a 3- or 5-point grading scale can be ambiguous and allows the respondent to
"cop out". Perhaps e-bay should go to a 4-point system (using only numbers, no stars). A
1 means that the seller had been a dishonest rat, a 2 means that there were problems but
the seller resolved them, a 3 means that everything was satisfactory according the the
terms of the listing with no glitches. A 4 would be reserved for transactions where the
seller went above and beyond what the buyer had a reasonable right to expect, like free
shipping upgrades, throwing in a small token of appreciation like an inexpensive but nice
bonus coin, or going through extraordinary lengths to help the buyer or resolve a major
issue over the sale.

Of course, some sellers (and most buyers) would have to get real in their expectations on
the ratings and understand that a 3 and even a 2 is not an indictment. A 1 is the only
real wave-off to prospective buyers. Conversely, a 4 should not be expected unless it is
truly well earned. All of this would have to be spelled out on the page where ratings are
submitted.

Averages can be deceiving so buyers should inspect a sample of the ratings to see if the
seller is cancelling out 1's with suspicious 4's; but given this caveat, an average rating
of anything above 2.5 would signal buyers that they can buy with reasonable confidence in
an ultimately satisfactory transaction.


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