http://reviews.ebay.com/Sellers-Can-ONLY-leave-Positive-Feedback-or-NONE_W0QQugidZ10000000005330371

I just read the above guide.  It was explained very well.  The one instance that I received negative feedback was when I was a buyer--I had purchased some expensive jewelery (actually I purchased about 12 different auctions).  I was new at eBay and when two orders were never received and after many, emails to the seller went unanswered, I gave that seller poor feedback.  In retaliation, they gave me bad feedback that lingered on forever.  I never did receive the two items that were to have shipped.  This was several years ago.

I was out of the eBay business for about a year and a half and when I got back into it it had changed.  As a seller, I always prided myself in quick responsive communications, shipment immediately upon confirmed payment, reasonable shipping fees, and a clearly identified product.  Sometimes things can get by you.  This year I had a buyer whose only indication of dissatisfaction was through the feedback--that time I received a neutral response.  I wrote the buyer a number of times wanting the item returned at full credit of all their expenses--nothing ever was responded to.  My information in all of my listings gives reason for return--all expenses paid.  Ebay's response to removing this blemish from my feedback was, "too bad, that's the way it is."  This is a disappointment especially when you really work hard at being the best you can be, which is what eBay should want.

The star ratings are very questionable to me as well.  I will ALWAYS put items into the first available mail pickup once payment confirmation has come through.  I still received points off.  In order to better that, I would have to ship the items the day they were sold regardless of payment.  So, it is difficult for me to see any equity in the star rating system. 

Perhaps, as we proceed, eBay can fine-tune this situation with there being some amnesty with a certain percentage of the undeserved feedback.  Perhaps 1% bad feedback can be dropped--that is slim but should account for undeserved hostility among buyers.

However, all-in-all, I do believe the eBay strives to be top-knotched in their system and perhaps the whole picture has not revealed itself until time passes.

Thank you for reading.

pa