This guide deals with the pitfalls and up sides of the feedback system that is currently in place here on eBay.
Let me first start by saying this: When I started selling on eBay I automatically gave positive feedback to the buyer as soon as the item was paid. I don’t do that anymore.  Now, I have my feedback automated to deliver positive feedback after it has been left for me. Why? There are several reasons.

• I never received half of the feedback I was due from buyers that were either too lazy, too busy or just plain didn’t care if I got feedback. They had their new star. Think about that for a minute THOSE STARS MEAN SOMETHING.
• As a seller, you get a feel for an individual buyer by the email the write. Literally! If a person writes an odd email after a sale, you can bet it’s going to be a hellish experience if anything goes wrong with that order that you have no control over. (i.e.: post office boo-boos, hurricanes and other acts of randomness that come together to mess with that particular order) Here is the rub, if you have already given away the feedback star…you will not get positive marks back in return. I guarantee it! In fact, the best feedback you can hope for is neutral.  They can still write something not so positive, if ya know what I mean. I once had a buyer leave me negative feedback because I blocked them and they told me they would, “LEAVE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK IF I DIDN’T LET THEM SHOP IN MY STORE”. They left negative feedback and I filed a feedback extortion case- and won.
• New buyers are my favorite though.  Some have left positive feedback and their item is still in my out box waiting to be mailed!  A few seconds later, I receive a polite email requesting positive feedback in return. I do not understand this. If the buyer does not receive their item, does not like their item or something else goes haywire in some way, they are unable to fight their case because they have already stated they” loved the item” and ”it arrived in a timely manner."
• As a seller, I have two choices, I can leave POSITIVE feedback or I can leave NO feedback and archive the sale. I am not allowed to leave NEGATIVE feedback for any reason. It does not matter how abusive, slow to pay or dim a buyer might be.  
• I use the automation because it frees up my time to sell stuff and get the item to the buyer in a timely fashion.
  

I am not holding a buyer’s feedback hostage if I don’t leave it until they have left it for me. I am looking out for everyone’s best interest.  The buyer needs a leg to stand on and depends on the honesty of all of the buyers that have come before them to have left accurate feedback.  Sellers need a leg to stand on if there is a problem; fixable to everyone’s satisfaction or not.

1. I automate so I don’t forget
2. I automate for my own protection

The real problem I see in the feedback system is the DSR. Really, do we need this? Is it fair? Is it accurate? A buyer has a right to ding you and affect your search standings, power seller discounts and power seller status and as a seller we have no recourse?
There is no real way to fight back as the seller, as we are not allowed to know the “WHY” or for that matter the “WHO” behind the DSR ratings. Also, some buyer’s pick and choose which questions they want to answer. I know this because my dashboard tells me so.  Some people only answer the shipping question- most love to pick on the shipping.  Heads up folks, you agreed to the cost when you purchased the item.
The same people that leave low marks don’t want to pay a lot for the item, want free shipping and want the item in their hand the minute it was ordered. I say this to you:  If those things are important to you then look for listings with free shipping ( after all that’s why they get priority so you as a buyer can see the wealth of sellers that offer it). If you are worried about how long it takes to get your purchase, go to a brick and mortar store and get your item right then. 

Read my guide about FREE SHIPPING. The time to complain about the shipping is before the sale or NEVER.  Loss of an item due to postal error is a whole different animal.  Again, as a buyer, you can request tracking or look for sellers that include tracking in the postage. Shipping is an all inclusive category in my opinion. Shipping costs include the following: Postage, Packaging, gas to the Post Office, fees – as a SELLER I PAY TO LIST an item AND I pay again TWICE when the item sells.

One More NOTE:
If you have managed to read all of this and want a useful feedback research tool email me and I will send you a link to a site that is fun to use and will save you a lot of heart ache- as a buyer or seller.

Thanks again for reading my guides. I hope you found this guide informative or funny or in some way stimulating. If so, please take a second and let me know by entering your opinion below! NEWHAAS2