This guide is going to be short, sweet (not so sweet) and to the point.

Many of you out there who have had the same email address for any length of time find a few eMail messages in your inbox that you are puzzled over.  If we all subjected ourselves to the SPAM, our friends would know us as the best-dressed, diamond-studded, Viagra-popping person that they ever did know!

Hold on to that thought…

When leaving feedback, it is important to offer an accurate picture, in “80 characters” or less, of the experience you had with the other eBay member.  When a buyer buys from a seller, pays fast, good communication and leaves nice feedback for the seller, it is the seller’s responsibility to say nice things about the buyer.

This is important!  Feedback is an indication and a reflection of the buyer’s habits and practices here on eBay.

Feedback is NOT a platform for advertising or promoting the one who leaves the feedback.  In other words: Don’t advertise your products, website, or anything about YOU when leaving feedback.  Discuss the buyer and the experiences you had with the buyer.

I have gotten feedback in the past that says:

A++ Fast Pay Shop us again *** and **** Outlet

Excellent transaction... please visit us at www. sprokethole********** .com

At first, when I started getting this kind of feedback, I thought it was cleaver to leave appropriate positive feedback and leave my SPAM plug promoting my site and services.

From now on, I will probably just make is simple and avoid these sellers and avoid making any additional purchases.

So, what can you do if you receive positive feedback that promotes the seller’s website, products and/or services?

1. You can leave feedback in return that is positive and promotes YOUR web site, products and/or services.
2. eMail the buyer and explain your stance on leaving SPAM on your feedback profile.
3. Stop shopping with the buyer.
4. You could even email them a link to this guide.

For many buyer’s this may not be a problem.  If you don’t find feedback SPAM offensive, then there is nothing to worry about.

However, for a SELLER who BUYS many of the same products from other eBay SELLERS who could be considered “competition,” feedback SPAM could be very offensive!  Imagine loosing a sale on one of your auctions because a potential BUYER did his / her homework and checked out your feedback before they placed a bid. 

What if a diligent BUYER was interested in your product or “wiggit.”  They want to check you out and read your feedback comments.  Here is what they see:

Good buyer, prompt payment, valued customer, highly recommended. www . ***phox . com

great seller A++++, Item as described, well packed and quick delivered

Wonderful Customer - Thank You! **vona - Save 30 - 70% off retail everyday!

Your buyer my find themselves visiting your competition and making a purchase on their “wiggit” and never returning to your auction.  OUCH!!

The ONLY reason the seller leaves SPAM feedback is not for the buyer from which the sale was made.  It is intended to attract OTHER buyers AWAY from the buyer’s feedback profile and to their website or profile.

The buyer who made the purchase knows where the seller is.  If they wanted to return to the seller, they already know how to get there.  eBay even offers an avenue for remembering the seller via the “favorite sellers” link.

So, let’s keep the SPAM in our inboxes and out of our feedback. 

Happy eBay-ing,

Sulae--