Quick Positive Feedback! How To Get Positive Feedback Fast And With Proper Etiquette.

"You're an idiot QPF; your selling program only helps people once." Let me respectfully explain how the eBayer that said this is wrong . . . . . . and right.

You may have noticed that my user ID is quick_positive_feedback. I also like to call it "QPF" for short. The following 6 characteristics of every one of my sales assures that the buyer and seller will ALWAYS receive QUICK POSITIVE FEEDBACK: 1. My listings are easy to find (just search for “QPF” from the eBay home page and find accurate titles for the products being sold) 2. I offer great products at a great price. (You can check out my About Me page or My World page for more details). 3. Immediate payment is required (This eliminates the problem of inexperienced eBayers “accidentally” committing to buy and not paying for the item). 4. FREE SHIPPING! (no hidden costs). 5. Immediate delivery (Most of my products are available for immediate download, and the ones that can’t be downloaded are shipped within a day). 6. I offer a “Satisfied or Your Money Back” guarantee and the buyer still gets to keep the product! As I explain how I decided to set up my sales in this exact fashion, this guide can help you and all eBayers who have similar patterns receive Positive Feedback for every sale.

(Note: the guide you are reading is the detailed version of "Quick Positive Feedback! Fast & Etiquette Summary ")

This Quick Positive Feedback (QPF) program was inspired by three sources. The first source was the eBook 100 Feed Back in 7 Days, which explains that anyone can get positive feedback quickly by performing an advanced search for listings on eBay with the keywords “free shipping” and setting a maximum price of 1 cent. That way someone can get 100 positive feedback scores by buying 100 items at only the total cost of $1. For faster results you can also click on the option that tells the search to only reveal “Buy It Now” listings. (To access the advanced search go to the eBay home page and click "advanced search" in the upper right hand corner)

Since eBay fees aren’t quite what they used to be, 1 cent listings with free shipping aren’t as common as when the eBook was written, because it costs more to list an item and multiple item listings must have a price of $0.99 or more. These price restrictions are only flexible if the seller owns an eBay store. Also, items listed for only 1 cent will usually only be a picture, or some kind of promotion. Increasing the maximum price in the advanced search (to even as low as $1 to $2) and using the key words “free shipping” makes your options a little more flexible and you might be able to find something you actually want and can use.

You don’t have to buy 100 items at $1 to $2. It really isn’t necessary to have 100 positive feedback scores to get started. As I’m about to explain, it only takes 10. Since, the eBook 100 Feed Back in 7 Days is so well circulated, other eBay members will know to research your feedback (suggested for any buyer) and find that you used this process. Getting positive feedback scores from a bunch of sellers that you gave a penny to does say something; you can at least complete a transaction and you have a valid form of payment (feedback shouldn't be given otherwise). However, when you start selling, buyers are going to want to know that you are trustworthy with products that cost more than a penny.

I remember when I started on eBay, and my fast-paced American background, filled with the icons of FAST food and a great economy, kept telling me that I needed to set up my eBay account and get my sales online the same day. I wanted to get goin’ NOW! However, like everyone else, I found out that before I could sell anything I had to have at least 5 positive feedback scores and a PayPal account, or be ID verified, which costs $5. A seller can have 10 feedback scores and complete most eBay feedback requirements. (Actually, eBay has a feedback requirement for selling single items, a different feedback requirement for selling multiple items and a feedback requirement for starting an eBay store. (I've posted a guide that describes these requirements in detail.)
    
When I started I also found out that eBay has quite a few policies that they enforce strictly, and that if they aren’t followed it can result in suspension. But thats another story, I only mention it because it's common with new eBay members who are trying to build their feedback. (An applicable policy is that eBay does NOT want anyone to sell positive feedback. Feedback is not the product. It represents the product and the members buying and selling the product). As I mentioned before, the eBook 100 Feed Back in 7 Days has been circulated quite a bit. This shows that other eBayers are just as anxious as I was to get started. That was one of the reasons I set up the QPF selling program the way that I did. I wanted to provide a way for new members to get at least one feedback score quickly because I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL! It is important to realize though, that a feedback rating only increases when it is received from UNIQUE eBay members. And this is where the QPF program has been criticized the most. I’ve set up a way for eBay members to get Quick Positive Feedback, but if feedback is the only thing that they’re looking for, then I can only help them once. There is not a good business plan on the planet that allows for only one customer visit. The best business plans establish trust with the customer so that the customers want to keep coming back. This means having good customer service and products that are valuable for the customer. That’s what leads us to the second source of inspiration for the QPF program.

The second source of inspiration for the QPF program was an article that was written by a successful online businessman. I can’t give the source of this article since it can lead to buying other products that are not on eBay (it’s against eBay policy to post that information on eBay). However, I always keep at least one of his eBooks, “eBay Dropship Profits”, in my items for sale under the title “How to Dropship Wholesale eBay eBook”. In a nutshell the article said that the best products to sell online are informational/digital products that can be made available for immediate download. They often begin with the lower case letter “e” for electronic (email = electronic mail, eBook = electronic book, and eZine = electronic magazine). The two main benefits to this are that the buyer can get what he or she wants NOW, and the product can be downloaded an infinite number of times online, eliminating the hassles of shipping and keeping inventory. If you haven’t learned of the benefits of electronic/digital products, whether you’re a buyer or a seller, you can read my other eBay Guide titled, “BONUS! Or Bogus? eBooks & Digital Delivery Sales ”. Sometimes buyers feel like their not getting as much if they purchase an eBook instead of a book in print. The truth is that any book's value, whether its electronic or in print, depends on the content within the book. The book must be read. One little piece of information that is hard to find, or that the reader didn't even know to look for, can make the difference for success. Electronic/digital products allow for great customer service since shipping is FREE; and with automated delivery, the buyer gets the information that he or she wants IMMEDIATELY!

Many informational products online come with resell rights. This can be beneficial for someone who is trying to build their feedback. When they find a good eBook with resell rights, they benefit from the information that is contained in the eBook if they put it to practice, and they can build their selling reputation by selling the eBook. Having a few buyers on your list of feedback is a HUGE step up from a list of sellers that you only gave a penny to. And the costs of selling eBooks in comparison with other products are minimal. (By the way, almost all QPF products have resell rights!)

The third source of inspiration for the QPF program is my own personal experience. The 6 characteristics in the QPF program (Easy to find, Great Price for a Great Product, Immediate Payment, Free Shipping, Immediate Delivery and Money Back Guarantee) aren’t necessarily the perfect set up for every eBay seller. Depending on the business, the set up can be very different. However, the 6 characteristics of the QPF program represent the principles that will always merit positive feedback. These principles include, but are not limited to, good communication, honesty, reliability and (for the seller) good customer service.

Positive feedback is more than a simple score or threshold that is required in order to do business on eBay. It is the main source of your eBay reputation. It represents a COMPLETE, SUCCESSFUL transaction. It means that the buyer and seller are trustworthy and that other eBay members can feel comfortable doing business with them. To avoid negative feedback, and always merit positive, I've listed some tips of etiquette that can resolve the most common problems I've observed (you may also want to refer to eBay's help pages on feedback).

FEEDBACK ETIQUETTE FOR BUYERS

1. ALWAYS read the ENTIRE description. If you don’t read the description, it will be difficult to hold the seller accountable to what the seller has agreed to do.

2. ALWAYS pay for what you commit to buy. NEVER commit to buy if you’re not going to buy it. There are at least 2 times when the buyer has to click a button that implies commitment to buy. eBay probably set it up that way because usually if a person realizes he or she isn’t going to buy, they won’t click a buy button twice in a row, but it happens. Even more importantly, buyers need to realize that if they commit to buy and don’t pay, they’ve robbed the seller-- twice. The seller gets robbed the first time because the seller has to pay a listing fee and final value fee to eBay. Sometimes the final value fee can be re-credited to the seller, but not always and not the listing fee. The seller gets robbed the second time since the listing is now off the market, which means the seller has lost the opportunity to make a profit. It might be easy to think that this isn’t a big deal, since a listing fee and final value fee could only be pennies. But it is often more than pennies, and any accountant will tell you that in good business EVERY penny must be recorded. And any business person will tell you that opportunities are so valuable that they can’t even be measured. Please don’t rob the seller of either. If you commit to buy, pay for the item. Even if your kid sneaked on to your eBay account, and committed to buy, at least be responsible and offer to reimburse the seller for the eBay fees.

3. ALWAYS pay promptly. If payment can’t be made within a couple of days of purchase, or at least within a week, then wait to buy. There are always deals on eBay. Any good deal that you find isn’t a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. There's a good chance you'd even find a better deal with patience. If you commit to buy, please pay promptly.

4. NEVER bid more than you are willing to pay.

5. Make sure to provide a valid shipping address.

6. When the item arrives, don't throw away the packaging until you're satisfied with the item. Usually if you want to return the item you can just repackage it and write "return to sender" and maybe it won't cost anything to return it. Also, if the item has shipping insurance, the insurance is only valid with the packaging that it came in.

7. If you’re not satisfied, contact the seller before leaving feedback. And once you’ve tried to contact the seller, be available for the seller to contact you back.

8. DON’T use feedback as a form of blackmail. DO use feedback to make sure the seller does what the seller agreed to do. Try and give the seller a good chance to do what he or she agreed to do, and then when they’ve had the chance, and they still don’t complete their end of the agreement, that’s when it even becomes your responsibility to leave negative feedback so that other eBay members will know about it. However, remember that once you leave feedback, the seller no longer has any motivation to handle your complaint. If you get to the point where you feel you need to leave negative feedback, explain how the seller didn’t complete the agreement. eBay only gives a limited space for comments, but the more detail the better. Don’t write comments that don’t explain anything, such as “no comment”. And be professional. Don't insult the seller personally, describe how the seller didn't complete the agreement.

9. ALWAYS leave positive feedback if the seller did everything that they agreed to do. Feedback isn’t the place for constructive criticism. Letters or an email are good for that. Feedback is the place for testimonials that explain whether or not the other eBay member completed the agreement. Leaving a negative feedback for a petty reason can devastate the other member’s sales. If the seller does everything that is explained in the description, then the seller deserves positive feedback. If you have suggestions on how sellers can improve their service, most sellers will be open-minded enough to read those suggestions in an email and seriously consider them.

10. After you have left feedback for the seller, try to be a little patient and give him or her time to leave feedback for you. It isn't necessary to get their phone number from eBay and call them immediately just to ask them to leave positive feedback. (Yes, someone did that to me). Give them a day at least, and then if they haven’t left it, you can send them an email explaining that you’ve kept your end of the deal and you could use the feedback as quickly as possible since you’re just getting started on eBay.

FEEDBACK ETIQUETTE FOR SELLERS

1. ALWAYS provide a detailed and accurate description. The buyer shouldn’t be surprised about anything when the item arrives in the mail as long as they had read the description.

2. ALWAYS provide an accurate title. Yes, it is important to make titles attract attention and stand out, but they shouldn't lie about what is for sale.

3. ALWAYS mail the item promptly. Nobody likes to wait. The buyer wants an experience as close to their local retailer as possible. When they buy something at the store, they walk out of the store with it. When they buy something online, they still want it now. Be prompt about mailing the item.

4. ALWAYS provide a return policy. A money back guarantee is the best, since there is no possible way, or no valid reason why the buyer would still complain. If you offer a money back guarantee, they can try what you’re selling with no risk. That should be satisfying enough for any buyer. It is understandable that this type of guarantee is not always feasible. It will depend on your type of business. However, please be accurate about your return policy in the description.

5. ALWAYS handle customer complaints within 24 hours and be courteous. In fact, try and make the customer feel good about deciding to contact you.

6. Include insurance with shipping (very highly suggested). That way if the item gets damaged in the mail, those who damaged it have to pay for it, not you and not the buyer. You don’t lose anything, you still made the sale, and the buyer doesn’t lose anything because they got their money back from the shipping service. Also write in your description that the buyer must keep the packaging so that the insurance will be valid if they choose to use it.

7. Make the total price clear. If there is a price for the item, a price for shipping, a price for handling, and a price for insurance, that’s fine, but make it clear. If the buyer read the entire description, there should be no surprises when they reach checkout.

8. Once the buyer has paid for the item, they merit positive feedback. However, as a matter of protecting your reputation, and thus your ability to sell on eBay, you might want to consider not leaving feedback for the buyer until the buyer is satisfied and has left it for you.

9. Make all your communication prompt and clear. If you have a regular business going, but you have to leave town for a few days, let your customers know. Explain that there is a chance that shipping could be delayed or that you might not be answering emails. In fact, it would also be a good idea to set up an automated email system. I have an eBook titled “Automate eBay eBook Sales” that can explain how you can set up your email to automatically respond to customers inquiries for FREE! The moment your customers send you an email, your system can automatically reply with a message such as, “Thank you for your message. This response was automated to let you know immediately that your message was received. I usually respond to all messages received within 24 hours.” Even a simple response such as this one can put your customers at ease, allowing them to feel comfortable to do business with you more!

10. Please don’t forget to leave positive feedback.

Now, who should leave feedback first? Once the buyer is satisfied with their purchase, or when they're convinced there is nothing left to do, then the buyer should leave feedback first, and it should be positive as long as the seller described what was for sale accurately and delivered the item promptly. The seller should be ready to leave feedback once the buyer has posted it, and it should be positive as long as the buyer paid promptly, provided a valid shipping address, and gave a fair feedback (even if a negative feedback was fair).

I hope these tips will help all eBay members to always merit positive feedback, and maintain a high level of community on eBay. My last point of advice for all eBay members is to not get too attached to 100% positive feedback. Even my QPF program and its 6 characteristics can fall prey to some predator just waiting to ruin my perfect score (and probably my day), but as long you always maintain good professional business practices, you can be confident in your eBay reputation. If by chance you receive negative feedback that you didn’t deserve, you have the option of leaving negative feedback for them (leaving undeserved negative feedback in itself does deserve negative feedback), and you can tactfully and professionally explain that you would be willing to get it removed for them if they get it removed for you. eBay has help pages that give the steps for doing that (It’s called a mutual feedback withdrawal).

Good luck as you increase your feedback and build your eBay reputation!

[Copyright © quick_positive_feedback (Search for "QPF" from the eBay home page). If there was anything you disagreed with or that you find to be inaccurate, I would welcome any comments you may have. In order to improve this guide, and make it helpful, I’m always open-minded and will listen to your suggestions with interest. If you found this guide to be helpful, please vote “yes”.]