Feedbacks are probably one of the most distorted buyers guide on Ebay...To get an actual feel for a sellers reputation one has to review atleast 200 feedbacks received, and FB that the seller has left...Of utmost importance is if it shows 10 negs and 1,000 positive, check to see how many people left the negatives. I have seen a seller get nailed with as much as 12 negs from one buyer on a missing box...
Also look at how many feedbacks have been mutually withdrawn. Personally I used to get Neutrals withdrawn when possible...One must keep in mind that through arbitration/mediation when a bad feedback is removed thats a sign of good-will (usually) by both parties...If a seller doesn't care enough about their reputation to clear up any problems that could be a red flag too.
I always read random positives, if you see a bad feedback in a positive rating chances are they are feuding and any kind of ongoing feuding is a sign of very unprofessional Ebayers.
If there is a clear and present pattern of negatives, especially for items never received and no email communication then (Buyer Beware!!!)
On a side note, always make sure you understand the shipping time, and combining wins. I got sticker shock once when a seller said he combined wins and nailed me the shipping on each rock. When I complained to him he said (I am combining them in one box!!!) So lol make sure everything is crystal clear and you should be fine.

As a seller, I always look at a potential buyers feedbacks and the ones they have left. They may have 100% FB rating but have left an average of one bad feedback for every dozen transactions. I simply will not do business with people like that as its clear they don't give the seller a chance or are over-picky.

On leaving Feedbacks, only as a very last resort should one leave a bad feedback. Especially for Powersellers that rely solely on Ebay as their personal Business...
I liken getting an unwarranted Bad FB to this...Suppose the tables were turned, say the complainant owned a Used Car dealership, Seller was late in delivering the car and it turned out to be a Lemon. I don't give you the chance to explain, or fix the problem. Theres a huge white chalk board in the main show room and I walk up, take the Red Marker and Leave a devastating Negative about you and theres nothing really that you can do-your rep is stained for all potential buyers to see....Its a horrible feelings to a seller that truly does care about pleasing his/her customers...So Please think it over, touch base with your seller. If their FB rating sells are high then chances are this was an isolated incident or a misunderstanding and the buyer will be happy to fix the problem-No long-term Legitimate Seller wants Negatives or Neutrals...99.9 percent of full time Sellers will bend over backwards in correcting any problem the buyer emails to them...

Neutrals, just about all Ebayers look at a Neutral as a Bad Feedback. I wish Ebay would do away with Neutrals. Simply put, the transaction is either good or bad, theres Rarely no middle ground...
Bad Feedbacks in any scenario can be risky business that may land one in Court. At the very least it causes alot of stress...But if you have clearly been burned and the seller is totaly unwilling to work with you and ample time I.E. 10 days has gone by with no response to several emails, Then You can file a complaint with Paypal first if you wish. They will certainly put a hold on the funds you paid, right out of the sellers account until the issue is resolved...Then if the seller is still totally unwilling to resolve the problem, turn them into Ebay Security and you still have 60 days to fall back on the feedback system to alert other buyers...

I don't put any faith in the star system as to many people abuse it. Its kinda like rating movies and so easily to get confused if your leaving several feedbacks in a row...As a seller I don't get many star feedbacks and its  not rocket science to see if someone has gave me the ole one star down the line, simple mathematics. It is dis-heartening to see that,  yet a glowing green feedback...In the rock business, like any, it has its share of backstabbers and the star system is the perfect tool for some dirty dealings...I doubt it will last long simply because one can put everything from shipping to delivery and items condition in the feedback. I vote to give atleast 10 more characters to the feedback. It would sure make more sense.
Power-Sellers are losing that status if their DSR falls below 4.4 in any one of the categories...Worse yet if one falls below 4.2 they can no longer be a seller!!! From my personal view I was able to prove for one year that the DSR are not accurate as I paid 30 percent of the shipping and just before i wrote the complaint and sent all the proof to Ebay my DSR for shipping cost was 4.3....After Ebay investgaited it jumped to 4.9.5 so I guess in the 200 transactions must have been a couple honest 1 2 to 3 star ratings lol...Very upsetting though that when it wwas a 4.3 it showed that many dis-honest DSR's...Then to see Power-Sellers lose their status and or their entire business over a DSR rating makes it a totally insane, unfair tool...



OUCH!!! Hurts doesn't it? First, try and gather your nerves and calm down, don't do anything while your hot-headed as many times Ebayers end up in a Court of Law in a Civil Law suit. What you do now is of utmost importance. First email the one who gave you the negative and ask why? Also explain if you were/are willing to work it out that it was not warranted. If you both can agree to settling the problem and having the feedback removed then the next step is Squaretrade. Its approx $30.00 per feedback and its only fair to split the cost.
If the negative poster is unwilling and you have been clearly wronged and the negative is doing harm to yourself and or business then by all means hire an Attorney and take it from there.


Its my opinion, and many others,  that Ebay would be much more pleasant if people would try and work things out before leaving anyone a stain on their record...Rockhounds are suppose to be a tight family, simple communication and understanding is usually always the key.
Wishing you the very best in your Rockhounding Ebay experience!!!

Thanks-Dale Rhode aka rhodescabbin