I frequently buy on eBay but I don't sell often. When I do sell on eBay I leave feedback for the bidder as soon as payment is received. Recently I have purchased items from several sellers who have not left me feedback yet even though I paid for the items within ONE HOUR after the end of the auction. I thought the purpose of leaving feedback for a buyer is because they paid for the item promptly -- but obviously not! After waiting several weeks I emailed three sellers I had not received feedback from and asked why they hadn't left feedback-- their answers were shocking!

One seller told me she does not leave feedback until the buyer posts positive feedback-- her reasoning was if they were unhappy with the product and left negative feedback she could leave them negative feedback too.

Hmmm... that is a lot like  holding feedback hostage.

Another seller told me she had an automatic system installed that gives positive feedback as soon as she receives positive feedback-- I'm not sure that is how the feedback system works. 

In one instance the product I received was damaged in the mail but I'm not going to leave negative feedback for the seller because she told me she would leave negative feedback for me even though I paid for my purchase immediately using PayPal.

I would never do business with either of these merchants again but it's no wonder they have a positive feedback rating-- people are afraid to leave a negative for fear of retaliation.

So when checking a sellers reputation and the feedback they have received don't forget you the ability to look at feedback they have left for others.  If they left negative feedback for every buyer who had a problem with an item they purchased-- BEWARE!

Sellers-- PLEASE play fair! Leave positive feedback for buyers who pay promptly!