FEEDBACK is a vital part of eBay communication and quality assurance.  Your use of feedback reflects on your buying and selling ethics, and may impact the frequency and success of your transactions on eBay.

Feedback is not a substitute for communication between a buyer and seller prior to the successful completion of a transaction!  Nothing is more frustrating for a seller than to read their feedback and receive NEW INFORMATION! 

BUYERS - if you are not satisfied with your transaction, CONTACT THE SELLER via eBay PRIOR to leaving feedback!  Often buyers loose the opportunity to receive consideration for refunds, or partial refunds, when they complete a transaction prematurely by leaving feedback before communicating their dissatisfaction with a purchase without communicating with the seller.

SELLERS benefit from hearing from buyers about any concerns with a purchase.  If an item is damaged in shipment, they then become aware that their packaging may need to be improved; if they miss something important in an item description, they learn what is important to buyers to be included and addressed in the item description.  Hearing from a dissatisfied customer is often a heads up to pay more attention to the condition of each and every item prior to posting and shipping.  Sellers typically are very appreciative to learn of opportunities for improvement via email.  Sellers typically are not as appreciative to learn of opportunities for improvement from their feedback. 

BUYERS: many items sold on eBay are USED!!!  If you are purchasing a used item, and have a preference about what acceptable condition would be for you, read the item description carefully and if the need you have for the condition of the item is not answered in the description, EMAIL THE SELLER prior to purchasing the item to ensure that the item is in the condition you expect!   Leaving neutral or negative feedback for an item based on the item not being what you expected is typically a poor reflection on your buying and communication skills.  Be aware that sellers can block buyers from ever buying from them again. 

Sellers who value positive feedback may routinely block buyers who communicate poorly or who leave neutral or negative feedback!  (If this happens to you, and you really want an item the buyer is selling in the future, you can email them and request to have the block lifted but if you want to purchase an item at the last minute, you will not be able to)  SELLERS, if you routinely block buyers, you may reduce the number of bids on items and/or future sales.

SELLERS: using Selling Manager Pro to leave feedback can be a great time-saver; but you will miss the opportunity to communicate accurately and appropriately with buyers by using this feature. 

Sellers who leave feedback prematurely miss the opportunity to provide complete feedback based on the entire package of what a transaction includes.  A successful transaction includes payment method and timing, communication about payment, communication about the item itself, and the method a buyer uses to relay information about their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with their purchase.  The feedback I provide includes my experience in working with the buyer: upon the occasion that there is a concern with an item, I address whether or not they communicated their concern to me or just left neutral or negative feedback.

BUYERS who leave feedback prematurely miss the opportunity to provide complete feedback based on the entire package of what a transaction includes.  A successful purchase includes shipping and packaging safely and responsively, the condition of the item, communication from the seller, and the seller's responses to any questions and/or concerns you may have with the item you purchase.

BEST OFFERS is a great way to negotiate a "backwards auction."  The highest price is already set by the seller, and the potential buyer can offer a lower purchase price.  I screen potential buyers for best offers, as do many sellers.  I choose not to deal with potential buyers who do not communicate appropriately based on what I learn from feedback comments.  I will also offer less as a buyer if feedback is not positive enough.

BUYERS AND SELLERS can always respond to feedback through eBay's HELP feature.  Both can agree to retract Negative feedback if appropriate.  In the event that a transaction is, or has the appearance of being, a SCAM, this is a way to speak to your concerns and resolve the issue.  For example, a buyer might leave negative feedback after requesting that the seller issue a refund at the same time they are returning the item.  But the item is never returned...  Of course, the item might have been lost in the mail, but without delivery confirmation the truth may never be known.

NEGATIVE OR NEUTRAL feedback can affect the success of a seller in maintaining their business.  There are occasions when items slip through / past appropriate scrutiny and are in lesser condition than the seller would have wanted, and than is typical for the seller.  And there are buyers that find flaws that they exaggerate or that most buyers would not notice or be disturbed by.  Carefully weigh the outcome you want from a dissatisfactory transaction prior to leaving feedback, and how you would want that issue handled if you were the seller. My practice is to email the seller when I am dissatisfied with the transaction.  If the seller communicates appropriately with me and addresses my concerns I leave positive feedback based on the things that did go right with the transaction.

FEEDBACK is vital to the eBay community.  PLEASE USE IT RESPONSIBLY!!!