posted on March 26, 2003 12:57:04 PM new
Got a Neutral today.
This is new territory for me
What am I supposed to do with a neutral from a newbie?
Here it is:
Neutral : thanks for the quick delivery!
or course, my first reaction was to regress and throw a temper tantrum.
I e-mailed them:
Hi! Well, to say the least, I was *shocked* to receive neutral feedback without prior warning of any dissatisfaction regarding our recent transaction! If you were unhappy with this auction, I would have appreciated the opportunity to make it right rather than have YOUR lack of communication be a permanent mark on MY selling reputation! I am sorry for any disappointment that you had. Regards,
so....
should I leave them a neutral or a neg for their lack of communication?
should I leave NO FB at all?
should I bother to respond to the NEU on my profile?
(I wasn't planning to)
TIA!
edit for the %^$&*# bolding!
[ edited by zoomin on Mar 26, 2003 12:58 PM ]
grrrrr!
[ edited by zoomin on Mar 26, 2003 12:59 PM ]
posted on March 26, 2003 01:00:58 PM new
Email them and ask them what the problem was and why not a positive? You probably will get a reply and say ooops we made a mistake...
Then just ask them to do a follow up to the feedback and have them state it should of been a positive or something like that.
I wouldn't leave any feedback until you do the email first.
I hardly think a negative is called for, in this situation, no matter what some on these boards think...
posted on March 26, 2003 01:12:02 PM new
Email and ask first as stated by Twelvepole and you can leave a neutral afterwards if they claim its a mistake.[If this is the case word it like a positive]
They will learn now.
No,I would not leave a neg as this does not call for it. Do let us know what they say.
posted on March 26, 2003 01:19:37 PM new
thanks 12pole & trai!
I already sent the e-mail above as a knee jerk reaction ~ it doesn't really ask for a response.
are you saying I should e-her again?
The item was paid for promptly so I don't feel that she deserves to be bashed ~
I am just getting so frustrated by the inept communication skills and carelessness of these newbies!
I *do* feel justified in leaving a neutral for poor communication.
posted on March 26, 2003 01:45:58 PM new
just got a response...
i was very sorry to hear that you were upset about my feedback. to be honest, i was not happy with the product at all and thought i was being fair by leaving you the best possible feedback while still saying what i thought. i did appreciate the quick delivery. thank you for your time --have a great week!
this is an upscale brand, middle of the line product ~ good quality, reputable company, brand new with tags.
99% of my bidders bid because they know EXACTLY what they are bidding on.
She perhaps did not?
Item retails for $60+ ~ she bid $29.
good price, fast ship, first quality item.
Item was NOT misrepresented.
Don't you think she should've e-mailed me PRIOR to leaving a NEU?
I cannot resolve her 'not happy with the product at all' if she doesn't let me know she is unhappy!
posted on March 26, 2003 02:10:04 PM new
It is really nothing to get up in arms about. If people read it is says nothing negative. Seem a lot of worry over nothing. could have been worse so I would just move on. good luck.
posted on March 26, 2003 02:11:15 PM new
I would just let it go, I wouldn't even respond to it. Most people will just see it as a dumb feedback by a newbie. Besides, it sounds positive. It could have been much worse and you can't please everyone.
posted on March 26, 2003 02:12:14 PM new
Well, I would not waste any more time on her now. What more can you do? Zip, nada..
Just be happy she paid and leave it at that. You can not please everybody.
You would think that they know what their bidding on. Oh well......next!
Well... while I might be in the minority here (and will probably get some flack from this).... I personally would leave her a big fat NEG! Buyers need to learn that while a majority of the transactions success does lay on the sellers end... they have a part in it too! If they don't communicate with the sellers... then they are not holding up to their end of the transaction. Why should your character be deflamed as a result of their ineptness? I have never had a customer that I could not please when they contact me with a problem. HOWEVER, I have gotten my share of Nuetrals and Negatives from people who choose not to discuss issues with me. This person would have earned herself a negative for poor communication and a spot on my blocked bidder list. Do what you feel is best for your situation. (remember.... paying promptly is not the only thing that makes for a good transaction!)
posted on March 26, 2003 02:45:19 PM new
Well, the venting worked for me ~ I think that, thanks to you all, I will not respond to her NEUTRAL comment.
As far as leaving her FB, I'm still torn ~ communication is the key to success HOWEVER it is not my responsibility to teach this newbie the lessons of the world.
In my little world, she is blocked from participation (all selling ID's).
Yes, she paid promplty, but I don't appreciate her lack of consideration ~ I would have made it right, if given the opportunity.
I'd still like to neutral her.
maybe tomorrow.
As always,
thanks for putting out my fire.
I love you guys
posted on March 26, 2003 05:30:24 PM new
As I recall when I joined ebay a little over a year ago, there was really no info given to new people about feedback and what it really means to the buyer and seller. Coming to understand that neutral feedback isn't really neutral was picked up sort of by osmosis over time.
To a newbie there are only 3 categories of experience-- wildly pleased, unimpressed, or horror show. I remember at the beginning when I thought a neutral was just that, not much positive but certainly nothing negative (thank goodness I never gave out one of those!). That seems to be the way this newbie is behaving: since she wasn't particularly pleased (for whatever reason her perspective and expections view it through) she thinks she was being gracious by leaving you a neutral, and can't think of any reason to leave you a positive because she doesn't understand what a neutral means for the seller.
Perhaps some of you if you serve on the ebay boards etc. could impact ebay with a more functional understanding of what feedback has really come to represent for buyers and sellers when they enroll it could help.
On the other hand, maybe there should be a category that is really no harm no foul, and "neutral" is certainly not that any more.
posted on March 26, 2003 05:56:13 PM new
Not to be a complete witch but I agree with eauctionmgnt. When leaving the neg or neutral for a person you automatically get that extra screen warning them to contact the buyer/seller to work out a resolution. If they can't do that then I am not happy with the transaction and I will do my part to teach them a lesson. Trust me, one retaliatory neg would get them in gear.
I had a gal just last week do pretty much the same thing. I neg'd her and emailed her a copy of the extra page I mentioned above. I had noticed she had a habit of leaving neutral or negs for silly reasons and the sellers always responded that she never contacted them first. She emailed me back telling me I had a lot of nerve to neg her. She also said she wouldn't leave a neg or neutral again before contacting the seller to work out a positive resolution. Then I blocked her from bidding. So, no matter what others think, I think in a way, I helped other sellers because that is one trigger happy bidder who won't go throwing out negs/or neutrals again.
posted on March 26, 2003 06:17:11 PM new
eauction&alwaysfun:
yes, I agree and I see things the same way that you do
HOWEVER
this person has -zero- feedback.
They have nothing to 'save' or 'protect' and will likely just create a new ID if I neg them.
alwaysfun:
I thought about to e-mailing the 'warning' screen that reminds you to 'work things out' with your auction partner.
I'm not really in the mood to hold this person's hand or spend any more time on them right now.
I am disillusioned
I think passedtothepresent hit the nail on the head ~ the newbie just doesn't 'get' the neutral part.
I tend to think of feedback as being polite ~ a way of saying thank you.
Thank you's aren't necessary (I don't expect FB anymore) BUT
rather than saying they appreciate it, rather than saying nothing and moving on, rather than complaining, I feel like this person grunted at me.
I have played teacher too many times for a bunch of unappreciative yutzes.
*sigh*
I'm having a *fluffy* moment.
Time for some milk & cookies then off to bed!
posted on March 26, 2003 06:24:04 PM new
I apologize, I didn't notice you mentioned she was a 0-newbie. I think you are right... a good break from the computer and a nice nights sleep...maybe a bubble bath (my sure fire cure-all!) and tomorrow you won't care as much.
I have to say that it does annoy me that ebay counts the neutrals the same as negs when they have that % rating on the auction pages right now. They shouldn't count it at all if it was a true neutral!
posted on March 26, 2003 08:38:15 PM new
You know, without wanting to sound retaliatory, I think I'd leave that buyer a neutral, too.
Until newbies understand the bite of a neutral, some of them will blithely continue to leave them--or worse.
I as a seller would appreciate knowing that this person made no attempt to resolve differences on the auction before leaving that silly neutral. I think you'd be doing us all a favor by pointing out that failure in a neutral feedback.
I also agree that ebay could do a better job of educating newbies. Or perhaps a scale of 1 to 5 on satisfaction, as Half.com used to do (remember that?!!), would work even better.
posted on March 27, 2003 02:17:02 AM new
Good Morning!
The 'neutral zone' is such an odd concept to me ~ I've left over 300 negs, but probably only about three neutrals.
Wouldn't it be great if tere were an 'introduction exam' as part of new eBay registrations?
just a five minute 'fun test' ~ short and sweet ~ to help new bidders find their way. I think it would help the number of new users who freak and become deadbeats. Too many don't realize that they bid or that they need to read auction terms and item descriptions.
Did you ever check to see how many 'newbies' have responded to YOUR feedback on THEIR profile, rather than to having actually left you feedback?
Nothing tells them how to leave FB, unless they read that little part of the auction!
Back OT...
so then I think...
Call me paranoid BUT
for a newbie to leave FB so quickly, they are likely a NARU with a new ID
OR
they have someone holding their hand who KNOWS what a neutral is.
hmmm.........
posted on March 27, 2003 02:41:23 AM new
in this case I would leave no feedback...to a newbie that is a real loss..
I would also email her with something like this (even if it isn't true)
"what a shame. If you had emailed me with your concerns prior to leaving that feedback, I would have gladly refunded all of your money. Since you have already completed the transaction by leaving feedback that is no longer an option. Well it was a pleasure doing business with you."
posted on March 27, 2003 06:21:35 AM new
Simple, NEUTRAL. Ya get what ya give. e mail the seller first before complaining.
Or, just NEG e'm. They won't hit that button again without really thinking and reading the Warning. Yes save some others from the grief. 0 feed back on a buyer? You have not hurt them in the least,you taught them a valuable lesson and yes if they are smart they will just get a new ID.
But then again be careful about negging,others would see your reply and think?
I Vote Neut.
Snap! snap! snap!,,,,,,Whiiiiiip it, Whiiiiip it GOOD! OUCH!
posted on March 27, 2003 06:27:23 AM new
If you want to be really mean, watch her feedback and if she reaches 10 within 90 days neg her and take away her gold star.
posted on March 27, 2003 07:22:34 AM new
I would leave at least a neutral.
Leaving feedback is part of the transaction on both parties behalf. If the buyer was disatisfied then they should have contacted you to say so. Even eBay suggests you work out your transactions before leaving feedback. It is part of the process & they didn't follow it. Sounds like the item was ~as described~. They were just not familiar with what it was they were purchasing. You were not happy with all aspects of the transcation with them. I would say so.
posted on March 27, 2003 07:38:13 AM new
I would also leave a Neutral with a short explanation why. Then, I'd move on. Feedback is really way over rated. I buy from people with negs and I buy from people with neutrals. Rarely do I even look at the feedback knowing how some people are - expecting perfection.
posted on March 27, 2003 08:18:45 AM new
If you want to make yourself feel better, then by all means leave her a neutral or a neg.
If you want to make yourself look better, leave her a positive designed to make you look like the nice, accomodating seller you are. Like "Don't be afraid to communicate problems ... better luck next time!" or
You have to remember that people who look at your feedback rating won't know the "back story" behind every transaction. If I saw a neutral feedback worded the way yours was, I'd assume 1) the bidder made a mistake and hit "neutral" or 2) the bidder didn't really know what "neutral" signified. The next step for an experienced bidder would be to look at your bidder's feedback to see how you responded. If the feedback you left for her was rude or belittling, and it appears to have been left after she left her fb,it would tend to put the neutral in a whole new light and swing my sympathies toward the bidder.
Obviously, in this transaction, I know a bit more about the "the rest of the story." But to find that out, bidders would have to email you and they're not likely to go that far.
Plus, I'm not sure it's really fair to leave her neutral or neg fb, given that I'm assuming she paid promptly. Remember, she really wasn't happy with this transaction - which wasn't your fault, but still, she wasn't happy.
It can easily be chalked up as a newbie mistake. Generally, I'm in agreement with the concept that people should leave accurate feedback - even when they risk retaliation - but in this case, I think ou've definitely gotten the message across that neutrals are considered almost as bad as negatives, and leaving a rueful but generous positive lets other sellers know that she's been put on notice as well.
posted on March 27, 2003 02:16:51 PM new
I wouldn't leave any feedback or respond to her neutral. Right now, the neutral looks like a positive that was mistakenly left as a neutral. If you respond or leave neutral or neg feedback then she might respond to the neutral she left you and turn the positive neutral into a negative neutral.
posted on March 27, 2003 06:14:04 PM new
I think I'll wait a bit ~
in a week or two, my neutral will be buried.
I really would like to leave a neutral for her ~ not to be retaliatory but because she deserves it.
The reminder to try working it out pops up right in your face before you post a neutral. That's a crummy thing to do to someone without giving them the opportunity to make it right.
shoot first & ask questions later, I guess.
"Don't be afraid to communicate problems ... better luck next time!"
I like the wording msincognito chose, but I'd stick it in neutral form rather than positive
and maybe wait & stalk her FB ~ I'd like to remove that first star ~ too smooth, greatlakes!
that's my kind of vengeance ~ only she and I would know.
Actually, it would probably cause the same effect on her that the neutral did to me.
simple and subtle.
aaah.....
aint it grand when life balances out like that?
posted on March 28, 2003 05:39:45 AM new
Guess I am at a loss here...I think the bidder who left the neutral feedback behaved in an acceptable, truthful & ebay legal manner...The item was apparrently "OK", but not totally satisfying and not grossly disatisfying to her standards or what she expected...she deemed "neutral" or no specific feelings either way, not positive, not negative, and at least complimented you on your prompt delivery...Also, her return email response was polite, even .. given the fact the you were trying to dictate her believed justified response to the transaction and thereby use of her own judgement and use of the feedback system!
Anything other than a truthful TRANSACTION return feedback on the sellers part, I see as retalitory. If personal feelings of how YOU think she should have handled the incident interfere with that premise, leave NO feedback at all, which is within YOUR rights.
Feedback does not always go your way...and should not...a small freedom that belongs to the person writing it, not to the receiver..Sometimes, that freedom is abused, but not so in this instance, as I see it.
posted on March 28, 2003 01:39:51 PM new
kiddo2:
Her leaving a neutral 'thank you for the quick delivery' would be no different than my leaving a neutral 'thank you for the prompt payment'.
my feedback posting "freedom" as you call it.
what did she do wrong?
she did not know the item she was bidding on.
that happens.
she did nothing to communication her dissatisfaction to me.
that's wrong. period.
what did I do wrong?
I sold her exactly what she bid on and won, I packed it freshly & safely.
I shipped the item within 24 hours of receipt of payment.
what did I do that justified neutrality?
I didn't meet her expectations?
No, the product was something other than she thought.
NOT my bad, hers.
posted on March 28, 2003 02:01:47 PM new
::and maybe wait & stalk her FB ~ I'd like to remove that first star ~ too smooth, greatlakes!
that's my kind of vengeance ~ only she and I would know. ::
Wow - that's pretty immature. She's new, she didn't neg you, she didn't hurt you, she injured your ego and now you want to "stalk her feedback" . Sorry but if I was your buyer, and you did that to me I would label you a psycho seller and warn anyone I knew of not to deal with you.
I am disillusioned 
