When’s the best time to leave feedback for eBay buyers? You have a few options. Some sellers wait until the buyer leaves positive feedback before the seller leaves reciprocal positive feedback. Others, myself included, leave feedback directly after the buyer pays. Since 2008, eBay has only allowed sellers to leave positive feedback for buyers (reserve comment on this policy for later). In other words, you don’t have much of an incentive to hold the buyer’s feedback hostage since sellers cannot leave negative feedback for buyers if there’s a problem.
Set Up Automatic Feedback with Selling Manager Pro
If you have an eBay store and use Selling Manager Pro, then you have access to a handy system that will automatically leave positive feedback for your buyer after they pay. You can find more information about feedback automation on eBay’s website here.
EBay sellers with Selling Manager Pro can set up feedback automation.
A side bonus of leaving feedback for buyers is that other eBay users can see your name, so leaving feedback can get your name out in the eBay Universe and give you some positive publicity. Even your buyer never leaves you positive feedback, other people will still see your username and positive feedback on the buyer’s feedback page.
Avoid Complaints Buried Inside Positive Feedback
If you’re considering writing a negative comment for the buyer within your positive feedback, don’t bother. Ebay policy doesn’t allow users to leave a negative comment inside of positive feedback, probably because “negative positive feedback” is oxymoronic (or maybe just plain moronic).
Kidding aside, yes, I know it seems unfair that sellers can’t leave negative feedback on eBay while some trigger happy buyers roam free spewing negative and neutral feedbacks. Life’s not fair. Nevertheless, eBay removes “negative positive feedback” left by sellers.
How to Handle Problem Orders
The good news is that realistically the most common problem you’ll likely have with a buyer is non-payment. Plain and simple. If the buyer doesn’t pay after a week or two, send them a friendly payment reminder message. If you still get no response, file a Non Paying Buyer (NPB) complaint. If a buyer accumulates too many Non Paying Buyer complaints, their buying privileges will be revoked. Make sure to request your Final Value Fee credit after your NPB is completed. Other problems with orders can be handled through the eBay Resolution Center as well.