Why the new eBay feedback system stinks: a real life story

On Jul 18, 12:24*am, Bob Rudd wrote:

Perhaps you are willing to risk an $1100 item on Priority Mail which can
be dropped on the mat outside your house with little recourse....

I said INSURED, dimbulb.

On Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:16:58 -0700 (PDT), Voltronicus
wrote:

On Jul 18, 12:24*am, Bob Rudd wrote:

Perhaps you are willing to risk an $1100 item on Priority Mail which can
be dropped on the mat outside your house with little recourse....

I said INSURED, dimbulb.

Insurance offsets loss of money. Registered mail ensures safe
delivery.

Better to actually receive the coin than to receive reimbursement for
the loss of a coin.

--
Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

On Jul 18, 9:19*am, tony cooper wrote:
On Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:16:58 -0700 (PDT), Voltronicus

wrote:
On Jul 18, 12:24*am, Bob Rudd wrote:

Perhaps you are willing to risk an $1100 item on Priority Mail which can
be dropped on the mat outside your house with little recourse....

I said INSURED, dimbulb.

Insurance offsets loss of money. *Registered mail ensures safe
delivery.

Better to actually receive the coin than to receive reimbursement for
the loss of a coin.

--
Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

Over the years I have sent and received thousands of items including
coins and rare books and never used registered mail but instead relied
on Media Rate, Parcel Post, 1st Class and Priority Mail - all insured
for items valued over $25.
In the course of these events I had to file exactly 2 insurance claims
with USPS, 1 for a $1500 coin and another for a $200 set of books.
In both instances the process was relatively simple and painless.
In every other case (about 99.9% of the time), the items arrived safe
and sound with no need for Registered Mail.
YMMV

No system of feedback is perfect. Surprise!

What you have given us is _your_ side of the story. It does read as if
you were slighted, when presented from _your_ perspective. But, you
are asking us to vindicate you based upon hearing only what you have
to say. How is that different from your complaint? A strong error in
logic here.

The problem here is that everyone thinks that "neutral" is bad. Why?
When I first started my relationship with eBay (about 10 years ago) I
would leave neutral ratings with the comment "Got everything I asked
for." The sellers would then complain that I dinged them for no
reason. I didn't think I had, but I didn't think they gave me anything
particularly good to rave about either. Should we really expect
accolades for doing what is expected?
I don't leave neutral ratings anymore, but I am bothered by the
system.

I believe the whole system is skewed to the positive end of ratings,
so that we cannot separate the truly good sellers from the merely
adequate. Your presentation reads like you were "merely adequate" in
fulfilling your responsibilities to the buyer -- nothing bad, but
nothing particularly good either. You did only what was reasonably
expected of you. Now, tell me why those phrases (forget whether you
agree with them or not) should not equate to a neutral rating?

On Fri, 18 Jul 2008 06:41:04 -0700 (PDT), Voltronicus
wrote:

On Jul 18, 9:19*am, tony cooper wrote:
On Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:16:58 -0700 (PDT), Voltronicus

wrote:
On Jul 18, 12:24*am, Bob Rudd wrote:

Perhaps you are willing to risk an $1100 item on Priority Mail which can
be dropped on the mat outside your house with little recourse....

I said INSURED, dimbulb.

Insurance offsets loss of money. *Registered mail ensures safe
delivery.

Better to actually receive the coin than to receive reimbursement for
the loss of a coin.

--
Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

Over the years I have sent and received thousands of items including
coins and rare books and never used registered mail but instead relied
on Media Rate, Parcel Post, 1st Class and Priority Mail - all insured
for items valued over $25.
In the course of these events I had to file exactly 2 insurance claims
with USPS, 1 for a $1500 coin and another for a $200 set of books.
In both instances the process was relatively simple and painless.
In every other case (about 99.9% of the time), the items arrived safe
and sound with no need for Registered Mail.
YMMV

It's the "YMMV" that leads us to send parcels by registered mail.
It's not what our experience has been in the past, but what our
experience will be in the future that makes us choose some things.

I haven't had a claim on my automobile insurance policy in almost 20
years. Going by past experience, I could have dropped it years ago.
Yesterday I backed into someone in a store parking lot. My fault.
Because I'm insured, I will not be out-of-pocket for the damage.

--
Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

Bones wrote:
No system of feedback is perfect. Surprise!

What you have given us is _your_ side of the story. It does read as if
you were slighted, when presented from _your_ perspective. But, you
are asking us to vindicate you based upon hearing only what you have
to say. How is that different from your complaint? A strong error in
logic here.

The problem here is that everyone thinks that "neutral" is bad. Why?
When I first started my relationship with eBay (about 10 years ago) I
would leave neutral ratings with the comment "Got everything I asked
for." The sellers would then complain that I dinged them for no
reason. I didn't think I had, but I didn't think they gave me anything
particularly good to rave about either. Should we really expect
accolades for doing what is expected?
I don't leave neutral ratings anymore, but I am bothered by the
system.

I believe the whole system is skewed to the positive end of ratings,
so that we cannot separate the truly good sellers from the merely
adequate. Your presentation reads like you were "merely adequate" in
fulfilling your responsibilities to the buyer -- nothing bad, but
nothing particularly good either. You did only what was reasonably
expected of you. Now, tell me why those phrases (forget whether you
agree with them or not) should not equate to a neutral rating?

What do you expect a seller to do in order to really rate a positive from
you, kiss your... -er, grits? If I send payment immediately via PayPal,
then the seller packs the item well and ships the same or next day, and it's
exactly as described, what more can he or I ask? These days, that's far
from just a ho-hum, "neutral" experience, in my book.

James

In article af5f62c0-680b-4d98-bbea-5b069942aeb9
@v26g2000prm.googlegroups.com, says...
On Jul 18, 12:24*am, Bob Rudd wrote:

Perhaps you are willing to risk an $1100 item on Priority Mail which can
be dropped on the mat outside your house with little recourse....

I said INSURED, dimbulb.


Listen, inbred, Priority Mail insured, still dropped outside of your
house, can result in multiple reports besides a single "simple" trip to
the PO. You may need to file a police report and other things.

Registered insured, OTOH, is as simple to make a claim on as is
possible.

Granted, I'm an old timer in this ng, who mostly lurks now, but I've
seen where you're largely, IMHO, a PITA more often than the rest of the
group deserves. So, take your cheap shots but realize you have little
respect from others.


--
I hope we can all be good neighbors online!

"Mr. Jaggers" lugburzman[at]yahoo[dot]com wrote in message
...
Bones wrote:
No system of feedback is perfect. Surprise!

What you have given us is _your_ side of the story. It does read as if
you were slighted, when presented from _your_ perspective. But, you
are asking us to vindicate you based upon hearing only what you have
to say. How is that different from your complaint? A strong error in
logic here.

The problem here is that everyone thinks that "neutral" is bad. Why?
When I first started my relationship with eBay (about 10 years ago) I
would leave neutral ratings with the comment "Got everything I asked
for." The sellers would then complain that I dinged them for no
reason. I didn't think I had, but I didn't think they gave me anything
particularly good to rave about either. Should we really expect
accolades for doing what is expected?
I don't leave neutral ratings anymore, but I am bothered by the
system.

I believe the whole system is skewed to the positive end of ratings,
so that we cannot separate the truly good sellers from the merely
adequate. Your presentation reads like you were "merely adequate" in
fulfilling your responsibilities to the buyer -- nothing bad, but
nothing particularly good either. You did only what was reasonably
expected of you. Now, tell me why those phrases (forget whether you
agree with them or not) should not equate to a neutral rating?

What do you expect a seller to do in order to really rate a positive from
you, kiss your... -er, grits? If I send payment immediately via PayPal,
then the seller packs the item well and ships the same or next day, and
it's exactly as described, what more can he or I ask? These days, that's
far from just a ho-hum, "neutral" experience, in my book.

James

Dang, now I really wish I could give something besides positive fb as an
eBay seller. All these years of giving positives to the buyers who did what
was reasonably expected of them when I should have been giving neutrals for
quick payment, reserving positives only for when the buyer tossed in an
extra $20 or more. Yep. That would be beyond the call, a really great
buyer.

Bill

On Jul 18, 10:08*am, tony cooper wrote:

It's the "YMMV" that leads us to send parcels by registered mail.
It's not what our experience has been in the past, but what our
experience will be in the future that makes us choose some things.

"Us"?

I haven't had a claim on my automobile insurance policy in almost 20
years. *Going by past experience, I could have dropped it years ago.
Yesterday I backed into someone in a store parking lot. *My fault.
Because I'm insured, I will not be out-of-pocket for the damage.

Insurance is readily available without using "Registered Mail".
If Resistered Mail is so secure, why the need to insure it?
Riddle me that, Mr. Know-it-all!
Your example is not only disingenuous but inane (as usual for you!)

What do you expect a seller to do in order to really rate a positive from
you, kiss your... -er, grits? If I send payment immediately via PayPal,
then the seller packs the item well and ships the same or next day, and it's
exactly as described, what more can he or I ask? These days, that's far
from just a ho-hum, "neutral" experience, in my book.

I agree that your perception seems to be the rule. We live in a
society where everyone needs to be "above average." It's a nonsensical
position, and example of egos that are way too fragile.

What does a seller have to do to be rated highly? How about upgrading
shipping without asking for it. Providing special help in answering
questions. Providing support for a purchased item (does not
necessarily apply for coins, but it does for electronic equipment).
Etc.

I've experienced all of these from different sellers over the years.
How do I acknowledge that they are truly better than the "got what I
paid for" types?