If you’re a new seller on eBay, you might be looking for ways to increase your feedback rating. The good news is that you are asking yourself the right questions.
However, I’d personally avoid asking for feedback. My experience has taught me that it just causes more trouble.
The thing is, having a 0% feedback rating on eBay can really harm your sales potential. It doesn’t look good, does it?
Feedback is an essential part of the eBay experience, as it helps buyers and sellers build trust and establish a positive reputation. However, asking for feedback can be a tricky business. In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of asking for feedback on eBay, and provide some tips to help you navigate this aspect of online selling.
One of the main benefits of asking for feedback is that it can encourage buyers to leave a review. Many buyers may not realize how important feedback is to sellers, and may not think to leave a review unless prompted. By sending a polite message requesting feedback, you can remind buyers to leave a review and increase the likelihood that they will do so.
However, there are also potential downsides to asking for feedback. Some buyers may feel pressured or annoyed by repeated requests for feedback, which could lead to negative reviews or even lost business.
I’ve actually had customers open up returns requests minutes after asking for feedback. Safe to say, I’ve stopped asking.
The thing is, there are benefits to asking for feedback.
Benefits of Asking for Feedback on eBay
Asking for feedback on eBay can have numerous benefits for both buyers and sellers. Here are some of the advantages of requesting feedback:
1. Improved Ratings
As a seller, you want to maintain a high rating on eBay. By asking for feedback, you can encourage buyers to leave positive ratings for you. Positive feedback can increase your visibility on eBay, making it easier for potential customers to find your listings.
2. Understanding Your Customers
Asking for feedback can provide valuable insights into your customers’ experiences with your products or services. You can use this information to improve your offerings and address any issues that customers may have had.
3. Building Trust with Buyers
When you ask for feedback, you show that you care about your customers’ opinions and are committed to providing excellent service. This can help build trust with buyers, which can lead to repeat business and positive word-of-mouth recommendations.
4. Encouraging Communication
Requesting feedback can also open up lines of communication between you and your customers. You can use this opportunity to address any concerns or questions they may have, and to thank them for their business.
Overall, asking for feedback on eBay can be a beneficial practice for both buyers and sellers. By encouraging open communication and striving for positive ratings, you can build a strong reputation on the platform and attract more customers to your listings.
I’m not a fan of asking for feedback, but there are lots of sellers that do ask. Looking back through my requests, I think I’ve come up with a good formula for asking for feedback.
How to Ask for Feedback on eBay
Asking for feedback on eBay can be a tricky task. While it is essential to have a good feedback score to maintain a good reputation as a seller, it is also important to follow eBay’s guidelines and maintain a fair and ethical business.
eBay’s Stance on Feedback Requests
Feedback is Voluntary and NOT mandatory. However, is it not against the terms and conditions to request feedback.
In this section, we will discuss the steps you can take to ask for feedback politely and effectively.
Step 1: Wait for the Right Time
Before asking for feedback, it is important to determine the right time to do so. eBay allows buyers up to 60 days to leave feedback, so it is best to wait for a reasonable time before sending a request. You can also check your feedback profile on My eBay to see if the buyer has left feedback for you.
Step 2: Craft a Polite Request
When asking for feedback, it is important to craft a polite and friendly message. You can use eBay’s built-in feedback reminder feature or send a personalised message to the buyer. In your message, be sure to thank the buyer for their purchase and mention that you are committed to providing excellent service. You can also add comments to your request, such as asking for suggestions on how you can improve your service.
Step 3: Follow Up if Necessary
If the buyer does not respond to your initial request, you can send a follow-up message after a reasonable time. Be sure to keep your message polite and friendly and avoid being pushy or aggressive. You can also provide a link to your feedback profile to make it easier for the buyer to leave feedback.
Asking for feedback on eBay can be a great way to improve your seller performance and reputation. By following eBay’s guidelines and crafting a polite and friendly message, you can encourage buyers to leave feedback and improve your feedback score.
eBay’s Feedback Policies and Guidelines
When buying or selling on eBay, Feedback is an essential aspect of the platform. It allows buyers and sellers to leave honest comments about their experience with each other. eBay has a Feedback policy in place to ensure that Feedback is fair, accurate, and relevant. Here are some of the guidelines that eBay has put in place:
- Feedback should be left within 60 days after the listing ends.
- Sellers are encouraged to leave Feedback as soon as payment is received (or has cleared).
- Buyers should wait to leave Feedback for sellers until after they receive the item.
- Feedback should be based on the transaction experience, not the item itself.
- Feedback should not include personal information or profanity.
- eBay does not allow the sale of Feedback, and sellers cannot offer incentives for leaving positive Feedback.
My Experience Asking for Feedback
So you want to know what happened when I asked for feedback? Well, I used to do this a lot actually.
I thought I would be a step extra and even slip a piece of paper into my packages, “we hope you enjoy your item and would appreciate any feedback”. I’ve also chased customers with countless messages.
I just find it a waste of time. There’s no actual proof that having one extra score in your feedback will get you an extra sale, I think we are playing a psychological game with ourselves here.
I have purchased 216 items on eBay over a 5 year period. Do you know how many times I have looked at the sellers account, yet alone their feedback score? Zero.
But I do have a great story for you. I actually found this just now, when searching through some old messages. I sent a buyer a message, asking for some feedback.
I received a reply, which made me chuckle. “Great item, lovely colour and fast shipping”. They had sent this to my inbox. Instead of leaving feedback, they sent me their feedback. Well, I found it funny!
This does also highlight the fact that buyers aren’t eBay specialists, some of them may not even be aware that the feedback system exists.
Final Thoughts
Most of the time, asking for feedback will be a harmless task. However, you need to be mindful of the time it takes you to do this. You could be wasting hours every single week, just asking for feedback. There’s better things you can be doing with your time.
It is also important to note that eBay has strict guidelines regarding communication between buyers and sellers. All communication should be done through eBay’s messaging system, and sellers should not ask buyers to leave positive Feedback or offer incentives for doing so.
Be mindful of the fact that your customers may already be a little irate that they’re purchasing items for a little more than the retail price. If you do end up receiving negative feedback, you may be able to dispute it with eBay depending on the reasons for it.
