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Surviving eBay's Feedback Policy
(c) 2007-2008 by M.C. Nygard
Ten Things Sellers Can do to Survive eBay's Feedback Changes

Sellers banded together Feb. 18-25, 2008 to boycott eBay's latest fee
hikes and radical feedback changes (censorship of negative and neutral
feedback given to buyers). eBay suffered a midweek drop of 3% in listings
(14 million listings down from 14.5 million listings) reportedly as a result.

While eBay isn't censoring feedback until May 2008, sellers can take action
now to protect their reputation and to thwart unsafe trading:

1. Set up automatic buyer requirements. As a seller you can block
buyers who: Are registered in countries to which you don't ship. ... Have
a feedback score of  -1, -2, or -3 ...  Have 2 Unpaid Item strikes in the
last 30 days... Have bid on or bought items within the last 10 days and
met your limit... and Don't have a PayPal account.

2. Create seller's terms. Most eBay sellers are unaware that they can
thwart unwelcome or malicious buying by specifying the terms of sale.
This enables sellers to report buyers who fail to meet the terms* and to
cancel unwelcome bids. Two acceptable reasons eBay specifies include:
  • Seller states item will only be shipped domestically. Buyer is
    registered outside the shipping area.
  • Seller states that buyers with negative feedback comments are not
    permitted to bid. The buyer has negative feedback.

Sellers may also specify confirmed and verified addresses as a
requirement, among other options, so they don't get scammed.

3. Consider requiring buyers to register with ID Verify for high-
ticket items. This service is available on eBay for $5 to establish proof of
identity.

4. Block offending buyers immediately from being able to make any
more purchases. Keep watch for buyers with an unsavory feedback rating
and block any you may find now, as ll negative feedback given to buyers
will be erased by May 2009. (Starting in May 2008, only sellers will be able
to receive negatives, and ratings will only show for the last 12 months.)

5. Report buyer feedback extortion and auction interference to
eBay's trust and safety department. eBay's safe harbor team will
investigate, then possibly warn or suspend the buyer.

6. File an Unpaid item dispute, if applicable. Just follow eBay's Unpaid
Item Process (Non-paying Bidder or Buyer). Beware though that sellers
may still be vulnerable to negative feedback as a result of filing such an
unpaid item notice -- for example if the buyer responds with payment.  

7. Shop eBay through a buyer account (not a seller account).
Create a separate buying account as a backup for a new store, should you
get abused on your current seller's account. Start purchasing on this
second account to gain feedback. Incidentally, be sure to use this secret
eBay buyer's trick to give you cash back on all your eBay purchases.

8. Make 'Noise"! Use eBay's live help and send eBay e-mails -- the noise
costs eBay in terms of man-power to answer the public and get pay their
spin doctors. Create a YouTube video, ask questions and blog your way
to impacting change.

9. Reply to negative or neutral feedback received using eBay's
Feedback Forum. While eBay is soon censoring negative and neutral
feedback for buyers, sellers can take action to report their concerns on
alternative Web sites:ebuyer-feedback.com and After the Gavel.com and
auction-arses.

10. Leave false "positives" as a last resort. Here are some ideas:
  • "Paid quickly, but funds were reversed by buyer / bank."
  • "Appropriate feedback given on another Web site. Ask us where!

Fed up with PayPal? Learn how you can protect yourself there too!
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* Note: Must log on to eBay to access the page.