I tend to agree with Tony & Sarah. In fact, when I started buying and selling on eBay, I just assumed that the policy was that the seller left feedback first, shortly after receiving payment. It just makes sense. I don't believe sellers should leave feedback based on spite. Feedback should be honest and reflect the truth of the transaction.

But it seems to me that in the last year or two I've been buying from more and more sellers who are expecting their feedback first. WTF?!? Currently I am expecting 2 packages sent by eBay sellers of which both haven't left me feedback, even though I paid them well over a week ago.

After some careful though, however, I have reasoned that making either the seller or the buyer leave feedback first may not be the best solution. After all, the buyer could also leave feedback based on spite. That's why Brad's double-blind feedback idea sounds like a good system. Tony and Sarah wrote: "the only problem is that it is still possible for the other party to leave feedback AFTER the feedback period has expired." I am not sure what you mean by this, but I am always the first to admit when it is I who doesn't understand something. :) Seems like if both parties could leave feedback anytime they wanted during the transaction, but neither would be revealed until the transation was over, this would solve the problem fairly. If anyone could explain to me why this wouldn't work, my open-minded ears are wide open. Good idea, Brad.

Just for clarification, I am an eBay buyer and seller. When I am the seller I DO leave feedback immediately after payment. Thus far I have found that if I leave feedback immediately, do an extraordinary packing job, ship immediately, represent my item for sale completely & accurately, communicate effectively and be reasonable I will get positive feedback. So far, anyway...

When I am the buyer I read the entire auction at least twice through, read as much of the feedback of the seller as I can (not just the number and percent), I pay within minutes (most of the time) of the auction close, expect feedback within a reasonable amount of time after payment (yeah, good luck), and on the rare occasion that I do have a problem I just simply contact the seller and it gets worked out. Perhaps I have just been extremely lucky, but I think taking the time to read the auction listing and seller feedback thoroughly help greatly in avoiding the negativities of an eBay tranaction.

And yes, I realize that even though it's 100% positive, my feedback score of 58 isn't that high of a rating. I have been a member since 2000.

Cool blog. Glad I found it.

- Gavin