In the past month I have conducted a lot 50+ (for me) of transactions on ebay. I have decided that I will NEVER AGAIN leave feedback (as a buyer) unless the seller leaves it first. Period.

It has begun to really aggravate me that I as the buyer must take all the risks and pay all the costs then have feedback held ransom. I must pay the seller and my payment must be cleared or confirmed first leaving the buyer at the seller’s mercy whether the seller will even ship it. Next the s/h incorporates all the costs the seller passes on to me so the auction is closer to pure profit. Those cost range from actual postage to his car note and driving time! Next I am at his mercy on how sloppily he writes my address and packs my item. I may wait a month for it to drift from zip code to zip code and may be wadded up if not packed properly. When I finally do get it he wants feedback FIRST, this assures him he has some leverage over what you write. I have never responded well to duress, and this is no different. I will still buy, I will still communicate with the seller, I will still let them know I am happy and the item arrived safely, but NOT leave feedback first.

Some months ago I sent a check to a seller and waited for what seemed to be forever and I emailed him only to find he had not gotten my check. I checked and it cleared my bank, still he replied that he did not get it. The check was not endorsed. I had my bank run a trace on where the money got deposited; it was deposited in HIS account. He bigheartedly agreed to send my notes. What a guy! He was just too sloppy to manage his own bookkeeping. To top that off I get NO feedback! I am glad I did not send a cashier’s check or a money order, which would have been a nightmare and very time consuming to trace.

OK as Gene says stick a fork in me. I’m Done!
Boy, I feel better already!