Several times over the past few years I have received e-mails from different sellers reminding me that they'll be happy to post positive eBay feedback for our transaction, if only I (the buyer) will do so first.

I very likely would have posted positive feedback anyway, but when I receive one of these "feedback hostage" or "feedback extortion" notes, it seems so improper to me that I just dig in my heels.

I either ignore the e-mail, or I send them a note saying that unfortunately, I have the same policy as they do - I only respond to positive feedback, I never initiate it.

This in not what eBay feedback is supposed to be about. I don't know whether the new rules will accomplish what eBay hopes they will or not; I only know that the feedback system is at least partially broken at the present time.

And again, this opinion is strictly from the viewpoint of an eBay buyer - I have never sold on eBay, so I don't know what challenges and frustrations the sellers face.