BMXTRIX said:
I definitely look for sellers who have a fair amount of feedback and I read negative reviews very cautiously.
Anyone with 100% positive feedback....... going to be someone I am more confident in.
I always review negative feedback as a very bad thing. If a person screws up so bad that they receive negative feedback then something went seriously wrong with the transaction.
Any other opinions on this?
I actually view negative feedback as a positive report and the best way to screen vendors.
First, the reviewer took the time to write a negative report. It takes more thought and effort to write a negative report that replicate the usual positive, and often meaningless, report.
How many times have we all read "great ebayer". I am sorry to say, that is a completely meaningless report. What is "great" to one person may be mediocre to another.
Secondly, the subject matter of the negative report is even more meaningful. If a vendor has a 70% approval rating, and the negative reports are regarding .....
"it took three days for my order to arrive by UPS"
"I waited over an hour for ZXCVB to call me back"
"The receipt was enclosed in the box, and he "knew" I was going to take the shipping box to the wedding and give it as a present"
..... I know the worse things being said about this vendor are trivial problems from what are often grumby customers. Remember, nobody is perfect, so I would expect a good portion of the customers to complain about trivial matters.
If the vendor has a 95% approval rating, and the negative reports are.....
"it arrived damaged, and it took 5 days for the replacement to arrive"
"it arrived damaged, and it took 3 days for the replacement to arrive"
"it arrived damaged"
etc etc
..... get the idea. There is most likely better than 5% chance for the item to arrive damage, but in each instance the vendor took care of the problem in what I belive to be a prompt manner. If the price is good, and I am willing to wait for a replacement if it actually needed, this is actually a very good vendor to do business with. It is his "negative" reports that clearly demonstrate his capabilities.
If the vendor has a 99% approval rating, and the negative reports are.....
"he double charged my credit card, and he failed to catch the error, and I had to call thirteen times over two weeks to get the second charge reversed"
"the item was described as ZXCVB, but it was really a XCVBN that arrived, and he won't correct the problem"
"shipping time was quoted to be 4 days. It was ordered on the 7th and arrived on the 27th"
These problems, even once in a blue moon, even if it is just one time in 100,000 are immediate causes of concern. It doesn't mean the vendor will loose my business, it does mean that if I choose to buy from that vendor I will monitor the purchase very carefully.
100%, or near 100% approval ratings? Those are suspect. Even my mother doesn't think that highly of me.