Question:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In the past two months I’ve left roughly 175 feedback, but only recieved a total of about 75. In an attempt to remedy I’m considering sending out an email to those of my customers who have not left feedback basically as a follow up to thier purchase to be sure they were completely satisfied with what they recieved. And in the same email letting them know that I had left them positive feedback. I read a post earlier by someone who decided to send out emails to past customers when they put up new auctions and the consensus seemed to be that this was spamming. In my letters I have no intentions of attempting to sell anything else. My goal is to not only gain feedback but also to stay in touch with past customers that I have heard nothing back from. Would this be considered spamming or at the very least too forward?
I had also noticed that I wasn’t getting back a good deal of feedback despite the fact that I leave feedback. What I do now is that after I ship the package, I send an email to the buyer letting them know that I have shipped their package on such and such date. I give them the delivery confirmation number and then I let them know that I have left them positive feedback and hope that they will do the same for me after they have received their package. One thing I noticed was that a lot of newbies really don’t understand how to leave feedback. When I looked at the feedback that I had left for others, I saw where some buyers had responded to the feedback that I left for them. That is, instead of leaving feedback for me, they gave me praise as a response to the feedback I left for them! Some newbies, after receiving my shipping/feedback email, will email me and ask me how to leave feedback. One enthusiastic newbie, left me feedback after receiving my email, before she received her package. I wrote her back and told her that I appreciated her feedback but that in the future she might want to wait till she received the item just to be sure. I think that some people leave feedback once a month or so because sometimes out of the blue will come some feedback that I assumed I would not be getting. I am seeing a much better percentage of feedback being left for me and it seems to me that the tone of the feedback are more enthusiastic. I sell the same items so this is nice for future customers to see how pleased others are with my product. Michele
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – <snip; Spam is unsolicited advertising. The OP was referring (IIRC) to requests for feedback for completed transactions. That’s not spam in any way, shape, form, colour or complexion. I’d agree on that much. However, it’s also offensive to a significant number of buyers, who don’t appreciate sellers begging them for feedback. People have been known to express this displeasure by leaving negative feedback for the sellers who do it. If you sell a good product, ship it in a timely fashion, stand behind what you sell, tell people when you ship, and leave good feedback for your buyers, you’ll get feedback. It may not come as fast as you’d like, but you will get it. I never mention feedback to my buyers except telling them I’ve left it for them when I tell them I’ve shipped, and I get about 70% returned. However, I just got one yesterday from a bidder who bought an item that closed on June 15 and shipped a few days later, and I’ve gotten a number of them almost three months after the auction was over. Fussing about it, fuming over it, worrying about leaving positives for people who have never left you feedback, badgering people for positives, all of these things generally fall under the definition of counterproductive. For people who are just starting out it would be nice if people would leave feedback more often, and leave feedback more promptly, but if you don’t worry about it the situation corrects itself.
Oh heck! I agree 100% I was just a little cranky with the poster who opined that emailing requests for fb would be "ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEED" (sic) to get you NARUed and get you bumped by your ISP! Oh bum! I just realised I am crossposting. Sorry a.m.o.e. My last.
Response:
In an attempt to remedy I’m considering sending out an email to those of my customers who have not left feedback Besides this being spam… these folks chose not to give you feedback. Perhaps they were indifferent… or "not quite happy" but not unhappy enough to bother with bad feedback. Why prod them and risk a neutral or neg?? Walt. It’s not spam, it’s good customer service. Ever taken a marketing course? Some of these people are so anal.
You are right. We ARE anal, on certain subjects. For good reason — and we’ll proudly continue to be that way. Kris
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In the past two months I’ve left roughly 175 feedback, but only recieved a total of about 75. In an attempt to remedy I’m considering sending out an email to those of my customers who have not left feedback basically as a follow up to thier purchase to be sure they were completely satisfied with what they recieved. And in the same email letting them know that I had left them positive feedback. I read a post earlier by someone who decided to send out emails to past customers when they put up new auctions and the consensus seemed to be that this was spamming. In my letters I have no intentions of attempting to sell anything else. My goal is to not only gain feedback but also to stay in touch with past customers that I have heard nothing back from. Would this be considered spamming or at the very least too forward?
It is not considered spamming by eBay since it would be an auction related communication. It would, at least in my opinion, be a really, really dumb thing to do, since it would run the risk of irritating some of these bidders, and could draw a negative feedback just out of spite. Irritated people are also less likely to buy from you again, even if they don’t leave a negative.
Response:
Hey there Jeffrey There’s nothing wrong with what you’re doing. I send out a reminder email with a link to the feedback page after a couple of weeks if I don’t get feedback. A lot of people thank me for reminding them because they had forgotten. If they don’t respond and don’t leave feedback, I sent one more letter out after a month. If they don’t respond again, then I just move on. My auction software actually creates the letter for me and tracks the time. If they haven’t left feedback then the transaction isn’t complete and naturally one would assume that you’d be well within your rights to ask for closure. Some buyers just want to make sure that the product isn’t going to break in the first 30 days or so. I’ve been doing that for a year for 100% of my transactions (probably about 500 total since I started doing it) and I’ve never received a complaint or a comment from a Buyer. Never. None. Zero. Of course there are others who will insist that your computer will explode from all of the negative feedbacks and instant cancellation of your account from eBay, but I’ve found that it’s just not accurate. You have to remember that people who come here are more inclined to enforce their rights and don’t really represent the average buyer/seller who really doesn’t care as long as they get their widget and they’re happy. I sell rare and collectible items so I created a weekly email with all of my new auctions. When I send them the tracking number I ask people if they want to be added and I put them on when they agree to it. I found that a lot of past buyers wanted to see what I have available without checking every week and I couldn’t keep up with all of the special requests for items that I didn’t have at the moment. That won’t work for all items, tho. Since they might not get the same product from another buyer they’re happy to get notices from me. The net result has been very, very happy buyers who do a lot of repeat business with me. Good luck, Eric
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In the past two months I’ve left roughly 175 feedback, but only recieved a total of about 75. In an attempt to remedy I’m considering sending out an email to those of my customers who have not left feedback basically as a follow up to thier purchase to be sure they were completely satisfied with what they recieved. And in the same email letting them know that I had left them positive feedback. I read a post earlier by someone who decided to send out emails to past customers when they put up new auctions and the consensus seemed to be that this was spamming. In my letters I have no intentions of attempting to sell anything else. My goal is to not only gain feedback but also to stay in touch with past customers that I have heard nothing back from. Would this be considered spamming or at the very least too forward?
Response:
declared: Oh heck! I agree 100% I was just a little cranky with the poster who opined that emailing requests for fb would be "ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEED" (sic) to get you NARUed and get you bumped by your ISP!
don l’s answers are always over the top! 
robert "I’ve been long, a long way from here Put on a poncho, played for mosquitos, And drank til I was thirsty again We went searching through thrift store jungles Found Geronimo’s rifle, Marilyn’s shampoo And Benny Goodman’s corset and pen"
Response:
muttered something like: Would this be considered spamming or at the very least too forward?
I wouldn’t consider it spam, but it probably is too forward for the auctions that have ended more than a couple of weeks ago. Picture it from the other side. You bought something on ebay, received it and thought the transaction was complete, then two months later got an e-mail from the seller asking if everything is satisfactory. Probably what you’re going to think is, "if the seller actually cared whether I was satisfied with this thing, why did he wait two months to ask me?" It will just look kind of weird. My opinion, worth every cent you paid for it. -Bertha — Megan: How do you think morale is holding up? Cooper: Pretty well, all things considered, although high spirits are just no substitute for 800 rounds a minute.
Response:
In the past two months I’ve left roughly 175 feedback, but only recieved a total of about 75. In an attempt to remedy I’m considering sending out an email to those of my customers who have not left feedback basically as a follow up to thier purchase to be sure they were completely satisfied with what they recieved. And in the same email letting them know that I had left them positive feedback. I read a post earlier by someone who decided to send out emails to past customers when they put up new auctions and the consensus seemed to be that this was spamming. In my letters I have no intentions of attempting to sell anything else. My goal is to not only gain feedback but also to stay in touch with past customers that I have heard nothing back from. Would this be considered spamming or at the very least too forward?
If you are attempting to gain feedback, you do not deserve any. The comments should be sent ONLY when you initially send their tracking info. Anything later is virtually certain to cause more problems than it solves. — Many thanks, Don Lancaster Synergetics 3860 West First Street Box 809 Thatcher, AZ 85552 Please visit my GURU’s LAIR web site at http://www.tinaja.com
Response:
Rubbish. Its an honest enquiry to an individual about a completed transaction. Perfectly acceptable.
Acceptable to who? Certainly not to the recipient. It is ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEED to eventually get you NARU’s and blocked from your ISP. — Many thanks, Don Lancaster Synergetics 3860 West First Street Box 809 Thatcher, AZ 85552 Please visit my GURU’s LAIR web site at http://www.tinaja.com
Response:
In an attempt to remedy I’m considering sending out an email to those of my customers who have not left feedback Besides this being spam… these folks chose not to give you feedback. Perhaps they were indifferent… or "not quite happy" but not unhappy enough to bother with bad feedback. Why prod them and risk a neutral or neg?? Walt. It’s not spam, it’s good customer service. Ever taken a marketing course?
You obviously haven’t. You are taking an action that pisses off your customers and guarantees your failure. — Many thanks, Don Lancaster Synergetics 3860 West First Street Box 809 Thatcher, AZ 85552 Please visit my GURU’s LAIR web site at http://www.tinaja.com
Response:
"John Staines" wrote "Steve Tyson" wrote If I received it, I would report you to ebay Received what? link It looks like Steve is the victim of over cropping. No pleasing some people.
<snipped the undeserved sympathy) No: Steve, like you, is the victim of his own inconsideration. Inconsiderate top-poster. link
Response:
Rubbish. Its an honest enquiry to an individual about a completed transaction. Perfectly acceptable. Acceptable to who? Certainly not to the recipient. It is ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEED to eventually get you NARU’s and blocked from your ISP.
Asking a buyer to complete a transaction by leaving feedback? "ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEED to eventually get you NARU’s " Surely you jest. "blocked from your ISP" ? My ISP isn’t going to block me if I ask a buyer to leave feedback – after I have left feedback. Spam is unsolicited advertising. The OP was referring (IIRC) to requests for feedback for completed transactions. That’s not spam in any way, shape, form, colour or complexion.
Response:
<snip; Spam is unsolicited advertising. The OP was referring (IIRC) to requests for feedback for completed transactions. That’s not spam in any way, shape, form, colour or complexion.
I’d agree on that much. However, it’s also offensive to a significant number of buyers, who don’t appreciate sellers begging them for feedback. People have been known to express this displeasure by leaving negative feedback for the sellers who do it. If you sell a good product, ship it in a timely fashion, stand behind what you sell, tell people when you ship, and leave good feedback for your buyers, you’ll get feedback. It may not come as fast as you’d like, but you will get it. I never mention feedback to my buyers except telling them I’ve left it for them when I tell them I’ve shipped, and I get about 70% returned. However, I just got one yesterday from a bidder who bought an item that closed on June 15 and shipped a few days later, and I’ve gotten a number of them almost three months after the auction was over. Fussing about it, fuming over it, worrying about leaving positives for people who have never left you feedback, badgering people for positives, all of these things generally fall under the definition of counterproductive. For people who are just starting out it would be nice if people would leave feedback more often, and leave feedback more promptly, but if you don’t worry about it the situation corrects itself.
Response:
In an attempt to remedy I’m considering sending out an email to those of my customers who have not left feedback Besides this being spam… these folks chose not to give you feedback. Perhaps they were indifferent… or "not quite happy" but not unhappy enough to bother with bad feedback. Why prod them and risk a neutral or neg?? Walt.
It’s not spam, it’s good customer service. Ever taken a marketing course? Some of these people are so anal.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In the past two months I’ve left roughly 175 feedback, but only recieved a total of about 75. In an attempt to remedy I’m considering sending out an email to those of my customers who have not left feedback basically as a follow up to thier purchase to be sure they were completely satisfied with what they recieved. And in the same email letting them know that I had left them positive feedback. I read a post earlier by someone who decided to send out emails to past customers when they put up new auctions and the consensus seemed to be that this was spamming. In my letters I have no intentions of attempting to sell anything else. My goal is to not only gain feedback but also to stay in touch with past customers that I have heard nothing back from. Would this be considered spamming or at the very least too forward?
That’s not a very high percentage; I think we figured that 65-50% is about right. I don’t think I’d ask, though. As we’ve seen in the past, that might prod some to give you feedback you don’t want, just because you did ask (and it reminded them of a problem). What I (and others do) is give the buyer a link to the Feedback Forum in our EOA emails, telling them that we leave feedback for all transactions and it’s always welcome….and to please let us know immediately if anything’s wrong with their purchase when they receive it. Then never mention feedback again. Kris
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In the past two months I’ve left roughly 175 feedback, but only recieved a total of about 75. In an attempt to remedy I’m considering sending out an email to those of my customers who have not left feedback basically as a follow up to thier purchase to be sure they were completely satisfied with what they recieved. And in the same email letting them know that I had left them positive feedback. I read a post earlier by someone who decided to send out emails to past customers when they put up new auctions and the consensus seemed to be that this was spamming. In my letters I have no intentions of attempting to sell anything else. My goal is to not only gain feedback but also to stay in touch with past customers that I have heard nothing back from. Would this be considered spamming or at the very least too forward? If its unsolicited email, its spam, and ebay can (and should) cancel your account.
Rubbish. Its an honest enquiry to an individual about a completed transaction. Perfectly acceptable. IOW, If a seller emails a customer with a legitimate question, it isn’t spam. (Someone’s shorts chafing ?)
Response:
It looks like Steve is the victim of over cropping. No pleasing some people. Never fear Steve…..you can’t please everyone. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "Steve Tyson" wrote If I received it, I would report you to ebay Received what? link
Response:
typed: Would this be considered spamming or at the very least too forward?
2 things you could do: send a reminder for feedback when you notify the bidder you recieved the payment and are sending the item or send reminder to seller when you sent the payment for the auction you won. I wouldn’t repeat the reminder more than once as it’d make you sound too pushy. #2: on your auction, you could include a disclaimer you will leave feedback only after the bidder has left you one. This would cut down on free feedbacks for the bidder. Personally, it’s not really important to have every single one as long as you have plenety of good feedbacks. — All viruses and spams are automatically removed by my ISP before reaching my inbox.
Response:
declared: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In the past two months I’ve left roughly 175 feedback, but only recieved a total of about 75. In an attempt to remedy I’m considering sending out an email to those of my customers who have not left feedback basically as a follow up to thier purchase to be sure they were completely satisfied with what they recieved. And in the same email letting them know that I had left them positive feedback. I read a post earlier by someone who decided to send out emails to past customers when they put up new auctions and the consensus seemed to be that this was spamming. In my letters I have no intentions of attempting to sell anything else. My goal is to not only gain feedback but also to stay in touch with past customers that I have heard nothing back from. Would this be considered spamming or at the very least too forward? If its unsolicited email, its spam, and ebay can (and should) cancel your account. Rubbish. Its an honest enquiry to an individual about a completed transaction. Perfectly acceptable. IOW, If a seller emails a customer with a legitimate question, it isn’t spam. (Someone’s shorts chafing ?)
it’s acceptable, but not wise. instead include something like "I give feedback on all transactions, please do me the same courtesy. " in your EOA mail and leave it at that. i’ve left 4258 and gotten 2965 using that method. robert "I’ve been long, a long way from here Put on a poncho, played for mosquitos, And drank til I was thirsty again We went searching through thrift store jungles Found Geronimo’s rifle, Marilyn’s shampoo And Benny Goodman’s corset and pen"
Response:
"Steve Tyson" wrote If I received it, I would report you to ebay
Received what? link
Response:
In an attempt to remedy I’m considering sending out an email to those of my
customers who have not left feedback Besides this being spam… these folks chose not to give you feedback. Perhaps they were indifferent… or "not quite happy" but not unhappy enough to bother with bad feedback. Why prod them and risk a neutral or neg?? Walt.
Response:
In the past two months I’ve left roughly 175 feedback, but only recieved a total of about 75. In an attempt to remedy I’m considering sending out an email to those of my customers who have not left feedback basically as a follow up to thier purchase to be sure they were completely satisfied with what they recieved. And in the same email letting them know that I had left them positive feedback. I read a post earlier by someone who decided to send out emails to past customers when they put up new auctions and the consensus seemed to be that this was spamming. In my letters I have no intentions of attempting to sell anything else. My goal is to not only gain feedback but also to stay in touch with past customers that I have heard nothing back from. Would this be considered spamming or at the very least too forward?
Feedback is optional. Nagging for it is unseemly, and I think your idea of "staying in gouch with past customers" is disingenuous at best. Buyers who like what you sell found you the first time and will find you again. Trying to tippy-toe around the definition of spamming is not going to make a nagging email from you any sweeter to receive. — Ty Who is mostly just a slightly skewed Donna Reed This address is white-listed. Mail sent to it may bounce back to the sender.
Response:
If I received it, I would report you to ebay
Response:
In the past two months I’ve left roughly 175 feedback, but only recieved a total of about 75. In an attempt to remedy I’m considering sending out an email to those of my customers who have not left feedback basically as a follow up to thier purchase to be sure they were completely satisfied with what they recieved. And in the same email letting them know that I had left them positive feedback. I read a post earlier by someone who decided to send out emails to past customers when they put up new auctions and the consensus seemed to be that this was spamming. In my letters I have no intentions of attempting to sell anything else. My goal is to not only gain feedback but also to stay in touch with past customers that I have heard nothing back from. Would this be considered spamming or at the very least too forward?
If its unsolicited email, its spam, and ebay can (and should) cancel your account.
Response:
In the past two months I’ve left roughly 175 feedback, but only recieved a total of about 75. In an attempt to remedy I’m considering sending out an email to those of my customers who have not left feedback basically as a follow up to thier purchase to be sure they were completely satisfied with what they recieved. And in the same email letting them know that I had left them positive feedback. I read a post earlier by someone who decided to send out emails to past customers when they put up new auctions and the consensus seemed to be that this was spamming. In my letters I have no intentions of attempting to sell anything else. My goal is to not only gain feedback but also to stay in touch with past customers that I have heard nothing back from. Would this be considered spamming or at the very least too forward?
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