Protect Your eBay Reputation
If you sell items on eBay, it's easy to forget about your feedback score. This is true whether you are an eBay veteran or an infrequent user. But having a lax attitude toward your feedback score could have dire consequences on your reputation and consequently your ability to do business.
Every eBay member has a feedback score. Each time a transaction is completed, the buyer and seller are able to rate each other. Feedback simply consists of a rating (either positive, negative, or neutral) and a short box for leaving comments.
Each positive rating you get boosts your feedback score by 1 point. A negative rating knocks a point off, and a neutral rating has no effect.
Sellers with high feedback scores have more credibility to buyers. Their auctions get more views and the final selling price is often higher.
Low feedback and negative comments will make buyers think twice before bidding on your auction. Here are some tips to keeping your feedback score on the rise.
1. Be as clear as possible in your item descriptions. If an item has flaws, don't try to hide them and pretend it was damaged during shipping. If you're getting lots of questions about your listings, that's a sure sign that you're not providing enough details.
2. Don't try to make a killing on shipping charges. I've bought items that quoted a price for shipping, but then when I got the package I noticed the actual cost was much lower. Even factoring in a reasonable "handling" charge, it was plain that the seller was trying to boost his profit at my expense. That kind of transaction leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
3. Don't let days go by without checking your email. A simple question can turn into a major issue if a buyer thinks he's being ignored.
You can gain feedback scores for buying items too. Many ebooks and other digital products sell for pennies and have no shipping charges. For a just a few dollars, you can buy a bunch of inexpensive items and give your feedback a nice little boost.
Remember. Be vigilant. Take note of any possible negativity around one of your deals and head it off before it becomes a problem.