topic Re: ebay automated feedback in Buying

ebay automated feedback

marfy1965 — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:40:35 GMT

I have a basic policy of only leaving feedback for sellers who leave it for their buyers. If I haven't received any feedback from a seller when my item has arrived, I will check their feedback to see if they leave it in response.

If they don't, sometimes I will message the seller to say item has been received and I will be happy to leave positive feedback on receipt of theirs. Some will then leave it, some won't.

But now ebay have introduced the automated feedback so the choice of not leaving it has been taken away from me. What happens if something has gone wrong but not enough to justify a neg or neutral and I just want to move on? Seller still gets a positive feedback.

Re: ebay automated feedback

roger_roger_over_and_nowt — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:53:51 GMT

An internet search and previous posts show :- Replacing Automated Feedback: If you are a buyer, you can leave your own feedback within 60 days of delivery, which will replace the automated positive feedback.

Re: ebay automated feedback

marfy1965 — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:13:16 GMT

I've read through previous posts which has answered a few queries I had before posting this.

I was asking why I now have no choice in the seller receiving positive feedback - both when they don't leave feedback for buyers, or when the transaction wasn't good but doesn't warrant a neg or neutral.

Apologies if my first post wasn't clear.

Re: ebay automated feedback

insidethe93 — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:16:21 GMT

Some sellers routinely allocate a time to leave feedback, for a number of buyers in one session.

One of my regular sellers (who's since left eBay) used to do it once a ?month.

Re: ebay automated feedback

marfy1965 — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:29:41 GMT

That's why I check if they do leave feedback, or if it's automated. I've found quite a few who will only leave it for their sellers, and some who don't leave any at all.

Re: ebay automated feedback

thesmokingrunner — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:30:56 GMT

I can see your point, but...

Feedback is optional both ways - for both buyer and seller - and one leaving feedback for the other should not be dependent on reciprocity. "I'll leave feedback if you will" becomes "You go first" "No, you go first"...

If a buyer wishes to leave feedback then so be it - the option is there - but the choice to leave feedback is not, and should not be, contingent on whether the seller also leaves feedback. Likewise a seller may leave feedback (though only positive feedback can be left for a buyer) whilst the buyer does not have to leave feedback.

Automated feedback is eBay's way of recognising that a presumably satisfactory transaction has taken place for which the buyer has not left feedback. Why 'presumably satisfactory'? - because the vast majority of buyers who have an unsatisfactory experience will leave either negative or neutral feedback. Automated feedback simply records the transaction as "No problems" positive feedback to indicate to potential buyers that there were no issues with a sale.

It really is no big deal and, as @roger_roger_over_and_nowt points out, you can always overwrite automated feedback.

Re: ebay automated feedback

marfy1965 — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 17:12:21 GMT

That's like saying it's optional to say please and thank you to a shopkeeper/customer. Is it, but it's poor manners and not the way my Mum raised me.

What if, as I asked, the transaction does not deserve positive feedback or neutral/neg?

And how do I know if ebay has left automated feedback on my behalf?

Re: ebay automated feedback

marfy1965 — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 17:12:56 GMT

That should say "It is", not "Is it".

Re: ebay automated feedback

sml192 — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 18:44:37 GMT

@marfy1965 wrote:
What if, as I asked, the transaction does not deserve positive feedback or neutral/neg?

Neutral feedback is intended for transactions that are neither particularly positive or negative, i.e. just satisfactory, but it seems that many people now view neutral feedback in the same way as negative.

Re: ebay automated feedback

marfy1965 — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 20:13:04 GMT

Agreed, as it doesn't affect their score. But if I don't leave any feedback then ebay will leave them a positive.

Re: ebay automated feedback

bzmotman — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 21:10:39 GMT

Many sellers do not have the time to go through their sales leaving feedback manually so they, myself included, use an Ebay system whereby if a buyer leaves feedback for me then my own personal feedback is automatically left for them. Note this is a different and much older system to the recently introduced system you are referring to.

I understand why you are not happy with the new Ebay system but it has always been the case that both sellers & buyers don't bother to leave feedback. For instance Ebay reckon I have sold 61K items, I think more like 80k, yet have feedback less than 25k.

The other point is feedback over the years has meant less & less. For example originally sellers could leave a negative for bad buyers but that went by the board some time ago. So now its impossible to highlight if I have a bad experience with a buyer - it does happen.

To be honest with all the problems on the site with scam buyers, dodgy sellers, constantly increasing fees etc auto feedback is a minor issue for most people.

Re: ebay automated feedback

str11p — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 21:18:52 GMT

I understand your point, but (ebay states its reasons for leaving automated feedback and) there are also many other things which ebay does which some members would like to work slightly differently or even very differently.

Re: ebay automated feedback

marfy1965 — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 07:20:36 GMT

That is why I check if a seller reciprocates feedback - if they do, and there hasn't been any issues, then I will leave a positive.

I've always left positive feedback if it's either already been left for me or it will be left (again, if there hasn't been any issues), so yes I do bother to leave feedback.

I don't know why ebay chose to introduce this, and it is unfair on buyers that a seller can receive an undeserved positive. I don't receive any notification that this has happened for me to change it.

Re: ebay automated feedback

marfy1965 — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 07:23:25 GMT

Ebay seems now to be on the side of sellers, e.g. buyers now have to pay the premium but, as far as I've seen, sellers have not reduced their prices to take into account they are paying less in fees. Now they are ensuring sellers will receive positive feedback from buyers who don't leave it, but why not positive feedback for buyers from sellers who won't leave it?

I've always viewed positive feedback as a "thank you" as you would in a physical shop.

Re: ebay automated feedback

thesmokingrunner — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 08:08:28 GMT

@marfy1965 wrote:
That's like saying it's optional to say please and thank you to a shopkeeper/customer. Is it, but it's poor manners and not the way my Mum raised me.

What if, as I asked, the transaction does not deserve positive feedback or neutral/neg?

And how do I know if ebay has left automated feedback on my behalf?

It's not like saying it's optional @marfy1965 - it is optional. And just as it's poor manners not to say please and thank you it is, to some at any rate, poor manners not to leave feedback.

What's the solution? Make feedback mandatory? Buyers would not be allowed to buy and sellers would not be allowed to sell until they had left feedback for every previous transaction? Yeah, that'd go down well.

To answer your specific questions:

- If the transaction does not deserve positive feedback or neutral/neg then don't leave any. eBay will generate automated feedback to let other users know that the transaction was completed but the buyer chose, for whatever reason, not to leave feedback. If that bothers you: leave feedback.

- How do you know eBay has left automated feedback on your behalf? Check the seller's feedback. And if eBay has left automated feedback and you don't like it you can change it...

Or - here's a thought - you could just leave feedback for every purchase you make, regardless of whether the seller leaves feedback for you.

There really are more important things going on in the world - not just in eBayland - than the apparently vexed issue of reciprocal feedback not being left. It doesn't matter, marfy1965, it really doesn't matter.

Feedback is optional, end of. I don't think there's anything else which can be added to that. So before we start the inevitable "You hang up" "No, you hang up first" "You hang up first" "No, you hang up first" ...

I'll hang up first.

Re: ebay automated feedback

jckl1957 — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 09:14:10 GMT

Ebay won't change their policy on automatic feedback for sellers if the item is sent out on time and no case is opened.

I don't really understand why you begrudge a seller receiving positive feedback simpley because they haven't left any for you.

In any case, feedback is heavily skewed in favour of buyers.

Possibly, sellers who don't leave feedback choose not to because their options are severley limited: they can leave a buyer positive feedback or no feedback at all.

If a buyer has been slow to pay or has simply been a pain, I probably would not leave them feedback because I am not allowed to say they took ages to pay, or they were fussy and demanding etc.

Re: ebay automated feedback

jonatjonatjonat — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 10:01:21 GMT

The reason is there is a risk to new sellers who previously may have received a negative feedback (because in the main these days people more likely leave feedback to complain).

a positive is left if the order is delivered on time and no cases have been opened. I fail to see how that can’t be seen to be a positive, it’s the minimum expectation of something that you get it and you don’t raise any issues.

I have no idea what scenario you have imagined that involves an order where something goes wrong but it doesn’t warrant feedback. But the solution is, leave at best neutral feedback or perhaps a positive that advises the minor issue that doesn’t warrant it being a neutral or negative.

I think automated feedback is an absolute positive for sellers on eBay. It reduces the risk to them given most orders will be delivered without issue and deserve a basic positive feedback.

if buyers don’t want to leave feedback, that’s up to them, but the rules are clear.

Re: ebay automated feedback

dr_curlywigs — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 10:23:40 GMT

As a buyer (rarely buy on Ebay these days) but as a buyer on any platform I always leave feedback once the transaction is complete, regardless of seller feedback.

As a seller (this is not my selling account). I only leave feedback after a buyer has left feedback. Why? The reason is, as a buyer, I have to do a couple of clicks to buy my item. That is my input.

As a seller, I have had to source the item, take photographs, write a description, answer questions (many that shouldn't even be asked as the answer is in the description) , package the item, take the item to the post office promptly etc etc ( Sometimes making extra trips for buyers who have left buying last minute and need an item quick)

Why as a buyer do I deserve feedback for little effort, yet as a seller I don't for the effort I put in ?

The fact is, buyer have become lazy and entitled.

Re: ebay automated feedback

marfy1965 — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 15:22:38 GMT

I really feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall here.

thesmokingrunner - I did correct what I wrote in the subsequent post to "It is (optional)". If the transaction does not deserve positive feedback but also does not deserve neg/netural, then I would choose not to leave any, yet ebay will overrule that and leave a positive.

jckl1957 - I don't begrudge a seller receiving positve feedback, though I do believe it is important that sellers should leave feedback for their buyers if the transaction has gone smoothly; it's basically them saying thank you.

jonatjonatjonat - buyers may be more likely to leave feedback to complain because sellers often don't leave them feedback, so the buyer doesn't leave positive feedback, and only leave any feedback when things have gone wrong. I do leave a positive if the transaction has gone ahead with no issues and, on checking the seller's feedback, I believe that they will reciprocate. I'd like to build up my feedback in order to start selling and so receiving feedback is important to me. I have experienced transactions where a positive isn't appropriate but it wasn't bad enough to warrant a neutral/neg either as I understand that can damage a seller's account.

dr_curlywigs - as above, I am trying to build my feedback to start selling on ebay; maybe other buyers are the same. You don't have to be a seller, but if you choose to then you accept what you will need to do in order to earn money - just like any job but probably something you do in your spare time. Your buyer deserves feedback as they have paid you money they have earned at their jobs, assuming they haven't turned into the buyer from heck. It's just basic good manners, and if a seller treats their customers well then I (and possibly lots of others) will happily buy from them again.

And on that note, I am leaving this thread. Maybe I haven't explained myself well enough to be understood, but this is getting frustrating. To all those who have responded, thank you, even if we have disagreed I appreciate your time.

Re: ebay automated feedback

amymirrors — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 16:08:35 GMT

Agreed. Feedback has been degraded since ebay micromanages it much more than they used to. I generally leave feedback for good sellers but sometimes they dont warrant it and leaving neg/neutral feedback will almost invariably result in retaliatory feedback from a seller if you do. Thus, feedback system really no longer works in that its not a reliable indicator of the integrity of buyers and sellers and ebay is happy to allow certain sellers to contiune trading who are suspect, in my experience. Probably a reason why a lot of people dont bother leaving feedback anymore. Auto feedback appears to be another effort to boost flagging sales since it potentially improves ratings.