How can a member have 100% positive feedback when some of the comments are definitely negative

[hpenman-uk]

I have recently sold an item on ebay, I check out the buyers to see if they are good ebayers, and this particular ebayer had 100% positive feedback( didnt go into the feedback in detail just the update screen)

Unfortunatey I am having issues with them, which was a surprise due to their unblemished record, but when I opened up their feedback I found that whilst they have all green when you read them, there are several that are definitely negative feedback but they have a green + next to them... how is that possible? This gave me an skewed impression of this member. I am not happy because now I have issues with this person and if I had known, I might not have concluded the sale. 

[flydrive2020]

Unfortunately this practice of EBay only allowing Sellers to leave positive comments for buyers DOES distort both the truth and the figures. It was originally imposed as a way of preventing what was known as 'Retaliatory Feedback' being leavable - but I agree it has kinda backfired on them!

Source: Take my example from back in 2016. I sold a pair of items to a buyer which cost just shy of £60.00 ... They took two WEEKS to pay up without one word of an explanation. So All I was able to do was leave a comment to that avail but as a positive: The importance of me telling the truth however was what at the time mattered to me the most. But ... We did get there eventually so not all's lost. If they were on Social Security Benefits and can't pay why not just tell me? I'm not inhuman!!! But I do like to be replied to and informed as would anybody awaiting a payment that's getting later by the day.

I guess the rule is going to have to be read the first few pages of a Seller who you have never bought from's feedback to be sure you have built up an adequate picture of what they are like. Either that or the more tunnel-visioned and blinkered alternative result is 'Only buy from trusted Sellers' ... Going and destroying one of the critical ethos-values of EBay as you maintain this!

I'm with you: Where do you either win / lose or draw with a system this rigid but overly-rigid when it comes to preventing an unscrupulous practice like leaving retaliatory feedback? This is an extremely good question - nice one!