EBay to change rules on its feedback system

All buyers and sellers are equal in the virtual auction world of eBay, but buyers are about to become more equal than everyone else. The on-line auction site is to ban sellers placing negative feedback about buyers on trades that go sour.

eBay has said it plans to overhaul its feedback system, said problems were occurring, and slowing down trade, when buyers left negative comments about sellers who then retaliated with their own views. The move, which will affect users worldwide, has angered many sellers.

EBay has defended the move, claiming that buyers need more protection than sellers because they have to send money to a counterparty they do not know.

The group added that it is rare for buyers to renege on payments. But sellers have claimed that the new system leaves them vulnerable to extortion with buyers wielding the ability to blacklist them without the opportunity to defend themselves. And they complain that by still allowing buyers to leave dissenting comments about sellers, eBay has skewed the whole trading process.However, eBay counters that problem buyers can still be dealt with.

"If a buyer doesn't pay, the seller can easily contact eBay, we will review any complaint and maybe remove the buyer," a spokesman said.

EBay says that only a minority of sellers leave negative feedback for buyers.


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technorati tags: ebay, feedback system