Feedback system flawed?


Have you ever had a terrible experience with a member with a huge positive feedback rating? Have you ever read a feedback that is a lonely negative among many positives? Do you usually discount that lone negative feedback as a person with a chip on their shoulder? Thoughts and comment are appreciated.
3728slingshot

Showing 1 response by bob_bundus

Yes myself & another member have both had bad experiences with a particular member having only good feedback; details are available privately. It's not a hugely positive rating, but no negatives. The other member bought items from him not only in misrepresented condition but so poorly packed that the merchandise was received additionally damaged. This seller is so vindictive that this buyer was afraid to leave negative feedback concerning the deal for fear of negative reprisal on his own record. This actually is a somewhat-flawed feedback system when a situation of that nature occurs. Audiogon is presently in process of revising the feedback system so that the member receiving feedback can add comments of their own, as an attachment when warranted, such as in a deal like that.

I basically agree that I wouldn't be too worried about one or two bad ratings within a larger amount of positives; things such as buyers remorse etc does occur & the seller then gets blamed for not taking the item back (although delivered as promised in condition stated). On another note: The abovementioned member left me 3 bad feedbacks after I refused to deal with him COD, & Audiogon consequently removed them all; there was not a completed transaction (no money or merchandise ever changed hands) so no feedback was allowed. My ad did not even have COD included in the payterms.

Yes I've also been 'jacked around' (buyer changes mind) & I've even had to withdraw a couple of buy offers myself, but there were no hard feelings in that regard (everyone has a right to change his mind!) & certainly no feedbacks were posted. That is not the purpose of the feedback system at all but some abusers think otherwise, erroneously taking matters into their own hands. Just keep those "sour grapes" in mind when you read a 'poo-poo' feedback posting amongst a slew of positives. You can also use the hyperlinks to contact other members that have posted feedbacks (of either nature) in order to verify the sellers integrity or supposed lack thereof.