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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| EBay to ban negative seller views | EBay to ban negative seller views |
| (about 19 hours later) | |
| Online auction site eBay has said it plans to overhaul its feedback system and will ban sellers from leaving negative comments about buyers. | Online auction site eBay has said it plans to overhaul its feedback system and will ban sellers from leaving negative comments about buyers. |
| EBay said problems were occurring, and slowing down trade, when buyers left negative comments about sellers who then retaliated with their own views. | EBay said problems were occurring, and slowing down trade, when buyers left negative comments about sellers who then retaliated with their own views. |
| From May, those selling on eBay will not be able to leave unfavourable or neutral messages about buyers. | From May, those selling on eBay will not be able to leave unfavourable or neutral messages about buyers. |
| The move, which will affect users worldwide, has angered many sellers. | The move, which will affect users worldwide, has angered many sellers. |
| Sellers say it will leave them unprotected. | Sellers say it will leave them unprotected. |
| 'Open forum' | |
| The feedback forum was introduced by Ebay founder Pierre Omidyar in February 1996. | |
| In a message then, he said: "By creating an open market that encourages honest dealings, I hope to make it easier to conduct business with strangers over the net. | |
| "Now, we have an open forum. Use it. Make your complaints in the open. | |
| "Better yet, give your praise in the open. Let everyone know what a joy it was to deal with someone. Above all, conduct yourself in a professional manner." | |
| Tricky customers | Tricky customers |
| Critics of the changes argue that by taking away a seller's right to complain about a problem buyer they will have very little recourse for action when a sale goes wrong. | Critics of the changes argue that by taking away a seller's right to complain about a problem buyer they will have very little recourse for action when a sale goes wrong. |
| And they complain that by still allowing buyers to leave dissenting comments about sellers, eBay has skewed the whole trading process. | And they complain that by still allowing buyers to leave dissenting comments about sellers, eBay has skewed the whole trading process. |
| When both sides have equal access and rights to leave negative comments about each other it is a well balanced trading process, they say. However, eBay counters that problem buyers can still be dealt with. | When both sides have equal access and rights to leave negative comments about each other it is a well balanced trading process, they say. 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. | "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. |
| The changes aim to "improve the overall customer experience", eBay said. | The changes aim to "improve the overall customer experience", eBay said. |
| It added that many buyers would not leave negative comments for fear that sellers would retaliate. | It added that many buyers would not leave negative comments for fear that sellers would retaliate. |
| As a result, buyers and sellers may not get a fair picture of what is actually happening between trading parties. | As a result, buyers and sellers may not get a fair picture of what is actually happening between trading parties. |
| It maintains that the majority of transactions go "swimmingly". | It maintains that the majority of transactions go "swimmingly". |
| EBay says that only a minority of sellers leave negative feedback for buyers. | EBay says that only a minority of sellers leave negative feedback for buyers. |