whats the point of feedback if not to be looked at

Every third or forth item i sale, there is no payment, no answer from buyer and nothing i can do about. Well i can report them, but i lost the time and second offer usually don't work.

I have mixed feelings about feedback these days.
There are definitely snakes on both sides of the fence.
The only problem I ever had with negative feedback came from sellers listing fakes. I received some very nasty remarks in return for returning the item and letting other buyers now that the listed items were counterfeit. I think I was supposed to take my refund and shut my mouth. Well, IMO, one of the purposes of feedback is to identify dishonest sellers.
However, some buyers are abusing the fact that a seller cannot give negative feedback. My least favourite is the "partial refund thief". This kind of buyer always wants to complain about S+H, after they have agreed to it, or finds some minor flaw in the item and demands a refund for something that was clearly apparent in the listing photograph. Worst yet, they invent problems where none exist.
Something has to be done about this. IMO, eBay is losing a lot of individual sellers of unique items because they can't be bothered with the hassles.
To put this in perspective, I am only a buyer on eBay. Anytime I have been surprised by the purchase I received in the mail, the first thing I do is re-read the listing. I usually find that I have not read the item listing carefully enough. (Yes, that scarf is listed at 16" by 16", not 30" square. ) This is not the seller's fault. I leave positive feedback based on the item listed. After a few mistakes I learned to read and then re-read item listings. I also learned to ask for S+H quotes before i bid on an item or purchased it. "If it's good enough to keep, it's good enough to pay for".
Susan

Ditto's to #3.

feedback is very important for the ebay seller.so hope all the buyers dont leave a natural or negative feedback to the seller.we think most of seller are honest and want to do business at all.and also hope all the buyers have a good experience in shopping.I am sure

I think you have something there...Ebay is probably working on a project similar to that. It is not a bad idea. I would defiently be number 1 ah jajaj.

It cuts both ways, I've seen 3 listings this past week where the seller said in his listing (2-5 days left) that "if you leave me good feedback, I'll leave you good feedback".

Now really!!!

How many go to the trouble of researching feedbacks? I just got thru running down some that looked shaky, so I read a few pages. In no less than 5% of them, the buyer gave an positive, something like as described, maybe an A+ then slams the seller the last few words with ripoff shipping, lowlife won't return emails or take back an item against what his listing says, NEVER AGAIN!

To that extent, it's a joke, the seller got a green button and to most who may be trying to buy an item in the last second, that's all they'll care to look at, if that.