Hi guys,

I must say that the new rule is not good enough; but it is trying to resolve a genuine problem, that of retaliation.
ebay is only a small part of my life. I've used to both sell and buy. Sadly, I've had disappointment as both seller and buyer. When I bought items that were not as good as described (and yes I did read the listing fully) I couldn't do anything, because the seller can just retaliate.When I sold something and the idiot buyer hadn't read all my conditions.. I was doomed too.
And indeed I as a small time user, I am much more affected by one negative feedback compared to your average seller.

So a better solution would be that when either a seller or buyer posts negative feedback, the other cannot post negative feeback in retaliation. How does this work?
Scenario A: Seller is not happy. This typically happens early on because it has to do with the buyer not paying promptly for example. If the buyer didn't pay promptly, the seller can put his negative feedback as soon as he wishes;
Scenario B: Buyer is not happy. This typically happens later because it usually has to do with the item, which can only be judged upon reception, after payment.

In both these cases, as soon as the first, negative feedback has been given, retaliatory negative feedback can and should be blocked. Why?
Because
-in the case of a bad payer, if the seller was unhappy, and knew there would be no retaliation, he would make his point early on. The current system encourages people to hold on to their grief for ammunition against the other ebayer.
-in the case of a bad seller, if the buyer was unhappy, and knew there would be no retaliation, he would make his point as soon as he received the item and noticed a flaw.

So that's my suggestion to ebay
-there can only be one negative feedback in a transaction; but both sellers and buyers have the right to write such feedback
-sellers should be encouraged to feedback as soon as payment is received.
-buyers should be encouraged to feedback as soon as item is received.

With Ebay's "feedback" system all buyers have 100% feedback this is not feedback at all.This just contrived BS, not a real feedback of how the buyer conducts themselves. This does nothing to protect sellers, Ebay has to have as much responsibility to the sellers as to the buyers. We as sellers are held hostage to buyers that are completely dishonest and we can do nothing to protect ourselves, and Ebay does nothing AT ALL. Reactive policies are not solutions.

I am mainly a Seller, and The reason we have the new feedback the way it is is because of a few bad sellers, now the buyer rules the seller, if they were a jerk in the first place. I am still trying to figure out how to wade through this stuff. I have a buyer that had his package lost in the mail for a month threaten to leave me negative feedback, well before the claim he made with Paypal closes, if I didn't refund his money, even though the shipping info says it is enroute although it has been 30 days. and if you refuse a Refund amount claimed by they buyer, based just on the buyers claim and no evidence of that it is indeed lost and even if they chose no insurance ( when the inusrance was still an option that was allowable), you cannot, or it is too confusing to make the partial refund through Paypal. I feel I should not refund his shipping if he didn't choose insurance ( again, when it was still a viable option), but if they claim it all ( and they probably will get it all), you must now call Paypal and Tell them and then they will tell you to get the buyer to call or email them, then you can make the partial refund, what A "Cluster-Flock". Now buyers who if you were a store sole proprieter and they came into your shop and said and did the things they say or do in their emails they would be arrested, but this is the interweb and anyone can be as Rough and tough as they want to be. What ever happened to civility. I must say that I am a skeptic from the word go and I have to convince myself that everyone is not out to cheat me. About 99.9% of the people i deal with are proof that people through their comments and actions are Basically good and they restore my faith in Humanity. As for the minority, I have to just chalk it up to business and hope or realize that Karma Will catch up to them. most of the minority must have some mental issues ( according to their correspondence) is all I can guess it to be.

paypal rules changed a long time ago. Insurance is mandatory for you to qualify for seller protection. If the buyer doesn't want to pay for insurance they cannot use paypal. It's an all of my listings.
A lot of sellers also don't realise you can still get stung if you don't complete the registered post form with all of the buyer's details. Australia post will tell you they don't need that form any more but it is the ONLY proof paypal will accept if the buyer makes a claim.
The new feedback rules tempt even honest buyers to try & get something for nothing. That;s why sellers are bailing out in droves.