If you are tempted to make a deal with a buyer or seller that won't be recorded on eBay's records, think twice! Now that eBay permits transaction-based feedback only, you have no recourse if the deal goes awry!
We "trust" other online auction participants because we know we can always leave negative feedback if they screw us. Now, you can't leave feedback for anyone unless it is linked to a valid eBay transaction.
So, if a seller contacts you because you bid on her reserve item, the reserve was not met, and she's willing to sell it to you anyway, watch out. If she gets your check and doesn't send you the item, you can't leave negative feedback since the transaction was never recorded on eBay!
About the author:
Ina Steiner is Editor of AuctionBytes.com and author of "Turn eBay Data Into Dollars" (McGraw-Hill 2006). She has a background in marketing and research in the high-tech and publishing fields. If you have story ideas, comments or questions, send them to ina@auctionbytes.com.
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