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 co-founder and Editor of EcommerceBytes and AuctionBytes.com and has been reporting on ecommerce since 1999. She's a widely cited authority on marketplace selling and is author of "Turn eBay Data Into Dollars" (McGraw-Hill 2006). Her blog was featured in the book, "Blogging Heroes" (Wiley 2008). Follow her on Twitter at @auctionbytes and send news tips to ina@ecommercebytes.com.
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