... as I have better ways to spend my time. My post was motivated by two things:

A long-term dislike for the emphasis that some people put on feedback (which I consider largely worthless) ...

... and specific inability to understand why Peter would put the failure of his seller to post feedback ahead of satisfactory price, product and service.

In no other retail venue -- not even online sales -- do we expect sellers to post public praise of the fact that we did what we were supposed to do (that is, pay for the product).

>> I also don't think you really practice
>> what you are preaching here.

On what basis would you say that? For starters, I don't sell anything, so your example is somewhat meaningless in my case. Furthermore, in the three years I have been bidding on eBay, I have never once checked a seller's feedback prior to bidding on an item. I am much more interested in whether the seller is a member of the CC>CC. For high value items, I bid only on those offered by sellers I know and trust.

>> All this is OK because that's the fun of a Message Board.

Well, I agree with you on that point!

>> Anyway, although you may be right in your
>> convictions about feedback, sub-consciously,
>> that feedback is VERY VERY important.

And disagree with you on that one.

>> So how's that guy going to get off of that
>> goshdarn feedback rating of 2 because no one
>> will give him any making him look bad ...

Frankly, I'd rather see the auction venues do away with feedback entirely, as it provides a false sense of security (if your guy with a 397 feedback rating has skipped, he's still just as gone as if he had a "2") and very little truly useful guidance IN ADVANCE (which is really the only time it would be of any help).

If I'm wrong, however, the occasional seller who doesn't give feedback won't keep your "2" at that level for very long, as other sellers will give him feedback.

Mostly, I just think it's silly to decide not to do business with a seller who has provided a good product at a fair price with good service just because he didn't say something nice about the buyer after the deal. ----- jim o\-S