Below is a recent email I sent to eBay regarding one particular problem with the feedback system for buyers. The more people that contact eBay about the problem, the sooner they will do something about it. If you feel this is an issue you are welcome to copy and paste the text below and send it onto eBay yourself to highlight the issue......

My concern is that a growing number of sellers are refusing to leave feedback until the buyer has left their feedback first. This means that if there is a problem with the transaction, the buyer has to be careful what feedback he leaves as the seller can leave an unfair, retaliatory comment. I believe that eBay should charge a fee to sellers who fail to leave f/b once prompt payment has been made. This would allow a fairer and more accurate f/b system where buyers are not afraid and forced into leaving inaccurate f/b. EBay's recent changes to the feedback system do not rectify this problem. This is a major concern for many buyers as the feedback system provides very unreliable, misleading and untrustworthy information. Your response and action would be welcome........Giorgio Pin.

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.......I believe that once payment has been made, a seller should leave feedback immediately. After all, the buyer has completed his part of the contract and has done all he can do.

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EBay's response to this email was very poor - just a standard template that tells you how to leave feedback and no reference to the issue raised. You can copy and paste my reply if you wish. Just reply to their email......

Oh dear........Another sad, template response from eBay that doesn't even remotely respond to the issue raised. Please take another look at my email and try again.......Giorgio Pin.

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I note that there are a number of other guides that support my views. I came across one guide that states that eBay actually advises that it is the seller that should leave feedback first. I don't understand why this isn't clear to sellers. When an item is sold and paid for the buyer has completed his part of the transaction. The seller should leave feedback for that. The buyer leaves feedback for the service he receives, finalising the transaction. If an item subsequently gets lost or damaged in the post or any other issue is raised, the buyer leaves feedback for the service that the seller has provided in dealing with it.

At one point I was leaving negative feedback as a matter of course for sellers that didn't leave a comment. I have stopped doing this now because obviously I was getting retaliatory feedback which proves my point that many, many sellers are holding buyers to ransom over feedback. There is another guide out there that calls this 'feedback hostage'. Accurately put in my opinion.

I have also come across guides that state the buyer should leave feedback first so that the seller knows that the item has been received and everything is in order. Well if the seller left his feedback when he's supposed to, he would get his notification with the buyer's feedback.

It is my experience that a seller, who holds back on feedback, is less likely to sort out a problem should one arise.

In my opinion, a transaction should be completed in the following order:

1. Auction is won

2. Buyer pays (if there is to be any delay in completing payment, buyer should inform the seller. This should really be accepted by the seller during the course of the auction, not after)

3. Seller sends thank you email informing the buyer when despatch is likely to take place (item should be sent within three days at very most) and leaves appropriate feedback.

4. Seller sends another email confirming despatch of item

5. Buyer receives item and leaves feedback - if there is a problem, feedback is left once the problem has been resolved by the seller.

In some cases, when paying by cheque for instance, a seller may send an item before funds have cleared. In these cases the buyer should be leaving feedback first.

The above is merely my opinion but it is the service I provide as a seller and have NEVER had a complaint (apart from one unjustified negative f/b from a non payer who contacted me 5 weeks after auction asking to remove my negative - eBay subsequently removed his f/b for non response to the unpaid item dispute).

Damage to items in the post is 99.9% of the time down to poor packaging and shouldn't be blamed on Royal Mail. Refunds, due to inaccurate item descriptions and the above, should include ALL costs including return postage. It is the seller's responsibility to claim losses from Royal Mail, not the buyer's. Regular First Class mail is covered upto £36 for damage/loss providing a certificate of posting is obtained. More valuable items should be sent fully insured. Some sellers unacceptably state in their auctions that items are not insured or claims to Royal Mail are the buyer's responsibility.

Please vote on this guide if you found it useful.

****Please see my other guide on feeback which takes into account eBay's changes to the feedback system.****