Can You Always Trust Feedback?

Feedback is something all eBayers are familiar with. But as Danna Crawford writes at Practical eCommerce, feedback comes in many forms and not all of it is to be trusted.

One example of feedback that is not to be trusted, I have personally experienced. It involves a condo at the beach that I own and rent out. It is in a building at the beach that has dozens of condos. It is a very nice building with two pools, a spa, barbecue deck, and many other amenities.

Several years ago some people rented one of the condos. These people apparantly had no respect of rules. Rules like no running by the pool, no glass bottles in the pool area, no public drunkeness, no disturbing other guests... all meant to help everyone there have a safe and enjoyable stay. These people repeatedly broke these rules and were given numerous warnings to no avail. Finally, one night the police had to be called because other guests' safety was at risk. The people causing all this ruckus were finally asked to leave.

Within a few weeks some slanderous comments were left on a public website that asks for evaluations of vacation stays at various beach hotels, motels, and other rental properties. Year after year those same or similar comments were left. All were similar enough that any intelligent person could only conclude that they were left by the same person or group.

This is just one example of how reputations can be ruined or hurt by anger and bitterness through no fault of the 'seller'. The lesson here is that whenever you are reading feedback, whether it is concerning another eBayer or in any other form, take it with a grain of salt, as they say. Remember, when people are happy or satisfied, they often don't leave feedback, except on eBay. For more, read Danna Crawford's post.

Dr. eBay