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Mixed What's the feedback etiquette here?
- Thread starter dsutton24
- Start date
Peter Hartwig
Gold Member
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- Feb 29, 2008
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I appreciate all the feedback.
The attitude that xxx count is "enough" feedback is part of what feeds the question I asked. I've seen knives offered for sale where sellers require xxx number of feedback points, or certain levels of memebership. Those things are impediments to someone like me who is just starting here, despite having collected for 40 years and being a delightful guy. Probably.
For the most part, this is a relatively friendly place. It seems like a friendly thing to acknowledge a deal that has met all expectations on both ends.
The "enough" feedback idea really doesn't seem to apply in my case. The two gentlemen referenced above have much higher counts than I, but they still took the time to leave me feedback. A recent purchase was from a guy with a relatively low count, and he still has not left feedback despite a friendly reminder.
I'm not really stressing about this at all, I'm new here, and will eventually figure out the culture. I'm just here to have fun, not to change anything or anybody. And, buy a MST of knives, of course.
If you are a buyer of knives, your feedback numbers will grow as well as your time here. One other thing some members like to see is participation outside the exchange. If it was something you really wanted and the ad had restrictions you have not yet met, I would send a friendly message and see if they would consider lifting the restrictions. Feedback, tenure, participation in threads are all to give a feel for what the buyer may be like and avoid problems. A message may be enough, but I can't speak for anyone but myself.
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I can't speak for people who expect potential buyers to meet certain criteria but I would expect it is usually a form of CYA either heard too many horror stories or been victim of too many themselves. I would say if you see that and want to buy message them I would expect most to at least be willing to consider a potential buyer. I don't like thinking about "enough" feedback in the sense as someone with none the idea of trying to get "enough" would seem like an attempt to dress myself up and look better, which it is, but that idea has a stigma of being done for less than polite purposes.
I have asked one of the knife makers on here to leave me feedback for a knife I bought and he has ignored me after several requests. I will not buy another knife from him as a result. We should be helping each other by giving good feedback when it is earned and bad feedback when needed.
A knife maker I am not so sure that's valid. I would say they've got a business to run and its forgivable if they forget. Another random person (eg not a knifemaker) I would say its worth reaching out to.
I mean you don't expect Bladehq to leave you feedback why would you expect a guy with a book of work to do the same.
So if we buy from several knifemakers on here and they are not expected to leave feedback we wind up with zero feedback? There are many members that will not buy or sell to newer members like me with low feedback scores so I am screwing myself from buying from the busy but talented knifemakers.
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I wouldn't expect them to always remember and be as timely as others but I would expect them to acknowledge a request for feedback. I would say a business failing to acknowledge a request is a bigger problem than and individual ignoring said request.
Peter Hartwig
Gold Member
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Hopefully you got a great knife-I wouldn't call that screwing yourself. I agree with the ooitzoo, in not expecting feedback from knifemakers. They are on the professional side of this, the feedback is more for the non-professionals. If they don't preform properly it is much more serious than a negative feedback point. If you have a problem with them or them with you it is usually handled here in GBU.
I would thank them for good service in GBU also
of course IMO and that doesn't necessarily make it so
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Sure I do. Almost all of my trades were with members (e.g. v few from makers.)
Simply put, you have to nudge some people along but expecting makers to always follow good etiquette is going to end with disappointment.
Peter Hartwig
Gold Member
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Most-is way over stating it. There are a few that won't. Most will, but are a little cautious do to the rip off schemes. I have no problem , except those that joined in the last couple days and want to buy $500+ knives . I get a little concerned due to the forum info being open to the whole internet. 4 trades and 6 months-certainly no problem. To be fair we have had problems with old members also. A lot has to do with how you handle yourself during communication. If you seem like a problem , few will want to see if you are.
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Well, I never though to ask for feedback...I'll give that a try. Thanks, fellas.
I'm admittedly terrible about this. It's a fault.
The problem is the red tape. You have to find the old thread, which by the time the knife arrives might be 10 pages back and the title may have changed.
If you want to guarantee you get feedback from someone lazy, like me, shoot off a PM politely asking for feedback and include a link to the thread for quick reference.
It's certainly not your responsibility to make the extra effort. We should all make the effort to leave feedback for a good transaction, but if it's not happening for you and you want to do something about it, that's a good move.
To anyone I've forgotten to leave feedback for: I apologize.
Actually, you don't have to look for the sale thread like that. You can always go to your own profile (Your Profile Page), select Recent Activity or Postings Tab and look there - easy and fast. Hope it helps..
Cheers!
This post and your earlier ones here are thoughtful as is your general custom, Peter. The buying and selling of knives is the tangible extension of what this forum is all about, which is communication amongst members with a common interest. Feedback affirms that and brings the transaction full circle as well as giving members a pretty good idea of whom might be a good Exchange partner. As you implied, though, feedback is only part of the equation in deciding whether to do business or not, as communication, negotiation, and posts outside of the Exchange add to one's impression of and confidence in another.
My usual practice is to mention in my message confirming the deal or shipping that I trust everything will go well, intend to leave positive feedback, and hope for reciprocation. I always leave feedback after receipt of a purchase and will let the seller know as a reminder. As a seller, I'll write to make sure the buyer has received the knife if I haven't heard back, mentioning that I can't really leave feedback without knowing that it's arrived and our transaction's been completed. I'll end up leaving positive feedback there regardless if I've been paid and there've been no hassles. I'd say I probably have feedback for 90% or more of my transactions, but don't get bent out of shape at this point if mine is not reciprocated.
I find some sellers don't end up leaving my feedback. When I rec the knife in the email thanking them, I say I left you positive feedback here is our link. It is no trouble since I visit the page anyway when I add feedback. But even doing everything I can some don't keep with regarding cleaning house in the email program, and before deleting email reciprocate.
I used to send a reminder, saying I am cleaning house, send the link again. So I did all I can. I don't think I ever did not leave a seller's feedback. I won't bother to not deal with a person because of no feedback. I am satisfied at this point in this, I appreciate adding a good remark to a new member to get him going.
I used to send a reminder, saying I am cleaning house, send the link again. So I did all I can. I don't think I ever did not leave a seller's feedback. I won't bother to not deal with a person because of no feedback. I am satisfied at this point in this, I appreciate adding a good remark to a new member to get him going.
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OP I've had a similar thought process, but in the end it doesn't matter much for me. Every decent blade I've purchased has been second hand from the Exchange. I got 4 feedbacks left out of 10 or so transactions. I always leave feedback and let them know each time. I shouldn't have to ask. The simple fact is that I've never been passed over for a purchase because of the low feedback number. My length of membership, number of active areas, and overall positive interactions here I think count for more.
