When is the best time to give Feedback?

[Former_Member]

I am new on etsy and I just got my first sale. I am wondering when I am suposed to give feedback? When do you give feedback? After the customer payed? After you shipped?... Thank you for your feedback.

[WintergreenDesign]

I usually wait until after the customer has given me feedback... because the transaction isn't really done until they've received what they ordered and are happy with their purchase.

[Former_Member]

I usually give it after payments are made and I've shipped their purchase.

[AnneLondezGlass]

I also wait until I hear from the customer that they have received their order and are satisfied with it.

[ParadiseChicJewelry]

I wait for thier feedback, that way I can give them feedback based on what they say, more personal.

[EviesToolEmporium]

Could not resist stopping in to say congrats on your first sale! Here's to many, many more!

[ConcertinaPress]

sometimes if you wait until they give YOU feedback, you'll be waiting forever, because in my experience, only about 50% of people leave feedback.

I usually leave it after they've paid and I've sent out the item.

[Former_Member]

I leave it after they paid, or after I've shipped a custom order. I've been lucky to have buyers who have communicated with me very clearly, so I commend them for that after I'm sure they won't get all crazy. I don't wait until after I get feedback from the buyer because so many don't leave it, and because their response to my item shouldn't affect my Feedback for them.

[Former_Member]

I think it's polite of the seller to do it first, it's kind of part of the transaction. A good seller shouldn't have the need to explain themselves in the feedback they leave to the buyer.

Especially on Ebay I get a this a lot, when the seller says in their note to contact them first before giving feedback less than 5 stars. Someone even said in their note they're only gonna give me feedback after I give them 5 stars :D To me this feels a little like extortion, like if I give them negative, they're going to negative me back just for revenge.

Congrats on your first sale! :)

[Rt9NJvintageFun]

Congrats, with many more sales in Your Future.

Since feedback is such a delicate topic, we all work hard, go above and beyond in customer service, we want good feedback so future customers have confidence to purchase from us in the future.

If you are fortunate 50% may leave feedback, what I do is when I am notified of the sale through Pay Pal, I will send them a convo thanking them. Next convo is confirming the shipping notification. I then send them feedback, so when the package arrives, my feedback is out there. I enclose a thank you note and business cards with their purchase, then this is my final time I ask for feedback.

Don't be upset if they give you none, I have had purchases from other Etsy Shop owners, who gave me no feedback, go figure.

Keep focused on the goal of building your shop, meeting the great Etsy Community and have Fun. Good feedback will come your way, at least that what my chrystal ball tells me, LOL.

Congrats again!

[ScytheAndStemFarm]

I initially intended to only leave feedback after it was left for me, but you'll find very few folks actually leave you feedback (don't get frustruated, and NEVER contact them to ask them to leave you feedback after the sale).

Now, I leave feedback within 1 week of the sale, or the day I ship the item and just jot in my notification of shipment that I've left them positive feedback as a buyer (without asking them to return the favor!) hoping they may then take the incentive to leave feedback. It'll come. Just remember, though, nobody likes a pushy seller!

[RisC]

I usually wait until I think they have had the item for a few days. That way if they notice that I left them feedback, then they can leave some for me. I think a lot of people just forget about leaving feedback and this way I can kind of remind them about it without being pushy or directly contacting them.

I used to leave feedback right after I shipped, but I noticed that if I wait a little longer then I get more feedback.

[bywayofsalem]

Hi everyone! Congrats on your first sale. So exciting isn't it?! I'll toss my 2 cents in..I leave feedback once the item is shipped and after a couple days. This is generally the time when the buyer leaves me feedback as well. I just want everything to go smoothly before I leave it.
Also as far as getting a buyer to leave me feedback? I've added a note to the bottom of my orders saying how much I'd appreciate feedback, how it benefits us both and then instructions on how to. If they don't leave it then, I don't hassle them for it. I've found that sometimes people just don't know how! And a lot of buyers open shops just to buy your item so they are only focused on their new purchase, not on all the other details. Hope this helps!

[GildedXRoseXStudio]

Congrats on your first sale! I usually leave feedback after the item has been received (according to Delivery Confirmation, if I don't actually hear back from the buyer that is). If the buyer leaves you feedback in return, hooray! If not, no big deal.

Receiving Etsy Feedback isn't the most important thing on here (as frustrating as that sounds to a new seller who's trying to build up their FB) a happy customer is.

[bywayofsalem]

And I don't believe in the "NEVER contact them to ask for feedback". Why not? They ask you all sorts of questions when purchasing an item? I am not pushy about it. I send a very sweet email after about a week saying something like, "Dear..., You should have received your purchase by now and I'm hoping you love it! If you'd like to send me a photo of how you have it displayed, etc., I'd be so interested to see. Also, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind going back onto your Etsy page and leaving me feedback for the (item)? I have left some for you as well. I'd SO appreciate it :) Thanks so much! (I may also include short instructions in case they don't sell on Etsy). Everytime I've done that, I get a response back saying "Absolutely! I'd be happy to! How do I do it?"
Ask, or you'll never know!

[Former_Member]

This is a very personal issue and sellers have different views on it.

I feel the transaction isn't completed until I have a happy buyer so I leave feedback, with an appreciation photo which is a seasonal flower photo taken in my garden with "thank you" overprinted like a thank you card, when I receive feedback or an email saying the item(s) arrived and the customer is happy - people often do this instread of leaving feedback. I had an email this week that made me all fuzzy with delight because the buyer was so over the moon (they didn't leave FB).

If I don't hear anything at all after two months I figure the packet must have arrived and the customer must be happy or I would have heard from them so I leave FB then

ETA - I don't ask for FB - it isn't that important and I don't want to bother my customers. One has bought many times from me and never once left FB..

[Former_Member]

Very helpful. I wasn't sure when or who was giving feedback. I have so much to learn!

[Former_Member]

I have no set system, I just go through about once a week and leave feedback for everyone who has purchased from me or for those I've purchased from. I never not leave feedback. I think it's rude but I also dont aske for feedback as I also think that is rude. jmho

[CarolaBartz]

@ Blue Kitty - I really like your idea with the appreciation photo! May I "steal" the idea?

[Former_Member]

I wait about a week after the item has been received according to USPS tracking and then leave feedback.

[Former_Member]

As a seller, I usually give it after I ship the item. I feel like it's the final step of my process. Now that I've read other responses, I feel like I should wait until they receive it.
As a buyer, I give feedback when I receive the item. If the item took excessively long, I just won't leave any feedback.

[Former_Member]

Wow, thank you all so much for sharing your experience and great tips for: "How to do successfully feedback!"
As soon as I have done mine I will tell you how I did it. Now I have to reflect a little what would work best for me. I very much like the idea with a picture that says thank you. I didn't know it is possible to send pictures! I also like the idea of showing buyers to show how to give feedback if I have the feeling they are new on Etsy and/or not so comfortable with the internet.

[Former_Member]

I leave feedback after payment...That is the way I did on Ebay also

[Former_Member]

Carola Bartz from CarolaBartz says
@ Blue Kitty - I really like your idea with the appreciation photo! May I "steal" the idea?

..............................

I course you can, I even blogged about it last year and showed some examples as an idea for others.

http://bluekittyminiatures.blogspot.com/2010/06/etsy-feed-back-appreciation-photos.html

[Former_Member]

@Blue Kitty: Thank you for the link Blue Kitty. Lovely roses you got in your garden! :)