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There is more to know about an eBay member’s feedback, than the number next to the User ID. This article explains how the Feedback Score is calculated and what the numbers, stars, icons, and comments mean.

An eBay member’s Feedback Score, located in parentheses next to the User ID, is a good indicator of the member's reliability as a buyer or seller. But no matter how high the member's feedback score is, since it is made up of both positive and negative ratings, it is also important to check the member's Feedback Profile.

The Feedback Profile includes feedback ratings and comments posted for (and by) the member about previous eBay transactions.

To view a member's Feedback Profile, click on the Feedback Score next to the member's User ID.

The following numbers and stars are displayed in the top section of an eBay member's Feedback Profile page.

Feedback Score: This number is based on the ratings (positive, neutral or negative) posted by buyers or sellers who shared a transaction with the member. The ratings (positive, neutral or negative)are used to calculate the feedback score, as follows:

Positive Feedback = One point is added to the feedback score

Neutral Feedback = Zero points are added to or subtracted from the feedback score

Negative Feedback = One point is subtracted from the feedback score

Note: Regardless of the number of feedback ratings posted, a member can only affect another member's Feedback Score by 1 point (either positive or negative).

Example 1:  If a member receives 150 positive ratings (from 150 different eBay members) and 5 negative ratings (from 5 different eBay members), the Feedback Score will be 145.

Example 2:  If a member receives 5 positive ratings (from 5 different eBay members) and 1 negative rating, the Feedback Score will increase by 4 points (5 positive ratings minus 1 negative rating).

Example 3:  If a member receives5 positive ratings and 1 negative rating (all from one eBay member) the Feedback Score will only increase by 1 point.

Example 4:  If a member receives 1 positive rating and 5 negative ratings (from 5 different eBay members) the Feedback Score will decrease by 4 points (5 negative ratings minus 1 positive rating).

Example 5: If a member receives 1 positive rating and 5 negative ratings (all from one eBay member)the Feedback Score will only decrease by 1 point.

Example 6:  If a member receives 1 positive rating and 1 negative rating, from one eBay member, the Feedback Score will not change.

Feedback Star: A star, next to the Feedback Score, means the eBay member has a Feedback Score of 10 or higher. The color of the star changes, as the feedback score increases.

Yellow Star = 10 to 49 feedback points

Blue Star = 50 to 99 feedback points

Turquoise Star = 100 to 499 feedback points

Purple Star = 500 to 999 feedback points

Red Star = 1,000 to 4,999 feedback points

Green Star = 5,000 to 9,999 feedback points

Yellow Shooting Star = 10,000 to 24,999 feedback points

Turquoise Shooting Star = 25,000 to 49,999 feedback points

Purple Shooting Star = 50,000 to 99,999 feedback points

Red Shooting Star = 100,000 or more feedback points

Note: To find out what a specific color star (or other eBay icon) represents, move your cursor over the symbol and you will see a small message box with information about the symbol. You do not have to click on the star or icon to display this information.

Positive Feedback: This number presents the positive feedback rating as a percentage.

Note: If a member receives one or more positive ratings and one or more negative ratings from one member, only one of the positive ratings and one of the negative ratings will be used to calculate the Positive Feedback percentage.

Example 1: If a member receives150 positive ratings(from 150 different eBay members)and 5 negative ratings (from 5 different eBay members), the total ratings received is 155 (150 positive ratings plus 5 negative ratings). Then the 150 positive ratings are divided by the 155 total ratings, resulting in a Positive Feedback score of 96.8 percent.

Example 2: If a member receives 150 positive ratings (from140 different eBay members) and 5 negative ratings (from 2different eBay members), the total ratings received is 142 (140 positive ratings plus 2 negative ratings). Then the140 positive ratings are divided by the 142 total ratings, resulting in a Positive Feedback score of 98.6 percent.

Members Who Left a Positive: This number represents the number of different members who have posted positive feedback for this member.

Example 1:  If a member receives 150positiveratings, from 150 different eBay members,the Members Who Left a Positive number is150.

Example 2:  If a member receives 175 positive ratings, from 150 different eBay members, the Members Who Left a Positive number is 150.

Members Who Left a Negative: This number represents the number of different members who posted negative feedback for this member.

Example 1: If a member receives 10 negative ratings, from 10 different eBay members, the Members Who Left a Negative number is 10.

Example 2: If a member receives 10 negative ratings, from5 different eBay members, the Members Who Left a Negative number is 5.

All Positive Feedback Received: This number includes all positive ratings received, including additional positive ratings posted by members that weren’t counted in the other calculations.

Example: It the member received 175 positive ratings, from 150 different eBay members, the All Positive Feedback Received number will be 175.

Note: If the All Positive Feedback Received number is higher than the Members Who Left A Positive number, this means the member had repeat transactions with other eBay members. The repeat transactions could be with buyers who were satisfied with their purchase and bought from this member again and/or it could be with other sellers who sold to this member on more than one occasion.

Recent Feedback Ratings: The feedback ratings (Positive, Neutral or Negative) posted for a member during the past month, six months and twelve months are displayed in a box located near the center of the top section of the Feedback Profile page.

Note: Numbers shown in the one month column are also included in the numbers shown in the six and twelve month columns. Numbers shown in the six month column are also included in the numbers shown in the twelve month column.

If the member has negative ratings displayed in the twelve month column, but no negative ratings posted in the one month and six month columns, it might indicate that a previous problem completing transactions no longer exists.

If the member has negative feedback in the one month or six month columns, it might indicate that they are currently having some difficulty successfully completing a transaction.

Detailed Seller Ratings: When a member has received at least 10 detailed seller ratings, the averages and totals are displayed in a box located at the right side of the top section of the Feedback Profile page. Using a five-star rating system (with one star being the lowest and five stars being the highest)buyers can rate the seller on the following criteria:

Item As Described

Communication

Shipping Time

Shipping and Handling Charges

Similar to the Recent Feedback Ratings (which displays ratings for the previous 12 months) the average Detailed Seller Ratings are calculated on a "rolling 12-month" basis. Since average ratings are displayed as stars, you can quickly evaluate the seller on any of the criteria. If you want to know the exact average, for any of the criteria, move your cursor over one of the stars and the average rating(i.e. 4.9/5.0 or 3.5/5.0) will be displayed.

The total number of detailed ratings received (for each of the four criteria) is displayed at the right side of the stars.

Note: If a buyer posts detailed ratings for multiple transactions with a seller, the average of the buyer's ratings will be used in the Detailed Seller Ratings calculation.

The remainder of an eBay member's Feedback Profile consists of ratings and comments posted for (and by) the member.

Ratings Icons: It is easy to tell if the a transaction was rated as positive, neutral or negative, thanks to the small icon at the beginning of each feedback comment.

Green Circle with a white plus sign in the middle, indicates a positive transaction

Grey Circle with a white dot in the middle, indicates a neutral transaction

Red Circle with a white line in the middle, indicates a negative transaction

Note: Even though you can quickly tell, by the icon, how the member posting the feedback felt about the transaction, it is still important to read the comments. The actual comments, regardless of the rating (positive, neutral or negative) may give you a better idea about how the member conducts business on eBay.

When reading the comments posted for an eBay member, it can be helpful to know if the member was the buyer or seller in the transaction. eBay has made it easy to find out, by providing four file folder style sort tabs. If you click on one of the sort tabs, you can review any or all of the feedback left for or posted by the member.

The feedback comment sort tabs are:

Feedback as a Seller: If you are considering bidding on or buying an item listed by a member, click on this tab to review comments posted by buyers who have purchased something from this member.

Comments such as item as described; fast shipping; good packaging; good email contact; would buy from again; worked to resolve problem; and A ++ Seller are indicators that the seller is responsible and one you can trust.

Comments such as item not as described; never received item; never replied to emails; poor packing; item arrived damaged; and had to file claim with PayPal; etc should be taken into consideration , before bidding, especially if they are posted by several different buyers.

Feedback as a Buyer: If you are a seller and want to learn more about someone bidding on or buying one of your items, click on this tab.

Check the number of bid retractions made, in the past 12 months. (shown just below the tab)

Comments such as good communication; fast payment; and A++Buyer are indicators that the buyer is responsible and will complete the transaction.

Comments such as never paid for item; did not contact me before posting negative feedback; may indicate a buyer who is difficult to work with.

All Feedback: Includes all comments posted for this member as a seller and as a buyer.

Comments in this section include all the feedback comments listed under the Feedback as a Seller and Feedback as a Buyer tabs. You can tell whether an individual comment was posted by a buyer or a seller, by looking at the column titled From / Price.

Feedback Left for Others: Includes all comments this member posted for other members

Comments that are clearly stated in a friendly, professional tone probably indicates a member who is easy to work with.

Comments that are rude, sarcastic and attacking the other member, may indicate a member who is difficult to work with.

Note: The number of "mutually withdrawn" ratings and the total number of comments received (or posted)are displayed just below each of the sort tabs.

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Related eBay Links:

Feedback - Overview

Before You Bid or Buy - Check the Seller's Feedback Score and More