Bartertown.com

I know that posting a positive reference at the end of a transaction is the polite thing to do. I also know that it is not a rule exactly, more so a consideration. Either party is not obligated to do so, but active uses tend to be on the ball about it. I don't trade a whole lot and i'm relatively new, so my rating is very small. I don't mind shipping or payment first, but I do hope to build a good enough reputation.

In my last six trades ive gotten only 3 return feedbacks, and those 3 were very appreciated. I know that there are some of you who have done hundreds of trades and a missing feedback here and there dosent hurt you a bit since you have such a high rating. But how is anyone one new to this community to build a reputation without the assistance of a rating, those few missing feedbacks mean more to a newbie than a veteran. There have been times where it seems a possible trade was undermined by my low rating. Or where a trader will loose confidence in my credibility because it seems that I have next to no proof of past transactions.

I'm not really saying to make feedback mandatory, but if you get a PM from the person who you traded with and you gladly accept it as another tally on your rating, then please have the courtesy to do the same in return, especially if they are either new or have a low rating.


Anyone else feel the same?

It's called common courtesy, like answering PM's, and some people just don't have a notion of what it is.

Yeah, unfortunately it slips some people's minds. I personally have 11(!) references that have not been left for me, even though I have left them 2 VERY polite reminders.

It's aggravating for a trader with a high rating and it's got to be tough for a newer trader. It kind of blows to do everything right and they cannot take the 1-2 minutes it takes to leave a reference.

URGH!

Oh well...

Karl

-=Ashigaru=- wrote: if you get a PM from the person who you traded with and you gladly accept it as another tally on your rating, then please have the courtesy to do the same in return, especially if they are either new or have a low rating.


Anyone else feel the same?

Yep sure do...it annoys the heck out of me,and i have a high rating...i'm waiting on several feedbacks myself with peope who have higher ratings than myself,and no amount of reminders/pleading seems to get a responce,one who i even considered a friend(even though we have never met in person)....but you can't force someone to do it...its just plain rude no matter what your rating is

Cheers
Steve

It sucks, but it happens. Send them a reminder.

[quote]It sucks, but it happens. Send them a reminder.[/quote]
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But if they are neither entitled to respond to a PM or give a reply reference, then where is the balance or fairness. People don't get a negative for it? There is no penalty. There is no way to track it other than someone else's word.


This is just my personal take on it...

References should be treated like the circumstances of a trade. Everything is mutual and agreed upon. Both parties agree to terms that are balanced and fair. More or less the whole transaction occurs on an open table, and even playing field.

Why couldn't references be the same way. Why should someone gain a boost in ratings but not give one? Why can some one take and not give?

Perhaps reference system should have a restriction, meaning if one side gives a good reference, the other side should not profit or gain from it until they themselves reply. The person who replies should be able to "Accept" a reference when they provide their own, and thus gain from contributing. That same person can "Deny" the reference for whichever reason, but must provide a reason. In this way no body can leave it just hanging, and neither side will gain from it until its addressed.

Its not as if the current reference system is broken, its just that not everyone plays by the same rules and for whatever reason don't wish to contribute to the community. I feel if the reference system had a way to balance the situation then a trade will be equal from the beginning, all the way to the very end.

-=Ashigaru=- wrote:
Why couldn't references be the same way. Why should someone gain a boost in ratings but not give one? Why can some one take and not give?

Bluntly, cause some people ARE that way. You make a deal, leave a ref, the trade partner says thank you, no ref. Fine. Don't trade with them again. It is their choice to leave a reference, not a REQUIREMENT.

Its not as if the current reference system is broken, its just that not everyone plays by the same rules and for whatever reason don't wish to contribute to the community. I feel if the reference system had a way to balance the situation then a trade will be equal from the beginning, all the way to the very end.

this is not FeeBay.. this site works because (mainly) of "word of mouth" (aka, the ref system). If someone makes it a habit to not leave references on a trade, eventually word will get around and they will not find folks to trade with.

Keep a DNT list.. but don't advertize who is on it.. that is a bit of a nono...

-Porkuslime

Nothing can be done about it. Sorry,thats just the way it is. Same thing on Ebay and they are alot bigger then Bartertown. I just did a deal on Ebay, I paid promptly,received the item, & left feedback. I never received feedback in return. I left him several messages,still no feedback. The guy is a douchebag & I will never deal with him again.
Add the people who dont leave you a referencein your signature to warn others.

Didn't we go round a while back that leaving "d-bag" traders in your sig line was a form of Intimidation? My understanding is that is not OK.

-Porkuslime

What about putting this in your sig?

Awaiting references:
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Govannon

If i remember rightly,there was a time when Refs were going to be changed,so that you only got one ref point until you yourself had left feedback,then you get the remaining one point...still i may be wrong.

awaiting References seems alot better,but still a form of intimidation to me...be it not an overt one.....still thats just me.

Cheers
Steve

Why is it intimidation?? Its fact.

Something like this:

People I left feedback for but have not left feedback for me in return:
(forum name here)

Its not threatening, its just staing a fact. what part can they dispute?? Anyone check the references to see what was left & what wasnt.

Why is that intimidation? Who is being intimidated and for what? Because they didn't leave feedback when they should have and now your telling everyone? See my sig line.There is no reason not to leave feedback.If the deal went well it's good,if it was ok but had a small problem neutral, and if it blew bad.What's so hard about that?
Sometimes people forget ,but a small reminder should get them going.I recently left a reminder for a guy I had thought I left feedback for.When he said, fine but where is my ref? I realized I had never left him one.
If someone doesn't leave a ref after a couple reminders assume they are just being a pr@$k.

Most of the time the slip-up is totally unintentional. Ive forgotten already. But I would never intentionally not leave feedback for someone.

Is there an option to post them under Deadbeats & Backouts as "Reference Deadbeats"?