Looking for "Power Tools" functional feedback

[dragan]

Well put both of ya. The quality of the software only goes so far and for me, if it hadn't been for the absolutely wonderful and full support on the part of Geo as well as third party developers (in my case Interactive Villages) and their dedication to me as customer, I'd move on without ever looking back.

Now back to work and get this request coded, one way or another . Again, not knowing the degree of importance for other users, but for me, in my niche, it is a must-have.

Having the feedback on the auction side without covering the classifieds is like not having it at all. I vote for basic arbitrary feedback, associated with users, not listings... as quickly as possible. The code is already there. Disassociate it with listings/transactions, make the connection with users and carry the sucker across the whole script (class/auct). Also, it'd be nice to add email prompts to encourage the use of the system. For example: when a user leaves a feedback for another, the user this feedback is left for would get an email reading something like this:

(username) left the following feedback for you: (feedback content). If you wish to leave a feedback for
(username), log in to your account and navigate to Feedback management page. Click on the (username) and fill out the form. Thank you for using our feedback system. It helps all of us greatly blah blah blah..

You get the point.

Nice eh?

Good weekend to all!

[Keystone]

... Disassociate it with listings/transactions, make the connection with users and carry the sucker across the whole script (class/auct). ..

Unless I'm missing something I think this would make the feedback system useless. It needs to be tied to the listings/transactions to keep it relevant. What you're describing sounds to me like something that would be used on a social site.
"Do you like me? I like you. Let's give each other positive feedback."
I don't think I understand how that would have anything to do with the purpose of the feedback feature which is to report the quality of buyer - seller transactions.
A user could hit a seller with negative feedback without ever actually buying anything from them. Alternatively, sellers could slam their competition with undeserved negative feedback in order to influence buyers. It could get vicious.

I think feedback needs to be tied to specific transactions to keep it relevant and civil.



Rich

[dragan]

Rich, what I was proposing is an extension of existing feedback which is tied to auction transactions to begin with, to cover the classifieds as well. Keep it the way it is for auctions but give an arbitrary one for classifieds. Better then not having anything at all, given the fact that most of my sellers are classifieds based. The feedback score would be a sum of both, class plus auctions.

My script has been hacked into thinking that a classified listing is an auction, thus allowing reciprocal feedback be utilized. It makes perfect sense and it works beautifully but the interface is quite cumbersome and generally speaking, not very intuitive/encouraging to use. The biggest reason for this is an attempt to keep it associated with transaction that in reality it cannot be associated with - classified listings. I'd like to have it redone with better GUI, notifications etc. If I have to disassociate it from class. listings, in order to achieve this, so be it.

As you can imagine, with auctions, the script keeps track of everybody involved. Sellers, bidders, etc.. Thus, it knows who the buyer is. Since it has this information, further, the script knows who is allowed to post feedback and who isn't. Makes sense, right? Not the case with classifieds. Since it really isn't possible to tie feedback to classified transaction (unless you go with "make offer" system where all the buying is done through the site) I propose to make this addon arbitrary based. Possibility of leaving feedback without merit is great and so is generation of disputes. This happens on any site, regardless. Admin can handle disputes any way he/she desires.

[Ivillages]

Hi Dragan,

I'll be in touch early this week to get with you on the functions and an estimate/budget.

Thanks
Bob

[dragan]

Please do Bob, I'm available any time. Beside this new project, I'd like to touch base about the new "dealer listing detail page" as well.

Thanks Bob, appreciate your help.

[Daffy]

If you add a community solution to ClassAuctions, then a ratings system is easily part of it. Does Community Builder have ratings? Forums do. Jomsocial does.

If ClassAuctions could link to a User Profile... or better yet, INTEGRATE with a user profile, then they'd have the ratings system.

I don't like arbitrary rating systems myself, I think they turn into a popularity contest and I always turn them off. But the "Community" systems and forums all have ratings. Karma. Etc.

[dragan]

Unfortunately, I don't think you can have anything but arbitrary feedback, for classifieds side of the script. To me, it is better then not having anything at all. It simply isn't possible to associate the feedback with transactions that are handled not by the script but outside it. As I said earlier in this thread, for me on my site, it is a must.

I do have a forum attached to the main site - powered by vBulletin. There isan addon for it called iTrader that I'm trying to model off of for the main site. The feedback has to resign on the main site. Very picky bunch, my users.

[Daffy]

Personally, I don't understand how an arbitrary ratings system could work fairly. I've seen too much nasty stuff go on between sellers on ebay. And I do mean it can get vicious. Some people have no conscience and they'll do whatever they can to batter down what they perceive as competition. There's some categories on ebay where the "regulars" have really gone at it with each other. An arbitrary ratings system would give them one more piece of ammo to sling at each other.

I think it's good to have a ratings system on products, such as a clothing site where you can leave ratings and comments on the product. But a ratings system on sellers? Sounds like trouble, to me.

[dragan]

Isn't what you have now arbitrary? The way the feedback comes out of the box is exactly that - there is no input, verification, waiting period to edit or dispute, approval on part of anybody. Admin doesn't even have the option to delete (or does he/she?). The only thing that the system has is association with listings.

Interactive Villages just finished the mod for me with all the above features provided. Me happy now.
My sellers love it. Most are brick and mortar store owners, music lovers and dedicated audiophiles. They wouldn't even consider signing up with me until I modded the feedback system to provide what it does now.

My guess is our opinions differ because we have different sites/niche. We both are looking to please our respective customers.