I’m pretty laid back about who I buy from. But when I make any big purchase, I do a little research to make sure that the Seller is on the up-and-up. Here’s how to do it.
Look Here for the Seller’s Feedback Rating
Is This Seller Good? The Quick Answer
Here’s the quick litmus test for deciding if the seller is reliable. Every transaction is different, but in general, you should look for Sellers that have: At Least 500 transactions and above 99% Feedback.
Be sure you’re looking at the 308 circled in green above, which is their rating as a Seller. The non-circled 7 is their rating as a buyer. Take a look our tutorial about the Seller Panel if you’re not sure about this.
Hearts < Diamonds < Crowns
These represent how many transactions the Seller has successfully handled.
Red, Yellow and Black Flowers
Click on the number (the 308 on the screenshot above) and you can see how a detailed breakdown of the Seller’s transactions. You will be taken to a page with a chart that looks like this.
Red = Positive Feedback
Yellow = Neutral
Black = Negative Feedback
There will be two charts on the screen. The top one rates the person as a Seller. The bottom one rates them as a Buyer. Yeah… buyers get feedback too.
Good Feedback is Boring. Bad Feedback is Interesting
If you have made it this far, you have to check out the what nasty things Buyers have said in the past. Even though a Seller has some bad feedback, it doesn’t mean that you should never deal with them. You can read about the dispute to figure out why it happened.
The Buyer’s complaint is grey and the Seller’s response is red / brown.
(Run it through Google Translator)
Update – new additions to the system
As of February 15, Taobao has added to their feedback system with a five-star rating scale to evaluate Seller Speed, Accuracy and Attitude. As this system starts getting used, we will update you with some tips on how to evaluate that information.
A Word About Leaving Bad Feedback
Bad feedback is all fun and games when you’re reading it, but you should think twice before writing bad feedback for a Seller. Taobao is their livelyhood, and a black flower can have a significant impact on their future business.
Make sure that this wasn’t your misunderstanding and always communicate with the Seller and do whatever you can to get any issues resolved. If need be, enlist a Chinese-speaking friend to who isn’t afraid to set you straight.
And remember how to avoid disputes: communicate with the Seller first!
