RedFlagDeals.com Buy, Sell, and Trade Feedback - BETA

[Ryan]

We've just implemented a new internal Feedback system for the RedFlagDeals.com Buy, Sell, or Trade (BST) Forums. This post is meant to answer common questions about the system.

Basics:

What is the BST Feedback system?

The BST Feedback system is a way for regular traders on RedFlagDeals.com to build a reputation here so that other users can identify good traders and bad traders can be avoided. The feedback system is only meant to rate completed transactions.

Why is it a "beta"?

It's a new system, so during the beta period we will evaluate how the system is being used and make changes to the rules and implementation as necessary.

Do I have to use the Feedback system?

Using the Feedback system is completely optional. No one will be punished for not using the feedback system. You are free to use Heatware or any other 3rd party system that you currently use.

Did you build this feedback system?

No, this system is a plug-in for the forum software we use (vBulletin) called iTrader. As such, we cannot make radical changes to the functionality of the system.

The Ratings:

A buyer, seller, or trader can be given one of 3 ratings:

:D Positive: You would give this rating if the transaction went as planned and everything was as described.

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/images/icons/icon5.gif Neutral: You would give this rating if the transaction went through, but not without significant difficulties (someone canceling a meeting at the last minute, etc).

:mad: Negative: You would give this rating if either the goods were not as described or something fraudulent happened. Mods are emailed whenever a negative rating is given.

The Feedback Score:

The Feedback Score is based on how many USERS have given you a rating, not on how many ratings you have. For example, if 3 users had given you a Positive rating and 1 user had given you a Negative rating, you would have a feedback score of 2 even if you had multiple feedbacks from the 3 who gave you Positive ratings. Your full feedback history is accessible to everyone on your feedback page.

How do I see my own ratings?

You can access your feedback page by visiting your Public Profile, clicking the BST Feedback button on the forum navigation bar or by clicking on the BST Feedback link that is listed underneath your name in each post you make in the BST.

Getting and Leaving Feedback:

How do I give a rating?

This feedback system is based on completed transactions, therefore you must first have completed a transaction as either a buyer, seller, or trader.


To give feedback you must first access the other trader's Feedback page either by clicking on the BST Feedback link in a post they have made or by viewing their Public Profile page and clicking on the BST Feedback link.

On the user's feedback page click "Submit Feedback for (Username)"

Fill in all of the fields. You are required to reference a specific Buy, Sell, and Trade thread for the transaction in question. Simply copy and paste the URL of the thread where the sale was first posted. This is what a URL looks like:

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=421245


In the Additional comments: field you can leave comments that only you, the other trader and/or the RedFlagDeals.com staff can view. You must fill in this field if you are leaving a negative feedback.

Submit your feedback. The other trader will be notified that they have new feedback via Private Message.


Leaving negative or positive Feedback for a trade that did not happen is a bannable offense!


How do I respond to a rating?

When you receive a new rating, you will be notified via the Private Messaging system. You will have 30 days to respond to the feedback. To respond simply click the http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/images/itrader/submit_on.gif icon.

Can I edit a rating?

You have 5 minutes from the time you post a feedback to edit out any mistakes. If there is a serious mistake, you can contact a moderator and they can fix it for you.

What do I do if someone gives me a fake rating?

Each feedback has a Report this Feedback link that looks like this http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/images/itrader/report_on.gif. When you report a feedback all of the moderators will be notified of the problem and they will review it.

Why am I a "New Trader"?

Until you have received a Feedback score of 5, you will be considered a New Trader. Certain restrictions are placed on new traders to prevent spamming and false feedback.

How many feedback ratings can I give or receive in one day?

New Traders can give or receive only 3 feedbacks per day. Once you have a Feedback score of 5 or over, you can give or receive as many feedbacks per day as you like.

Other Helpful Information:

To prevent a user from artificially inflating someone else's feedback, if a user posts another feedback for the same user, only the first one positive or first negative is credited towards their total score.

[007craft]

I just got home from making a sale, and I find this has been added. How delightful.

[Feneant]

Just noticed this tonight, its a great idea for when dealing inside the forums here.

[TruE SkiLLS]

just wondering... is this for present and future trades? so basically, any past trades should not be included into the RFD feedback thing right?

[vr6man25]

hey ryan
1. Can we do feedback for all past trades, to match our feedback from
heatware.
2. Also if we do feedback now, and this changes from beta, to full version , will
we lose all the feedback we have put in already?

Great Idea Thanks.

[hausner]

Great idea ryan :!:

[just_For_ipod]

Whooa!
Awesooommee!
This new feedback system seems so cool. It looks exactly like ebay's feedback system.
Good Job Ryan! This a great addition to prevent continuos scammers.

[Noob1ee]

Neat, thumbs up!

[M.D.]

New Posts slightly moved over to the right in place of the BST Feedback, now I keep clicking on my own feedback :razz:
Great idea, hope we can implement our feedbacks from heatware into this new one.

[thecharlie]

Would there be anyway to transfer HEATWARE feedback to this one? That'd be optimal, since all my HEATWARE comes from RFD transactions.:D

[actgear]

this is awesome. What makes it even better is that I made a transaction only a couple days ago =D

[Ryan]

hey ryan
1. Can we do feedback for all past trades, to match our feedback from
heatware.
2. Also if we do feedback now, and this changes from beta, to full version , will
we lose all the feedback we have put in already?

Great Idea Thanks.

If you reference the thread, it's ok.

You'll keep your feedback from the beta, unless there are major problems. The software is pretty throughly tested, it's just a question of if we have the rules right.

[bernZ]

I'm also in for porting feedback from heatware.. It'd be quite a bit of work though, right?

[_pOtEnZa_]

great idea as always from you guys, this will make trading here even more secure ! especially in the computer section :)
thx for all your great work guys, appreciated as always !! ^_^

[bubble.tea]

too bad there's a 3day limit so far :(.

Hope this is removed. If you're a busy body...sometimes you just DO more than this many trades in a day.

Great work. Finally, RFD catches up with SEVERAL other MUCH SMALLER sites and their gadgets.

[3weddings]

New Posts slightly moved over to the right in place of the BST Feedback, now I keep clicking on my own feedback :razz:
Great idea, hope we can implement our feedbacks from heatware into this new one.

I have been as well!! ;)

...and go figure I have FEEDBACK!!! :D

[munsifn]

what about users who edit their BST threads?

For example, people who recycle their threads...if i sell an item and then edit the thread as "-==SOLD: PLease Close==-" and delete the contents of the post, when the buyer references the thred, there is no info there about the item sold...how does that work..

otherwise, great idea!

+1 for heatware transfer

[bubble.tea]

what about users who edit their BST threads?

For example, people who recycle their threads...if i sell an item and then edit the thread as "-==SOLD: PLease Close==-" and delete the contents of the post, when the buyer references the thred, there is no info there about the item sold...how does that work..

otherwise, great idea!

+1 for heatware transfer

all you need to do is ensure that you reserve post 1+2 for yourself.

Move your expired trades into that 2nd part of the post or post #2. as long as it's clearly noted., it's all good.

[Ryan]

too bad there's a 3day limit so far :(.

Hope this is removed. If you're a busy body...sometimes you just DO more than this many trades in a day.

Great work. Finally, RFD catches up with SEVERAL other MUCH SMALLER sites and their gadgets.

The 3 per day limit applies until you get a score of 5. It help controls spam and makes it a bit easier to ease into the new system.

[bubble.tea]

The 3 per day limit applies until you get a score of 5. It help controls spam and makes it a bit easier to ease into the new system.

Ohhhhh, EXCELLENT!!!

Great Move.:)

[jerryhung]

I noticed a BST Feedback tab on the top red bar too, for yourself's BST feedback, not bad
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/itrader.php?


looks like bubble.tea is hunting for past buyers, myself included
your feedback is coming right up, if I can find my old thread ;)

[bubble.tea]

I noticed a BST Feedback tab on the top red bar too, for yourself's BST feedback, not bad
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/itrader.php?


looks like bubble.tea is hunting for past buyers, myself included
your feedback is coming right up, if I can find my old thread ;)

lol., we may as well :).

I can't find ANY of my old ones from a year or more ago.

I'm such a recycle-type seller., they're all going to be generic threads, that I'll have to edit accordingly.

I can't believe onemarketdotca has had this for over a YEAR and a bit already, and RFD is ONLY today releasing it :( So sad.

[jerryhung]

Mod's, just noticed one thing/bug
I want to leave 2 feedbacks for abrarhaq(I bought 2 things from him)
I left first one at 11:13 PM, tried to leave 2nd one, and it kept telling me

Sorry, but you must wait until Mar 20th, 2007 at 11:13 PM before you can rate this person again.

it's 11:23 PM now already and still tell me the same message, so I think it's supposed to be next day same time? Mar 2th, 2007 at 11:13 PM?)

Another thing I noticed
It actually checks the thread URL versus the username?
I accidentally copied the wrong URL from seller A into feedback for seller B, and it told me the thread is invalid

[Ryan]

Mod's, just noticed one thing/bug
I want to leave 2 feedbacks for abrarhaq(I bought 2 things from him)
I left first one at 11:13 PM, tried to leave 2nd one, and it kept telling me

it's 11:23 PM now already and still tell me the same message, so I think it's supposed to be next day same time? Mar 2th, 2007 at 11:13 PM?)

Another thing I noticed
It actually checks the thread URL versus the username?
I accidentally copied the wrong URL from seller A into feedback for seller B, and it told me the thread is invalid

Yes, it checks to make sure that at least one of the two parties started the thread.

[V A N Q U I S H]

***king shhwwwweeet! Time to start trading!

LOOKING FOR A TREO 680 BTW!

[bubble.tea]

....
Another thing I noticed
It actually checks the thread URL versus the username?
I accidentally copied the wrong URL from seller A into feedback for seller B, and it told me the thread is invalid
hey, AI :D VERY pish-posh'ie ;)
***king shhwwwweeet! Time to start trading! ...
lmao what a guy...


Ryan, confirm., the 3+ eval max-cap is removed fine once you have +5 evals. Took a few refreshes, but it let me leave more thereafter.

(just your friendly bbt, leaving trouble-shooting feedback on the new implementation devices :) )

[jtcb]

Ryan.. what if I recycle my thread? I edit the thread's title and content everytime the transaction is done and sell new stuff. Can I still leave/receive feedback?

[bubble.tea]

Ryan.. what if I recycle my thread? I edit the thread's title and content everytime the transaction is done and sell new stuff. Can I still leave/receive feedback?

repeated.

What I've done, is used the specific POST in my recycled Thread, which is dedicated to my older SOLD items. :), as the referral link.

[LoLz]

this pwns heat... one question... if my uncle comes back to RFD and he has a good HEat can he transfer the points here?

[bubble.tea]

Excellent example of how to handle a thread that you recycle.

My main man Composter.

Just link to this post (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4350208&postcount=2).


FYI, I also received this silly notice that was brought up earlier about the time issue :(. Ryan Helllllllllllllp.

Sorry, but you must wait until Mar 21st, 2007 at 12:00 AM before you can rate this person again.
....:?: -Isn't it already PASSED this time?

[malaco0219]

crap, i missed this thread. finally we get one!

[DJXP]

Ryan.. what if I recycle my thread? I edit the thread's title and content everytime the transaction is done and sell new stuff. Can I still leave/receive feedback?

heh, I have a thread that I recycled for about 3 years and just recently decided to retire it :D I am guessing it is ok to reference it anyways.

[bubble.tea]

hehe...I KNEW I had mentioned it a LONG time ago.

Sep 22, 2006!!!! Me mentioning internal feedback system, and referencing it in RFD.

See the Post (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3923796&postcount=61)., and what the potential (which we haven't adopted quite yet...perhaps in the FINAL version? :D )

[Canadianpsycho]

Redundant, but I suppose its nice nonetheless.

A couple nitpicks:

-URL for deals might cause issues, I often edit and delete/close threads when my item is sold.
-I don't see the need to fill in the long form comment section. I'd prefer it optional rather then mandatory.

[M.D.]

-URL for deals might cause issues, I often edit and delete/close threads when my item is sold.


There should be a rule that sellers cannot delete all the information of the item sold. Atleast leave some pertinent info like what the seller sold and who they sold it to.

[Canadianpsycho]

There should be a rule that sellers cannot delete all the information of the item sold. Atleast leave some pertinent info like what the seller sold and who they sold it to.

Or, we could just make the URL field optional and make everyone's lives easier. I personally don't like leaving threads up and often recycle them.

[bubble.tea]

Or, we could just make the URL field optional and make everyone's lives easier. I personally don't like leaving threads up and often recycle them.

I actually find great value in the url being required (MOREOVER, the AI whereby the system refuses random URLs that NEITHER trading party created). I find this enforces accountability, and reinforces the reputability factor.

Though., no matter WHAT band-aid solution you try, you'll ALWAYS have n00b thieves forge their own buddies' rep hits.

[Gnus]

Nice, was about time we got a feedback system.
I'm loving how it shows up under your username as well, as other forums usually dedicate a sub-forum to BST feedback. Those can get rather messy.

[bubble.tea]

My only true 'issue' is in the choice of smileys. I'm not sure :D is conveying a sense of trust and likeability as much as a thumbs up., like in the smiley that we can choose for a post/thread.

We really should be using those actually.

Thumbs Up http://www.vujer.com/material/files/Borat_Two_thumbs_up_yours.jpg Vs. Thumbs Down http://www.bsu.edu/web/kjfrank/thumbs%20down.bmp. Done Deal. Neutral could be something like :| lol.

[Canadianpsycho]

I actually find great value in the url being required (MOREOVER, the AI whereby the system refuses random URLs that NEITHER trading party created). I find this enforces accountability, and reinforces the reputability factor.

Though., no matter WHAT band-aid solution you try, you'll ALWAYS have n00b thieves forge their own buddies' rep hits.

All I'm saying is all the "required" URLs aren't going to mean anything when many sellers edit their threads. But whatever. If I get some evals here that's great, but my heat is good enough for me.

[M.D.]

All I'm saying is all the "required" URLs aren't going to mean anything when many sellers edit their threads. But whatever. If I get some evals here that's great, but my heat is good enough for me.

yes, that's true alot of sellers edit their thread instead of creating a new thread for every new item they sell. but if you just leave a small ref in your 1st post of who and what you sold then its good enough i think.

[CHINAdeals]

thns

this is REALLY really helpful

[pmc]

Ryan is A+ :D


I like the feature where the system leaves you a note when someone has left you feedback

http://nojive5.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/01360916thumbs_up_smiley.gif

[bubble.tea]

Ryan is A+ :D
....

While I definately agree with this:lol:. Don't forget this is a standard plug-in for vBulletin. We should applaud the initiative of the RFD administrators et.al (mods also no doubt) who took this recommendation, and carried it through to fruition (AS A COLLECTIVE) ;).

And yes, definately, the pm auto-notifier of a new feedback is considerate-now isn't it :).

Hip-Hip-Hooray!!!!!!!

[deeplove]

would it be okay to ask people you've traded with before mar.20th to leave you feedback? obviously, not a transaction thats ages ago but like say a few weeks to a month ago.

[3weddings]

Just wondering why this isn't a sticky yet?

[bubble.tea]

because the whole forum is 6 threads long anyway? Kinda redundant.

Unless you mean a FORUM-UNIVERSAL sticky?

[HowEver]

Thanks for this, RFD. Much appreciated.

In some ways this is preferable to heatware, at least for RFD-generated deals.

I have a ton of heatware, eBay feedback, and so on. It will be nice to have some here, although I don't know if I'll go searching out past trades... especially since I have heatware for many of them.

[bubble.tea]

SOMEONE PLEASE explain.

So even if I end up trading with the SAME PERSON over 20 times...we'll only E V E R impact each others' feedback ONCE???? How does this make any sense?:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

If this is correct, I strongly recommend there to be an exception to this rule which I'm sure has merit for immediate SPAM-inclined and SCAMMER-friendly interests, BUT ONLY hinders legitimate and worthy interests.

[Avenger]

SOMEONE PLEASE explain.

So even if I end up trading with the SAME PERSON over 20 times...we'll only E V E R impact each others' feedback ONCE???? How does this make any sense?:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

If this is correct, I strongly recommend there to be an exception to this rule which I'm sure has merit for immediate SPAM-inclined and SCAMMER-friendly interests, BUT ONLY hinders legitimate and worthy interests.

Well, if you were looking for an honest measurement of my trading ability, would you consider me credible if my score were inflated because I dealt with some random guy 20 times in a row, or does it look better seeing that I have dealt with 20 different people? I think variety is the better indicator. Ontop of that, most feedback places operate on a similar level.

I do not think it is unreasonable to not count multiples from the same person....

[wilson.311]

This should have been here long time ago~~ :razz:

Nice system.

[bubble.tea]

Well, if you were looking for an honest measurement of my trading ability, would you consider me credible if my score were inflated because I dealt with some random guy 20 times in a row, or does it look better seeing that I have dealt with 20 different people? I think variety is the better indicator. Ontop of that, most feedback places operate on a similar level.

I do not think it is unreasonable to not count multiples from the same person....

well...when you put it THAT w4y..of course...still, you're saying 20 times...but what if over a course of 2 years you've dealt with that person 5 times??? those 5 hits won't count? THAT seems unreasonable.

[sw1ft]

well...when you put it THAT w4y..of course...still, you're saying 20 times...but what if over a course of 2 years you've dealt with that person 5 times??? those 5 hits won't count? THAT seems unreasonable.Ebay works the same way. Feedback ratings are only affected by new users....

[smilodon]

Hello Ryan,

Here's the situation:

I posted a thread in the "Request-A-Deal" (RAD) forum. Another user replied and our communication resulted in a transaction whereby I purchased goods from him.

Now, I attempt to leave him a feedback but the system says the URL to my thread is invalid. It would seem that only threads from BST forums are accepted. This overlooks the fact that transactions also occur from the RAD forum.

Since the user was a great seller but had no feedback whatsoever, I still wanted him to get the positive feedback, so I created a new thread in "BST: Everything Else" and referred his feedback to that new thread.

Yet, this should be necessary, right? What's RFD's position on that?

[Feneant]

Could you please look into make return feedback mandatory? I am finding that a lot of folks do not give return feedback and it is quite annoying when you take the time to give it to them. I checked someone yesterday and he had received 4 feedback that he did not return to the other party and that is frankly not very fair. :mad:

[Brandon]

Can I change a feedback that was written by me? I didn't look at this thread til after I posted it, and the transaction falls under the negative feedback (item not as described).

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=421476

[googoo]

OK Ryan, here's an interesting one:)

I arranged and paid for a group buy, and I'm selling them to the other people.

Can we leave feedback for each other??

Page is here

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/lights-stands-check-pm-message-798208/

Thanks
Brent

[bubble.tea]

To meet the criteria required for iTrader, simply create a thread in BST Electronics., or photography if there is such. For the fb evals, refer to the link of said thread.

Cheers,

Nice of you to arrange that group buy :).

[googoo]

It was kinda selfish actually, I was able to get a $100+tax light stand for $64 taxes in, and if somebody backs out, oh well then I'll sell what's left for $85 and make a profit:)

Brent