Rick,

There is another way to view this and hopefully it will reduce the angry feeling you have. However, I acknowledge that you will probably find a larger number of folks who view it the way you do. The first time or two this topic came up, I was really surprised at how upset this makes everyone. I just try to remember that everyone is entitled to an opinion and frankly, this is one of those "religious" issues. Diversity is what makes America strong, so this is a good thing. Right? Right!

So... here's another way to view this: Many people view the transaction to NOT be complete until the seller receives payment AND the buyer receives the item. To them, it is simply not a complete transaction, so to leave feedback isn't even a consideration. Simply because half of it is over (the payment or the receipt of the item) doesn't mean the whole transaction is complete to them.

Chances are, many of those people have been burned and just want to make sure everything is alright before leaving feedback. (Though I am sure some people do use it to hold feedback hostage) I never take offense if the e-bay seller asks me to confirm delivery before they leave feedback. As a buyer, I have even left feedback as the way to communicate that everything was okay. I don't view it as "holding me hostage" because if someone deserves a NEG from me, they are going to get it. If they don't, but NEG me, so what.

If someone wants to leave me a NEG just because I left them one, so what? I can always respond and I have found that the responses to a NEG are MUCH more telling than a NEG in and of itself.

Just providing another way to look at it...

Bryan