is the rating system realistic?

Hi Astromarters,

Granted I'm pretty much a beginner here, but...

Is the rating system realistic?
Has anyone not received 5 stars recently?

About a year ago I gave a guy, who had received nothing but 5 star ratings,
a 3 star rating.
This is because we agreed he would send a postal money order as payment,
and sent a personal check instead.
When I asked him about this he didn't take it seriously.

Well THE GUY WENT BALLISTIC!
He threatened to remove the 5 star rating he had already given me,
and replace it with a big negative rant,
if I didn't recant my 3 star rating I'd given him.

Seeing as how I want to sell a scope here in the future,
I had to succumb to his BLACKMAIL.

Is there a way the rating system can be reworked to avoid this type of thing?

Thanks, Mark

I will give a 5 star if the transaction works out and there are no problems in the end. I have had a couple of shakey situations, but the seller either returned my money or we worked out the problem. I did give a 5 star because I felt that a problem is only a problem if it is not resolved. Some times there are misunderstands or a difference of opinion that are not fraudulent and I don't feel that these things warrant a bad rating.
I will give a bad rating if there is a problem with the deal and it is not set right. This has not really happened to me yet.

I find reading the descriptions on the ratings to be more informative than the numbers. If the person has ratings that say they are great, ship fast, and the equipment was just as described then I feel more comfortable.

I also look at the rated to reating received ratio as others mentioned for the same reason. I am leery of folks who receive far more ratings than they give back.

Just my 2 cents.

Mark, as many have mentioned, the ratings system is not perfect, but it is a good start point...

I personally look at the ratings they got, the ones they gave, the notes, and who gave them the ratings... it might be a bit time consuming sometimes, but we need to make sure the transaction will be as smooth as possible...


Clear skies!

Overall I think it works well. I do wish you had not recanted. If somebody is supposed to send a money order, but sends a check instead, that isn't 5 stars. If he gives you a negative rating, put comments about your rating and his retaliation, and lower his rating. I think if he had done this to me he would have dropped to 1 star (with the comment he's a jerk but at least the check cleared). I would also make the guy wait until five business days after the check cleared, just in case - maybe ten days. Some scams have used checks that apparently clear but then are found to be fraudulent.