Jim Hackett wrote:
I could understand keeping bidders identities private. I just hadn't seen
the feedback be private without stains being covered...



Currently, there is no way to keep feedback public without also
exposing bidders' identities. So, to protect them, the feedback profile
must be kept private as well.

eBay keeps pretty good histories, and users rarely, if ever, have the
opportunity to manipulate the feedback profile or its percentages. If
the profile claims 100% positive, that's eBay's claim, not the vendor's.
No stains to be covered, private, or otherwise.





"D Peter Maus" wrote in message
...

Mark S. Holden wrote:

Jim Hackett wrote:


Just curious why someone who has 100% positive feedback (on eBay)
would make
their feedback PRIVATE. Anyone know?



Some folks are serious about protecting their privacy.

On the other hand, if it's a low number, I'd be careful - it could be
they don't want you to see half the people who have given them feedback
bid on every auction they run.






And there are some vendors who have learned that by making the names
of their clients public, as would open feedback, they're opening up
their client list to raiding, and in worst cases, attack by those who
would libel them.

There have been a couple of members here, who have scoured the eBay
listings, and contacted bidders and buyers of certain vendors to share
horror stories, allegations or rumors against the vendors. Considering
that there are many who make their living on eBay, protecting their
customers' identities makes some sense.


This, of course, measured against the activities of vendors who may
have good feedback ratings (feedback is as much a political insurance
racket as it is honest reportage, these days) but who misrepresent their
goods for sale. Ironically, it's rarely the less scrupulous vendors who
hide their feedback, or conduct their auctions privately.

There may be many reasons for keeping the details of one's affairs
to one's self. Just because you don't stand naked on a street corner
means you have something untoward concealed.