BOSTON - (Business Wire) As eBay begins rolling out highly controversial changes to its feedback policies
– ending the ability of sellers to leave negative feedback for buyers, while allowing buyers to continue to use feedback to cause significant damage to a seller
’s online reputation rating
– a group of computer scientists, game theorists, and attorneys
at Fair Outcomes, Inc. have introduced a new system directly addressing the concerns of all sides in the ongoing debate. Fair Outcomes provides an independent online portal that buyers and sellers can use to resolve disputes over sales, and that sellers can use to demonstrate that they have acted in a fair and constructive manner, justifying a restoration of their reputation.
“Unlike mediation and other traditional approaches to dispute resolution, the system gives sellers a strong incentive to make a fair proposal at the outset of the process,” says James F. Ring, co-founder and CEO of Fair Outcomes, Inc. “It also serves to deprive buyers of any incentive or excuse for failing to make a reasonable proposal prior to a fixed deadline. The system provides a simple but complete solution to all of the problems cited in the current debate over eBay’s new policy changes.”
Online testing of the system, known as the “Fair Reputations” system, began late last week at FairOutcomes.com and the system has drawn immediate attention from eBay sellers, buyers and active bloggers:
“The process … provide[s] sellers ample opportunity to protect their reputations by demonstrating their willingness to settle with irate buyers.” Ars Technica – Fair Outcomes: Using Game Theory For Honest Feedback on EBay
“By offering this kind of dispute resolution, a seller demonstrates a willingness to settle a matter fairly at the outset. However…eBay has not yet embraced the system…. [T]here’s a $10 fee…[and] you know eBay will want some or all of that.” WebProNews - Fair Outcomes Strives for Fair Ebay Settlements
“This takes away the incentive to bluff and gives an incentive to settle amicably…. What could be more fair to buyer and to seller? What could be a better move for eBay?… This will scare away cruddy sellers … and it allows good sellers to stand up against abuses. And it works the same way for buyers… This has the potential to be one of the best things that has happened to eBay in a long long long time…. Absolutely brilliant.” EBay Discussion Forum - Fair Outcomes Launches Dispute Resolution Service for eBay Sellers
For further information, or to run a two-to-three minute free test of the system, please visit: www.fairoutcomes.com/run_fr/home.pl.
About Fair Outcomes, Inc.
Fair Outcomes, Inc is a Boston-based company that provides parties involved in disputes or difficult negotiations with access to newly developed proprietary systems that allow fair and equitable outcomes to be achieved with remarkable efficiency. Each of these systems is grounded in mathematical theories of fair division and of games. Founders and staff include game theorists, computer scientists, and practicing attorneys with extensive experience in designing and administering such systems.
Fair Outcomes, Inc.
James F. Ring, 866-257-9000 x 701
