[QuakertownRich]

Originally Posted by Robert Kayland

Speaking as a seller, I've had instances where I did everything right, but because the post office screwed something up or I had to wait for a check to clear, the buyer posts negative feedback.

So I'm in the habit of waiting to give feedback until the buyer leaves feedback and/or gives me the opportunity to make things right if something goes wrong. Otherwise, the seller is at the mercy of any irrational buyer.
Not with gunbroker. You can respond to any post on your feedback if dealing with a nut, and rational ppl would understand. Seller has no reason to delay leaving feedback once contact, paperwork(FFL) and payment has been made. Why wait? You've been paid in timely fashion. To hold leaving feedback is what we're talking about by sellers using that as a blackmail. That's prolly how this guy I'm dealing with has gotten away with being an a-hole and not named.
Also, I've had plenty of instances where no feedback was left by the buyer because he's either inexperienced with eBay or lazy... so why should seller automatically give a positive merely because of payment?
Because he's completed his half of the deal, putting full trust that you shall reciprocate in kind. He is the one who put that blind trust out there, not you. Why should your feedback left for him as a buyer depend on what he puts for you first? It's a two-way street, and the feedback system is the only way to establish a proper reputation for future confidence.

Of course, eBay recently changed things so the seller can't give negative feedback to buyers, go figure.

We're talking gunbroker here, not ebay. That's a different pot of fish altogether.