I've gotten bored with the A+++++ feedback ratings on eBay. Everyone seems to leave them. So I've started being a little more creative with my own feedback. For example, I recently sold an MP3 player to a guy in West Virginia, and left this feedback:
paypal payment comes/package hits the blistered road/excellent buyer
I thought that was pretty crafty.
Funny that you mention this. I've never given feedback, as it seems like all of the responses are too generic to be used for anything. I'll keep that in mind when my order arrives.
Since it only really makes a difference if they're positive or negative, leaving "a++++"-style comments is pretty pointless. I've actually taken to leaving cut-and-pasted comments like "Package arrived quickly and in expected condition". I get too much stuff to spend alot of time leaving specific, meaningful comments, and at least that might be of some use to the fraction of a percentage of people who actually read the comments. You could like positive comments like "Seller beat me to a bloody pulp", and I'm sure people would continue to buy from them. I generally only read negative comments, so I would miss that kind of comment too.
For what it's worth, as the proud owner of (87) feedbacks with 100% positive, I think that it is important to leave feedback, even if it is generic. It really makes a difference to people that sell things. When I am looking for things such as computer parts I won't bid on any items from sellers that do not have at least several positive seller references.
It isn't quite as important for buyers but I think that it is good form to always leave feedback. I am a bit miffed when people do not leave feedback for me especially if it is for an auction where I was the seller.
I think that there is not much that a seller can say other than "fast payment, thanks" kind of stuff I leave relevant feedback for things that I have purchased. I'll note things like reasonable shipping costs, good packaging jobs, fast shipping and whether or not the item was what I expected which are all still pretty cut and paste but at least accurate.
I have never used the A+++++++