Questions for Colin

Hey Colin,

We are in the middle of our ODR course at Straus and we have a few questions re Ebay and ST dispute resolution.

If you are able to provide any responses to the questions below before perhaps Friday at noon, that would be awesome.  If not, I will forward any responses following the class. 

Here are our questions:

1.  Does the 80% automated settlement rate apply to both low value and high value disputes (e.g. car sales on Ebay)?

2.  If a party settles thru the automated system, do these folks come back to ebay at the same rate as those who never had a dispute? 
At the same rate as those who have human intervention and settlement?

3.  If folks do not settle their dispute, do they stop coming to Ebay?

4.  Any data on whether geographic location impacts settlement, e.g. those close together more likely to settle than those at great distance?

5.  Are Buyers who have pre-communications with Seller (re details of item and the like) more apt or less apt to a) have dispute b) settle?

6.  Any evidence that DR system itself prompts frivoulous complaints . . . that people take advantage of automated system to get a better deal . .  take another bite out of apple?

7.  Any evidence that people use negative comments as leverage to get better deal?

8.  Is there a fee to change negative feedback?  Can this be waived by agreement of parties?

9.  In human assisted mediation process, is there a difference in settlement rate based on amount at issue (low value vs high value)?

10.  How would you best improve ST . . . E Bay approach to DR? (realize that this may be confidential info)

Thx for your consideration.  All are greatly valuing your book!

Jim