posted on April 28, 2008 01:12:34 PM new
thanks coach, I just read your post. How exactly does that help us improve our service?? Transparency has always worked best for people / government / companies trying to meet the needs of the population they serve. This is just plain counterproductive.
[ edited by merrie on Apr 28, 2008 01:14 PM ]
posted on April 28, 2008 06:35:22 PM new
Said it before & will say it again. I think 99% of buyers, that do not sell, have no idea what impact the stars have on a seller.
They probably think 4 or even 3 out of 5 is pretty good. To them 5 is perfect & nothing's perfect.
I'm both a seller & a buyer & only know the stars impact because I read this board several times a day. How many buyers read ANY message board pertaining to eBay. Not very many.
posted on April 28, 2008 08:00:33 PM new
"How exactly does that help us improve our service?? "
Merrie, I think most of us do not need to improve our Service.
Let's be honest if we could rate eBay on Customer Service what do you think their DSR's would be? I am so fed-up with all this nonsense. When I started and I am sure for all who post here, it was so simple. It was based on EBay's own "We believe people are basically honest" theory.
It worked well and the bad apples gradually weeded themselves out.
As it became more spohisticated those nasty apples did need a bit of a kick from 'The Venue' but they are really delving into the Sellers business way too far now!
I guess this got me at a time when I am still mad as heck because I was re-listing an item this evening and it is a quite large porcelain Ginger jar. My Shipping is $12.00 from Canada to anywhere in the United States and I got one of those little RED flags from EBay telling me my Shipping was too high and that the Buyers are sensitive to shipping costs and maybe I would consider FREE shipping!
I yelled at my computer and left the room!
I also agree with mcJane..the Buyers don't have a clue what impact the stars have on the Sellers and since they introduced those silly stars they have not changed the way the questions are worded which is just plain wrong!
Wow! I don't think you have ever seen me in such fighting form but I'm mad at EBay and trying to give up smoking all at once! Grrr
posted on April 29, 2008 06:01:29 AM new
otteropp: You hit it right on the head. Most of the "improvements" do not make sense. It is like someone has to justify their job / jobs by coming up with new and complicated schemes to make things more difficult for sellers. Even some of my friends who are buyers are astounded by some of the changes. Some of them have gotten email notices after purchase that the sellers no longer participate in Ebay's feedback system, which is voluntary, they do not like that.
You are right about those little red flags re shipping, I just ignore them and list.How can they compare items, sometimes when I get them I have just finished a "search" and there are no comparables, so where did they get their data.If buyers don't like the shipping charges that are clearly posted or the TOS go buy from one of the millions of other sellers on this "venue."
Ah, the good old days.
Good luck with the quitting smoking. I was close to divorcing my husband when he gave up the cigs.
PS my star are now 5.0, 4.9,4.9, 4.8
They probably calculated discount on the one day my stars had a 4.7 in shipping!!
posted on April 29, 2008 07:08:13 AM new
Ducking for flames ... but as a buyer, I do think sellers are performing better in the last two months. I buy a good bit, and they are communicating much better (from zero most of the time), they are packing better and shipping faster and are charging a more reasonable shipping fee. Just my two cents here. Your mileage may vary.
As a seller, I do think I'm truthfully a little more aware and conscientious than I've been on and off in the past. And if that helps get better prices, more repeat buyers and more sales, then it's worth playing in eBay's playground with their rules. I did have a better than usual April on eBay, for whatever reason, when shows were weaker than in the past.
posted on April 29, 2008 08:30:32 AM new
I want some outside auditor to confirm this star malarky. I understand how the 30 day average is in constant state of change. I just want to know how is it that one of my stars "conveniently" dipped to a 4.7 right before the seller discount was calculated last month and then recovered to a 4.8 just afterwards and stayed there until (by magic) it dipped again at the end of this month?
EBay makes billing errors all the time - how can we trust this blind system upon which so much is based? I frankly don't care that much about the 15% discount but I care VERY much about position in searches. I don't trust eBay math.
-------------------------------------
posted on April 29, 2008 08:58:13 AM new
regarding the star malarky and poor user use:
Why is there NO mention of DSR's, what they mean, how to use them ANYWHERE in the feedback tutorial?
Even if a new user WERE to take the tutorial (it must be a whole .7289% of users who do that), there is NOTHING about the stars in there ANYWHERE!!!
why, i ask?
Because if the buyers remain ignorant, 4's remain a 'very good' mark to leave for a seller and that saves eBaY from having to give 'very good' powersellers a discount!!!!
But, alas, ebay is just a venue.
Where is their right to base fees on this?
There HAS TO BE something NOT LEGAL here, venue or not!!!
posted on April 29, 2008 07:13:55 PM new
I spend a bit over $1000/month in eBay fees and I'll get an $8 discount. I could knock myself out, change the way I do business and maybe pull my shipping time up from 4.7 to 4.8 and get another $17.00 in discounts - or maybe not. If the stars seriously affect sort order in best match, I'll be very worried. I don't think they will have as much impact as word choice and shipping charges ratio to total price.
[ edited by pixiamom on Apr 29, 2008 07:14 PM ]
posted on April 29, 2008 07:35:25 PM new
"I don't think they will have as much impact as word choice and shipping charges ratio to total price."
I am beginning to see that and it only tells me that I have to make my List Price higher because there is nothing...absolutely nothing that I can do to change the price of my shipping! We add on about 35 cents to cover the cost of all new boxes, new bubblewrap and new styrofoam peanuts. Most of what we sell is fragile. It does not cover the cost of our supplies.
We have always done it that way so that our shipping costs would be reasonable.
I have been starting List price on auctions lower if something is going to cost more to ship because I want to make the TOTAL package palatable and affordable to the Buyers.
Now if we are going to be rated on the ratio of List Price to Shipping Cost then I will have to narrow the gap by listing higher and then...guess what...no bids!
posted on April 29, 2008 08:09:04 PM new
I found this information on the DSR's
Detailed Seller Ratings
In addition to leaving an overall Feedback rating (positive, neutral, or negative) for a seller, buyers can also leave detailed seller ratings, and these are anonymous. Because members–-both buyers and sellers—see only detailed seller rating averages, sellers can't see which buyer gave them which rating. Buyers leave detailed seller ratings in four areas: item as described, communication, shipping time, and shipping and handling charges.
With detailed seller ratings, buyers can provide additional information about the transaction, and sellers can get a more complete picture of their performance.
The detailed seller rating system is based on a one- to five-star scale. Five stars is the highest rating, and one star is the lowest. Detailed seller ratings do not impact the overall Feedback Score.
Buyers
How to leave detailed seller ratings
You can leave detailed seller ratings on the Leave Feedback page after you leave your overall rating (positive, neutral or negative).
If you choose to leave detailed seller ratings, you must leave them at the same time you leave your overall Feedback rating and comment. When you’re rating the seller, please keep the following in mind:
*
Be honest. Objective ratings help sellers improve performance and help future buyers accurately evaluate sellers.
*
Review the item title and description before rating the seller on the item as described.
*
Consider only business days when evaluating communication. Sellers don’t always check email on weekends and holidays.
*
When rating sellers on shipping time, rate the seller on the time it took them to mail the item, not the time it took you to receive the item. You shouldn’t hold sellers responsible for delays in mail services, international custom delays or for the time it took for your payment to clear.
*
When rating the seller on shipping and handling charges, remember that sellers may charge actual packaging materials costs and a reasonable handling fee to cover the seller’s time and direct costs associated with shipping. For international transactions, you may also be responsible for duties, taxes, and customs clearance fees as requested by country laws.
posted on April 29, 2008 08:13:17 PM new
Well, the PS only discount day for 4/22 did not work out so good for me. Listed 37 items, sold 4. Not really much of an honor or treat, was it!!
posted on April 29, 2008 08:40:10 PM new
Pixie: How is it possible to get an $8 discount if you spend $1000 a month? My eBay bill was $150 something, and my discount was $20 something. Are you sure you have your decimal points right? If not, 5 per cent on FVFs getting you $8 sounds like a lot of insertion fees, store fees, etc., and not a lot of sales, and I know that's not true.
posted on April 29, 2008 09:08:44 PM new
Yep, I have a 7,000 item store and list in a category with a low sell-through rate. The percentage is based on FVF's, not listing fees. I'm still a few hundred less with the fee changes, but the discounts don't amount to much.
posted on May 7, 2008 10:05:00 AM new
How can buyers leave feedback (stars) on whether an item was as described when they dont read the item description in the first place!
Got another screwy fb today:
(pos)Bag was smaller than I thought, still very beautiful! Speedy shipping! Good sale
Hate to state the obvious her but of course the measurements were listed.
It was "smaller than she THOUGHT"
but EXACTLY as she would have READ!!
Did she ding me for HER failure to read?
Seller dashboard dsr's today:
4.7 as described
4.8 communication
4.9 ship time
4.8 S&H charges (no, I dont charge handling)
posted on May 7, 2008 04:22:26 PM new
pixia - I thought my discount was paltry too and made no sense. You have to actually download your invoice (I couldn't see it online) to see your Powerseller Discount. It is in red and appears near the top after insertion fee credits on relist, referral fees, subscription charges and credits. My invoice is 20,600 lines long and this was a light listing month because of my trip out west!
My 15% discount is still paltry - 6.3% of the total bill.
posted on May 8, 2008 11:47:09 AM new
eeeeeeeeeeeeek!
the buyers are going bananas already!!!!!!!
this moring I open my mail to: Before I leave negative feedback
nothing after that part mattered!
It took EVERYTHING I had to not just close the e-mail and leave HER negative fb!!!!
posted on May 8, 2008 02:40:07 PM new
Bill ~ you are today and have always been a very bad influence on me
my response:
Dear t***,
Please feel free to leave whatever feedback you feel is appropriate.
I do not respond to threats of negative feedback nor do I react to it as a call to action.
here are the facts:
All items ship within 48 hours of receipt of payment.
This is the first I have heard of them not arriving.
I do not care if you leave negative feedback.
The pants were sent.
You declined delivery confirmation and insurance for this purchase.
You get more flies with honey.
- c***
posted on May 8, 2008 02:51:52 PM new
She told me that I need to 'rethink my business practices' (ebay already did that for me) and that she never met a seller as negative and angry as I am (could be coz she only had 18 transactions in the past 12 months, lil miss 96.2 pos fb that she is).
If I leave her the Neg, I'm just lowering myself.
I did lower myself to respond again, though:
Dear t***,
Any ebayer that starts an e-mail with "Before I leave negative feedback" is not typically someone I choose to transact with ~ those are my 'business practices'. Your communication skills leave something to be desired. Why not let me know it hadn't arrived? Why not ask for a tracking number? Why not look at my TEN THOUSAND POSITIVE FEEDBACK comments before talking about leaving negative feedback? Have you talked to your carrier? Your neighbors? Your postal center? Could it have been rerouted? Misdirected? Misdelivered? Accepted by someone other than you? Nah, just assume I didn't ship it, instead. Talk about negative!
Check your mail, refund was sent several hrs ago ~ copied below:
From: [email protected]
To: c**
Sent: 5/8/2008 6:46:54 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: Your refund has been sent
You have sent a full or partial refund to t* (t***@comcast.net).
Message to Buyer: Not interested in communicating further. Full refund issued. Please refrain from bidding on my auctions and sending threats.Best of Luck to you.
-----------------------------------
Payment Details
-----------------------------------
Date Payment Sent: Apr. 16, 2008
Amount: $31.20 USD
Thank you for using PayPal!
The PayPal Team
[ edited by zoomin on May 8, 2008 02:53 PM ]
posted on May 8, 2008 03:01:22 PM new
Here is one money saving idea if you have not tried it already-
Use your Paypal debit card as your credit card and go to My Ebay and make a one time payment of your Ebay fee using a credit card.
Punch in your Paypal debit card number and exp date and you will get a 1 1/2 % discount.
(of course you must have a business or premier account with Paypal and enough fund in your account to get that 1 1/2 % discount)
If you are paying $1000 to Ebay,your discount (drum roll please) is $15 dollars.
Enough to treat yourself and your loved one to an all you can eat Chinese buffet!
*
Lets all stop whining !
posted on May 8, 2008 08:31:00 PM new
got another e-mail from the psycho ~ stick a fork in me, I'm done.
Posted a neg for her before I lose my opportunity.
AND
I plagiarized the wacko from the crazy creative fb queen on the other thread.
NEG so hows that "before I leave negative fb" approach working out for you?
posted on May 9, 2008 11:33:12 AM new
ladyjewels:
I dont think I break ebay feedback laws with so hows that "before I leave negative fb" approach working out for you?
posted on May 9, 2008 01:06:27 PM new
I think what ladyjewels meant was that your remark could be construed as retaliatory. If the buyer pushes eBay she can get it removed.
It is risky to leave feedback that refers to feedback. It's supposed to refer to the transaction itself.
Not that I disagree with the sentiment expressed in your feedback, not at all, and not that I'm not guilty of the same offense.
posted on May 9, 2008 01:26:35 PM new
Fluffy that's exactly what I meant.
I personally think the FB was just what she deserved, but now she's sure to give you a neg and her's may go away.
The only fault I can find with what zoomin did was refunding her money??? I don't think I would have done that.
posted on May 9, 2008 01:44:50 PM new
retaliation before the fact?
I guess so.
Premature retaliation.
(that sounds obscene).
It felt good.
I cant find a REAL rule that would warrant her having it removed.
I sent a copy of her "before I leave NEG e-mail" to eBaY (reporting her for fb extortion). If she says my feedback is retailiation for her 'threat', I can say her reporting me is retailiation for my reporting her.
I feel like I'm in junior high again (without the zits).
I didn't care who I pi**ed off back then, either.
I'm also thinking that when she negs me back I can file for a mutual.
Love to have my cake and eat it, too.
Doesn't always work out that way, though.
