posted on January 23, 2009 03:38:01 PM new
Hi, all y'all:
Months ago I cobbled together a pink slip I put with every eBay item I mail. The ideas were from various folks on this board, including, I believe, Tom and Ralphie. Recently my search standing went from "raised" to "good" and now to "lowered"--all because my 4.5 stars for shipping and handling expense is "Bad"??? The other three stars are in the high 4's and also 5's.
I've been really careful with shipping costs, charging just a nominal 50 cents extra for materials. (Nothing extra for my time, or for the customs slips for overseas, etc.) I've even been known to refund payments that cost less to mail than originally estimated.
Now I'm trying to think what I can add to this slip about their not penalizing us sellers for mailing costs set somewhere out there and beyond our control.
Does anyone have a suggestion for a sentence to be added to this? Here's my current slip:
PLANNING TO LEAVE FEEDBACK? PLEASE READ.
Ebay is now using the star ratings (1 - 5) to determine a seller’s rank in searches. The higher, the better.
While eBay tells you a 4-star rating is good, they’re punishing us sellers who receive only 4 stars!
* If you’re happy with this purchase, PLEASE help keep my items visible in eBay searches by leaving the highest possible star rating you’re comfortable with.
* If you’re unhappy about the shipping time, please know that I ship within 24 hours, and after that your item is in the hands of the US Post Office. Thank you!
_____________________
"Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels - men and women who ***dared to dissent*** from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, ***may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion."*** --Eisenhower
posted on January 23, 2009 04:13:24 PM new
Sounds like you are letting your buyers know that you are worried about the star rating you will be getting.
I'd rather say something simple like "I strive to create high satisfaction with every transaction. Please leave 5-star rating when you return positive feedback".
I know your very upset over the star rating and It's not worth you getting sick worrying how and why a buyer does what they do when they leave the star rating.
Personally I would not insert a note telling the buyers anything. You would be better off if they didn't leave you any FB or star rating.
Since the star rating started 85% of my buyers don't even leave FB anymore and honestly I don't care. I'm through worrying if my search is raised, lowered, or standard.
I do the best I can and I do it as quickly as possible, and I charge for shipping what I think is fair and I can't worry if the buyer don't agree with me. They have a choice not to bid and if they do bid and leave me a low star rating well, it's out of my control.
So Stop making yourself sick over this crap that ebay finds so important. Just do your best, that's all any of us can do.
posted on January 23, 2009 04:51:01 PM new
I wish I knew roadsmith. Like you, I try to do everything right. I get marked down on communication, and I don't know how I can possibly communicate better, except that I know some of my messages go into junk files.
We mail every day, but have no control over the time Canada Post and USPS take to deliver.
I often lose on shipping, not charging for my shipping bags for yarn which cost me 50 cents each, and can save the buyer up to $4 each on shipping.
I try to accurately describe my items, mentioning every tiny flaw, but still my 30 day ratings are going down.
Before feeBay tossed Ralphie & me for being DEADBEATS, this is the BLURB we included in all our "ITEM SHIPPED" emails:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PLEASE NOTE:
Recently, eBay made dramatic changes to the FEEDBACK SYSTEM. These changes
directly affect our ability to sell on eBay. If you're interested, you can
read more about these changes here:
http://www.dsrwatch.com/faq/
Basically, any STAR RATINGS UNDER 5.0 or 4.9 are disastrous to my rating,
and adversely affect my ability to continue selling economically on eBay.
In view of these overwhelming changes to the FEEDBACK SYSTEM, I politely
request that, before leaving me any ratings below 4.9 or 5.0, that you contact
me ahead of time so we could discuss any concerns you might have.
Ralphie and I thank you GREATLY for your very kind consideration, and, again,
for your PURCHASE!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gradually, our STARS inched up to 4.9 in all the cats...
posted on January 23, 2009 05:25:39 PM new
roadsmith
This is what i put in my auctions.
WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF SELLING OPAL. NOT POSTAGE. WE ONLY CHARGE WHAT IT COSTS US TO SHIP TO YOU. SO PLEASE DONT NEG US IF IT TAKES TOO LONG TO GET THERE OR YOU THINK IT IS TOO EXPENSIVE. WE ARE HAPPY TO LEAVE YOU F/B AFTER YOU RECEIVE YOUR PARCEL AND LEFT US F/B. THANK YOU FOR YOUR VALUED PATRONAGE & HELP.
WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LENGTH OF TIME IT TAKES THE POST OFFICE TO DELIVER YOUR PARCEL IN YOUR COUNTRY. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, IT IS USUALLY IN YOUR OWN POSTAL SERVICES IN YOUR COUNTRY.
---------------------------------------
And this is what i send in my emails after we sent the parcels .
------------------------------------------
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATRONAGE ON MY AUCTIONS (EBAY.) IT IS APPRECIATED VERY MUCH. YOUR PARCEL WAS SHIPPED OUT TODAY..... OUR TIME.
WHEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR PARCEL, WE DO APPRECIATE F/B. THEN WE WILL BE MORE THEN HAPPY TO LEAVE F/B FOR YOU .
UNDER THE NEW F/B SYSTEM, A NEUTRAL F/B IS CLASSED AS A NEGATIVE IN THE SCORE AND TALLY OF THE FEEDBACK. IT WOULD BE APPRECIATED IF YOU DID NOT PENALIZE US IN THE STAR SYSTEM OR ANYWHERE ELSE FOR SHIPPING COSTS. AS THIS IS BEYOND OUR CONTROL.
WE ONLY CHARGE YOU WHAT WE ARE CHARGED BY AUST POSTAL SERVICE FOR SHIPPING. WE DO NOT MAKE MONEY FROM POSTAGE.(SHIPPING). WE DONT EVEN CHARGE FOR PACKAGING.
IF THERE IS A PROBLEM TALK TO US FIRST.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATRONAGE, HELP AND UNDERSTANDING.
posted on January 23, 2009 06:08:46 PM new
Bravo,Toni.
I cannot say it better!
Ebay stock is trading at all time low,it digs itself deeper and deeper into a #*!@ hole under the banners of person to person buy/sell community with 13,000 rules.
As final bid amount gets lower and lowest,so is Ebay FVF.
The only way to stop this pathetic spiralling down is to make it a business community where sellers make a respectable profit and charge a fair shipping and handling fee.
If the buyers do not like the shipping fee,they dont have to buy.
Its about time a venue provider stop interfering how much a seller charges for shipping and handling!
*
Economic Reform act of Chairman Obama of the socialist States of America :
10 ounces of meat per month,half a yard of cotton per year per adult.
Hellilujah!
posted on January 23, 2009 07:44:43 PM new
"my feelings" on the feedback and DSRs;
NOT worth the time or effort to try and break down a brick wall with a plastic hammer.
NEED GOOD DSRs FOR DISCOUNT....simply add to the S&H and screw eBay. Adding 50˘ or even 25˘ to each order will give you a BIGGER return then the LITTLE % DISCOUNT eBay offers....
LOWERED SEARCH STATUS.....this has been a joke from day one. Stop trying to sell the popular widget that the Chinese are mass producing and sell "unique" items. Put the correct words in your description and your items will be found. Buyers are smart enough nowadays NOT to search for "RADIO" or "PURSE"...they have figured out, that the more they describe the item, the better the search is. Plus ebay can simply find the lowest excuse and change your status. I was selling a "gun" lighter...someone probably reported it and under POLICY COMPLIANCE...my rating went from GOOD to POOR...what happened to FAIR??? ...item has been eliminated, so how long does that status stay there?
I have a lowered search standing...why? no clue....pull up the requirements...detailed seller ratings 4.7 vs needed 4.6?? Buyer Satisfaction rating -- "NEEDS WORK" -- see details...PROVIDES NO DETAILS -- shows DSRs/Feedback score/Buyer Protection...but DOESN'T say were they are failing.
30 Day DSRs vs ebay 30 day average; Item-4.80/4.79 Comm 4.64/4.75 Shipping time 4.53/4.70 S&H charges 4.65/4.72
FEEDBACK....old news here....ALL buyers at 100% unless you are also a seller...then what happens? Until it is a level playing field...this might me a bigger JOKE then the discounts.
*******************************************
Bottom line...spend the time promoting other avenues...
I really have to thank eBay...I now have over 6,000 on AMAZON and barely have used their features(auctions, etc.) sales are EXCEEDING eBay with NO paypal fees (instant payments). IOFFER, between two sites on there another 6,000 items -- NO LISTING FEES & GOOGLE/MONEY ORDER payments! Also started two small ones on ECRATER & BONANZLE. Each day more and more of my items are removed from eBay and placed elsewhere. For the price, Vendio is still on my budget....for now.
posted on January 23, 2009 09:40:23 PM new
Thanks, everyone. Tom and Ralphie: I really like your request that they contact you if planning to leave stars below 4.9.
Rhpepsi: My only concern, really!!, is the lowered search standing. I don't sell widgets, one after another; I sell collectibles and books.
Does anyone know if the threat of lowered search standing is a real detriment to sellers like me? I'd love to see a test done somewhere.
_____________________
"Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels - men and women who ***dared to dissent*** from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, ***may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion."*** --Eisenhower
posted on January 24, 2009 04:09:00 AM new
This is the blurb I put at the end of all my ebay emails. I've just this month started the "stars education" and my stars have improved especially my shipping star which was getting close to below average.
Once your item arrives in satisfactory condition, please leave feedback for me. I will do the same for you.
If you have a problem with this transaction please don't hesitate to contact me before leaving feedback or stars.
Amy
Thank you again!
Read more about the Feedback DSR stars system, and how, if a buyer leaves anything less then a 5, it effects a seller's discount and effects how a our items show up in eBay’s search.
posted on January 24, 2009 04:30:42 AM new
I think COMMUNICATION is the key to good customer service and conveying to your buyers that the transaction is important to you.
I communicate information about the star rating system with my shipping notification email. If your shipping cost stars are taking a "ding", then I would suggest you explain that you do not charge a handling fee in this notice. I really have seen a marked improvement in my "stars" since I started including this in my notice - and I only ship once a week.
If you are still using the "stealth" mode of printing postage (where the actual amount does not appear on the package), I would suggest that you print the actual shipping cost instead so buyers can see you are not charging too much.
My packing slip is short and sweet -
Thanks for your purchase! It is our goal to provide you with a “Five-Star” EBay experience. If you find that any part of this transaction falls short of this goal, please contact me at XXXXX. I hope you will revisit my EBay store at the following web address: www.moodymommy.com. It is a pleasure doing business with you. Regards,
-------------------------------------
posted on January 24, 2009 07:35:23 AM new
This is used on 2 id's and we stay at high 4.8 to 4.9 with occassional 5.0
I've left out my id and name ...
To All My Valued Customers, 
Please know when leaving star ratings on Ebay, 4 stars is considered failing in the eye’s of Ebay as I must keep the level of 4.8 or above. To clarify how 4 is failing, a seller can actually be suspended from Ebay if levels fall below 4.3.
I humbly request that you leave 5 stars when leaving feedback.
posted on January 24, 2009 08:14:15 AM new
Bidders shouldn't even be able to rate sellers on shipping fees if the shipping fees are clearly stated in the auction. If the bidder can see the shipping fees and still bids, then they should be fully satisfied with the cost of shipping and there should be no ratings.
posted on January 26, 2009 10:08:04 AM new
God do I hate begging for 5 stars - but I had to do it too - instead of the slip, I just included it in my payment received email and wrote:
We appreciate your business, and do our best to provide 5 star service - if you feel you have received anything less than that, please let us know, as anything less than 5 stars increases the fees we pay to Ebay, so we are definitely looking for 5 stars on the detailed seller ratings!
Maybe that's something they can relate to - they will never understand the search rankings issue - even Ebay doesn't fully understand it. If you require insurance - that is a sure bet you will get lowered ratings for shipping cost.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Caroline
posted on January 26, 2009 06:18:21 PM new
Sure it does - it educates the buyer as to what the feedback and DSRs mean to the sellers - Ebay doesn't bother to do that, so the sellers have to - my DSR's went up from 4.6 average per month to 4.8 when I started using that paragraph.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Caroline
posted on January 27, 2009 08:39:53 AM new
This is what I have in my shipping letter regarding the DSR. Does it help?? I think so but I will never know for sure.
EBay now offers a detail star rating for every seller. What they fail explain is that anything less than 5 stars lowers the seller's position in searches and increases the amount that a seller pays in fees. Many sellers are now passing this increase on to the buyers, I am not. So if you have a problem please let me know and so we can see if we can work it out. A 5 star rating will allow me to continue selling to my customer at a reasonable price.
Caroline