LtRay
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posted on March 5, 2009 01:49:35 AM new
Buyers either do not understand the DSR system or there were some vindictive buyers. Either way, I think eBay should be held accountable for allowing buyers to leave DSRs for shipping on items that had free shipping. During this period my powerseller status dropped and it cost me real money because I went from a 20% power seller discount to 5 % discount.
Ebay now has DSR reports enabled. You can view yours by clicking on the Seller Dashboard -> Detailed Seller Ratings -> See your Reports.
Here are my results. All of my sales on this account included free shipping.
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pmelcher
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posted on March 5, 2009 03:33:23 AM new
How on earth can people leave a less than perfect score for FREE shipping??? That is way wrong.
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rhpepsi
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posted on March 5, 2009 04:30:58 AM new
I stopped looking at the DSRs awhile ago....
If I want to see numbers that are dropping ( and actually DESERVED)...I just pull up eBays stock quote everyday. Those are more pleasing then the DSRs.
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kozersky
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posted on March 5, 2009 09:51:32 AM new
Is shipping "free" or is it included? By that, I wonder if you have increased the selling price to include shipping, or has the selling price not been adjusted, and shipping is truly "free."
I have found that "free shipping" is anything but "free" and that the seller should really be stating "shipping included."
Perhaps the buyer who leaves feedback understands the difference, isn't swayed by "free shipping," and is leaving feedback accordingly.
Bill K-
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on March 5, 2009 10:19:12 AM new
Bill,
If they are upset that a "free ship" item is priced to reflect the seller's costs but they purchase the item anyway , that qualifies as vindictive behavior.
Besides, who are they to say what the price must be, anyway? I frequently sell name brand items at as much as a 50% premium over retail. This is on eBay. And people pay it.
fLufF
--
Claim your FREE $5 jewelry gift certificate!
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kozersky
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posted on March 5, 2009 10:55:53 AM new
fluff, I'm not sure that there is vindictive behavior. Let's just call it human nature.
Now, as you may recall, I just don't care for the phrase "free shipping." I have always thought that someone should complain to the proactive Attorneys General of NYS and CA regarding the practice.
Why should there be concern? In many, if not most instances, the selling price has been increased to include the cost of shipping. The buyer is not receiving the value advertised.
Further, when eBay promotes the false free shipping, rather than shipping included, the free shipping seller receives an unfair advantage over the seller who is honestly stating shipping costs.
At least there are buyers who are willing to leave feedback to reflect that they see through the free shipping puffery.
Bill K-
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Helenjw
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posted on March 5, 2009 11:32:13 AM new
It would be interesting to have more definitive feedback from those buyers who find some reason to object to free shipping.
I doubt that any buyer sees the concept of "free shipping" as an unacceptable deception on the seller's part. Could their feedback reflect other aspects of shipping such as packaging or time of delivery? If not, I wouldn't be concerned about it.
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kozersky
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posted on March 5, 2009 01:07:08 PM new
I doubt we will ever get an definitive answer to this problem.
Apparently, it is time to file a complaint with an AG's office. Then we will have a legal opinion as to the use of "free shipping" that is not free.
Bill K-
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ebabestreasures
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posted on March 5, 2009 01:38:26 PM new
Some sellers are not adjusting their starting price and giving free shipping to obtain an advantage in the search.
Unless a buyer has watched that given seller for a number of years - how would they know?
I think LtRay is correct - buyers don't understand DSR's.
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deichen
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posted on March 5, 2009 02:53:40 PM new
The system does not work and ebay won't admit it or overhaul it, because they don't care. I leave 5 stars on every purchase I make.
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ChristopherCS
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posted on March 5, 2009 02:57:24 PM new
Free shipping in many cases is likely just 'shipping included' - but I think (that ONE of the things) eBay and buyers like about the no additional shipping cost issue is that they don't have to worry about figuring out what additional fees there may be in addition to the stated price of an item.
There are so many different sellers and rules, each with their own format for relaying these rules and prices in the listing itself that many buyers feel burned when they realize what the cost of shipping is. (granted it's technically their own fault for not clearly reading and understanding the terms of the ad, but there is certainly an advantage to taking out the guesswork for your buyers - even if your really just inflating the cost of the item itself)
[ edited by ChristopherCS on Mar 5, 2009 09:16 PM ]
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HWAHWA
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posted on March 5, 2009 04:05:36 PM new
When I buy on internet,I dont care to leave any feedback or take a survey!
I get my merchandise and the merchant gets paid,end of the story!
Ebay wants to get involved in every way it can.
*
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!
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cblev65252
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posted on March 5, 2009 06:19:36 PM new
I'm with you, HWAHWA. I hate having to leave feedback. I will get surveys from different companies after I've purchased something and I'll ignore them. I don't have time to bother with it.
Cheryl
http://www.youravon.com/cherylblevins
Now you can buy Avon from me from anywhere in the world.
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fenix03
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posted on March 5, 2009 06:20:58 PM new
Chris - come on. We all know that what ebay likes about "Free Shipping" is that since the seller, unless they are a complete idiot in which case they do not last very long, includes the shipping costs in the price which many times results in a larger initial listing fees and always results in a larger final fee.
It has absolutely nothing to do ith ebay wanting to make things easier for buyers and everything to do with them wanting to increase their bottom line.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
People put their hand on the bible, and swear to uphold the constitution. They do not put their hand on the constitution, and swear to uphold the bible.
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HWAHWA
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posted on March 5, 2009 07:28:22 PM new
If Ebay wants to improve its bottom line and it sorely needs to do so as its stock is at all time low,it should consider ditching us small sellers and go with the big boys ,those with remainder merchandise looking for an online outlet.
Most of us would never advance to become the next Walmart or even local dollar store,as Ebay allows anyone to sell,the bid amount gets lower and lower and no one is making any money,including Ebay.
*
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!
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LtRay
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posted on March 5, 2009 08:17:12 PM new
Bill, of course there is no such thing as Free Shipping. Shipping costs have to be added in the cost of goods. Free Shipping is ebay's label for it. I consider it shipping included and still offer a product that is below retail price for the item in most instances. Plus my prices are still less than the majority of sellers who sell this product line.
There is absolutely NO reason for anyone to ding my shipping DSRs. I sell below retail, ship same or next day and am selling a new product.
What totally ticks me off about ebay allowing buyers to rate shipping cost on items with free shipping is that ebay is offering a discount to sellers to use free shipping. With profit margins so low, we count on that discount to pay the extra fees incurred by listing the item at a higher price.
Ebay is allowing the buyer to ding DSRs so they will not have to pay those discounts!
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LtRay
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posted on March 5, 2009 08:37:50 PM new
As for the free shipping mentality of buyers, I opened a new ebay store just to test the market.
Results- monthly sell through is about the same out of both stores but the free- shipping store sells mostly one item at a time while the store that charges shipping sees larger combined orders.
Shipping DSRs on the shipping-costs-added store are dismal even though I offer combined shipping discounts and ship at cost with the same level of service as the other store.
Buyers are totally killing the shipping DSR when I charge postage. For a single items, the total order cost with shipping included is about the same as when I offer free shipping. Something intersting though is that all the other DSRs are higher for the shipping-costs-added store. Same product, same packaging, same order turn around but the As Described, Communication, Shipping Time DSRs are at 4.9. The customers smart enough to know that combined shipping is better also see better value in the service.
I did a similar test with ecrater. The ecrater store with free shipping saw sales increase 40% within 3 months of the change over.
There has been an unexpected bonus for me in offering the free-shipping. I am spending a lot less time answering questions and calculating special shipping discounts. This is a big plus - more free time! For some reason the type of buyer that jumps on free shipping offers does not bug me with questions.
As for the feedback comments left on the free-shipping store. Nothing jumps out to explain the poor DSRs. I have yet to see a neutral or negative comment.
examples of my feedback:
love the free shipping
Wonderful Item ~ The Absolute Best Ever ! (As Is This Ebayer) Thanks !!
Fast shipping, great seller
fast shipping... thanks
Great Seller!!!!Super Fast shipping! A pleasure to do business with!
[ edited by LtRay on Mar 6, 2009 12:45 AM ]
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LtRay
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posted on March 5, 2009 09:41:01 PM new
Interesting ... My DSR report link is now gone. Guess they did not like the feedback they received from us?
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pmelcher
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posted on March 6, 2009 02:28:46 AM new
Mine is gone too, I first thought maybe they changed their mind and made it power-sellers only but since yours is gone it is not that. Maybe a temporary glitch since it is new.
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