posted on October 8, 2003 11:29:05 AM new
I've been selling on eBay for over 4 years, am a power seller, and have 99.7% pos feedback. (2 retaliatory negs)
I've sold close to 4,000 items, and can't seem to get to my red star.
I don't ask for feedback, but am quick to return it.
For a while, I would give feedback when I mailed the item out, but after listening to other sellers messages on this board, I stopped doing that. It didn't seem to make any difference as far as feedback to me anyway.
Some of you have a secret that you haven't shared with the rest of us. How do you accumulate a better feedback percentage?
There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
posted on October 8, 2003 11:58:39 AM new
I don't get everyone to leave feedback, but many do. I enclose a note inside my package referencing the auction title and number (that makes leaving feedback a little easier for them) and say that I have left feedback for them ( I try to leave feedback when the item is shipped) and ask them to do the same for me if they are pleased with the item.
Just checked % of people leaving FB for me: 77%.
I'm not sure how much influence FB has on anyone anymore since we all know it's very flawed - but I do know when I am having a hard time getting things besides EBay done, it helps me to look and see that I got 90+ FB's in the last week and launched 400+ auctions...NO WONDER I see postcards in my sleep!<---I THINK I HAVE CROSSED THAT FINE LINE BETWEEN HOBBY AND MENTAL ILLNESS!
[ edited by neglus on Oct 8, 2003 01:54 PM ]
[ edited by neglus on Oct 8, 2003 01:55 PM ]
posted on October 8, 2003 12:24:04 PM new
I just checked my feedback stats and I find approximately 73% of my buyers leave me feedback.
I can get the figures because I always leave feedback the day I ship the item and send a note saying item has been shipped, positive feedback has been posted, etc. Then, I ask them to post feedback in return when the item is received.
Also, like Neglus, I put a little note in each shipment requesting feedback if they are pleased with their purchase, and to be sure and let me know if there is a problem.
posted on October 8, 2003 12:35:37 PM new
I have a 75% ratio and I never leave feedback first except to another seller. Some of them that did not leave feedback have never left feedback for anybody or left mostly negatives and neutrals. One buyer had a feedback numer in the 900s and had never left any feedback at all.
posted on October 8, 2003 12:39:55 PM new
I don't know how to figure out my percentage ratio... but I have left 11,499 feedback and have only received a total of 7,575 (this includes all feedback - positive, neutral and negs).
I leave feedback when payment is made and at that time send the buyer a link to leave me feedback for when they receive the item.
posted on October 8, 2003 12:40:07 PM new
I'm pretty lucky in that mine is at about 95%. Repeat buyers also cause it to take longer to get another star. I love my repeat buyers, but it would be nice if their comments counted more than once.
Cheryl
He has his own throne (Revelation 13:2) and his own worshipers (Revelation 13:4).
posted on October 8, 2003 12:50:13 PM new
Any feedback over 100 is useless,kinda like plastic shopping bags. You can keep folding them and putting them away but you'll never use them.
Most useless things on Ebay.
1) Counters
2) The feedback system
3) Live Help
posted on October 8, 2003 12:53:50 PM new
I never leave FB when I ship. I do however enclose a letter requesting that they let me know when they receive the item. I also tell them that I would appreciate FB but will leave it for them weather they leave it for me or not - if they will just please let me know if they got the item and have no problems with it.
Then if a month or two later I still have not heard anything - 99% of the time I go ahead and leave it for them - and about 80% they then post it for me.
I have never calculated it but I think I get about 90% FB on all the items I sell.
I ship well and fast - which I think is the real key to good FB.
ladyjewels2000 is not my main ID on ebay.
Hope it helps.
posted on October 8, 2003 01:00:41 PM new
I think it greatly depends on what you sell as to your feedback ratio is. Hobby sellers selling baby clothes may have a much greater ratio than a pro sellers selling gothic jewelry for instance.
I read a while ago about JayandMarie ( onecentcds ) being passed in actual feedbacks by another seller although their feedback rating is still the highest on ebay.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
posted on October 8, 2003 01:16:29 PM new
I have started NOT to leave feedback first. I send an email that 'Items shipped, thank you, its been a nice transaction' I enclose an invoice, with only a 'thank you' at the end of it.
When the buyer is happy, they'll leave fb, then I will. If they don't leave fb, oh well.
I agree the fb system is really flawed.
Buyers can not pay, you file for FVF, and they can neg you.
I got one today, sent them an EOA, he was the only bidder for the whole 7 days. He replys this AM- his EXACT words:
I am very sorry< but I change my mind .I don't want this item.
Please ,forgive me
And I just know, that if I have to go through the process of FVF's which HAVE to start with the letter through ebay to pay your seller.... he doesn't want it, what is that letter going to do?.. that letter may push a neg.... I can just feel this one, for some reason, and no, I don't want a neg. I have 3 negs in 6 years. All retalitory.
So that is ONE reason the fb system sucks
Wanna Take a Ride? Art Bell is Back! Weekends on C2C-www.coasttocoastam.com
posted on October 8, 2003 01:32:40 PM new
Just recently I've started mentioning the item won in my feedback for NEW buyers. I think it's going to help jog their memory.
When payment arrives, I immediately leave feedback unless the buyer is new or has some questionable feedback of his own. Then I send a message that "your payment has arrived," and that I've left +feedback for them. I assure them the item will be shipped right away and ask that they let me know of its safe arrival.
I also enclose a friendly note in the shipment thanking them for their business and asking them to go to The Feedback Forum and leave feedback, and my note includes the item name and number. My hunch is that I get about 75 - 80% feedback but I couldn't swear it. Could be higher. But I sure don't sweat the ones who don't. Used to, don't any more!
___________________________________
"Practically speaking, a life that is vowed to simplicity, appropriate boldness, good humour, gratitude, unstinting work and play, and lots of walking, brings us close to the actually existing world and its wholeness." --Gary Snyder
posted on October 8, 2003 02:08:11 PM new
When I started on Ebay, over 5 years ago, I had these cute little cards made up (like business cards) They say "Thanks for your bid! I will be leaving you feeback, and hopefully you will do the same for me!" Signed with my name and my Ebay name. Sometimes I add a short hand written note. I enclose it with the package I am shipping. Some people will probably coinsider it begging, but I like to make my eBay transactions more personal, and it seems to work for me.
posted on October 8, 2003 02:16:06 PM new
I think you should always file the NPBs and not worry about possible negative feedbacks. If the buyer leaves a negative you can at least return it. The NPBs are just not about getting your 30 cents ( or more ) back from ebay but the ebay form letters often spur the buyers into paying up.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
posted on October 8, 2003 02:41:46 PM new
ACE- to tell the truth I am too busy to worry about the small % of NPBs i have - I send one payment reminder when I get around to it - came back to burn me though! I got a neg last week from some fool NEWBIE who didn't pay, didn't contact me but said I didn't send her my address (I send PP WBN with address and state in my auction my address can be obtained through eBay checkout) GEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ
posted on October 8, 2003 02:50:01 PM new
To me it's more a matter of principle than the money. I hate to see the deadbeat get of scott free. The NPB system does give the seller a stike for every NPB and three stikes in 6 months and the guy is gone. Also, there is the new NPB popup thingie to bug the deadbeats.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
posted on October 9, 2003 07:27:03 AM new
I Always have the old fashioned notion that the onus is on the seller to leave the feedback, or leastways leave the first feedback. I Think a lot of new buyers are keen to get feedback as they see it as some sort of promotion or kudos. Think most of us that have been doing it for a while probably couldn't care very much and we
all know the current feedback system sucks anyhow, sort of deadbeats charter. I Retired from a 48 hour week to do ebay as my hobby and now probably work a 60 hour week !! and come to think of it, if many of us worked out what we were earning per hour, it would be sweat-shop rates !!!
posted on October 9, 2003 09:23:32 PM new
gfs23,,,,,,,you may want to take a gander at the 500 top sellers,,,,,well, feed backs,,,,,#1 has done wellllllllll,,,,,,,over 1 million$$$$$$$$$$$,,,,,,,,I am sure,,,,,,,,sweat? shop? wages? You have to work SMARTER,,,,Not HARDER!!!!!!! I just stumbled on a GREAT idea,,,,,,,,A Re list! item,,,,,,,,,,,No money invested,,,,,,,100%++++++++++++++++++ return,,,,,,,,,,
This IS an Investment business,,,,,,,,buy low,,,,,sell high! unlike the stock Market,,,,,,,,YOU,,,,,,,control the return,,,,,,,,
