posted on July 8, 2008 09:42:16 PM new
Back in the good old days (when sellers could neg NPB-ers), I blocked bidders with -1 feedback. With the new policy in place, I figure there will be no one with a negative feedback rating. I'm thinking about changing my blocked bidders to those with 0 feedback. I've always been pretty tolerant and felt that every bidder has to start out somewhere. Now, however, I think the playing field has been skewed and buyers really don't have a lot to fear from not paying. I've been REALLY lucky and have had very few NPBs but just had the first one in over a year. That got me to thinking...and wondering. What's your thinking?
posted on July 9, 2008 02:52:25 AM new
Once in a while we all get NPB's but that comes with the territory. I had blocked bidders with -1 strike and the bidder contacted me pleading please let me bid and then explained why he had the strikes. So I unchecked -1 strike and he bid and he paid right away. If he didn't follow
through then I would just file NPB.
My point is just because they have a strike/or neg FB or 0 FB I don't feel it determines how they will handle your auction if they win. I don't care what a bidders FB is if they don't pay I file NPB, I always file for my fees back on the 7th day and move on.
Even before when we were able to leave FB for buyers that didn't always tell the true picture either. Because lots of sellers never left a Neg when the auction went bad because they didn't want to get a Neg in return.
posted on July 9, 2008 06:02:17 AM new
I think this feedback system needs to be revised,buyer would just rate their experience as how satisfied they are with the item,communication and shipping.
Shipping should not be broken down into shipping fee and manner of shipping,it should be an overall experience,why should fee be a separate item,buyer knows how much is shipping before they bid,so why should they have anything to say whether it is too much or too little?
And comments should be banned.
If they have any verbal comments on a seller,let them do what some celebrity did (Neil Diamond?),he ran a one page ad in WSJ saying his GM car is a lemon!
*
Google does not hire stupid people.
posted on July 9, 2008 06:16:59 AM new
s/h fees...buyers love to give you the "1" on this DSR, especially when they see that THEY paid $4.80 for priority and YOU only had to pay $4.75 for the postage...they feel "ripped off".....
posted on July 9, 2008 06:30:32 AM new
Ebay will always include the Shipping & Handling in the DSR because they want to MAKE sellers offer free shipping. This way they collect fees on the amount the seller ups their price to cover the shipping. This has been their plan for a few years now and they finally figured out a way to do it with the DSR.
posted on July 9, 2008 08:33:21 AM new
I have two ebay accounts for selling.
Account #1 generally is larger items, collectibles, electronics, etc. My markup is just a small fraction of the overall shipping cost... generally about $2-10 (average markup is around 15-25% depending on the box and packing required). I buy most of my boxes and use only packing peanuts and bubblewrap, so my costs are higher, but I never have a problem with items arriving safely.
My shipping time (when I mail it out) is often same day, at the most 2 days. I give the option for USPS Priority, Parcel, and Fed Ex Ground.
The second account is mostly clothing selling between $10-$50, sometimes more. This is stuff I can ship in a tyvek Priority Envelope (free). My mark up is $2.30 per package on a 1 pound package or roughly 33%. I ship strictly using Priority Mail and process packages within 2 days.
I actually make a little money on the second account.
I also "hide" my postage rate on my labels for both accounts, so the buyer doesn't know exactly what I paid.
What this really tells me is that buyers have no idea the value & time of shipping.
The only true accurate measure a buyer can give is Item as Described and Communication, unless it is truly obvious that they are being gouged on shipping cost ($10 for a sheet of paper) or it takes a seller over a week to ship the item.
Bidders don't look at the postdate to determine how to rate a seller on shipping time. Bidders practically want you to deliver it instantly, otherwise your shipping time gets hammered. Forget the fact that shipping from West Coast to East Coast can take up to 7 days (sometimes more) via Parcel Post or Fed Ex Ground. Forget the fact that the bidder wanted the lower cost shipping method, but wants the package as fast as overnight delivery. Forget the fact that it costs $6.00 for a large box, another few bucks for packing peanuts/bubblewrap/tape/shipping labels/stamps.com fees/paypal fees/ebay fees/vendio fees...
The golden ticket to selling on ebay is to provide your "unique new" item for free (the buyer expects it to be worth at least $100), offer free overnight shipping, and the seller to send tracking updates every 30 minutes.
posted on July 9, 2008 08:55:42 AM new
I have had buyers leave me a neutral because they didn't like the movie as well as they thought they would. Which doesn't have a thing to do with the transaction or me as a Seller.
posted on July 9, 2008 05:50:57 PM new
"I also "hide" my postage rate on my labels for both accounts, so the buyer doesn't know exactly what I paid."
It's very easy to look this up on the USPS website, the weight of the pkg. is on the label, so with the weight and both zip codes, the buyer knows exactly what you paid.
I will give a neutral if the postage is too high, if I see $6.00 shipping for an item that can be mailed for $2.36 first class, then I think I'm paying for priority shipping, with a little extra for handling and materials (which in this case was a padded envelope which can be purchased in bulk and is 25 cents per envelope).
posted on July 10, 2008 07:16:20 AM new
Instead of shipping charges or handling time, both of which are clearly stated in the listings (and to neut someone for them afterwards, or ding their stars, is passive aggressive in my opinion), I would like to rate quality of packaging.
I get some really poorly packed items. They were shipped quickly and economically but it was pure luck and a postal employee with a tape gun that saved it.
As for blocking, I didn't know we could block zeros...who I find forget what their id and password is and then email me for it...true story!
Beth
posted on July 10, 2008 01:04:29 PM new
Years ago I received a neutral. The item arrived safely and within 3 days of payment. I used bubble wrap, peanuts, and a few pages of crumpled newspaper as filler. The buyer sent an e-mail saying he was thrilled with the item and quick shipping, but "put off" as he put it that one of the crumbled newspaper pages was the obituaries.
posted on July 10, 2008 01:13:27 PM new
watchguy...just be glad that ebay hasn't(yet) adopted Amazons policy of HOLDING your funds because of these stupid neutrals or negatives. Love it when Amazon holds funds for 30-45 days because of poor customer service(recieve a couple neutral feedbacks)--but then they also include "please continue selling" while we(Amazon) collects the commissions. That will also be eBays next step, when Amazon holds your funds, that dept DOES NOT have phone contact, only email.
