Minor eBay rant... And question RE: shipping...

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ryancalgary

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Hey All

Just had two events in quick succession annoy the heck out of me, both with regards to shipping. I should mention that both items are from my (relatively new) eBay store, and that I've got a rating of just under 1000 with 100% positive and DSRs of 4.9.

The first: a gentleman in the South-Eastern US who is a great eBayer (2000+ with 100% positive) e-mailed me for the second time asking when his card had shipped and when it would arrive. The first e-mail came on Monday. The catch is this (besides teh fact that I replied the first time): he won the Auction on August 15th (a Friday). I sent it the next day (a Saturday). It hasn't even been two weeks yet!!! Does this not seem slightly pre-mature, especially since I responded very politely with the shipping date, etc., less than two days ago (for the record: I replied very politely again, and will continue to do so because while this is irritating, it's nothing to get overly worked up about).

The second: I did my daily feedback check to see who had replied (so I could tick off which items have arrived and which need to be followed up on), and noticed that two of my DSRs had dropped to 4.8 (they're both 4.84, so it won't be long before they're back up). The two in question are shipping time and shipping charges. That's mildly irritating, since DSRs impact Powerseller Final Value Fees (I'm not there yet, but will be shortly). The catch: I only received feedback on two items. One item was won on August 20th and shipped the next day (so it arrived in one week from payment), and the other was won on August 23rd and shipped on August 24th (a Sunday - so it arrived in 3 business days). To top that off, I only charge $2.00 shipping within Canada (which both of these were). The question: am I off-base being mildly annoyed about this, I don't know what else I could have done to get 5s on my DSRs from those two. I shipped immediately and charged next to nothing (postage in Canada is $1.15, enveloppe is ~$0.34, toploader/teambag ~$0.11 - so it's not like I'm gouging).

I don't know, I understand that some people just don't like giving 5s, but I don't think that the average buyers realize that the DSRs impact the sellers fees?

Any thoughts?

MODS - if this should be in the Beef section please move, I wasn't sure, but since it was directly hobby related I left it here.
 
You have to realize,you can never please everyone no matter how hard you try!!!!

As long as you know you did your best to please the customer then what does it matter. Everything works out in the end. Maybe your paying too much attention to this rating......your shipping price is fine


Don't worry about it


Dean
 
ryancalgary said:
Hey All

Just had two events in quick succession annoy the heck out of me, both with regards to shipping. I should mention that both items are from my (relatively new) eBay store, and that I've got a rating of just under 1000 with 100% positive and DSRs of 4.9.

The first: a gentleman in the South-Eastern US who is a great eBayer (2000+ with 100% positive) e-mailed me for the second time asking when his card had shipped and when it would arrive. The first e-mail came on Monday. The catch is this (besides teh fact that I replied the first time): he won the Auction on August 15th (a Friday). I sent it the next day (a Saturday). It hasn't even been two weeks yet!!! Does this not seem slightly pre-mature, especially since I responded very politely with the shipping date, etc., less than two days ago (for the record: I replied very politely again, and will continue to do so because while this is irritating, it's nothing to get overly worked up about).

The second: I did my daily feedback check to see who had replied (so I could tick off which items have arrived and which need to be followed up on), and noticed that two of my DSRs had dropped to 4.8 (they're both 4.84, so it won't be long before they're back up). The two in question are shipping time and shipping charges. That's mildly irritating, since DSRs impact Powerseller Final Value Fees (I'm not there yet, but will be shortly). The catch: I only received feedback on two items. One item was won on August 20th and shipped the next day (so it arrived in one week from payment), and the other was won on August 23rd and shipped on August 24th (a Sunday - so it arrived in 3 business days). To top that off, I only charge $2.00 shipping within Canada (which both of these were). The question: am I off-base being mildly annoyed about this, I don't know what else I could have done to get 5s on my DSRs from those two. I shipped immediately and charged next to nothing (postage in Canada is $1.15, enveloppe is ~$0.34, toploader/teambag ~$0.11 - so it's not like I'm gouging).

I don't know, I understand that some people just don't like giving 5s, but I don't think that the average buyers realize that the DSRs impact the sellers fees?

Any thoughts?

MODS - if this should be in the Beef section please move, I wasn't sure, but since it was directly hobby related I left it here.
Click to expand...

Free shipping wouldn't even get you a 5.0 DSR for shipping cost.

I've been fighting the perceived high shipping cost issues myself - $2.49 US, $3.49 Canada, $4.99 rest of world - and I'm still around 4.7 for that DSR.

The result? Lowered placement... *sigh*

-Michael
 
bto3105 said:
You have to realize,you can never please everyone no matter how hard you try!!!!

As long as you know you did your best to please the customer then what does it matter. Everything works out in the end. Maybe your paying too much attention to this rating......your shipping price is fine


Don't worry about it


Dean
Click to expand...


Except that the rating impacts your standing in searches and the fees you pay. So, to a degree, it's worth worrying about. It may not be much (all 4.9s gets you 20%, all 4.8s get you 15%) but for a big seller (and if I liquidate the non-PC crap I've got floating around, I'll be a big seller) it could be a couple hundred bucks difference a year. That's more wax that could be ripped!
 
It would have merit if the vast majority of buyers put any thought into what they were rating. ESPECIALLY shipping charges. Unfortunately, they're as ignorant as they come where shipping charges are concerned.
 
The problem is with how eBay labels the various stars for the DSRs as well. 4 stars is basically "Good" or "as expected". That would lead to the common sense assumption that 5 stars are for those exceptional individuals out there. Except that eBay has rules that basically say "4 stars = scum".

For strictly buyers who have no idea how these ratings impact sellers, 4 stars seems like a good ranking, what you'd give the seller who does what's expected - nothing more and nothing less.
 
The problem as I see it is the lack of consistency from the USPS and Canada Post. It depends on where you send it from (large post offices/small ones), when you send it (which day and when) and how you send it (airmail/ground).

I recently sent packages to Sweden and Finland and they have arrived in 5-10 business days. I sent some stuff to Canada and some gets there fast (within a week) and some takes forever (around a month). I received a fast Air Mail shipment from Ottawa in a week but I'm still waiting on another shipment that I'm sure was sent ground.

I certainly don't want to pay upwards of $20 for air mail from Canada but I think that is going to be the cost plus I want it reasonably fast and I want it insured if damaged. I'm not sure how customs plays into this as I always send packages with a green customs declaration.
 
As Trish and Q have eluded to - I think your average ebay buyer has no real clue as to what these stars are for and, should they be annoyed that you are charging over $2 for shipping or if the post office delivers it a day later than they expect, you will likely take a hit.
I wouldn't worry about it too much, in fact, I would look at your rating as little as possible considering you are not a power seller as of yet anyway - if you send out in a timely fashion and are charging $2 for shipping I don't think you are going to see any longterm problems.
 
I often think buyers are rating Canada Post/USPS rather than the Seller's S&H charge. They should only be rating the post mark date and the postage compared to the auction details. Instead, many buyers take out their frustration of postage costing $1.15 to mail a bubble envelope on the eBay seller, as if they are the ones that set the postal rates :crazy:
 
webottew said:
I often think buyers are rating Canada Post/USPS rather than the Seller's S&H charge. They should only be rating the post mark date and the postage compared to the auction details. Instead, many buyers take out their frustration of postage costing $1.15 to mail a bubble envelope on the eBay seller, as if they are the ones that set the postal rates :crazy:
Click to expand...

Good points...

I take issue with no communication from the seller.... :eek: Then being charged $4.50 for S&H.. Then there is only $1.50 on the bubblemailer.. C'mon $2.00 for strickly 'Handling?' :rolleyes:
 
I take issue with no communication from the seller.... :eek: Then being charged $4.50 for S&H.. Then there is only $1.50 on the bubblemailer.. C'mon $2.00 for strickly 'Handling?' :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]

i totally agree, i have been getting charged 5-6 dollers for regular shipping and it only has 2.00 on the envelope. I know a bubble mailer does not cost 3- 5 bucks.
I stopped selling on ebay myself, i just unload my stuff to a consignment guy who charges me a %. Much better, no hassels and and NO paypal fees.

I also agree that buyers don't understand DSRs and what they mean.

Ebay is smart, they dangle the carrot of lower fees knowing full well that you will have difficulty maintaining the high ratings due to anonymity. :curse:
 
steveloy said:
The problem as I see it is the lack of consistency from the USPS and Canada Post. It depends on where you send it from (large post offices/small ones), when you send it (which day and when) and how you send it (airmail/ground).

I recently sent packages to Sweden and Finland and they have arrived in 5-10 business days. I sent some stuff to Canada and some gets there fast (within a week) and some takes forever (around a month). I received a fast Air Mail shipment from Ottawa in a week but I'm still waiting on another shipment that I'm sure was sent ground.

I certainly don't want to pay upwards of $20 for air mail from Canada but I think that is going to be the cost plus I want it reasonably fast and I want it insured if damaged. I'm not sure how customs plays into this as I always send packages with a green customs declaration.
Click to expand...

There is a huuuuge consistency problem with Canada Post and USPS. Having lived in California, BC and Quebec, CP in BC was the worst.

USPS was a strange one but I could pretty much guarantee 1 to 3 days max shipping if that was to the other end of the country. 1 day for same city. I remember mailing a card to Germany from California and it arrived to the buyer in 3days via regular mail!! From Canada to US most packages take me about 7-10 days. From US to Canada 7 days max. 4-5 days normally.

Going east to west in Canada can be anywhere between 3 days to 10 days.

I think the common denominator is Canada Post. They're just wildly inconsistent. I think part of that has to do with Canada being so spread out with little in between the majour cities whereas in the US you can drive pretty much any direction and hit a well populated city in about an hour.
 

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