Do you get banned from selling if your star ratings are too low?

thriftymanc

Simple question, see title.

(Rant time:

I had a big clear out a couple of weeks ago and sold around 15 things on ebay. Got positive feedback for everything, with really nice comments - but half the buyers seem to have rated me badly on P&P charges (2 people definitely left me 1 or 2 stars even though I literally only charged for the actual cost of postage. I didn't charge for packaging as I was reusing some I already had! Why mark me down when a) they know how much they're paying before they bid, b) loads of other people charge more than I do to cover brand new packaging, sellotape, ink, petrol, their time, fees even though they're not meant to, etc, so my charges were really low compared to similar items (I always check what other people charge when I list) and c) I can't help what Royal Mail charge to send things - ?! Maybe they're not happy that I reused packaging? But if I'd bought new they would have had to pay more, and the packaging I reused was in excellent condition anyway. If I'd sent everything badly packaged in tatty ripped stuff covered in tape that looked ugly and wasn't up to the job I'd understand. But I only used jiffy bags that still looked practically brand new by the time they arrived in my mail and the only way you could tell I'd even reused them is if you peeled off the address labels I'd stuck on and seen my address underneath... how ridiculously picky or anti-recycling do you need to be to get angry about that and mark someone down for it when you're actually paying less because of it?! Now I'm worried that because of this I'm going to get banned from selling or something if I get one more bad mark. Grr!

Rant over!)

slummymummyof3

Sorry I don't know the answer to your question.

Why don't you put in your item description that you use recycled packaging in order to keep p&p costs to a minimum, that way if someone doesn't like that idea then they don't have to purchase from you.

Casati

I do as slummymummy suggests, i always state something like

"Please note I always send items in recycled packaging. This not only helps save the planet but means lower P&P charges for YOU. Please be assured that all packaging is clean and fit for purpose"

Only ever had one disgruntled bidder, who actually complained I had wrapped it up TOO SECURELY. There's no pleasing some people..

Emiliaandbentley

I have the same problem with dsr's and i just been told it also gets marked down if the buyer doesnt leave ANY dsr for us sellers!

TurkishDelight

Yes you can.

See here: http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/seller-non-performance.html

Might be an idea to have a really close look at what you are doing, if the tape you're using is okay or the packaging will work properly long term..... some people are just stupid though

Emilia, I think that is a myth, I've certainly never come across it.

keys_2

If you really want to check if the ratings you haev recieved has effected you recently . Then your best looking on your Seller Dashboard , This shows how you meet the ratings in the time period and what you can improve on if you need to .
this can be found if you hover over your ebay summary which is on your ebay page in the top right corner and you can selct Seller dashboard

HTH

cyberbob

as TD says yes you can. Thats why in some ways they are more important than the actual feedback. If a buyer doesnt leave any stars you dont get marked at all as TD said its a bit of a myth

Its worth reviewing what you are doing on a constant basis. Impressions are everything. P&P is one of the areas where people get marked down more than others. If I actually charge for P&P (which I don't much) I normally charge less than actual cost and load the rest into the price. Recycled packaging is also hit and miss as no matter what you put in the listing some customers just don't like it.

The other think people could mark you down on is if the item is cheap (under £10) and you sent it recorded. Even though you may have sent it at cost price the buyer may have thought that was a bit over the top. I bought a 99p item that was sent recorded as much as I was happy to pay the overall price I thought sending an item of that price recorded was a little silly ( I didn't mark DSRS down for this but I know people who do)

davenport_2

The answer is yes you can - I guess I going to be soon....

Even though I only charge 70p for P&P and items are sent 1st class large letter which is 61p using all new packaging, I'm still getting 1&2 stars, despite being left glowing feedback and being 5***** on item as described, comms and despatch time. I really don't know what more I can do.

Yesterday Sat 6th Feb I had a stall at an indoor table top sale, I was selling a mixture of items from housewares to clothing (most unused or never worn) and was asking £1 per item or 3 for £2 - but was being offered silly prices of 5 - 10p per item. Also, although this event was well advertised locally, there were not many people attending.

The conclusion I've come to is that there's a hell of lot of people struggling just to get by and juggling the bills month to month like I am, and then there's those that luckily have a bit of cash available and want things for next to nothing.

discountmummy

Is there anything you can do if someone has marked you unfair low DSRS, I was nearly at 4.95% accross the board and now its dropped to around 4.89% Very annoying! Why leave a postive and then mark you down!

soolin

discountmummy wrote: »

Is there anything you can do if someone has marked you unfair low DSRS, I was nearly at 4.95% accross the board and now its dropped to around 4.89% Very annoying! Why leave a postive and then mark you down!

Only a buyer can decide if a mark was unfair so no sellers can do nothing at all about stars.

The overall headline ones are only a problems if they go below 4.6 in any category, but the really dangerous ones are if you get any 1 or 2 * on the expanded seller dashboard. Get more than 3 in a category in a year and you risk suspension or a smack on the wrist. I know I am obsessive about the seller dashboard but it is so important for smaller sellers, to check it go into your sold page, hover your mouse over the account tab and then click on seller dashboard. Ideally there should be nothing in the low rating column. My main personal account has a single 1 or 2 * in item as described (which is odd a I have perfect feedback and no odd mentions of anything not as expected) but my business accounts so far have escaped any low stars.

Always_Harassed

I have always thought it is very unfair that you can't answer your critics. I have been left a few 1 & 2's recently also with good feedback. I think if it was traceable to specific buyers then they would think twice about being as sneeky. I regularly undercharge postage and can effectively be selling small price items for nothing but still get this low rating.