Low stars for postage - can I do anything?

Froggitt

Sold two china mugs, offered (in the listing) and gave a postage discount for multiple items, received feedback "Item well-packaged AAA+++" feedback, and yet they gave me either a 1 or 2 star rating for postage for both items :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

Used a shed load of bubble wrap and parcel tape, plus some scrunched up Sainsburys bags and cardboard boxes to give them even more protection.

Probably made a loss on the P&P, due to all the bubble wrap and tape. Total P&P was about £1.50 more than the actual postage cost. Im not a big ebayer, therefore I buy bubble wrap "to order" from Tesco and its not cheap for small quantities.

Is there anything I can do?

Lukadeh

No I don't think there is anything to do to rectify the star ratings you have been given.
In future you can use the 'free postage' option in your listings (people don't have an option to leave you a star rating other than 5 for this) and just calculate postage costs into the price of your item.

verityboo

Froggitt wrote: »

Used a shed load of bubble wrap and parcel tape, plus some scrunched up Sainsburys bags and cardboard boxes to give them even more protection.

Total P&P was about £1.50 more than the actual postage cost.

If you use second hand packaging like carrier bags the buyer might think its all second hand and that they paid the £1.50 for nothing. While I am in favour of using second hand packaing and do so myself, I either list with free p&p or charge less than the actual postage price. I think if your charging for the packaging it must all be clearly new, and even then anything more than £1 on top of the postage charge will annoy some buyers

Froggitt

Here was my working out.

The first item I estimated at under 500g, so 2nd class is £2.16 + 77p recorded = £2.93. Packaging 75p estimate (its china), so £3.68. I charged £3.35 postage.

The second item.....I was selling about 6 different pieces of china, and had no idea which one they would combine with, so charged £1.50 for second and subsequent items.....estimating one or two jumps on the postage scale, between 45p and 99p, and more packaging....again china.

Total p&p £4.85.

45 micron parcel tape recently purchased. Bubble wrap recently purchased.

Looking back, it only went up one jump on the RM scale, so 45p rather than 99p additinoal cost to me on the second item.

Thinking of leaving factual feedback along lines of "gave positive feedback, said china well packed, then gave 1 star for postage charges despite combined postage discount block this buyer IMHO". Thoughts? Dunno if it was 1 or 2 stars but prob not enough room to elaborate.

Thoughts all?

theonlywayisup

Your feedback breaches two policies and you may get a temporary suspension if you leave it.

You cannot identify a buyer or approach them about their stars. You cannot leave a false positive.

I too would mark you down on that postage, but because you used recorded, a waste of anyone's money.

hermum

As above, using RD is a waste of money it does nothing other than add 77p to the cost.
Find a cheaper source of packaging or add to the start price.

Froggitt

I thought recorded was the only way to avoid non-receipt of item chargebacks. Are you suggesting just go for a proof of postage and claim against RM if they claim it doesnt arrive?

hermum

Recorded doesn't always update if the postie even asks for a signature, so you can't prove delivery.
Proof of postage covers you for the same amount as recorded, so yes if the item's not delivered you claim from RM.

theonlywayisup

Have a read through the postage sticky.

mikey72

Froggitt wrote: »

I thought recorded was the only way to avoid non-receipt of item chargebacks. Are you suggesting just go for a proof of postage and claim against RM if they claim it doesnt arrive?

I'd mark down a seller if they charged for recorded as well, if I had to buy from them.
Normally I buy from the ones with cheaper carriage, even if the item costs more.

hermum

I wouldn't mark a seller down for using RD, as I would have known prior to buying that's how they were sending it, however I probably wouldn't have bought it, unless I couldn't get it from another seller.