Re using jiffy bags - mystery solved

soolin

Prudent wrote: »

This seems just the problem soolin. All the comments have been very positive. I think this is because I have been selling new or like new items and been careful with descriptions. I am not sure what I have got wrong which is why I was wondering if it could be the re-used jiffy bag. I could buy jiffy bags, but then would have to pass this cost on to the buyer. I mainly buy from ebay and would rather a seller kept costs lower for me.

It shouldn't be the re used jiffy bags as many people recycle packaging. 30p packing also shouldn't be a problem so it is a bit of a mystery.

With recycled bags and 30p packing I think most sellers would maintain a high 4.9, so it has to be something else.

Have you checked your expanded dashboard?

soolin

plumface wrote: »

So here we go again.
A seller does all he/she can in protecting him/her/self from an INR and you say "it can be addressed".
How about a seller,who does all they can, not being put in that position in the first place?
You do ALL you can and yet STILL, you get people towing the ebay line.

I don't think you understand.

Realistically at 4.7 sellers visibility is very low and it will impact their end prices. Yu also seem to think that suggesting someone with a large number of 1 or 2 stars might need to start again on a fresh account is me following the party line. The fact is though that 4 x 1 or 2 * on a very low turnover (volume wise) seller is getting close to restrictions. Once a seller gets restrictions , say only able to list 10 items a month, they cannot recover and will get banned. Once banned they cannot then ever open or use another eBay account.

So , if an account starts showing a very poor dashboard it pays to close it properly while you can and start again, as you are not banned and are not restricted from trading.

Just sticking with the ' I can do what I want as it is my account' doesn't work as it is eBay that controls best match and it is eBay that restrict sellers who they believe are below standard. Telling a person none of this matters is not helpful.

OP you really need to dig into that expanded dashboard, you can run all sorts of reports to see if anything odd shows up. If , for instance it was just one person who left a very low rating then you are probably ok as it might be just one of the flaky buyers we all meet sometimes. If however buyers are generally leaving less than 5* then you need to get someone to look at your messages or wrapping etc to see if there is anything obviously wrong.

Stars are nasty things, if for instance every buyer left a positive 4* a seller would get banned eventually as overall their stars would show at 4 (obviously) which is below the 4.4 eBay say a seller needs to keep trading as a standard seller.

Apart from your p and p stars which you say are 4.7 are all your other stars on 5*?

aeb_2

Hi, I use recycled jiffy bags and don't mind receiving items I buy in used packaging.

I've discussed low stars with friends and we have all noticed that it is often people who are quite new to e*ay who leave neutral feedback or / and low stars, possibly because they don't understand the impact on the seller

My friend sold a new memory card unopened in its packaging and got neutral feedback with the comment 'it was dusty'. She's was uncertain how the plastic packaging could have been dusty let alone the item. This was from a buyer with only 4 feedback and they had left one neg and 2 neutrals already.

I sell lots of small decluttering items and for £2.20 postage I charge £2.50. In fact thinking about it I normally add 30p which I think I fair. Occasionally something has gone for less (if it was thin and went as large letter for example) and I have refunded via PayPal which is easy but in these cases I have never had an acknowledgement from the buyer.

Crowqueen

Stars are nasty things, if for instance every buyer left a positive 4* a seller would get banned eventually as overall their stars would show at 4 (obviously) which is below the 4.4 eBay say a seller needs to keep trading as a standard seller.

Not really as the average would be adjusted to cope with that - unless that is just one individual rather than across the whole site.

I would expect people not to charge for recycled packaging. I very rarely use it, as I don't always have the right packaging for the right items, and also hate sellers who use loads and loads of tape. If you have the packaging to hand and didn't have to pay for it, you shouldn't charge people for it.

Recorded is a white elephant; if you can't trust your buyers then you should not be selling online. It only protects against false INRs and even then doesn't always get signed for - and for people who work and are not in to sign for it, it causes inconvenience to the buyer; the main reason I buy online is it is more convenient to get something delivered rather than trek into town to buy it.

Not surprisingly, many buyers resent paying for it and will mark down for it - and the arrogant 'I can do what I like' attitude doesn't help because eventually people will stop paying you for what you sell - which means it's your loss - or eBay will kick you off - also your loss.

eBay is competitive enough without actively handicapping yourself through not appreciating it's the people who pay the money - the buyers - who get the final say.

oldone_2

Prudent wrote: »

If I find I have overestimated I will need some kind person to tell me how to do a refund please.

Assuming they have paid with PayPal, log into your Paypal account and select the buyer you want to refund. You will then have the option to give a partial refund of postage. It is worth noting this in a message to the buyer so they know what is happening.

Prudent

Thank you everyone. Lots of good help here. How do I get into my
expanded dashboard?

soolin

Prudent wrote: »

Thank you everyone. Lots of good help here. How do I get into my
expanded dashboard?

per post 5

I'm terrible at explaining things so someone may have to help you , but basically for your expanded seller dashboard go to your eBay selling page. Hover over the tab 'account' and you will see the option 'seller dashboard' towards the rh side near the top you have your low ratings.

Prudent

This issue was still baffling me, so I sent a message to the three possible buyers who had marked down postage.

Apparently the person who had paid the correct amount marked it down because I used 'too much' brown parcel tape, making the package more difficult to open.

Crowqueen

That is actually really, really annoying and I've never marked anyone down for it but it's tempting because packing tape is really too strong to tear through easily. I've ripped a few items because the seller put too much tape on it; and using scissors with either paper or cloth is just willing damage to happen to the item inside. I've ripped stamp sheets before, because the dilemma is, do I use scissors and risk cutting something, or do I use my fingers which are not strong enough to tug open tape.

It's not obvious but now you understand what's happening, you need to adjust. There are plenty of ways to buy very cheap new packaging that actually it might be better to invest in a box of self-seal envelopes or mailing bags or jiffy bags than to risk packing tape ruining your DSRs. Use recyc for situations where there's no risk of damage to the item (e.g. a more solid item that can't be damaged by scissors) or for personal items where someone is not paying for it.

Prudent

Yes, I will put more on in future. Ironically it was the only one of the three items that was not in a jiffy bag and had not used recycled packaging.