How important is the stars ratings?

charlieann

Hi,
I mainly use ebay for buying, but occasionally list items for sale.
I've sold just over 30 items in last 3 months. Last time I sold items was over a year ago.
I've recently checked my seller dashboard and p&p rating is 4.45, with 3 at 1 or 2 ratings.

How important is this?
Will it affect my sales in the future?

I'm assuming they are from items I sent recorded as these were high postage cost. I'm asking as had a seller threaten neg feedback as they think the item is not as described. I asked them to follow ebay protocol if they are not happy.

techspec

Is your dashboard showing as standard or below?

Rating is v.important - and Ebay often take action at 4.6 or below.

My rating suffered when i sent items recorded - get round it by listing with free p&p - and just cover the cost in the price. Free P&P is the only way of gauranteeing the rating will recover.

Prudent

techspec wrote: »

Is your dashboard showing as standard or below?

Rating is v.important - and Ebay often take action at 4.6 or below.

My rating suffered when i sent items recorded - get round it by listing with free p&p - and just cover the cost in the price. Free P&P is the only way of gauranteeing the rating will recover.

Is that 4.6 for overall or just for one category e.g. postage?

soolin

charlieann wrote: »

Hi,
I mainly use ebay for buying, but occasionally list items for sale.
I've sold just over 30 items in last 3 months. Last time I sold items was over a year ago.
I've recently checked my seller dashboard and p&p rating is 4.45, with 3 at 1 or 2 ratings.

How important is this?
Will it affect my sales in the future?

I'm assuming they are from items I sent recorded as these were high postage cost. I'm asking as had a seller threaten neg feedback as they think the item is not as described. I asked them to follow ebay protocol if they are not happy.

Is your headline figure 4.4 or 4.5 ? 4.4 means you will almost certainly slip too below standard which means your items will be virtually invisible on normal searches and you will not be eligible for free listings.

The 3 lots of 1 & 2 * are also a bit of a problem, 3 in a single category isn't massively dangerous yet but another one or two with a neg might be.

If you tell us more about the 'buyer' who thinks item is not as described maybe we can help- depending on how they are wording the negtaive feedback threat it might even get removed later. However a SNAD case opened against you may well be the final straw. Incidentally, you say you have asked them to follow ebay protocol re the SNAD- they have, they have contacted you first- that's what ebay will expcet them to do,

Your low ratings and poor dashboard over all on so few sales needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency

Prudent wrote: »

Is that 4.6 for overall or just for one category e.g. postage?

One category is enough to get ebay interested and you are in the zone for restrictions especially if there is anything nasty showing on your expanded dashboard.

charlieann

Thanks for the replies.
Its showing as standard with just the p&p category with the low scores. All others are 4.9 with one 4.8.

With buyer threatening neg I had to open a none payment dispute. The paid 99p for BNWT item of clothing. They are not happy as its supermarket brand and the tag shows £6. I listed the brand in the ad and had settings to no returns for this item. They emailled asking for my returns policy. I responded with words to the effect of sorry they are not happy, If they refer back to the add the brand is listed as is the no returns settings. But if they would like to return I suggested they got in touch with ebay first about SNAD and return them recorded for item refund.
They have responded saying they have paid £4 for supermarket trousers as they are including p&p costs and I was deliberately trying to mislead. I've not responded to their latest message.

sniggings

where is the dashboard

soolin

charlieann wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.
Its showing as standard with just the p&p category with the low scores. All others are 4.9 with one 4.8.

With buyer threatening neg I had to open a none payment dispute. The paid 99p for BNWT item of clothing. They are not happy as its supermarket brand and the tag shows £6. I listed the brand in the ad and had settings to no returns for this item. They emailled asking for my returns policy. I responded with words to the effect of sorry they are not happy, If they refer back to the add the brand is listed as is the no returns settings. But if they would like to return I suggested they got in touch with ebay first about SNAD and return them recorded for item refund.
They have responded saying they have paid £4 for supermarket trousers as they are including p&p costs and I was deliberately trying to mislead. I've not responded to their latest message.

What does your post and packing headline score show- 4.4 or 4.5?

Re the difficult buyer, as a private seller you do not have to accept returns and if you were clear in the listing that this was a supermarket brand and ti was in the same font and size as the rest then they are being unfair. However, and this is a big however- that does not stop them from opening an SNAD claim- and that case would show on your seller dashboard , it also won't stop them leaving you more low stars and as you are already in a dangerous zone you may want to consider your position.

Also, you appear to be suggesting that you are using recorded delivery, even on 99p items and if so you really really need to have a rethink as anecdotally buyers don't like it for low cost items. A 99p item really does not justify an extra 95p for recorded, if you believe that all buyers are scammers then probably best not to sell on ebay at all.

if you have one lot of stars already on 4.4 or 4.5 plus 3 lots of 1 or 2 * in one category on only 30 ratings you are significantly below the standard ebay consider 'acceptable' and really do need to stand back and take a look at what you are doing. Whatever you do though it is probably best not to stop selling immediately, instead get some low cost cheap items to ship out- get that percentage looking better and try and dilute the low stars a bit. If you just stop then the 1 and 2 * will almost certainly get you suspended from selling for good on this or on any other account as there will be no better feedback to dilute it.

I know I sound like an old woman keep going on about the expanded dashboard and I'm sure the regulars are bored rigid, but the importance cannot be ignored. A colleague of mine has just lost her selling account and she is a much larger turnover account, and every month on ebay when they do the evaluation there is a flurry of threads on the community boards where people have been restricted, or can't use free listing weekends and have just ignored the underlying problem.

soolin

sniggings wrote: »

where is the dashboard

This is going to be one of my complicated explanations- it might be best to wait until someone explains it better.

basically go into your selling page and there are tabs above the items listed- one of which is 'account' , hover your mouse over it and click 'seller dashboard'

That takes you to your main dashboard and you can see the overall number of 1 and 2 * left in each category.

further down the 'seller standing' should be standard - if it shows below standard you are already in trouble. You can also see opened cases on the main page as well.

If you click on the link by performance standards you can see percentages, click on 12 month trending on that page and you can see all the stars being left in each category.

vuvuzela

soolin wrote: »

This is going to be one of my complicated explanations- it might be best to wait until someone explains it better.

basically go into your selling page and there are tabs above the items listed- one of which is 'account' , hover your mouse over it and click 'seller dashboard'

That takes you to your main dashboard and you can see the overall number of 1 and 2 * left in each category.

further down the 'seller standing' should be standard - if it shows below standard you are already in trouble. You can also see opened cases on the main page as well.

If you click on the link by performance standards you can see percentages, click on 12 month trending on that page and you can see all the stars being left in each category.

I don't think I've ever had a seller dashboard (and I've had this account since 1999). Not sold anything for a year or so, but considering getting rid of some things via ebay in the near future. Is there another way to check if I have one as the instructions above don't give me the SD option ?

Crowqueen

It only becomes available to view once you have 10 feedback ratings within 12 months.

charlieann

soolin wrote: »

What does your post and packing headline score show- 4.4 or 4.5?

Re the difficult buyer, as a private seller you do not have to accept returns and if you were clear in the listing that this was a supermarket brand and ti was in the same font and size as the rest then they are being unfair. However, and this is a big however- that does not stop them from opening an SNAD claim- and that case would show on your seller dashboard , it also won't stop them leaving you more low stars and as you are already in a dangerous zone you may want to consider your position.

The score shows 4.45.
The listing just stated BNWT clothing item, brought wrong size for friend never used. In the top section where you enter size/ brand/colour etc all that was detailed and accurate. Image was included. The only bit I did not mention was the original price tag.
What would you suggest I do to sort the issue with the buyer?

soolin wrote: »

Also, you appear to be suggesting that you are using recorded delivery, even on 99p items and if so you really really need to have a rethink as anecdotally buyers don't like it for low cost items. A 99p item really does not justify an extra 95p for recorded, if you believe that all buyers are scammers then probably best not to sell on ebay at all.

Whatever you do though it is probably best not to stop selling immediately, instead get some low cost cheap items to ship out- get that percentage looking better and try and dilute the low stars a bit. If you just stop then the 1 and 2 * will almost certainly get you suspended from selling for good on this or on any other account as there will be no better feedback to dilute it.

The 99p items are usually sent 2nd class parcel. (£2.20 and I charge £2.75). I also offer local pick up and combined postage on these items. Only recorded for £20+ items that are fragile.
I have little left to list at the moment, usually only list for couple of months every summer.
As I'm not regular seller, do you suggest I still sell some low price items to sell?