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charlies_mum

The comment about not stopping listing is correct. I have one low star from February and my 12 months stats are

Item as Described 4.80 0.39% (1)
Communication 4.91 0.00% (0)
Dispatch time 4.92 0.00% (0)
P & P Charges 4.92 0.00% (0)

We didn't list a lot in September, and my 3 months stats are now

Item as Described 4.31 0.00% (0)
communication 4.93 0.00% (0)
Dispatch time 4.97 0.00% (0)
P & P Charges 5.00 0.00% (0)

So even though my low star is from 8 months ago, unless I quickly get my average up, I could be in trouble.

soolin

xpf wrote: »

These are my last 3 months worth of scores
Item as described 4.92 0.00% (0)
Communication 4.85 0.00% (0)
Dispatch time 4.73 0.00% (0)
Postage and packaging charges 4.45 0.00% (0)

My 12 month scores are all above 4.82

I've only sold about 20 items in the last 3 months due to illness (only sell my unwanted household things anyway) but am really miffed about the P&P charges low score as I weight everything and have not charged more than it's actually cost cost to send it by RM. I always quote for and send second class and always post within 1 day of payment.
Most of my items start at 99p and only sell for a few pounds anyway so am not in a position to offer free postage.

Am I likely to get my account suspended in the near future?

Your p and p score is about as low as you want it to go for the past 3 months , so start listing some things that look like they are cheap postage. I'm terrible at explaining what I mean- but sometimes even with actual postage cost the postage 'looks' expensive, so use that to your advantage. Find things that are thin enough to go as a large letter so you can charge 69p and make the buyers believe they have a bargain.

Those scores for the past 3 months will force your overall scores down over time, so address it now.

Crowqueen

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head wrote: »

Amazon gives you 2 business days to ship but doesn't mark you down unless you ship on or after the 3rd day past this, thus giving you 4 days to post and a long ETA is provided to the customer so they are very likely to answer "yes" to the date Amazon give when asking if it arrive by xx. That isn't strict, it's easy!

One thing they do do though is incentivise fast dispatch by not disbursing money to your account before you have confirmed dispatch.

I think waiting until someone marks you down for something is also a bit of a bad attitude/habit to get into. The aim should be to please people, not take them for whatever you can get out of them.

techspec

soolin wrote: »

The dashboard is a real soap box issue for me, I've seen too many people banned without even knowing what is was and that is unfair.

anyway- I've had some people contact me about p and p and whilst they do not wish particuarly to add to this thread there appears to be a bit of a theme developing about recorded delivery. Whilst I cannot prove it and my only 'evidence' is anecdotal it does seem that using recorded on low cost items seriously damages your p and p stars. If you are showing low stars it is something to consider.

It was recorded that did for me. After being scammed regularly (lets not get into how do you know etc) - Ebay/Paypal kept saying i needed a tracking number and it was my fault blah, blah. So i started using recorded. it stopped me being scammed - but Ebay threatened to throw me off for the increase in my postage. How fair is that?

Anyway, i now only add recorded to items over £10 , and often 'hide' the cost by giving free p&p if i feel the need. Seems to work - as i can't remember my last item lost in the post and i am avoiding low stars. I only add 10p for packaging though.

I don't have a problem with following rules - i just expect fairness from Eaby. After all - sellers are customers too - and its them who pay Ebay.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Crowqueen wrote: »

One thing they do do though is incentivise fast dispatch by not disbursing money to your account before you have confirmed dispatch.

I think waiting until someone marks you down for something is also a bit of a bad attitude/habit to get into. The aim should be to please people, not take them for whatever you can get out of them.

I wasn't suggesting you should wait as long as possible, there is however a reason the most successful online retailer doesn't mark you down so harshly, because on occasions it isn't possible to post everything within 5 seconds of being purchased.

Ever seen something on Amazon listed as "In stock but may take an additiona 2 days to dispatch" with free super saver delivery that could be 3-5 days for dispatch and then sent 2nd class, isn't their service awful....

With regards to disbursements, my understanding is all new accounts past a certain date only get the money every 14 days anyway. My old account could withdraw as often as I wanted, I had to switch to a new (standard) account to access other Amazon services and this is automatically done every 2 weeks without the option to do sooner.

Gleeful

Ok so Soo isn't brave enough, but I am

These are my scores from the last 3 months

Item as described 4.96 0.42% (1)
Communication 4.98 0% (0)
Dispatch time 4.97 0% (0)
P&P 4.92 0% (0)

Gleeful

Further to my above post - here are my tips for getting good DSR's in the clothing category:

• Describe well, admit to any flaws in the item, even if they can't be seen unless you look closely.
• Take photo's of front, back and side of the item, preferably on a mannequin.
• Be friendly in any comms. Even if the question is stupid, handle it well, both pre sale and post sale.
• Post quickly. I post next day, mostly. I always despatch within 24-48 hours. I self insure and put anything under £46 in the post box. My buyers don't know I don't get proof of postage for them!
• Pack as you would like to receive. I package my items really nicely and my buyers appreciate this. I put in a hand written card thanking for their purchase and hoping they enjoy their new item.
• Have a good returns policy in line with DSR rules and display it on your listing. I offer a no hassle returns policy and cover return costs if item not as described/mere hint of any buyer dissatisfaction, but not for change of mind.

I sell primarily second hand clothing, and since I became a business seller in February, I have had just one low DSR and 1 neutral feedback with no negs. I sell about 80-90 items a month and have had 1 real INR and one scammer INR (based on the way they behaved and their prior feedback) in the whole 9 months.

techspec

Gleeful wrote: »

Further to my above post - here are my tips for getting good DSR's in the clothing category:

• Describe well, admit to any flaws in the item, even if they can't be seen unless you look closely.
• Take photo's of front, back and side of the item, preferably on a mannequin.
• Be friendly in any comms. Even if the question is stupid, handle it well, both pre sale and post sale.
• Post quickly. I post next day, mostly. I always despatch within 24-48 hours. I self insure and put anything under £46 in the post box. My buyers don't know I don't get proof of postage for them!
• Pack as you would like to receive. I package my items really nicely and my buyers appreciate this. I put in a hand written card thanking for their purchase and hoping they enjoy their new item.
• Have a good returns policy in line with DSR rules and display it on your listing. I offer a no hassle returns policy and cover return costs if item not as described/mere hint of any buyer dissatisfaction, but not for change of mind.

I sell primarily second hand clothing, and since I became a business seller in February, I have had just one low DSR and 1 neutral feedback with no negs. I sell about 80-90 items a month and have had 1 real INR and one scammer INR (based on the way they behaved and their prior feedback) in the whole 9 months.

Good advice. I'm having a clearout due to work on my house - and i keep putting off selling old clothing - as i dont want to risk my stars. But its going well - and if in doubt - i always mention EVERYTHING.

Most people are surprised that the items are BETTER than described. But thats the best way to be.

I love posting clothes. Mailing bags are cheap, little chance of damage - and postage is the same for most items (except jeans etc)

Tried selling old jeans seperately. No sale. Sold as a job lot - and got more money than i was asking seperately. But thats cos the postage was the same for 6 pairs as it was for 1.

Crowqueen

I don't have a problem with following rules - i just expect fairness from Eaby. After all - sellers are customers too - and its them who pay Ebay.

If buyers didn't pay you, you wouldn't pay eBay.

pickledstar

I watched my stars intently after each sale, I noticed that one buyer marked my stars low after they had won something and I actually dispatched the same day, She marked low on dispatch time, I msgd her and asked why would she do that when I sent the same day, her response 'I thought the stars were anonymous! So it wasn't my actual slow sending it was her being mean!!! Take a look at these stars My feedback is 1251 100% Positive and look at my dashboard:

(I was slower at sending a few parcels due to moving but did have that stated on listings AND messaged them, plus always had a 3/4 day dispatch time! if I couldn't send the same day)

Item as described 4.701.61% (1)
Communication 4.671.61% (1)
Dispatch Time 4.498.06% (5)
P&P charges 4.603.23% (2)

Because it is anonymous, people don't care what they put! easier to mark low just because they are having a bad day!!! Otherwise why not reflect it in the feedback comments!