I might not miss TRS after all

charlies_mum

I too have resigned myself to the fact that both my TRS accounts will go. I got a nasty message last Saturday to say that something had arrived damaged, and they weren't happy.

Before these new changes, I would have instantly refunded to protect my account, but I replied and said the item was fine when it left me and could they send me photos of the damaged item, and the damaged packaging.

Haven't heard a thing since.

soolin

charlies_mum wrote: »

I too have resigned myself to the fact that both my TRS accounts will go. I got a nasty message last Saturday to say that something had arrived damaged, and they weren't happy.

Before these new changes, I would have instantly refunded to protect my account, but I replied and said the item was fine when it left me and could they send me photos of the damaged item, and the damaged packaging.

Haven't heard a thing since.

I think there will be quite a few of us like that in future.

I actually resent ebay telling me that I am no onger a 'TOP RATED SELLER' just because I refuse to offer a guaranteed one day despatch and a 1 day delivery option.

I thought my buyers wanted choice and good service, not just me being able to tick a few boxes.

charlies_mum

I have been a TRS since it was introduced, and like you, resent the fact that my accounts are being downgraded purely because I can't rearrange my life to fit around Ebay.

I will continue to give the best service I can, but the loss of my 10% discount, the increase in postage charges and the increase in price for both my shops means I will close them and look into other selling venues.

I'm sure Ebay won't notice my small changes, but there must be millions of sellers that this affects. When they have finally driven all us small sellers out, they will have the site that they want, but will it be the site that the buyers want ?

SSGjosh

Last September I converted my private account into a business account and within a month due to the amount of sales I had previously completed of a private nature, became a Top-Rated seller. Over the few months that lead up to Christmas I almost became obsessed with my stars, checking every time that I had a feedback left to make sure there weren't any 1s or 2s. After a couple of mystery 1 stars that were left with glowing feedback, I just gave up checking, and because my account is teetering on the edge of losing the Top-Rated seller status (0.48% for communication), the last couple of months I have with it will be a bonus.

As for the 1-day dispatch option, that wouldn't be a problem for me as I've mentioned previously in an other thread that all my lines can fit through a postbox, I simply have a 3 minute walk. However, offering an express delivery would be quite inconvenient for me, not that many buyers would likely take it up.

If I lose it, I lose it. I'm still quite small time so the 10% discount doesn't save me that much, I just like the shiny badge I get on my listings.

sharpy2010

Like everyone else on here, I want to give my customers the absolute best service I can - But I too have decided to not worry about the Feedback/Stars that are given unfairly - every seller seems to get them at some point.

I've sold about 800 items, only four have decided they didn't like the item, so they received a refund in full the instant they contacted me. My stars are now sitting as follows -:

12months-:
Item as described4.780.70% (4)Communication4.870.52% (3)Dispatch time4.900.35% (2)Postage and packaging charges5.000.00% (0)
And this is the 3 month version -:
Item as described4.542.86% (3)Communication4.612.86% (3)Dispatch time4.771.90% (2)Postage and packaging charges5.000.00% (0)

Now, seems to me that if just 3 or 4 people out of 800 can make that much impact on my stars, then I'm not going to worry too much about unfair feedback.

For those who think "oh, but his items must be badly described to get that many bad stars" etc, thats not the case, I've simply been unlucky. It happens.

I'll continue to sell until eBay don't let me sell any more, but I won't worry about when/if they stop me.

I know I'm doing the best I possibly can for my customers, and thats enough for me.

soolin

sharpy, that is actually quite poor stars wise, it might well be worth getting a friend or colleague that also uses ebay to take a look at your listings. On so little sales you are getting close to being restricted.

I currently get over 100 feedback a month and have one 2* in communication and one in item description. I am owrking on the basis that if I ease off a bit I can afford a couple more lows and still be considered as being on standard. I would seriously reconsider my practice, despite everything I say above, if I started to get that many unhappy buyers.

sharpy2010

Hiya,

Yeah I'm very aware that its poor, and its due purely to having one person buy something and not like it, and then getting 3 in other parts of the country to also buy something and then give me poor stars. No I can't prove it (apart from what you'll read below), but considering they all said pretty much an identical thing, it seems fairly obvious to me.

These stars all happened within the space of 10 days or so, and I'd had NO bad stars before that. Its too much of a coincidence, especially since the first buyer emailed me with "Don't think your selling account is going to last much longer". I've still got the Email, and I've sent it to eBay, but of course they're not interested are they, it wasn't sent using their messaging system.

I've had an unrelated person look at my listings, and been told they're fine. They've no reason/need to lie, as they couldn't care less what I think about their advice. Its not a family member, or even a friend. Just an aquaintance.

So in conclusion, I've had ONE unhappy/miserable/spiteful buyer who is intent on recking my account. And its working! Nothing I can do about it!

I'm not worried about my selling technique, listings, or anything else because as stated above I give the best possible customer service, which I know to be of very high quality.

Thank you for the advice Soolin, its (as always) respected, but as it happens I've simply been unlucky to find an account wrecker. They exist!

sharpy2010

As a footnote, its worth explaining that I'm boosting the amount of items that I sell, by selling low value high volume items, merely to water down the amount of bad stars I've had from the 4 buyers.

soolin

sharpy2010 wrote: »

As a footnote, its worth explaining that I'm boosting the amount of items that I sell, by selling low value high volume items, merely to water down the amount of bad stars I've had from the 4 buyers.

Not a bad idea , I'd feel aggrieved to get restricted by ebay if I thought I could do something about it first.

I want to stay in control of my listings andnot let ebay take control instead

sharpy2010

Yep, I'll give it a go and see what happens. If it all goes belly up I'm happy to console myself with the fact that 1) nutters happen and theres nothing can be done about it and 2) I exhausted all possible options.

Be a shame to lose a useful £20 a day profit, on average, however I won't die and life would go on.

I'm not sure how people who rely on eBay for a living manage it though, I'd find it much too stressful worrying about if some wally could wreck your account unneccessarily and take away your livelyhood. No thanks, not for me!