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Has anyone started including p&p to improve DSRs?
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eBay has that effect on some people. I've seen things sell used for more than they can be purchased on Amazon new.0
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So you're getting more bids because of the lower P&P?
I guess it all balances out nicely then!
I've often given further discounts and even refunded postage paid to regular buyers. It shows you to be trustworthy. All those who think they are justified in adding an amount for driving to the post office, wear and tear on shoe leather and other spurious reasons are the ones whose DSRs are low, how you are perceived by your buyers is very important, the DSRs have certainly enlightened me to that, even though I thought they were a daft idea when introduced. I might add that sometimes I still think they are, being marked down by a customer who "thought the item would be bigger" when the exact measurements are on the listing is quite annoying!.0 -
A friend of mine was offering free P&P on all his listings, but his DSR was only 4.2. He emailed a load of his buyers and openly asked why some of them may have marked him down.
A number of people replied saying they left a 3, as it was neither reasonable or unreasonable!
He now charges a flat 50p on everything, but has left the BIN price the same. His DSR for P&P is now showing 4.9 on the 30 day view.
Similarly, a motor trader friend is 3.9 on dispacth time, even though all vehicles are collected from him?!<--- Nothing to see here - move along --->0 -
I think even if you charge close to the Royal Mail cost, many buyers will not spend time checking out how much Royal Mail would have charged before rating you on your P&P charges. Its all about perception e.g. how much is the P&P in relation to the price of the item, how fast did it arrive (the slower it is in arriving the less good value the buyer will think the P&P was despite it being outside of your control).
Many on the eBay forums suggest even free P&P doesnt really help. Buyers feel they cannot combine postage so if buying multiple items they feel they are paying over the odds and in any case they presume you have just loaded the P&P onto the item cost.
The general concensus seems to be to charge a nominal amount, 99p for instance so a buyer feels like they are getting a deal. Unfortunately eBay makes more on the Final Value fees too!
We sell mainly heavy items (long cabling, TV brackets) and charge the RM cost plus VAT (as required when you are VAT registered) but buyers still seem to think we are overcharging despite discounting postage on multiple items by 50% so we are going to restructure our P&P to change buyers 'perception' as we keep hovering between 4.6 and 4.7.0 -
I think it's certainly having the effect Ebay want, it's forcing a lot of people to drop there P&P charge to a level where it isn't likely to even covers costs. This again will eventually aid getting rid of small sellers as it wont be worth there while.
It's rather perverse really in that I will get better DSRs from selling something for £10 with £1 postage than selling the same thing for £1 with £5 postage, even if it actually cost £5 to post.0 -
I have experimented on my auctions with everything from free postage to adding an extra 50p on to of stamp costs and I stay consistently at 4.7 stars for postage costs whatever I do.I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.0
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The problem is that people think the packing material (which can be expensive on some items) is free. I'd rather pay a bit more and have a well packed item myself. I hope sellers don't start cutting corners just to improve their DSRs.
I always pack items well and charge a fair rate and DSRs are good and sales improved. I do find it strange that not all DSR are equal, some buyers only complete some of the ratings not all, and they quite often leave P&P.0 -
There has also been a suggestion that becuase the P&P is the latter category that if buyers have rated you 5 out of 5 for the previous three they may feel like they need to offer some 'balance' and rate the P&P category lower.
The bottom line is that 4 out of 5 is still a good rating its just that eBay have set the DSR trigger for punishing sellers at anything less than 4.6. Are we saying that 4 star hotels are all underperforming and that every hotel should aim to be a 5 star or suffer the consequences....(sorry very tongue in cheek I know).
Its clear they have pre-decided what proportion of sellers are going to get the discounts and then come up with 4.6 as the cut off to match that proportion and balance their books. Its nothing to do with less than 4.6 being considered by anyone as being reflective of a poor seller.0 -
There has also been a suggestion that becuase the P&P is the latter category that if buyers have rated you 5 out of 5 for the previous three they may feel like they need to offer some 'balance' and rate the P&P category lower.
The bottom line is that 4 out of 5 is still a good rating its just that eBay have set the DSR trigger for punishing sellers at anything less than 4.6. Are we saying that 4 star hotels are all underperforming and that every hotel should aim to be a 5 star or suffer the consequences....(sorry very tongue in cheek I know).
Its clear they have pre-decided what proportion of sellers are going to get the discounts and then come up with 4.6 as the cut off to match that proportion and balance their books. Its nothing to do with less than 4.6 being considered by anyone as being reflective of a poor seller.
4.6 is based on the averages, most buyers tend to leave 5s, the overcharging p&p sellers or slow dispatchers hover around 4.0 to 4.5..0 -
Slightly off topic, but what annoys me about my DSR rating is the 'dispatch time' one. I have 4.8 for that one, which I know is okay, but I time my listings to end before 1.00pm each day and I then post the item(s) won (as long as they've been paid for obviously!) that day on my way to getting the kids from school. I always post first class. I can't physically post any quicker than that, so why should I be marked down on my dispatch time?
I know it's only a small thing, but it does bug me!You can't control everything in life....... your hair was put on your head to remind you of that
Proud to be BSC no. 1030
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