Guess who dropped my star level????

[LisaMarie]

So, I received one feedback yesterday (I've not been listing due to my son's surgery and recovery) and my Shipping and Handling fee star number goes down. I'm a little irritated because I spent more on shipping than I even charged this person!!

So, I take a look at THEIR listings and I notice that it's a fellow ink Frogger!! Imagine that! Grrr!!!

[Stone]

http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/smirk.gif SUX

[Stone]

Hope your son is doing ok, I had wondered since I haven't seen you post for awhile.

[LisaMarie]

SUX

Yes, it does. At least it isn't one of the regular posters! LOL!http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/grin.gif

[LisaMarie]

Hope your son is doing ok, I had wondered since I haven't seen you post for awhile.

Thanks for asking. He's doing very well!! It just amazes me how quickly children bounce back from surgeries. If it were me, I'd be laid up for a few weeks. LMAO!

[queenrob]

At least it isn't one of the regular posters
It could be but they use a different ebay/inkfrog name.
Glad your son's doing great....

[yesanon]

Hi Lisa Marie! Hope your son is recovering well. Surgeries are stressful on entire families!

I don't even know what star status is on ebay is that the little colored icon after our feedback number????

How does that happen??? I thought that is was based on number of transactions???

[cjturtle]

They are detailed seller ratings that look like orange stars on top of your feedback page. A buyer can leave a star rating each time they leave feedback. A worthless thing to have in my opinion.

Glad to hear that your son is recovering!

Disclaimer: This is id (cjturtle) is not my eBay id. Someone else on eBay already had this id. My eBay id is not even close to this one.

[gypsumoon]

Well...nasty me...I'd buy something cheap from them and mess with their star rating http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/fucku.gif

Hope your baby mends quickly - even when it's something routine/minor, it's hard to see 'em down.

Cindy at Gypsum Moon
http://stores.ebay.com/Gypsum-Moon?refid=store

[Floridachickadee]

So, I take a look at THEIR listings and I notice that it's a fellow ink Frogger!! Imagine that! Grrr!!!

Well, that sucks. I'm going to get my first neg soon... I can feel it in me bones http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/lol.gif
And my shipping and handling star dropped just recently too in much the same way.
Today I sent out an item that really pained me... course it was my own fault for not weighing the package first and just guessing at what it would cost... I ended up having to fork over a few extra bucks in shipping which really cut into the profit of the already low priced item...
Then I just got an email from yet another buyer who apparantly can type just fine but has an inability to read... Said they were not happy with their item because it's as it was described to be. http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/mad.gif

[Stone]

lmao@Cindy

That was my first thought - well it really was my first and last http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/wink.gif

[hblt46]

Lisa, that's downright dirty http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/down.gif http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/down.gif

Wanna tell us who it was http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/tongue.gif (jk)


You know, here's what we should all do and really pi$$ ebay off.........

All of us should make a multi item listing for a one cent item, delivered via download (so no shipping), then we all leave the inkfrog seller positive feedback with all 5's for stars. http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/grin.gif

Anyway, sorry that happened.

Hope the youngin is felling better.

~~~Whoever said you can't buy happiness, forgot about little puppies.~~~

[twisttolife]

So, I take a look at THEIR listings and I notice that it's a fellow ink Frogger!! Imagine that! Grrr!!!

My blood is boiling for you LisaMarie!http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/mad.gif

Must be they are jealous of you!http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/tongue.gif

Glad your little one is doing better!http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/grin.gif

[biggfredd]

All of us should make a multi item listing for a one cent item, delivered via download (so no shipping), then we all leave the inkfrog seller positive feedback with all 5's for stars.
The funny thing is you think that's a new idea.If you know where to look, it's easy to get into a FB circle, where you just give each other good FB.

[TxRed]

Lisa...glad to hear your son is doing better. http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/grin.gif

I've never used that star rating and never will. It's bad enough that mine is going down for shipping and I refuse to use it for any other seller.

[LisaMarie]

LMAO @ Cindy! And YES, the thought has crossed my mind!! I may just have to do that! Their numbers are already lower than mine anyway! LOL

Thanks for all the well wishes for my little guy. He's doing great today! I think I'll let him go to preschool for a few hours today and see how he does.

[LisaMarie]

hblt46

Check your email! LOL!http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/biglol.gif http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/biglol.gif http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/biglol.gif

[Floridachickadee]

Wanna tell us who it was (jk)

Yeah! http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/grin.gif http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/lol.gif

Well...nasty me...I'd buy something cheap from them and mess with their star rating

hehehe, I was thinking the SAME thing... though I thought maybe I shouldn't say it out loud! http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/cool.gif

[queenrob]

Wanna tell us who it was (jk)
http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/up.gif

[hechto]

The star system is the absolute pits of Ebay's many bad moves. People can complain about stuff without standing behind their words. It is cheap, dirtbag informing. Reminds me of denouncing your neighbors in Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union.

[LisaMarie]

The star system is the absolute pits of Ebay's many bad moves

AGREED!

[Stone]

Item as described 4.8
Communication 4.7
Shipping time 4.8
Shipping and handling charges 4.4

Positive Feedback: 99.5%

They are dinging the Crap outa my shipping charges but leaving positive feedback.
Hell they know my ship charges when they purchase.

I haven't had any neg's since the Star system so what is their problem http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/smirk.gif

[LisaMarie]

I think that customers are "willing" to pay the shipping but they're just not very happy about it, so when they do get that chance to voice their opinion, they DO!

Sux!

[hechto]

This STAR deal brings out the miserable power trip in people. It is like the bozo who is in a club and once a year he gets to give orders at the club event. PARK HER< Don't walk there, NO YOU CAN'T.
These jerks are abused by their sposes, their bosses and every body else. Now they can abuse Ebay sellers, anonymously.
The other factor here is the BS Ebay has infused people with about shipping speed. Ebay has convinced buyers that the seller should get their check, already have the package addressed and run off to the Post Office that minute.
The huge mailorder houses don't give that kinf of service.
I have a household, a business and health problems to manage on my own. NO F**King way am I taking a payment and running. Even money orders need time to clear in today's world of fraud. I consolidate packingand mailing. My auctions all say shipping is 20 BUSINESS days after Cleared payment.
NOBODY reads that and they delight in gnawing on stars.
Ebay does not recognize that it is the tens of thousands of small dealers that make it happen. They don't realize that while customers are very important, treating dealers like dirt works only as long as Ebay has no real competion.
I had a job from Hell for 14 years. Dealing with Ebay is becoming a very similar experience.

[Floridachickadee]

I think that customers are "willing" to pay the shipping but they're just not very happy about it, so when they do get that chance to voice their opinion, they DO!

Sux!

Sure does... especially since quite often it's not the seller's shipping rates they're giving their opinion on! It's USPS or UPS!

And sometimes it's just obvious that they don't want to give good star ratings just because... If for some reason I'm loosing out on shipping (always due to my own mistakes) then I will select to have the shipping charge shown so that the buyer can see that I wasn't over charging them and in fact hadn't charged enough to cover the actual shipping costs let alone any packaging etc. And they'll STILL leave less than a 5 for stars...

I think with some buyers the only way they would be happy is if you paid them to take the item and even then they'd realize they didn't read the description and it's not what they thought or wanted and would expect you to then cover the cost to send it back to you!!! http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/lol.gif

[Stone]

At least I am up front with my ship charge unlike those that build it into their prices and the say FREE which is total BS and should be changed to INCLUDED!!

Who the hell can ship FREE?

[LisaMarie]

Who the hell can ship FREE

Get this.... I bought a Fly Fusion pen for my son YESTERDAY and it came today Fed Ex OVERNIGHT!! You know that seller is using her company's account. I couldn't believe it! She also has 5.0 for her shipping charges and her delivery time!!!

I'm sure if I could steal from my boss and not pay a dime on shipping, I'd give great deals as well! I'm almost tempted to ding her big time just because I know she's ripping off her company

[oldstufftwo]

does anyone really look at the star ratings anyway?? If I'm buying something I look at the sellers feedback percentage.

[oldstufftwo]

I know powersellers who care less about their feedback rating they say it doesn't matter. I try and keep mine up because I believe some people look at it especially on higher end items. I have a 99.7%.

[oldstufftwo]

I just took a negative over a $9.99 item just because the lady was so rude and demanding I told her to just go fly a kite. I knew she was going to neg me but I'm not going to get pushed around.
Normally I do my best to work out problems and take a hit if it's my fault but some people can be so irritating.

[hechto]

I had a guy tell me he would not bid because I have "bad feedback". I have 99.4, 11 negs out of 1903 showing, over 3000 total.
I looked and he had bought from me with no problem a few years ago. I pointed that out to him, he still did not bid.

[biggfredd]

Thank you for not ordering. We have found that buyers who are anal about FB are usually more trouble than they are worth.

[esyd]

At least I am up front with my ship charge unlike those that build it into their prices and the say FREE which is total BS and should be changed to INCLUDED!!

Who the hell can ship FREE?

Well I ship for FREE. At least I don't charge $6.95-$19.95 to ship a $1.31 package like some of the other competing eBay sellers do. I don't rely on the shipping charges to cover my product's cost like they often do. When I charge a certain price I take every penny of the costs into consideration and I price my product accordingly. That includes my cost of the item, sellers fees, PayPal fees, etc. and it includes shipping costs too. If I can't include ALL those costs in the price and still make at least 50% profit while undercutting my competition's prices (including of course their inflated shipping charges) then chances are I'm not listing the item on eBay. So it's ok to include item cost, sellers fees, PayPal fees, packing material, etc. into the auction price but NOT the cost of actual shipping? Who would have thought.

The other question of course could be 'how do some sellers charge $9.95 to ship what should cost $1.50, including the envelope, and still get suckers to buy their auctions?'

I guess when people see FREE SHIPPING they assume that they're getting ripped off somehow and won't buy? I guess I should go back to charging for shipping and raise the shipping cost to $6.95+, it would probably improve my sales. Maybe people think I'm ripping them off with my 'free shipping' but if they pay $6.95 shipping they're getting a good deal? I'll have to give that a try and see if it helps my bottom line. eBay Power Sellers who do it must be doing something right, they are Power Sellers after all.

Thanks for the thought provoking comment, I think it's time to re-think my selling strategy on eBay. Why waste money on shipping charges when I could be making money off it. http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/grin.gif

[biggfredd]

The other question of course could be 'how do some sellers charge $9.95 to ship what should cost $1.50, including the envelope, and still get suckers to buy their auctions?'
You mean like the $4 webkinz my friend bought with $8.95 shipping and had the seller ship directly to his customer who paid him $25?

I don't care what the shipping is, I just look at the total.

[Floridachickadee]

Fed Ex OVERNIGHT!! You know that seller is using her company's account. I couldn't believe it!

Is she a big time seller or just small beans?
The only reason I ask is that FedEx does offer some steep discounts if you have volume...
When I worked for a software company we shipped all packages via FedEx overnight w/signature required and it literally cost the company about $7 per package... It was a rate that was negotiated with fedex and included daily pick up!
Even International shipped packages were the same price.

If she's got a lot of volume or a connection within fedex she may have gotten herself a lower rate...
Or of course there is always the situation where she could be using a company account but with their permission and reimbursing them the costs of her packages.
My husband has done this before with Freight items, since he works for a family owned company it was easy for him to get approval and do everything on the up and up, and it was much cheaper than if I'd had to arrange it myself since i don't have an account or a business location for them the pick up the item...

Of course, for everyone out there doing things the honest way, I'm sure there are those out there not being totally honest too. Last year my hubby helped bust a guy at work that was stealing product and selling it on ebay! His bosses knew that we did ebay and would know how to look, and we purchased something on their behalf to have the proof and hubby was at work when the cops came and arrested the guy. needless to say it wasn't long (matter of hours) before all his listings disappeared! LOL

[Stone]

Well I ship for FREE
When I charge a certain price I take every penny of the costs into consideration and I price my product accordingly. That includes my cost of the item, sellers fees, PayPal fees, etc. and it includes shipping costs too.

That isn't FREE but Included.

[Stone]

I don't care what the shipping is, I just look at the total.
That's being a smart shopper.

I've gotten great deals where the Buy It Now price was low and the ship charge was high.

[Floridachickadee]

Well I ship for FREE. At least I don't charge $6.95-$19.95 to ship a $1.31 package like some of the other competing eBay sellers do. I don't rely on the shipping charges to cover my product's cost like they often do.

I don't think he's dumping on people who offer 'Free' shipping, but just rather pointing out that it's a bit misleading... As you clearly pointed out, your figuring all your costs including shipping into the price of the item... So therefore Shipping is not really Free, it's included... It's just the terminology really.

The mind of buyers works so differently from one to the other it's hard to say what they're willing to do or pay for some items.

Recently I had two identical items listed ending just one day apart. Both had the same amount of watchers but the one ending first got several bids from several different bidders and ended up going more than triple the opening bid, when some of them could have bid on the other that was only ending the next day and still had no bids... So while one sold for more than triple my opening price, the other sold at opening bid...

I've seen bidders buy items that have $15 shipping vs. something with $7 shipping with no real apparant reasoning...

Though sellers that charge a S&amp;H fee and incorporate their fees into the S&amp;H arent' giving Ebay a cut of that money since your FVF's are based on the FV and not the total paid (till you get to PP at least) So could also be that some buyers are trying to make sure that ebay gets less money than the seller? who knows....

Like I started off with, the minds of ebay buyers are a very hard thing to understand, and vary so much! http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/grin.gif

[Stone]

I don't think he's dumping on people who offer 'Free' shipping, but just rather pointing out that it's a bit misleading...
So therefore Shipping is not really Free, it's included...
Exactly.

[biggfredd]

So therefore Shipping is not really Free, it's included... It's just the terminology really.
I can't sell detectors any cheaper, so the shipping is free.

[Stone]

so the shipping is free
So the USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL doesn't chage you??

[biggfredd]

I've seen bidders buy items that have $15 shipping vs. something with $7 shipping with no real apparant reasoning...
The "reason" is simple. People don't read.

A huge amount of ebaY rules are there to protect lazy bidders from the fact that they don't read.

[queenrob]

That doesn't answer Stone's question..

[biggfredd]

I didn't refresh the page, so didn't see Stone's question.

Something is free if there is no additional charge. Arguing that everything has a cost is just semantics. EbAy isn't giving you listings for free if you have to pay for gallery to get a listing.

If the landfill charges $10 to dump a truckload and you have a ½ truckload, the second ½ truckload in the same trip is "free", even though each really "costs" $5.

If I sell a detector for $100, no other dealer can sell it for less, so if I don't charge shipping and they do, my shipping is free. Obviously, tho, someone pays for it, somewhere.

[esyd]

Thank you biggfred, I'm glad that someone understands what I'm trying to say.

Yes, shipping has to be paid for by someone. That someone is ME, not the customer. If I'm selling something for the same price or lower than my competitor's price and my competitor charges their customers $6.95 shipping and I don't charge any shipping then my customer IS receiving free shipping. I'm paying out of my pocket to ship my customer's items and they are not paying anything extra so they ARE receiving free shipping. Why should I advertise that shipping is 'included' opposed to 'free' when free is a much stronger selling word? In this example they both virtually mean the same thing right? So why should I downplay what they are getting for free (and remember they are getting it free since I'm paying for it, not them) when I can up-sell 'free shipping' as an added bonus for buying from me instead of my competitors?

How anybody can feel that they are getting ripped off by accepting free shipping is beyond me.

[hechto]

I charge for shipping in 99.5% of my auctions.
If I have 30 of something and paid 60 cents each for them and I have been getting 5 bucks each AND now it is tough to get that 5.....
I will take 30 of them, start the lot at 49.95 and say FREE SHIPPING.
It helps the the lot to attract bids.

[Floridachickadee]

How anybody can feel that they are getting ripped off by accepting free shipping is beyond me.


Well quite often when someone has free shipping, the cost of the item is still about the same as the total cost of other sellers items that are starting off cheaper but have a shipping charge... Not saying this is what you do, but just that it is often the case...
I think that from the buyer's point of view, if your able to sell the same item for the same as the other sellers and cover the cost of shipping, then maybe your making more off the item than the other sellers... Since they of course have no way of knowing what your costs are...
That's just my opinion of course...

And again, I must say that i don't think (again, my own opinion here) Stone is trying to put anyone down for offering free shipping... it's just the terminology that is used... and we all know that the terminology is not choosen by the seller, but rather by Ebay...

Sure a seller can say "shipping included" in the description, but when looking at the shipping costs section if you've entered 0.00 then Ebay is going to translate that to be displayed as FREE

[jvl1929]

Get this.... I bought a Fly Fusion pen for my son YESTERDAY and it came today Fed Ex OVERNIGHT!! You know that seller is using her company's account. I couldn't believe it! She also has 5.0 for her shipping charges and her delivery time!!!

I'm sure if I could steal from my boss and not pay a dime on shipping, I'd give great deals as well! I'm almost tempted to ding her big time just because I know she's ripping off her company

Maybe she owns the business and is just using that acct for ebay also? Just a thought, I doubt it though, my guess is she's doing just what you said but I thought well...maybe she's not screwing her boss but she most likely is. http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/lol.gif

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents, since that's about all I can afford these days with all the ebay fees! lol
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ebay id: jvl1929

eBay Store: http://stores.ebay.com/PUZZLES-and-OTHER-STUFF-YOU-NEED

eCrater Store:
http://dillsdeals.ecrater.com/

[queenrob]

maybe she's not screwing her boss but she most likely is
Maybe the boss likes ithttp://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/wink.gif

[Stone]

Stone is trying to put anyone down for offering free shipping... it's just the terminology that is used
I believe there's supposed to be a NOT between is &amp; trying http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/wink.gif

[queenrob]

And again, I must say that i don't think
Stone read the sentence again. Floridachickadee was with you on this one..

[Stone]

Stone read the sentence again
Thanks Rob, your correct - I need more coffee http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/smirk.gif

[queenrob]

Your welcome-now go get that coffee..

[Stone]

http://www.buildaforum.com/inkforums/img/smilies/coffee.gif