CANADIAN POWERSELLERS... PREPARE TO LOSE YOUR STATUS IN JULY! DTR RATINGS

[g-manthebossman]

Looks like Ebay is going to ignore the conditions Canadian power sellers face regarding shipping costs and shipping times. As any Canadian seller knows we pay through he nose to use Canada Post compared to fees our American counterparts pay for USPS. In addition shipping times take longer for most packages because they have to cross the border (If you are like me 99% of your sales are USA bound). As a result DTR ratings in shipping time and cost categories are lower for most Canadian power sellers. For example my feedback rating is 99.2% my DTR ratings for item as described and communication are around 4.8-4.9 but my DTR ratings for shipping cost and time are 4.2-4.3 As an average I fall above the 4.5 DTR requirement but as individual categories I fall short on two of them. This has had two effects on my store... #1 I am not qualified to take part in the 1 cent listing sale and in July new rules take effect that say sellers with a lower than 4.5 DTR rating in any category will lose their power seller status!!!! HOW IS THIS FAIR TO CANADIAN POWER SELLERS?

I WELCOME ANY HELP, ADVICE OR CORRECTION TO THESE UNFAIR RULES! AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED N THE LOSS OF OUR FEEDBACK RIGHTS THERE GOES THE RATINGS THERE AS WELL BECAUSE BUYERS CAN LEAVE WHATEVER THEY WANT WITHOUT FEAR OF REPRECUSSION FOR UNFAIR TREATMENT TO SELLERS.

[westernstargifts]

Never charge the maximum handling fee. Refund the extra if less is charged at the postal outlet.

Exactly what I have been thinking of doing. To show your shipping you have to have an extra item charge but the total doesn't always reflect the actual cost, depending on what and how many things the buyer purchases.

Under-promise and over-deliver. They won't mind paying less than they thought they would for S/H.

[vesivus]

westernstargifts (899 ) View Listings | Report It may look like I am successful, but for all the hours I put in and the fees I pay it really isn't worth it.

Ah-ha! I'm surprised more people haven't clued into this. Although it is possible to make money on eBay, all too often you make too little to warrant the effort.

Some are making big bucks for the hours put in, but these people are few and far between. Most are making less than 'minimum wage' doing this... so really, what is the point?

John

[ecbluestar]

but for all the hours I put in and the fees I pay it really isn't worth it.

eBay for me is extra income in off season from real work.

Small profit, but isn't eBay world's biggest flea market?

[cumos55]

January 2008 was the start of this sellers sixth year on eBay.

In 2003, 2004 and 2005 I was in first gear.. getting going.

2006... move to selling only out of a store on March 1..... Sputtered a bit but made it into second gear.

2007 was third gear all the way...

2008 is overdrive... and more to come.

It took me 5 year plus to get here.

It takes work to make it work. always adjusting, and deciding what next.

The sales are better now than ever... and more importantly I am finding those great things that I know will sell.

DSR and everything that eBay throws at me.. I can handle... I see a lot of sellers frustrated, and more than angry ... I do visit the boards on eBay.com

But I do ask myself why I do not encounter those same problems... My view. Keep it simple... use the minimum that eBay offers, no bells and whistles... and achieve the maximum with work.

And it is not always physical work... it is a thought process always asking questions... and more questions... why did it work? Can I do it better..

I treat my customers like they were thin shelled eggs ready to break at the slightest touch.

I have worked out a system and I follow it.. and buyers respond.

I am fortunate in living near the centre of Canada... Just a few miles west of geographical centre... Yet everything to the US goes through customs in either Vancouver or Toronto.

I can understand that shipping time is important for someone who lives on the east or west coast, and shipping to the opposite coast in Canada or the US. ... Then I would surmise that communication of the distance to be covered is very important. and in turn the time involved...

The longest any purchase sits with me is three days... and it is gone. I tell buyer how long it takes, and then I do state a bit longer if it gets caught up in customs... See.. I blamed the delay on customs... not even Canada Post and least of all me..

[cumos55]

Many have viewed the ratings as an absolute.. according to eBay's definition

Yet there is more to this process.. that starts with what you as a seller put in the listings.

and perhaps more importantly what you ... do not ... put in that listing

what you do not say in emails to the buyer... do not say to potential buyers when you answer questions.

Then there is my statement... a bit longer if it gets caught up in customs... It was not until a few minutes ago that I realized that I was laying the blame of any delay on customs... and the buyer may accept those words.... as a reality.

[cumos55]

One thing that buyers do not see when they get the parcel/package/letter is the added GST.

The sticker on the parcel only reads the cost of postage and not the added GST.

I sell in US dollars...

Postage is in Canadian dollars

For Canadian buyers.. who do pay in US dollars... it is postage + GST and then adjusting Canadian dollars to US dollars.

and many do not see GST or that conversion to US dollars.

Is it HST in some provinces, a lot higher than GST = 5 %

US dollars have recently ranged from $1.00 to about $1.05 US per $1.00 Canadian.

Last fall of 2007 it was up at $1.10 US to $1.00 Canadian

My latest thought is to insert an explanation into the parcel, with that explanation specific

(1) to Canadian buyers

(2) to US and

(3) to International buyers other than US buyers.

------------------------------------

Bought.... Date
Paid..... Date
Mailed.... Date

The total cost to a buyer includes

(1) the price using Canada Post and indicated on the sticker on the parcel

(2) Adding in the GST of 5 % for all Canadian buyers and for US and international postage going for less than $5.00

(3) Adjusting postage plus GST in Canadian dollars to US dollars

_______________________

The above insert would cover

(1) Shipping time the seller's responsibility

(2) S & H.

[g-manthebossman]

NOW THOSE ARE SOME CONSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTIONS, WOULD YOU MIND IF I SPOKE TO YOU VIA PRIVATE EMAIL OR EVEN THE PHONE SOUNDS LIKE YOU REALLY HAVE IT FIGURED OUT. THX PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I CAN PM YOU.

Oops didnt see the caps lock button on sorry.

[cumos55]

I just put these thoughts down quickly.

It will take me a while to figure out what to say.

The best for anyone is to put it into your own words.

[ameroindustries]

I treat my customers like they were thin shelled eggs ready to break at the slightest touch. <<<< LOL 😄

I treat them like that until they break and get angry then i make scrambled eggs . ROLF im such a jerk 😄

Good post though cumos55 😄

[momoftwingles2]

I have to say centralmetalcorp that you don't beat around the bush and you definitely tell it like it is. *S*

Susan
momoftwingles2

[the_perfect_red_box]

Good evening fellow sellers! This is my first post on this board - so forgive me if I am doing anything I shouldn't - I did not take the time to read TOS:-)

Like all of you, I am very concerned about my DSRs, and the on going challenges with Canada Post. Clearly we all face much the same issues and who knows what new challenges are in store as buyers take complete control of the eBay marketplace

I work in a high-end niche market and have just accepted that I will charge my buyers for Expedite and pay for Express. I try and build this into the final sale price, or if it is a BIN, take this loss into consideration(I will likely lose up to $10.00 on any given sale.)

The other thing I try to do is what eBay Power Support keep telling me to do, and that is to educate my buyer. Someone suggested inserting a map – that’s not a bad idea and if I had a software program that would attach something like this to my buyer emails – you bet I would use it (there’s an idea for someone!). Anyway, not sure if this will help anyone, but here is a direct cut and paste of what I send after payment is rec’d:

(insert shipping details tracking etc)

Kindly remember that you have chosen a very reliable, but economical method of shipment. Despite the fact that we are your “northern neighbour” and posted your package on the first day humanly possible, your merchandise will not arrive over night. As we have a border between us, this is considered an international shipment. Once we ship your package, we must rely on our respective postal workers to do their job. Customs delays though rare, can and do occur and sadly we have no control over this. Please be patient – most packages arrive safely and without delay.

When leaving feedback, if you feel you must leave us less than 5 stars, please let us know why and how we might improve our customer service for you and future buyers. We truly strive to provide world-class service and your comments will help us to do just that.

Sincerely,
Pat

[ecbluestar]

(I will likely lose up to $10.00 on any given sale.)

Welcome to CPDB. If you start loosing that kind of money you have to ask yourself question, what I gain and what I lose from Power Seller status. In my opinion as was mention before by many, we as Canadian sellers are in disadvantage and DSR need to be adjust to Canadian conditions.

[whatnerds]

For the first time 3 months, my DSR's have gone up.

I had
4.9
4.8
4.6
4.7

now I have
4.9
4.8
4.7
4.7

Thats for since May, now for my 30 day DSR's are

5.0
4.9
4.8
4.8

so I get my 15% :) Thanks.

Sukh
(Dream About Comics)

[g-manthebossman]

what are you selling?"

[g-manthebossman]

i just checked comic, they are light and can go as letter mail, which is much faster as it goes through an electronic sorting system, for sellers like me who sell bulkier items they go as small packages or parcels, these are not handled automatically thus must be manually sorted by hand on both sides of the border, this significantly slows things down, and costs much much more to send my smallest item costs me 13.75 to send via small packet air or expedited delivery so this seriously affects my ratings, especiellyy shipping cost dsr, an american can send me the same product for less than 9 dollars and if first class (no track) as little as 6 dollars.

congratulations on your sucess though.

[sunrunnerultra]

To my surprise, (until today) my 30 day DSR's were 5.0, 5.0, 5.0, 5.0. A large portion of my sales are to the US, so I was pleasantly surprised to see all 5's.
And then today, after feedback from a buyer in Quebec, 4.9, 4.9, 5.0, 4.9.
The items he bought were new & with the stuff I sell, it's either what you say it is, or it's not. There's not much grey area, like wrong colors or what not.
Had lots of communication with this guy with immediate responses, from his first question right through sending an "item shipped " message.
Shipping and handling charges on this particular sale should not have even been a factor. He sent me an offer to buy a couple of items, total of $xxx shipping included. So, I lowered the buy it now price of one item to bring the total down to what he offered, shipping included.
And yet, I get a lower DSR score.

So, people who are so worried about having to ship to the US, worry about your fellow Canadians too...............

Mark

[dipmicro]

Perhaps it's not even Canadians, Americans, Mexicans, whoever. Nice people and idiots are everywhere, and to everybody surprise ... yes, in Canada too!

[boneshakerscards]

Perhaps it's not even Canadians, Americans, Mexicans, whoever. Nice people and idiots are everywhere, and to everybody surprise ... yes, in Canada too!

LOL!! I may use Ebay to work part-time out of my own house, but I also have a full-time day job in the retail sector(Grocery store to be exact) and I can FULLY back up that claim. I could tell you some horror stories about people I've had to deal with in the past. It's true, idiots are everywhere and sometimes you have to be just as careful with Canadian buyers as you do anyone else!

[westernstargifts]

i just checked comic, they are light and can go as letter mail, which is much faster as it goes through an electronic sorting system,

I send the majority of mine light packet, some small packet and the occasional Expedited in Canada. It doesn't make any difference...some people will never leave a 5 no matter how good a job you do, how fast you ship or how low your shipping costs.

[westernstargifts]

CANADIAN POWERSELLERS... PREPARE TO LOSE YOUR STATUS IN JULY! DTR RATINGS

I understand that a Power Seller can also lose their PS status for copying another seller's listings.