eBay

73rhc · ‎12-17-2013

So I've just notice this and don't know how long it's been like this. Bought something recently. The transaction went rather smoothly. When leaving DSR stars, shipping was "free" so I couldn't leave stars. This is normal and okay. But now I could not leave anything for communication. This popped up "This question isn't applicable because we didn't see any direct messages between you and the seller." This presumes that I will be leaving pos feedback and that there were no issues. Would this disappear if I had to contact the seller for any possible problems?

marnotom! · ‎12-19-2013

@73rhc wrote:

I did, if you look at post #5. When I said originally, I meant when we got onto the shipping part of the discussion.

I said that it was okay about the free shipping to have the stars blank. Please reread the post.

I never said you said it wasn't okay to be unable to leave stars for a transaction offering "free" shipping.

As for this question: So is it okay then for an honest seller to use the eBay shipping calculator, lose the 10% and absorb the cost of the packing materials. Then get get nailed with low DSR and possible neg. feedback?

What if the seller does play by those rules, but it turns out they could have packed the item smaller or even somehow sent it as an oversized letter? The question posted to buyers when leaving stars for shipping charges is: How reasonable were the shipping and handling charges? not "Did the seller charge actual postage?"

Shipping is a service offered by the seller and like most services, it can have a monetary value. Ideally, sellers should be able to charge what they feel that service is worth, but we know eBay no longer works that way. But buyers have their own ideas of what a fair shipping price is--rightly or wrongly--and that's on what the DSR is based. As pointed out earlier, there are ways to hide or obscure what the seller actually paid for postage, so what the buyer is actually rating is whether or not they feel they got their money's worth from the seller's service.

73rhc · ‎12-19-2013

I could reply in a manner that would surely have the post removed, but I digress.

The whole point is that if I use the "wrong" packaging, I will still pay for that to be mailed, as a seller! The operative word here, is how "reasonable" were the shipping charges. What would be the point for a seller to oversize the package? How would he/she gain?

eBay could easily add to the listing that the seller used the eBay calculator for the shipping cost.

marnotom! · ‎12-19-2013

Items using the eBay shipping calculator can still have handling fees added to them, though.

Also, as suggested earlier, if the seller's own calculation of the shipping weight is off and it's taken to the post office to weigh and ship and that difference turns out to be in the seller's favour, what's the point in knowing that the seller used the shipping calculator anyway?

Again, it comes down to whether or not the buyer feels they received good value for money for the seller's own offered shipping service.

73rhc · ‎12-19-2013

I get the feeling that you only read what you want to read. Again, I mentioned in post #5, "if no added handling fees"

You don't seems to get it. So I give up. Let's agree to disagree! And I really dislike conversing with people hidding behind alternate usernames. Regardless of the reason behind it!

pierrelebel · ‎12-19-2013

Post #5: two parts:

"If no added handling is added, shouldn't the shipping price also be an automatic 5 stars."

No, as there is no way for eBay to know if a handling charge was added or not. Many sellers mail items to their buyers using lettermail or letterpost. These services are not available through PayPal postage. How could eBay know if a handling charge was added. Even then, many sellers may charge a few cents more than postage to cover the cost of packaging material. eBay has no way to determine if the charge is excessive or not. As such, each buyer makes the decision to leave the appropriate feedback rating. In most instances, buyers leave a 5.

If one is using the shipping calculator provided by eBay?

The shipping calculator is only available for some services and includes the ability for the seller to add a handling fee.

Here again, it is possible for a seller - even without a handling fee - to overcharge the buyer by selecting a more expensive shipping method offering the seller more "protection". Is it fair to the buyer not to be able to leave appropriate DSR rating when a seller spends more money than necessary for shipping?

In conclusion, eBay currently gives a "5" automatically to the seller if the item is sent with "free shipping" (shipping charge included in the price) and there is no other practical way for eBay to override the buyer's opinion when assessing what rating should be given for "shipping charge".

73rhc · ‎12-19-2013

"No, as there is no way for eBay to know if a handling charge was added or not."

Funny, when I use the iPad app. There is a space to enter handling charges. So, I think eBay will get the idea!

"Is it fair to the buyer not to be able to leave appropriate DSR rating when a seller spends more money than necessary for shipping?"

I think you also only read what you want to read. Please read all of the post in order. If your only here to say the opposite of what I'm saying, please abstain and move on!

pierrelebel · ‎12-19-2013

"Funny, when I use the iPad app. There is a space to enter handling charges. So, I think eBay will get the idea!"

As stated above: "No, as there is no way for eBay to know if a handling charge was added or not. Many sellers (like yourself) mail items to their buyers using lettermail or letterpost. These services are not available through PayPal postage. How could eBay know if a handling charge was added."

73rhc · ‎12-19-2013

Firstly, yes, eBay will know if you've added as you are doing the listing. Secondly, I NEVER said anything about Paypal postage! Please try to follow! These boards can be a little confusing , at times!