IF eBay SUGGEST FREE SHIPPING/SHIPPING INCLUDED will INCREASE a DSR.....

[lina-mallows]

WHY would eBay then allow the BUYER to leave a DSR regarding a NOW NON-EXISTENT SHIPPING/HANDLING CHARGE ?????

Has anyone thought of this argument?
IF NOT- you read it here first!

[jeffglobal]

Agreed, not well thought out at all! If you're offering FREE shipping, the shipping DSR should automatically default to 5 stars for the seller!

....not that I would take advantage of it anyways mind you, since for the items I sell (VHS videos) it's impossible to offer FREE shipping given Canada Post's absurd rates (comparitive to USPS rates anyways). I'd be shooting myself in the foot with each sale made!!

[numero_1]

free shipping is a great idea, just that it increases your comission paid to ebay and some sellers might not realize that an item sold for $10 with free shiping is cheaper than one sold for $1 + $12 S/H hehe

[lina-mallows]

jeffglobal- I agree that there are other ways to look at this situation.
My perspective was simply that, at present, eBay is requesting comment - A DSR- for a situation- SHIPPING/HANDING CHARGE- that simply does not exist.


Your solution- of making it an "AUTOMATIC FIVE" has it's own merits.

Either way- the term sucking, and bl;owing at the same time comes to mind.
NOT INCLUDING charges in the price- and charging them outside of the auction saves END VALUE FEES. A reality PERIOD.
INCLUDING EVERYTHING COSTS US MORE! And, naturally eBay will theoretically on the specific sale, make more money.

ARE THERE OTHER WAYS to make this INCLUSIVE SHIPPING situation more workable?

We do offer some auctions WITHOUT accepting PayPal- and being a BRICKS and MORTAR merchant- we do offer Credit card, and DEBIT if/when PICKED-UP.

[snoopwiz]

From what I have heard and read on various boards, offering "free shipping" will not necessarily bring that DSR star up. Some have found that when they replaced the free shipping with factual shipping, their star went up. Others have substituted 99 cents shipping instead of free. When clicking stars, buyers may see free shipping as neither an excellent rate nor a terrible rate so, by default, they go middle ground, saddling you with a 3. Using the 99 cent method may instill a true "value" to your buyer. It may also see your star rise.

[lina-mallows]

I am also aware that some BUYERS DO NOT leave a DSR when shipping is INCLUDED- as there is NO CHARGE to comment on.

We have FEWER DSR's left for "Shipping and handling charges" and we do offer some items with SHIPPING INCLUDED. When the "Shipping and handling charges" DSR TOTAL NUMBER RECEIVED started to fall- that's when I noticed this possible trend.

[lina-mallows]

Just to note- the concern is not with any of DSR ratings- we won't be a POWER SELLER long enough to care.

It's the BIG PICTURE that there is something patently unfair soliciting, or allowing feedback to be left for something that does not exist.

ALSO- Just as an aside- in the world of INSTANT electronic delivery- when this is the type of eBay item is purchased- there is certainly no need to comment on a SHIPPING/HANDLING charge.