PLEASE- eBay- BUY a dictionary! DOES "A FEW" = NINE DAYS ???

[lina-mallows]

Would someone from eBay PLEASE explain HOW NINE days- MORE than a week- can in any way be called "a FEW" ???

HERE'S the issue:

When CALCULATING the NEW POWER SELLER discounts eBay clearly says:
"Check below to see if you are meeting discount requirements
eBay uses the criteria below to determine the discount on your next invoice. Your discount is calculated a few days before your invoice is issued. Click the drop-down menu to view requirements for each available discount tier."

SO- According to the OED (Oxford English Dictionary) definition:
"few
• determiner, pronoun, & adjective 1 (a few) a small number of. 2 not many.
• noun the few a select minority.
— PHRASES few and far between scarce. a good few Brit. a fairly large number of. no fewer than a surprisingly large number of. not a few a considerable number. quite a few a fairly large number. some few some but not many.

EVEN Merrian-Webster had this to say:
"Main Entry: 2few
Function:adjective
Date:before 12th century
1 : consisting of or amounting to only a small number
2 : at least some but indeterminately small in number —used with a
— few·ness noun
— few and far between : few in number and infrequently met : rare"

AND- this is the result of eBay's calculation "A FEW" days earlier:
You earned a 5% PowerSeller discount
A 5% discount off your Final Value Fees is applied to the invoice dated below.
Applied to invoice: 04/30/08
eBay calculated your PowerSeller discount on 04/21/08.
Check below to see if your current seller performance meets the requirements for a discount on your next invoice.

---------------------------------------------
In my opinion APRIL 21st, IS NOT "A FEW" DAYS BEFORE APRIL 30th!

Does anyone else reading this see a problem with how this eBay discount is being represented- and actually calculated?

eBay expects SELLERS to follow THEIR rules- and policies.
HOWEVER- when it come to the application of a clearly stated policy:
"Your discount is calculated a few days before your invoice is issued"
IS NINE DAYS BEFORE REALLY "A FEW" ???

[pierrelebel]

"Does anyone else reading this see a problem with how this eBay discount is being represented- and actually calculated?"

I do not have a problem with the timing or method.

The 21st was seven business days before month end. I do not see a big deal but will agree eBay could chose different words to express the timing of taking the DSR snap shot for rebate calculation purposes.

Some sellers will see their DSR increase in those seven days while other sellers will see numbers decrease, resulting in a lower or higher percentage rebate.

On the long run it should not make a substantial difference to anyone, gaining a few... losing a few. .

[coxengines]

Does it really matter when the discount is calculated?

Over a period of a year, everything should balance out.

Some months you're good, some you're not. Perhaps you always are, perhaps you never are.

If eBay calculated your discount on invoice day (the day, hypothetically speaking, after your score dropped), I imagine you might lament the fact that they did not calculate it the day before when your score was higher.

If a seller is always teetering on the edge of a discount level, he/she needs to put in a better effort to meet or exceed that level.

eBay is under no obligation to provide any discounts but have chosen to do so as a reward for meeting certain targets.

Do I like everything eBay throws at us? A resounding "NO". However, this is what we have and we need to operate withing these parameters or seek greener pastures.

Xena

[lina-mallows]

xenalook -"eBay is under no obligation to provide any discounts but have chosen to do so as a reward for meeting certain targets."

I absolutely agree with you.

However- if there are RULES- and they are clearly spelled out- then eBay should be as obligated to follow them, as we as SELLERs are expected to follow them.

If eBay wants to calculate at a SPECIFIC time say so. Don't MISLEAD people by saying a few days- and that means NINE- or even SEVEN business days.

A FEW does not push top a number between SEVEN and NINE in this circumstance.

xenalook- "Do I like everything eBay throws at us? A resounding "NO"."

I agree. HOWEVER- if you are going to take the trouble of putting something in writing- MAKE IT CLEAR AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND.
if eBay said- your discount will be calculated between SEVEN AND NINE DAYS prior to billing- that's fine with me!
HOWEVER- "A FEW" is far to vague, and apparentl;y open to interpretation.
I believe- that this is just on the edge of actionable. As representations have been made- and a real economic loss may be inured as a result of eBay's MISCALCULATIONS.

Again- eBay has no obligation to offer any discount- HOWEVER- why can they can not be held liable to action under their contractual obligations, once stated?

[lina-mallows]

TO BE 100% CLEAR HERE-
WE ARE INVOLUNTARILY A POWER SELLER.
(We squeaked through by one single item. I would have closed BIN auctions early to prevent this- had I known the consequences!)

WE DO NOT AGREE WITH TERMS AND CONDITIONS LAID OUT IN THE POWER SELLER AGREEMENT.

WE DO NOT WANT YOUR DISCOUNTS- OR OTHER POWER SELLER BENEFITS.

AGAIN- HOW DOES ONE OPT OUT OF BEING A POWER SELLER?

CAN SOMEONE AT eBAY PLEASE RESPOND !!!

(sorry for the shouting maybe someone at eBay will respond)

[lina-mallows]

pierrelebel- I agree that in the long run- everything balances out.
In the beginning there will always be little glitches.
CLARITY would be nice. Yes- rules can change, and do frequently.
It just would be nice to have some clarity!
For those that it matters to- they will adjust- as if they have any other viable options.

[lina-mallows]

pierrelebel "The 21st was seven business days before month end. I do not see a big deal but will agree eBay could chose different words to express the timing of taking the DSR snap shot for rebate calculation purposes.

Just a side note- IF eBay operates SEVEN DAYS A WEEK- and charges/collects FEES seven days a week- then ANY calculation should be based on calendar days, and not BUSINESS days.

DSRs are calculated EVERY DAY of the year- not just for BUSINESS DAYS.

So again, in my mind NINE DAYS is certainly not "A FEW".

[coxengines]

WE ARE INVOLUNTARILY A POWER SELLER.

HUH???

It was by invitation only. You had to accept to become a PS and, yes, you can opt out.

Then, at least, you wont have to worry about getting any discounts;-)

Xena

[pierrelebel]

"CLARITY would be nice."

You are correct.

Three, seven or nine days before billing date is immaterial (and maybe the inconsistency is done on purpose to minimize manipulation by sellers).

However, it would be nice if eBay could show more transparency to the process by showing the date the "DSR snap shot" is taken the following day, not on billing date. .

[lina-mallows]

pierrelebel- You got it! CLARITY. Simple, and straightforward.

Being able to manipulate these DSR numbers will occur if there is a will to manipulate them. Like anything- where there is a will, there is a way.
It doesn't matter when the numbers are calculated- but CLARITY is important.

Will the NUMBER of days prior to the billing date remain consistent?
Will it change, even if the rules remain as written?
Does anyone have a clue? Does eBay even know?

[pstacey]

I haven't a clue what you are on about. Yes it says they calculated the discount on the 21st...who cares. When I checked my sellers discount on the 21st I didn't qualify (only had 8 ratings) On the 30th, presto, had 10 ratings AND a discount. But since you don't want to be a powerseller (and continually make sure everyone knows) why does it matter to you WHEN the discount is calculated???

[lina-mallows]

pstacey- Thanks for noticing!
AND- YES- we DO NOT CARE ABOUT eBay's discount!

And, I can rest assured that almost no one here will be eligible for the highest 15% discount rate when the dust settles. The deck is clearly stacked against Canadian Sellers that sell internationally. The bar is set too high, as it is level to those who sell exclusively within the US. Our CANADA POST simply does not operate as efficiently as the USPS. AND- we have to contend with an unpredictable amount of Custom's delay- as well.

If we, AS POWER SELLERS, complain enough maybe SOMEONE at eBay will listen and get us off this absurd POWER SELLER ROLLER COASTER!
WE ARE TRYING TOI GET eBay's ATTENTION- those who visit here are free to ignore, or respond as they wish. IT'S ABOUT eBAY.

OPTING OUT OF THIS PROGRAMME SHOULD BE AN OPTION!
Why can't anyone how simple this idea is?
you can remove the logos- but you can't OPT OUT of specific eBay programmes, once you have attained POWER SELLER status.

(So- we will MANIPULATE our sales- and numbers TO NOT BE A POWER SELLER! Doesn't apparently break any rules does it? Sounds absurd- but as TRUDEAU once said- Just watch me!)


eBay can't follow its own rules, and policies- yet SELLERS are expected to!
Maybe I take things a little too literally. Working for so long in a Law Office- you sort of take these things on as a challenge.
We would spend hours debating something as simple as the meaning of "A FEW". And- yes, it does matter.

A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR EVERYONE. CLEAR RULES- SO EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT RULES THEY ARE FOLLOWING!

So- if eBay can't agree to follow their rules/policies- why should we?

To paraphrase the 6/49 Lottery commercial-
BECAUSE I CAN !!!!!

[lina-mallows]

pstacey- we only again became a POWER SELLER by accident.
We sold ONE SINGLE ITEM MORE than the 300 average.
Some buyer at the last minute purchased TWO items from the same BIN auction- and that put us over the top.

Carefully counting- and removing auctions before this happens again should solve the problem- I hope. (Our present 3 month item sold average for February/March/April is 293 items)

Having a REAL bricks and mortar business (in Toronto- and a branch in the US mid-west) to run takes enough time and energy. As well- travel is now becoming a real infringement on my eBay selling time. Half our time is now spent in the US (or away from home)- so we are away from home, and inventory. I can answer e-mails, but shipping is not possible. We do not ship from the US. Our present travel arrangements will not permit the movement of commercial merchandise across the border.

So, I now close auctions before we leave the country- so I don't have to deal with answering customer's questions. I/we try to get all our items mailed before we leave.

Having the luxury to travel we don't 'do eBay for the money". So, chasing POWER SELLER nonsense is actually just a way of relaxing in front of the computer.
The more I write here- the less time I spend surfing elsewhere buying 'things'. Having always bought more than we ever sold- selling was just a way to buy MORE 'things".

I am desperately trying NOT to spend hours in hotel Business Centres answering customer's e-mails! We are supposed to be traveling to get away from BUSINESS- and I really am trying NOT to take the business with us! Now if I can only convince my Brother of this.........

[pierrelebel]

" almost no one here will be eligible for the highest 15% discount rate when the dust settles. "

I currently qualify for the 15% rebate, as I have last month and expect to continue to qualify and receive the 15% rebate in the foreseable future.

It is to eBay's benefits to keep giving those rebates. There is no logical reasons to think otherwise.

If one looks at the big picture, the 15% FVF rebate more or less offsets the February 20th FVF increase. So the rebate comes out of the FVF increase paid by all sellers, including those who do not qualify for the rebate. It does not really cost eBay anything! .

[coxengines]

I currently qualify for the 15% rebate, as I have last month and expect to continue to qualify and receive the 15% rebate in the foreseable future.

Ditto!

Xena

[bare_bright]

I still don't understand the 30 day average?

since the last billing date, for me it's the 16 of the month I am eligible for a 15% discount.

now my question is come next billing date or 30 Days since last snap shot was taken if for some reason one of my dsr drops below 4.8 avg. for one day or on the 29 th day Do i automatically drop to the 5% Discount?

I don't know but it's seems so confusing for me lol.. I must be getting old?

any help to clear this up, Thanks:)

[pierrelebel]

The rebate is determined by the DSRs snapshot taken several days before your billing date.

With a billing date of the 16th of the month, the May snapshot will be taken between May 5th and May 12th.

The DSRs shown in your seller Dashboard always represent the last 30 days. So DSRs shown the day the snapshot is taken will determine your rebate percentage for your May 16th invoice (based on your eligible FVF for the April 16 to May 15 billing period).

If all DSRs are 4.8 and above, you get 15% rebate;
if all are 4.6 and above (but at least one is below 4.8) you get 5%,
if one rating is below 4.6, you are not eligible to the rebate. .

[bare_bright]

Thanks Pierre

wow that's like nerve racking lol

all it would take I guess is one unhappy camper to knock one of the DSR below 4.8

would be nice to know how the scaling system is calculated, that must be a very locked up secret and only known by a few high up employees.

sat may/03/08 HOCKEY 2/1 CAD! @ 7:41

Thanks:)

[lina-mallows]

rockyeb2200-would be nice to know how the scaling system is calculated, that must be a very locked up secret and only known by a few high up employees.

EXACTLY what I am asking for- CLARITY- NOT SECRETS!
No secrets- just CLEAR information posted so that everyone understands exactly what is happening.