Top Rated Seller not a rant... just confused

[golfing_in_style]

Okay Im just trying to figure out this Top Rated Seller designation and am a bit confused ,which is not that unusual, given it's Monday morning and I'm a Blue Bomber fan (ouch). There are probably lots of stories like mine but bear with me. Ive been selling here since Jan 2003,with 100% positive feedback,current rating of of 5418. I think I've sold close to or more than 8000 items.Current DSRs are: item described 5.0, communication 4.97, shipping time 4.91, and S+H 4.90. I have received the 20% discount every month since it has been implemented.My search standing is raised on Ebay.com with a high policy compliance. I have quite a few items that show up on page one and business for the most part has been very good.Therefore as I mentioned above this post does not officially qualify as a rant.
I don't qualify for the Top Rated Seller designation because it appears that 4 customers or 0.06% in the last 12 months gave me a 1 or 2 in the S+H category.
Well I either break even and or lose a few cents in that area and there isn't a day go by that I dont ship.So as we all know as responsible sellers Canada Post/USPS are usually the culprits,or just those few very unreasonable customers.If my performance as a seller since 2003 doesnt qualify as a Top Rated Seller,I sure hope Ebay suggests a few things that I can improve on and help me serve my customers in an improved fashion.
Okay maybe it was a rant but only a mild one.Or maybe I just dont understand this TRS thing.
Enjoy your day everyone,as you could be me as I'm about to sit down in my Interest Theory class at the U of M.
play well and play often...
jesse

[celticstudio]

Hi,
I was wondering when someone was going to bring this issue up. April seems a long way off but the new TSR system gives a huge amount of power over sellers. You are correct. A few unreasonable customers can cost you 100% of any discount. Issues with shipping that are totally beyond your control. Items lost by Canada Post or delayed for some unknown reason. Even worse are those that do not bother to read the delivery time and then complain that they should have received it. Again, eBay have found yet another way to take advantage of Sellers. They just don't seem to get it. They keep driving good Sellers to search for other sources to sell. Unfortunate. A good example of how to destroy a good business. I have 100% positive feedback. My current 30 day rating is 5,5,5,4.95 . Guess I need to find out how to get EVERYONE to never be rerasonable.
The problem is not with the good Sellers but the negative policies that eBay keeps coming up with. It makes me sad to see eBay do everything to turn good Sellers away from them.
As you say.. have a GREAT day!
Louis

[surplusdealdude]

Again, eBay have found yet another way to take advantage of Sellers. They just don't seem to get it.

Oh, would you knock off the pity party, celtic?

ebay isn't out to "get" sellers - they're out to "get" customers interested in buying here with confidence.

This "ebay is out to get me" is a nice, safe, convenient excuse, but it doesn't hold water.

ebay doesn't even know that you're alive - you're just a number to them.

The TRS is one way they're trying. If it works, fine. If it needs tweaking, they'll tweak it.

golfing,

You can reduce the period that you're evaluated over to 3 months if you can add about 35 sales a month without affecting your rating. Is there another line that you'd consider adding?

celtic,

Yours is a more difficult task.

Your problem is shipping time. IF you are close enough to the border, you might consider shipping with USPS. It's cheaper, faster, and your customers aren't going to have to deal with Customs - you do that.

If you're unwilling or unable to do that, perhaps you can hook up with one of the companies that takes ebay stuff across the border for people. There's one in Toronto and one in BC that I know of.

Otherwise, it's Canada Post that you should be mad at, not ebay - they're the ones taking forever to get the job done.

Perhaps you could manage the customers' expectations better.

[surplusdealdude]

BTW, I don't get the TRS designation either at this point - a little present left over from last year when I was also using Canada Post.

I'm now using USPS and expect my TRS designation to come through in April.

In my niche, however, it doesn't really make a difference because I dominate my niche.

[cottonwoodindustries]

"Your problem is shipping time. IF you are close enough to the border, you might consider shipping with USPS. It's cheaper, faster, and your customers aren't going to have to deal with Customs - you do that.

If you're unwilling or unable to do that, perhaps you can hook up with one of the companies that takes ebay stuff across the border for people. There's one in Toronto and one in BC that I know of.

Otherwise, it's Canada Post that you should be mad at, not ebay - they're the ones taking forever to get the job done."


Give me a break........
There you are complaining about Canada Post again....
can YOU PLEASE GET OFF YOUR SOAP BOX....

Canada POST has been great...FOR ME, and probably others, but we just sit in the wings listening to you trashing them all the time.

I USED to use USPS, I live just 5 mins from the border, used to pack up my packages, race down to the PO, just to find out that some of the prices are not that much cheaper, when they lose things, or send it to the wrong country, then look out, you are up a creek without a paddle.

At least with CANADA POST I can get my claim paid, whereas with USPS, GOOD LUCK!!!!

I thought screw this, I live and sell in Canada so I am sending my stuff by using Canada POST.

It took me a couple of months to figure out how to work the system, but delivery times from CP have been GREAT, ever since

Delivery within Canada 3-5 days
Delivery to the states: BC to FLORIDA - 5 days that is using expedited (NOT 10-12 as stated)
Delivery INTERNATIONALLY - 3-7 days.

How do I do that: by using my mailbox outside my door.
I live on a FARM, and I have rural mail, so my postal lady comes by my house at about 1pm, by 8pm my stuff has already left the country. And that happens EVERYDAY. This works for me......maybe it could for you.

Used to run to the Metro Post Office at 7:30 am, it would be hit or miss if I got there before the truck did.

NOW I can sleep in, and I get better service. :^O

By the way TRS - is great ;-), Better Sales, placement, life is SWEET!

Well enough said

Oh one more thing: USPS isn't bad, but why waste your time and gas to save a few cents. Find out what works and go for it and that TRS will just happen. It did for me and I have had TRS since the beginning....:-x

You guys have a great evening, and we'll catch you on the flip side....

[recped]

OP if you are at 0.06% you just need to pump up your volume a bit, you need 801 qualifying transactions with US buyers if you have 4 low ratings.

You must be fairly close to that?

Don't the current powerseller discounts continue until April?

There's no question the requirements are tough but just like being at the top of page one in search, not everyone can be there at the same time.

[surplusdealdude]

Don't the current powerseller discounts continue until April?

Yep.

[surplusdealdude]

cottonwood,

I'm glad CP is working for you.

It doesn't work for me. CP eliminated my overseas sales - they were too expensive to ship.

Since I started using USPS, my sales are up 600%.

I'll stay with USPS, thanks.

[cottonwoodindustries]

cottonwood,

I'm glad CP is working for you.

It doesn't work for me. CP eliminated my overseas sales - they were too expensive to ship.

Since I started using USPS, my sales are up 600%.

I'll stay with USPS, thanks.

"Good for you, 85% of my sales are overseas including the ones no one sends to such as Italy, Russia, Turkey, Switzerland, Austria, Australia, Brazil, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, to name a few.

Still 7 days to Turkey, and Russia, using good old Canada Post.
:)

[coxengines]

no one sends to such as Italy, Russia, Turkey, Switzerland, Austria, Australia, Brazil, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Germany

No one???

97% of our sales are outside of Canada, over 50% are outside of North-America.

All of the above countries we sell to on a regular basis.

Bernie

[surplusdealdude]

I have a $200 order for Spain waiting for the buyer to tell to to ship (he's already paid but wants to buy more).

It weighs 42 pounds - USPS costs $158, Canada Post costs $287 for the same service.

It's not even a contest.

[ameroindustries]

I swear if i had more time id log ever package and how long it takes to get there and SUE canada post .

This month its 4 days to Florida Next month its 4 weeks ..

OH ya don't forget the new years rate increases 😛

[pjcdn2005]

That's surprising that you would blame Canada Post for that ameropaintball. Whenever I do check up on something going to the U.S. it is at the border within a day or two and the rest of the shipping time is spent going through U.S. customs or being handled by USPS. Canada Post has little to do with most of my U.S. parcels.


I agree with you Surplus about the overseas rates for heavier items..the rates can be outrageous. We each have to work around that in our own way and I'm glad that your way works out for you.

[golfing_in_style]

cottonwood
Give me a break........
There you are complaining about Canada Post again....
can YOU PLEASE GET OFF YOUR SOAP BOX....

Im not sure if you are directing that statement at me, I hope not. I only post here once in a while because I respect the quality and sincerity of the answers receive.I have no issues with Canada Post,just a little confused about the TRS Program and the tough standards.
Business has been very good and Im just trying to keep it that way by seeking some information.
jesse
golfing in style

[cottonwoodindustries]

no one sends to such as Italy, Russia, Turkey, Switzerland, Austria, Australia, Brazil, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Germany

No one???

97% of our sales are outside of Canada, over 50% are outside of North-America.

All of the above countries we sell to on a regular basis.

Bernie

Sorry Bernie, but in my business, lots of the sellers will not sell to those countries, especially TURKEY RUSSIA ITALY

[cottonwoodindustries]

cottonwood
Give me a break........
There you are complaining about Canada Post again....
can YOU PLEASE GET OFF YOUR SOAP BOX....

Im not sure if you are directing that statement at me, I hope not. I only post here once in a while because I respect the quality and sincerity of the answers receive.I have no issues with Canada Post,just a little confused about the TRS Program and the tough standards.
Business has been very good and Im just trying to keep it that way by seeking some information.
jesse
golfing in style

Absolutely NOT, I do not post here very much because I always thought this forum was to HELP other sellers with problems and may be help them with some solutions. INSTEAD, certain individuals runs down, trash and offer little help, GOOD for them.

Not everyone as the opportunity to run across the border and use USPS, I DO, but choose not to because of the NOT SO PLEASANT EXPERIENCES I HAVE HAD WITH THEM....
So I have tried to come up with some great results using CP, WHICH I HAVE so I decided to pass them on, and help others

[cottonwoodindustries]

That's surprising that you would blame Canada Post for that ameropaintball. Whenever I do check up on something going to the U.S. it is at the border within a day or two and the rest of the shipping time is spent going through U.S. customs or being handled by USPS. Canada Post has little to do with most of my U.S. parcels.

I TOTALLY Agree, my parcels are always in the USA in a day or 2, the rest is up to USPS not CP

I agree with you Surplus about the overseas rates for heavier items..the rates can be outrageous. We each have to work around that in our own way and I'm glad that your way works out for you.

AGREE, and there are ways around it even with CP.

[coxengines]

Hm,

Seems as if, like ourselves, you sell model supplies, one of the lowest risk groups of merchandise.

Italy accounts for a decent % of our sales, Turkey and Russia are minor but do contribute to our sales.

Sometimes slow mail and and a disproportionally high % of lost in the mail to Italy aside, we have good experiences with these countries.

If something gets lost in the mail, we "sell" it to Canada Post; hence making 2 sales 🙂

Bernie

[cottonwoodindustries]

Hm,

Seems as if, like ourselves, you sell model supplies, one of the lowest risk groups of merchandise.

Italy accounts for a decent % of our sales, Turkey and Russia are minor but do contribute to our sales.

Sometimes slow mail and and a disproportionally high % of lost in the mail to Italy aside, we have good experiences with these countries.

If something gets lost in the mail, we "sell" it to Canada Post; hence making 2 sales 🙂

Bernie

That is so true 🙂
you have a great day!!

[recped]

Seems as if, like ourselves, you sell model supplies, one of the lowest risk groups of merchandise.

Bernie

It's funny you know because while there are some categories which are nearly universally thought of as high risk there are many which some sellers claim are risky while other who sell the same thing find the opposite.

Leads me to believe that while half the problem may be the type of goods the other half of the "troubles" are because of the seller rather than the type of merchandise.

I also sell regularly to may of the so called hot spots of postal problems yet I don't have serious issues myself. I simply don't believe that my buyers are any "better" than the buyers other sellers deal with so it must be the way these buyers are delt with that creates many of the problems.

As for the CP/USPS discussion, while I use USPS almost exclusively I do so almost entirely due to pricing. In my experience Canada Post does a better job at getting the goods to the plane and in transit to foreign destinations. Beyond that point it's all up to the postal service in the destination country and I don't think US mail is treated any differently that Canadian mail.