eBay

craftycatsattic · ‎01-13-2009

For the first time since the DSR's were introduced, I have awoken to find perfect 5's all across the board. Since I know this will be short lived, I have saved a screen shot to remind me:

momoftwingles2 · ‎01-13-2009

WAY TO GO!

THINK POSITIVE AND YOU'LL SEE THE SAME AGAIN!

Susan
momoftwingles2

mmarway · ‎01-13-2009

Good For you!!!!!!

faerywishes · ‎01-13-2009

That is amazing!! Way to go!

coxengines · ‎01-13-2009

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !!!

Bernie

duujogl · ‎01-13-2009

Well done!!!!!

recped · ‎01-13-2009

Hey crafy are those really 5.00 or are they 4.96 rounded up?

Either way it pretty amazing. With over 100 30 day ratings getting strait 5's is unbelievable (but I do believe you).

"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915
- answering Trolls is voluntary, my policy is not to participate.

ricarmic · ‎01-13-2009

WOW!

craftycatsattic · ‎01-13-2009

Hey crafy are those really 5.00 or are they 4.96 rounded up?

Either way it pretty amazing. With over 100 30 day ratings getting strait 5's is unbelievable (but I do believe you).

I honestly don't know recped. The only more precise figures I can find are the yearly ones. Is there another place I should be looking for more precise monthly figures? I am actually quite surprised because mail is slow at Christmas and there are a lot more newbie buyers. I had 327 feedbacks left in the last month and started off with 5.0 4.9 4.9 & 4.9 which was already an improvement over the month before. Then my communication went to 5.0, shipping time followed shortly after and now S & H charges.

What I've been doing different are actually 3 things:

1) Thank you note: I've always included it but tweaked it using the tips given on these boards. The key to the thank you note (I think) is to keep it upbeat and to not turn-off the buyer's by pointing out problems that don't really concern them....all the while keeping it short and to the point. So I tell them that their business is greatly valued and appreciated and point out all the extra special things I do in each of the 4 rating categories to merit their 5 stars and kindly ask them to give me a chance to merit them should they feel I fell short.

2) Sticky note: This is actually an address label that I put right next to the shipping charges. It says:

WANT TO KNOW
HOW SHIPPING IS CALCULATED?

Extra shipping costs include a portion of taxes and other expenses directly related to shipping your package. Please see my “About Me” page for complete details.

Even if the buyer doesn't look into the the details on my about me page, I think it draws their attention to looking at the amount on the postal label vs the amount on the invoice. If they do that then they will see that I am very reasonable and will likely remember that even if leaving feedback a few days or weeks down the line.

3) Leaving positive feedback first: Well I've bounced around a lot on this one in 3 years. The first year I sold, I started off leaving it first but then I found it was taking me forever to leave it and many buyers were not reciprocating. Then I saw some really bad examples of unfair feedback left for some of my competitors and decided I was going to leave it only after receiving it. I continued doing so until last month. Now I leave it first.

Anyhow, I am really pleased with what I think are results from the above changes. I am a realist though and know that you cannot please all of the people all of the time. There are still situations that will arise that are beyond my control but I think I'm doing all I can and know that's all I can do.

I do hope this is helpful and encouraging to those who have been struggling with feedback.

Happy New Year!

faerywishes · ‎01-14-2009

Hiya Crafty and Congratulations again!

I just read your last thread and as a buyer I am more likely to leave a higher DSR if the seller has left their feedback first.

I also like that I can have it automatically done for me when my buyer pays. One less thing for me to take care of.

It doesn't matter to me at all if a buyer leaves feed back or not and I don't send out reminders anymore. My thinking was that if they didn't leave it when they got it and the info was fresh in their mind, I certainly didn't want to remind them 4 weeks later when they probably wouldn't remember a lot about the transaction. They might leave lower DSR's because they don't remember much.

Anyways again I'm really happy for you as I know awhile back the DSR's were frustrating for you.

Have a Good Week! 😉
Colleen

eureka9988 · ‎01-14-2009

WELL DONE! I would love to see a page like that.
Renee

craftycatsattic · ‎01-14-2009

Hi Colleen. Thank you (and everyone else) for the encouragement. Today my last 5.0 dropped back to 4.9 so I'm really glad I did a screen shot because I knew it was short lived! Off topic, I'm sure you're happy about Canada Post dropping their plans for irregular oversized mail.

It doesn't matter to me at all if a buyer leaves feed back or not and I don't send out reminders anymore. My thinking was that if they didn't leave it when they got it and the info was fresh in their mind, I certainly didn't want to remind them 4 weeks later when they probably wouldn't remember a lot about the transaction. They might leave lower DSR's because they don't remember much.

That's a very good point Colleen!

Personally, I have never sent out feedback reminders to my buyers. I don't even know why selling manager has a template for it (ok I guess maybe some people use it) but the existence of that template kind of suggests to sellers that it's a good idea to send out those reminders and I really don't think it is. It's ok to follow-up with the buyer and make sure everything was ok but to ask for feedback...ummmmmm I find it's pushy. I really hate when sellers send me those. The last lady that did, sent me 3 in 2 weeks and I didn't even have the item when she sent the first one! You should have seen how she worded it too...very pushy! When I finally did have the time to leave her feedback I really didn't feel inclined to leave a perfect 5 for communication.

Recped has said it many many times over: The buyer's don't want to hear about our problems as sellers. They just want to have a nice easy going transaction.

The only thing I really dislike about leaving feedback early though is that it's harder to be more personal about it. I try not to leave generic feedback and like to be more personal by picking comments that truly describe the buyer and sometimes you don't know your buyer until the transcation has ended and they have emailed to tell you how pleased they were etc. But...I guess generic feedback is faster to leave freeing up more time for listing! Anyhow, I have found that the buyers are leaving feedback for me now faster than ever and I do think it's a plus in their eyes when we do leave it before they do.

Have a good one!