Well Folks this might as well be goodbye

[cottonwoodindustries]

After much debate and thought, and looking at my DSR in the area of Shipping and handling, I QUIT! I can not take it anymore.
I changed the write up on my Store to reflect how I feel about all the changes happening on eBay, and how my buyers treat me. My sales are way down! Dissatisfaction is way UP! And my stress level is unbearable.
My costs have skyrocketed.
I have tried everything, thank you cards, emails to the buyer to say when they will receive their goods, letters telling about the rating systems, low shipping, etc. Nothing is helping, I have even asked for feedback on how I could make their buying experience better. NO FEEDBACK - but crappy DSR ratings. I can't even meet MY OWN PREVIOUS rating without being in the RED on all of them.
It is making me physically SICK, I dread looking at my ebay, or my feedback because of what I might find.
I found a great place I am going to give a try, I have to promote myself

[faerywishes]

Thank you for explaining that to me. I forgot that we see the 12 month. I have been a seller since Dec 07 and sometimes I feel like my head is going to explode. Especially when they make the changes they have and they don't make sense. I used to love coming into Ebay and buy things. When I started selling it was very exciting. And now some days I just dread coming into here and see my stats. I have never gotten a PS discount because of my shipping time, even though I ship within 24-48 hours and provide all the necessary info. Tea summed it up best what I was trying to get across. Without Ebay changing the wording and giving proper explanation for providing correct f/b & dsr's many of us will suffer. And before some one says it's up to us to educate the buyers, I do, at every opportunity. I now send every auto preference to include the shipping time. I had a high school kid coming every day after school a few months ago to pick up all my packages and go the post office and mail them. His mom showed up at my home about 2 weeks after he started with bags full of my mail. He had stashed the mail in his car trunk and kept the money, treating himself and friends. I spent the entire night until about 9 am the next morning emailing all of the buyers and paying for expidited shipping so they would receive their packages about the same time as they would have when they were to be shipped Letter Mail. Not one person gave me a neut or a neg, but they hit me so hard on my shipping time. This month my shipping time dsr was 4.3 and I have done everything including standing on my head to get it to 4.55. A couple of days ago it went to the 4.55 and I yelled to my hubby and daughter "see all that hard work is paying off". They looked at each other dumb founded and really didn't know what to say. I burst out laughing and told them I was being sarcastic. They were so relieved as they thought I had truly lost it. LOL. This not only effects us but our family & friends as well. I am trying to wait out this storm and see if things get corrected. I haven't gone through near what most of you have in here and I truly feel for all of you. I am trying to focus on giving my buyers an excellent shopping experience and not focus on the Ebay stats. I gave up looking at best match for my listings as it made me sick to my stomach to always see my listings on the last 2 pages when I was used to be near the 1st page. On the other side I didn't list near as many items in June and my traffic went up about 25%. My auctions went for pretty much the same as the previous month. Thank God for my loyal buyers. I wish Ebay would see some of the errors they have made by these decisions sooner than later. Before the last one shuts off the light. You aren't the only one I have heard that this is effecting their health so much. You are making the right decision though, when it effects your health like it has yours it's time to go. Also, I used to get 2-3 NPI a month, now I get 2-3 a week. All from newbies. OK, I guess I have ranted enough. I am very sorry to see another seller go to the other side; however, I hope that you will be super successful. And the great thing is, is that you'll be learning lots and you're doing it your way. Best of luck cottonwoodindustries!!!

[cottonwoodindustries]

Hi, just to let you know, I have NOW QUALIFIED for NO DISCOUNT, first time since this MESS started.

I joined POWERSELLERSUNITE, and found an alternative site to get a new store started or maybe several, while I slowly close this store down. My store will be closed at the end of the year.

I have a brighter outlook on things, NOW. NO MORE DSR!! NO MORE ABUSIVE BUYERS!! All my loyal customers are only to happy to follow, all have expressed an interest on where I am going and to keep them informed.

I must say thanks to eBAY for giving me the much needed push or kick in the pants. It got me off the couch, researching and looking for something NEW and EXCITING. Making me the Captain of MY Ship and not theirs.

THANK YOU EBAY, couldn't have done without you!!! :^O

[lina-mallows]

tea_past_times- "It is a total farce that shipping and handling costs are a DSR score WHEN the shipping and handling is stated clearly before the person bids. There is nothing to rate. The costs were stated before the person bid."

I STRONGLY disagree with this statement.
There are PLENTY of issues regarding the "SHIPPING & HANDLING" component that need to be addressed, and were not formerly dealt with in earlier situations.

IF I pay for XPRESSPOST- and the seller sends it by AIRMAIL- that's a reason for a reduced DSR- AND a NEG!

If I pay, having been led to believe the item will be sent in a BOX for protection- and the item arrives tossed into a bubble pack mailer- you can be absolutely certain this will reduce a DSR. Please don't inform me that I should be happy that my item safely- when the RISK to that very item was your doing. And, had the item be damaged I would be responsible for the cost of returning it- and why should I lose money because of your stupidity? (i.e. TWO Royal Doulton bowls- sent with a piece of paper in between- dropped into a bubble pack- sent from the UK !!!)
TO BE FAIR- you (tea_past_times) as an honest seller refund the postage for the item's return. MANY SELLERS DO NOT! Nor does eBay/PayPal obligate them to do so- so covering one's backside is a must.

If you state unequivocally that you charge ACTUAL POSTAGE- WITH NO SHIPPING & HANDLING FEES- and I send you whatever amount you ask- I will not be happy when I pay $5- and the item arrives with a $1.15 stamp in the corner. WE AGREED- your terms are part of the contract- and I will hold you to them (not pennies- but two or three times the ACTUAL OST- and don't think that preprinting a USPS/CANADA POST PREPAID form will disguise your cheating). Far too many sellers are getting away with far too many things- and the DSR rating is a way to get back at sellers who formally had GLOWING perfect ratings- yet SUCKED- when it came to shipping time,charges, or packaging!!!
The OLD feedback system DID NOT WORK- and the NEW system HAS PROBLEMS- however, that said- I have never been one to shy away form leaving a NEGATIVE FEEDBACK- and I only wish that right was given back to sellers.
We have only NEGGED a BUYER once- and that was for purchasing a VIA RAIL Gift Certificate, with an extremely short window for usage. We restricted the sale to METRO TORONTO ONLY- and offered Pick-Up, and delivery. Ironically, the person who purchased it lives about TWO streets from our home!!! And when they purchased the item, they had no clue how close they were. (within very short walking distance).
Even with the VERY close proximity- THEY NEVER PAID- we filed the dispute, and won, but the time frame would not permit a relisting- and we wrote off $100 VOUCHER- this was not a COMP, or a FREE VOUCHER- but a CASH credit, for a previously paid for service. Yes- it was fully transferable- as verified by VIA RAIL, and we did everything we could being minutes away from the buyer to get it to them. They reneged- and got NEGGED! A first- and with the NEW system, the last time we were able to do this.

Now- as an aside- eBay's NEW rules prohibit leaving NEGATIVE comments- while rating an individual as a POSITIVE. Does anyone have a take on HOW NEGATIVE A follow up can be, to the another's feedback.
IE- THEY LEAVE THE POSITIVE- you trash them in the FOLLOW UP?
Is this permitted?

According to eBay:
"In May, sellers will no longer be able to leave negative or neutral Feedback for buyers."

FURTHER:
Feedback comments containing any of the following are not permitted:
Negative statements that conflict with a positive rating
AND
The comment, reply or follow-up references a completely separate transaction or unrelated experience

HOWEVER- there appears to be nothing in the above that prevents NEGATIVE statements left in the FOLLOW UP, as long as they refer to that specific transaction. The POSITIVE rating is left by the individual posting the feedback, and appears to have impact on the follow up.

If it did- what would the purpose of the follow-up be, if it could ONLY reinforce the nature of the ORIGINAL FEEDBACK?

[lina-mallows]

According to eBay POLICY:

"Responding to Feedback and Adding Follow-up Comments
Occasionally, you may want to respond to Feedback another member has left for you, or leave a follow-up comment to Feedback you left for another member.

Remember that any response you make is permanent, so make only fair and factual responses.

To respond to Feedback another member left for you:
Go to the Reply to Feedback Received page. You may be asked to sign in.
Choose the comment you want to respond to, and click the "Reply" link. Enter your response in the box, and click the Leave Reply button.
To leave a follow-up comment to Feedback you left for another member:
Go to the Follow up to Feedback Left for Others page. You may be asked to sign in.
Choose the comment you want to follow-up on, and click the "Follow up" link. Enter your follow-up comment in the box, and click the Leave Follow-up Comment button.
While leaving Feedback is voluntary, eBay encourages all members to leave Feedback after each transaction is complete."

NOTHING !!!! here, in the above policy, says that a FOLLOW UP COMMENT cannot be NEGATIVE.

[faerywishes]

I agree that the examples you gave the seller should receive lower dsr scores. However, I believe Tea and I were talking about was when the info is on the listing and we provide what we state, we should NOT receive lower dsr's because the buyer agreed to the contract. I have had US buyers give me lower shipping time dsr's because they felt I should have their package to them in 5 days. Even though my listings state 2-3 weeks. And they receive in 10 days. This normally happens with newbies. The strange thing is I'm finding my International buyers are receiving their packages in about 5-7 days, quicker than most US packages.

[lina-mallows]

faerywishes- I understand your concern with the belief that when you have done everything you have promised- AND THEN SOME- the end result is sometimes less than expected.

eBay, and the BUYER, are the BIG problem- not you.
eBay ill defined the meaning of the DSR system- and the buyer is likely more bewildered understanding why a SATISFACTORY to EXCELLENT rating has so much impact on the well being of the buyer.

As crass, and tacky as this sound- GET OVER IT!

It's ONLY ffedback, and DSR- they have little or no meaning. And just because eBay has made them such a focus of attention, people are going crazy trying to change things that are likley far beyond anyone's control.

eBay says "OFFER FREE SHIPPING" and RAISE your DSR !!!
WHERE IS THE STATISTICAL/EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE THIS WORKS ??????
There is none !!!!

You can offer ALL the FREE shipping you want, and sit and watch your DSR's go down the toilet.

You see...if you don't care.....it doesn't matter.

We know, you know, and everyone else here knows what it is like to have the customer from HELL. What can we do about it? Nothing.

We can rant all we want how unfair it is, especially when those of us care to spell everything out so clearly. The customer should be thrilled how detailed our descriptions are. And how accurate our shipping rates are- even if we perceive that we are, or really are, losing money doing so.


In the end- we get not what we sow, but whatever the buyer feels like throwing our way. Sometimes it's filet mignon, sometimes it's swill.
What options are we given. Even with swill, we are obligated to respond, if we choose, with a polite, and not to sarcastic, "Why thank you kind buyer for gracing us with your offering of a FB, and DSR rating."
Anything more, or less, and we face having our response nullified. (FB left for a buyer removed by eBay when overtly NEGATIVE)

Happiness is accepting that which we cannot change.
Once you realize this. And, maybe have a TOAST or TWO or THREE to CANADA DAY- you'll get over it! And maybe have good time to boot!

[cottonwoodindustries]

Happy Canada Day: we here is the good old province of British Columbia have now been blessed with the new carbon tax of 2.5¢ extra tax on our gas $1.50/l. I used to come home at lunch to check on any new orders and send them out, not anymore. Hope you all had a great day!!!

[tea_past_times]

If I pay, having been led to believe the item will be sent in a BOX for protection- and the item arrives tossed into a bubble pack mailer- you can be absolutely certain this will reduce a DSR. -Not a DSR, dsr's are for cost of shipping and speed of shipping.

And, had the item be damaged I would be responsible for the cost of returning it- and why should I lose money because of your stupidity?
- Not a DSR.

You just may be a DSR abuser, taking any and all of your frustrations out on the seller's DSR score. Feedback is where those issues are addressed. You are supposed to be rating on cost and time of shipping, not every issue available. Do you ding DSR's if you don't like the colour of the shipping label too? Or if they spell one letter of your name wrong?

You are a good example of why DSR's ultimately won't work. The system ask you to rate within certain specific criteria, and you and the rest of the buying public don't seem to know what that criteria is.

I AM an honest seller, I do take returns, I refund postage costs, I charge reasonable shipping and handling(better than even some US sellers) My DSR's are above the Ebay average in every category, and yet I get no discount and I receive Standard placement. ABOVE AVERAGE here, no rewards. Stupid system, you have highlighted why it does not work. No hard feelings. - PHIL

[tea_past_times]

And Also, MIRIAM, you can pass along this to whoever: I've shut my dashboard off. It no longer appears in my Ebay Selling Manager and I won't ever click the Seller Dashboard Link again. I don't care if the lights in it turn Grey, Pink, Yellow, Blue or Aquamarine. I'm also not going to open my feedback profile, or look at my stars again. I really don't care anymore. Not a bit. I will look at only one number at the end of each month. SALES. If I can sell on your company site and make enough money to make it worth my while, I will continue, if the sales are not there, then I am completely outta here(with the portion of my business I have not already taken elsewhere in January.)

I urge one and all to make the same decision. Shut the stupid Dashboard thingey off, ignore the stars and make a business decision solely on sales.

It's my business, and you can take your DSR's and, well you know the Johnny Paycheck song don't you??

[tea_past_times]

I guess I'm one of those 99.8 % sellers, with glowing feedback, the site is trying to get rid of, to improve the buyer experience. Well, you are close to succeeding. Very Close.

[tea_past_times]

Ebay's formula for success??? 2008

Seller DSR's = Less Site Exposure = Fewer Sales at Lower Prices = Fewer Sellers = Fewer Listings = Fewer Commissions Paid = Lower Stock Price = Fewer Shareholders = Even Lower Stock Price = Even Fewer Shareholders = Massive Sell Off = Penny Stock Status = Closed.

Very Intelligent and Inspired Business Model. Guess they all feel like trying something new.

[tea_past_times]

Congratulations on achieving the first 15% of your goal, as Ebay Stock is currently worth only 85% of what it was worth on this day one year ago. At this pace, you can wrap it all up in another 5-6 years.

[lina-mallows]

tea_past_times- PLEASE read the following:

These are the criteria that eBay provides the buyer when attempting to leave a LOW DSR for:
HOW REASONABLE WERE THE SHIPPING AND HANDLING CHARGE?
Why weren't you satisfied with the shipping and handling charges?
Did the seller
Charge more than the shipping cost stated in the listing
Charge more than the actual costs for mailing, packaging and handling
Ship the item with a less expensive service than you paid for
Combine multiple items into one box but charge for shipping each item individually
Other


I WROTE: "If I pay, having been led to believe the item will be sent in a BOX for protection- and the item arrives tossed into a bubble pack mailer- you can be absolutely certain this will reduce a DSR."
YOU REPLIED: " -Not a DSR, dsr's are for cost of shipping and speed of shipping."
I DISAGREE- My comment is that I PAID for a box- and eBay says "Charge more than the actual costs for mailing, packaging and handling". If an envelope costs less than a BOX- this is a DSR issue.

And, had the item be damaged I would be responsible for the cost of returning it- and why should I lose money because of your stupidity?
YOU WROTE: "- Not a DSR."
Again, I disagree.- HANDLING is part, and parcel, the packaging of the item safely for its journey to me. If you fail, I have agreed to pay you a REASONABLE charge for HANDLING my item- AND YOU have failed to provide that service. So- drop my item in an envelope with no protection- and charge me $5- THAT'S A DSR ISSUE!

YOU WRITE: "You just may be a DSR abuser, taking any and all of your frustrations out on the seller's DSR score. Feedback is where those issues are addressed. You are supposed to be rating on cost and time of shipping, not every issue available. Do you ding DSR's if you don't like the colour of the shipping label too? Or if they spell one letter of your name wrong?"

I cannot agree with any assertion that this is DSR ABUSE. eBay doesn't recognize it the problem, and this whole DSR thing is purely a subjective bunch of nonsense. IF SHIPPING IS FREE, HOW CAN eBAY ALLOW IT TO BE CONSIDERED "RATABLE" ??????

YOU WRITE: "You are a good example of why DSR's ultimately won't work. The system ask you to rate within certain specific criteria, and you and the rest of the buying public don't seem to know what that criteria is."

AS A BUYER- and yes, I consider myself a buyer first- I will not be lectured to about how, or why I leave any specific feedback. This is where SELLERS have NO CONTROL! And that is how eBay has made it- like it or not- the BUYER is in control here. Far too many sellers are just beginning to come to the realization that no matter what you do (as a seller)- the BUYER will do as they please!!!

tea_past_times YOU WROTE: "I AM an honest seller, I do take returns, I refund postage costs, I charge reasonable shipping and handling(better than even some US sellers) My DSR's are above the Ebay average in every category, and yet I get no discount and I receive Standard placement. ABOVE AVERAGE here, no rewards. Stupid system, you have highlighted why it does not work. No hard feelings. - PHIL"

I have praised your integrity as an honest seller. You do the right thing, and then some, because it is the right thing to do. eBay/PayPal do not provide for the RETURN POSTAGE- you do, and that is wonderful!
Many sellers do not provide for return postage.
SO- when I ask as seller if ALL THREE items are STERLING, and made by BIRKS- and you (as a seller) CONFIRM that they are- as per the description, and prior to the auction's close THREE PIECES BIRKS STERLING- THAT'S WHAT I EXPECT TO BE DELIVERED. So, when TWO items- are STERLING- and the other is NOT STERLING (plate), nor made by BIRKS (UNMARKED- UNKOWN maker)- I am going to be upset. I file the necessary complaints- and am told- RETURN the items to the BUYER, for a FULL REFUND. Well, that's nice, but the cost to return them is C$25+. SO, If you think I am expected to LOSE C$25+ to recover my $75+ purchase price, AND- you think I am not going to take it out on you- you would be sadly mistaken! Yes- though you may consider it abuse- If I am going to lose money- real money- then the consequence of the seller's actions are going to be reflected in their NEGATIVE feedback, and ONE ONE ONE ONE DSR. Though purely conjecture, I am pretty certain this is how most LARGE buyers feel, when everything is correctly confirmed PRIOR to an auction's close, and things ARE NOT the way they should be when the items are delivered. Call it abuse- call it whatever- but understand that THIS IS THE NEW REALITY. For better or worse, until it changes.

HOWEVER, at the end of the day, there are those things over which you have no control. We all, as sellers, are faced with the NEW SHIFT OF POWER to the BUYER. Accepting that, and to keep on doing the right thing, is the way to go.

[cottonwoodindustries]

Well folks, i think i will take teas advice and turn off my dashboard as well, I just sold 4 items and got 5 stars in all areas and my shipping and handling just hit an all time low of 4.29, shhhsh!! I guess zero here we come. :_|