topic Re: DSR's - What A Load Of Garbage in Selling

DSR's - What A Load Of Garbage

arb_games — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 05:33:16 GMT

Once again I must vent about this absolutely stupid system of DSR's on Ebay that sellers cannot even defend themselves against.

I applied to increase my selling limits but have been knocked back by Ebay as my DSRs are apparently below standard, yet all 4 counts are well within the standard required.

Postage time DSRs - sellers are getting penalised for Australia Post inadequacy - these should be based on when an item is sent, not delivered!

Communication - I answer all messages politely and on the same day, yet I am getting some low DSRs - I think that buyers just mark everything low if they feel like it.

Postage costs - all my parcels are marked Postage Paid so any low DSRs I receive here are based on assumption and not on fact. I do not overcharge on postage & handling costs and certainly don't make any profit on them, so really, what do buyers expect? Free postage?

Item As Described - this is a no brainer, I describe all my items exactly as they are so how do I receive low DSRs here? The only explanation I have is that buyers do not read the system requirements in the software descriptions and simply blame me if any software purchased is not compatible with their computer, even if it is due to them not reading the system requirements properly.

Add this to the absolutely unprofessional and disgusting practice of Ebay inserting sponsored ads at the bottom of each listing that is in direct competition to what you are selling, links to external sites yet sellers are not allowed to put a link to their own website on their listing.

Really Ebay, sellers are not the scumbags that you make them out to be, not all buyers are angels as Ebay seem to think they are and the entire Ebay system needs to be overhauled by some person who actually knows what they are doing!

Well that's it, I've vented my frustrations for another month!

Re: DSR's - What A Load Of Garbage

xxstuckonstickersxx — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 07:34:02 GMT

lol, I wouldn't be surprised if someone removes this thread

Re: DSR's - What A Load Of Garbage

arb_games — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 08:28:47 GMT

Yeah Ebay doesn't like to be criticised, they are perfect after all, apparently only sellers do everything wrong. lol

Re: DSR's - What A Load Of Garbage

phorum_junkie* — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 09:47:16 GMT

There is a difference between venting your spleen now and then and perpetualy complaining about every aspect of ebay presumably hoping that enough people will look at your items that you may sell a couple more.

Does it ever occur to you that as buyers read these boards too constantly moaning about ebay may just drive them away from the site all together?

Re: DSR's - What A Load Of Garbage

arb_games — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 09:48:50 GMT

Yeah right, I posted this just to increase my sales - give me a break!

Re: DSR's - What A Load Of Garbage

arb_games — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 09:56:26 GMT

Furthermore, I presume that most buyers know how the system works, it's just that a lot of newbies don't understand the system due to lack of education being delivered to them.

And I speak from experience regarding software problems, I have had a number of customers who purchased software with the presumption / hope that it will work on everything, and when it hasn't, I've been accused of selling faulty software, when in fact, upon testing on a computer with the correct system requirements (as listed in the item description), it has been fine. For instance, item states Windows 98/ME/XP but they try it on Windows 7 and it doesn't work, it is presumed that the software is faulty, when it is just not compatible.

Re: DSR's - What A Load Of Garbage

sparkes9669 — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:26:57 GMT

Interesting that you are critical of buyers that buy believing that the software will be fit for purpose.

If buyers are assuming that computer software will run on a computer how silly they must be!

I looked at one of your listings for software and specificaly looked to see what system it would run on and it was not listed in the ad anywhere that I could see.

I then looked at your feedback. You are getting similar coments this month that you were getting 12 months ago. Based on that I wouldn't buy from you.

Possibly the lack of communication would be you as the seller not being specific about what the system requirements are for the software. You as the seller could provide the information in two ways :

1. Proved information in the listing about minimum system requirements for the software at the start of the description.

2. Message the buyer and ask them what type of PC they own. Particularly useful if you can provide software for different types of systems

Also in your listing you provide contact details and options for payment and it almost seems as though you would prefer that buyers contact you directly so that the sale could occur outside of ebay's system.

Hmmm I'm sure there are rules about that......

I do think that your comment of sponsered links at the bottom of your page is valid. Ebay should do more to help Ebay sellers get the sale from Ebay buyers that are looking to buy and not derect them to outside sites.

Re: DSR's - What A Load Of Garbage

arb_games — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:07:13 GMT

Perhaps you can tell me which software listing does not have any system requirements because I would fix it. But I am 100% sure that all my software listings have the system requirements, in bright red just below the details of what the game is about.

All my software listings show the picture, then the details of the software in blue and the system requirements in red. I am unsure why you cannot see the system requirements.

As far as your comments go basically accusing me of wanting to complete transactions outside of Ebay, what a load of garbage! Nowhere do I state, nor do I actually do it, complete Ebay sales outside of Ebay. I really don't know how you get that idea - I ask all customers to contact me via the Ebay system and I give my Paypal email address - what is the problem with that.

I already contact buyers when they claim that their software is faulty etc asking them about what operating system or what type of computer they are trying to run the software on as I always try to work with my customers to solve the problems and if nothing else works, I ask them to return the software for testing and if it is faulty, I replace it. But if it doesn't work because they haven't read the system requirements, then it is their responsibility and I return the software to them.

I only operate within Ebay guidelines and retail law guidelines so I do not appreciate being accused of trying to complete Ebay sales outside of Ebay, when in 12 years, I have never acted in that manner.

Re: DSR's - What A Load Of Garbage

Anonymous — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 01:38:06 GMT

Whether you wish to defend or criticise the DSR system it has most certainly bred a new style of buyer.

The Silent Assassin who can leave a glowing positive and trash your DSR's. It's easy enough to determine who these individuals are but the damage will have already been done.

One can only hope that this pattern among certain buyers can

be identified and remedial action taken by ebay.

It is very easy to place blocks ( not suggestions but actual blocks ) to low DSR's dependent on a requirement that the buyer must have communicated with the seller prior. Unfortunately ebay does not wish to make the process appear arduous for the buyer.

The Silent Assassin currently rules.

Re: DSR's - What A Load Of Garbage

koalablue12 — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 02:17:51 GMT

Good on you sparkes....don't often see apologies on these boards. 😄

Re: DSR's - What A Load Of Garbage

patchoo78 — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 02:24:04 GMT

I simply stated that it seems as though you would prefer that buyers contact you directly so that the sale could occur outside of EBay's system. I am clearly mistaken in this assumption.

Just my opinion, but that comment does look like a thinly veiled accusation..

If you were to buy a game in a store at Harvey Norman etc and didn't read the system requirements, well bad luck they wouldn't give you a refund as they only refund if the software is faulty. This is why they often have signs prompting the customer to read the system requirements before buying.

I don't see how sellers on eBay could be expected to give one if the buyer didn't read the system requirements..

I would hate to be a seller on here and have to refund for buyers who don't read listings properly..

Re: DSR's - What A Load Of Garbage

***super_nova*** — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 03:18:07 GMT

The DSR is anonymous so the buyer can indicate their dissatisfaction without confrontation with the seller. I do not believe that there are many buyers who do deliberately and without any reason mark sellers down.

The whole point of DSR is that seller can pinpoint which area they should consider to do some improvement.

While it is true that many buyers do not read the description properly, it is also true that many sellers have TOS & description going on and on in various eye hurting colours, and with flashing stars and who knows what sort of rubbish. It is not surprising that the important info gets lost in there somewhere, especially when people are increasingly searching eBay from their phones.

Re: DSR's - What A Load Of Garbage

Anonymous — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 03:39:10 GMT

Nova ?

The DSR is anonymous ....

The whole point of DSR is that seller can pinpoint which area they should consider to do some improvement.

Ebay specifical bans sellers from finding out which buyer left what DSR's. The TRS threshhold is around 0.60% which is 6 in 1,000

This can be 6 individual buyers OR 1 'unpleasable' leaving 6 low sets of stars. So...1 in 1,000 buyers can ruin a seller's standing in BM search results.

Re: DSR's - What A Load Of Garbage

lind9650 — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 03:55:49 GMT

The whole point of DSR is that seller can pinpoint which area they should consider to do some improvement.

My DSR are fine, except for the postage and handling charges. They are marked down.

I pack everyting very carefully and send items in boxes. I don't have big TOS in my descriptions, only state that if I over-estimate postage by $2.00 or more, I will refund the money. If I underestimate postage, I will pay the difference.

Several times I gave refunds, but most of the time I pay more on postage than what I quoted.

So, how can I improve in this area?

Erica :-x

Re: DSR's - What A Load Of Garbage

***super_nova*** — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 04:29:15 GMT

This can be 6 individual buyers OR 1 'unpleasable' leaving 6 low sets of stars. So...1 in 1,000 buyers can ruin a seller's standing in BM search results.

I am not sure if 6 low ratings from the same person within the same week counts 6 x??? I am sure there are some twisted individuals who enjoy leaving 1 star for no reason, but I am also sure that most people rate as they feel is deserved. It may mean that some newbies are more likely to rate 4 rather than 5. But the occasional 4 is not a problem, the problem is if you get some 2 or 1.

People will rate down postage stars not just if they are charged lot more than the actual postage, they will also rate down if items are posted not appropriately protected, even if they miraculously arrive in one piece. I found that buyers do not mind paying the cost of safe delivery.

Re: DSR's - What A Load Of Garbage

Anonymous — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 05:04:56 GMT

Star...

a seller who doesn't have listings of multiples can very easily

find out exactly who left what DSR's.

If I notice a new 1 or 2 DSR with no prior comms then I locate the individual and add to the BBL.

If one buyer purchases 6 items in the same week and leaves

6 low stars they are recorded as 6 low stars ( unlike negative feedbacks ).

My main complaint is the rationale for ebay's introduction of
this TRS evaluation system.

In ebay's opinion a low DSR more accurately reflects the true buyer experience than a high DSR.

Now, a seller who has thoroughly delighted 1000 buyers can have his / her TRS badge removed and become invisible in search results through the actions of as little as ONE person who could easily be a friend of their competition.

Re: DSR's - What A Load Of Garbage

Anonymous — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 05:08:09 GMT

super_nova
Apology for addressing you as Star.

It wasn't a play on words or it would have been 'ex-star'.

Re: DSR's - What A Load Of Garbage

arb_games — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 06:02:03 GMT

Thanks Patchoo for your comments - I am glad that I am not the only person who read the initial comments as an accusation of completing sales outside of Ebay.

As I stated, with my software listings, I put the item description in blue text and the system requirements in red text so that it stands out.

And then in the first paragraph of the conditions of sale, I clearly state to customers that it is their responsibility to check the system requirements to see if it will work on their computer.

As you can see, I am not sure what else I am supposed to do to keep my customers informed.

The reason I had my phone number on my listings is that a lot of customers do not like sending their credit card info via the Ebay system and prefer to call me direct with the credit card details, but I am currently changing the conditions of sale to not include this as I haven't been getting any credit card payments anyway.

It is good to see that there are others who agree with me on my point about DSRs - I am not blaming the customers, just blaming the system for its absolute imperfection.

Thanks guys for all your comments and I hope I haven't upset anyone as it was not meant to have that reaction.

Re: DSR's - What A Load Of Garbage

patchoo78 — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 09:41:27 GMT

And then in the first paragraph of the conditions of sale, I clearly state to customers that it is their responsibility to check the system requirements to see if it will work on their computer.

That is exactly what they tell you at Harvey Norman.. It is up to the buyer to make sure it will work on their machine.. The staff cannot possibly know if it will work on a customers machine.. Still they have customers coming in and yelling at them for not knowing that...

Re: DSR's - What A Load Of Garbage

i-b-a-mad-loco — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 10:34:28 GMT

I don't understand why you want to increase your seller limits when you have had that account active for about 10 years??