topic Re: Feedback in Selling

Feedback

ajarnjenny — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 01:47:54 GMT

I have received a negative feedback from a buyer who bought my crochet pattern for $5.50 and she thought it was a crocheted garment.

I have clearly written in the item description. 'PLEASE NOTE; THIS IS A PATTERN ONLY, IT IS NOT THE FINISHED ITEMS. YOU WILL RECEIVE THE PATTERN PRINTED ON PAPER AS A LETTER .'

I had another of these a while ago and she refused to revise the feedback.

What else can I do if this one refuses.

Really.......................it would cost $8 postage if it were the actual hat and booties, not to mention the cost of the yarn.

Re: Feedback

springyzone — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 03:09:35 GMT

Your title and the text do clearly state it is for a pattern.

But the photo is misleading, in some respects (for the careless buyer).

I think you need to show the actual pattern in the photo-(maybe not so the words are clearly visible or anything, but the pattern nevertheless), along with the booties.

Perhaps also start the listing off with the word pattern at the start eg Pattern to crochet booties etc etc

I'm not convinced all buyers carefully read every word of a listing.

Your sentence is short, I know, but under it I would add, in capitals, something along the lines of. Please note: this is for the pattern only, the hat and booties are shown only to illustrate the finished pattern.

Re: Feedback

thecatspjs — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 04:19:47 GMT

Sorry OP, but I actually find the listing title, photo and description extemely unclear .... it could be easily interpreted as A pair of Baby Booties plus Hat Crochet Pattern

A buyer could easily think they are getting the booties photographed and a bonus of a hat crotchet pattern.

Your post costs for a piece of paper are very high IMO and could also contribute to buyer confusion.

I think utilsing buyers feedback to improve your listings is invaluable. When I started selling and got less than favourable feedback I used this to improve my listings and service going forward, and I think it has saved me loads of angst, made for much happier customers and contributed to my relative success in a number of quite competitve ebay markets.

Re: Feedback

ajarnjenny — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 08:05:40 GMT

Eh??????????????????

My postage is extremely high?

What can you post for under sixty cents? And it is not A piece of paper, it is three pieces of paper, which I have printed, using ink, which I have to replace frequently.

Re: Feedback

ajarnjenny — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 08:10:09 GMT

it could be easily interpreted as A pair of Baby Booties plus Hat Crochet Pattern

Well, if you couldn't read!

Nowhere have I said pair or plus.

Re: Feedback

phorum_junkie* — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 09:34:43 GMT

Listed in the category

That would imply it is clothing, not a pattern.

Little Flowers Baby Hat and Shoes. Crochet Pattern

It does not say crochet pattern for.....

Description: Baby hat and matching shoes includes sizes 3 to 6 and 6 to 12 months. No mention of the word pattern.

Item specifics: A brand-new, unused, and unworn item, how are you meant to wear a pattern?

You now have two negs and a neut for the same thing and I am sure you came here after the first neg and were told you were heading for more.

Re: Feedback

thecatspjs — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 09:57:31 GMT

Your description copied exactly for your most recent neutral.

Warm and cosy baby boots with matching hat crochet pattern. The boots have a hidden tie under the roll top to keep them on little feet.

And I can read thanks very much, but can you ?? I and most buyers would expect some warm and cosy baby boots....

AND a pattern for a matching hat.

Can't see in that listing anywhere that it says it is for pattern only.

Re: Feedback

ajarnjenny — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 10:27:01 GMT

Listed in category:

This is the category it was listed under,

It says Crochet Pattern. What would you think the word pattern is in there for? It does not say 'handmade crochet shoes and hat that I will make for you for $5 and only charge you 50 cents postage (even though it will cost me $8 to send them to you and $5 more dollars for the yarn).

And then some holier than thou person here will tell me my postage is excessive??? 50 cents????????????

Come on................really?

Is this a territorial forum where people who are on here day and night just snark at anyone who isn't one of the in crowd.

Re: Feedback

thecatspjs — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 10:33:56 GMT

I never, ever look at category - I have never needed to and I have purchased 1,000s of things off ebay - I rely on accurate descriptions and good photos.

I thought that the post cost I viewed on one listing was $4.00+ so not sure what happened there ??? I sincerely apologise.

I am quite sorry that I responded by being honest about what I thought. I think I have provided you with some very useful and good advice, but take it or leave it.

I won't assist you again. Best wishes.

Over and out.

Re: Feedback

phorum_junkie* — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 18:11:02 GMT

It may have been your other neg then but that categry selection was copied and pasted from one of your listings!

Re: Feedback

ratman0100 — Sat, 03 Aug 2013 00:41:39 GMT

All the replies here have been very respectfull. I read your listing as a male would and thought it was as the picture looked? Someone said to make the "PATERN ONLY" words stick out. Another said to show the paper or something like that. Both are not un-reasonable comments. You said anyone who can read can see what you have said. I agree with you 100% but I still missed it at first glance. One of the negs was from a person whose first language is NOT English. That is one thing for everyone to remember is that we are a multi-cultural country and things now have to be crystal clear. So please listen to some of the advise that people have offered here and you will have a nice little earner for you self.

Re: Feedback

digital*ghost — Sat, 03 Aug 2013 02:21:31 GMT

eBay will often remove a negative or neutral if the complaint is about information available in the listing. If you contact them, they will look at your listing and decide if it could have been in any way misleading to the buyer (intentionally or not) and make a decision based on that.

That being said, and as much as you might not want to hear it, the fact that you have received FB about the same issue more than once is telling you something. It doesn't necessarily mean you're doing something wrong or that it's all your fault, but could mean that buyers aren't always paying attention to everything, or aren't always understanding everything, and whether that is your fault or not is not the issue - the issue is that you can take measures to prevent it from happening again, which is the basis of the advice about wording of titles and including images of the pattern.

eBay load listings with advertising. When I look at yours, there are pictures of baby clothing, above your description and below, and in the listing you received the recent neut for, those images dominate the information you provided. To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if it was a little lost in all the other advertising and was missed altogether as it takes up about 1/8th of the page and the rest is pictures from other sellers, 3rd party advertising etc. I suggest providing a little more information about the item in the description section - make sure it's your item, and all the relevant information about it, the stuff that stands out.

Re: Feedback

peridot55555 — Sat, 03 Aug 2013 02:32:00 GMT

I agree with Ratman.

Ajarnjenny, please U have to revise your listing titles to read 'Pattern Only' before your other description in the titles - otherwise U will be getting more negative feedback. The danger with this is that eBay will act against U if U have too much negative feedback.

I looked at your listings & thought they were the articles themselves - 'crochet pattern' could be a style - not everyone thinks the same as you do - most people go by the photo & a lot do not read the description.

Also make the pattern only in the description in much bigger bold print or in a red colour in big print - maybe something like I make my headings on my descriptions, so that it is the 1st thing the buyers see when they do read the description.

Re: Feedback

*crikey*mate* — Sat, 03 Aug 2013 04:20:06 GMT

Jenny, regardless of whether you believe yourself to be in the right, the fact remains, that your listings do seem to be causing you some problems. You have asked what else you can do in your opening post, very experienced, unbiased sellers and buyers have given you their suggestions and opinions in this thread.

Why not take some of them on board and give them a go?

What you're doing is clearly not achieving the results that you desire, so wouldn't it be kinda wise to try something a bit different?

Not everybody reads and interprets anything in the same manner as you do, nor do they apply the same kind of logic to a situation.

What have you got to lose by following the suggestions that these very experienced and successful sellers have put forth?

The ones I personally like are

1) Start the listing title with "Pattern for........" even make it more fool proof by saying "Paper Pattern for"

2) The first line of your descriptive listing could have a bright coloured enlarged blurb saying something like "Please note, this auction is for a paper pattern featured in Picture number 3. The gallery photo and other pictures are provided as an indication of what the product may look like if you use the paper pattern and follow the instructions. The auction is not for the finished product.
3) Include the relevant picture of a paper pattern in your pictures.

4) List in the correct category if you are not already doing so.

Best of luck with it all.

One of the keys to an enjoyable selling experience on eBay is to make your listings fool proof.

Re: Feedback

ajarnjenny — Sat, 03 Aug 2013 06:55:38 GMT

Thank you for your reply and the others above who were answering my question and not just wanna be eBay police.

And to the person who reported my listings to eBay, you will be very disappointed to know that I did not get a strike.

How pathetic are you!

This forum is hostile to anyone who is not in the in group of about twenty people who post on here constantly and I am not surprised that these forums are now dead. I used to sell on here about six years ago and the forums were dynamic and a great place to be, but it seems they are now just for the very few who use them and attack like a pack anyone new with a question.

But thank you to the people who did give me good advice.