DSR's - What A Load Of Garbage

[arb_games]

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!

[the3coopers]

The postage rating should have two components to it.

1.time taken to recieve item.

2.postage charges.

Well luckily, the system already does have EXACTLY that...

[patchoo78]

I thought the postage time component was based on how long the seller took to post the package, not how long it took to be delivered.

I always give 5 stars across the board anyway, I know what the postage charge is before I bid, if I didn't like it I wouldn't bid..

[sparkes9669]

thats supoosed to be the postage time should have two components time taken to post and time taken to recieve.

um........yeah?:|

[sparkes9669]

yes patchoo but buyers tend to consider how long it took to get the item. this is why the system needs to have two elements in that rating. it may make it fairer to sellers that do dispatch quickly

And your comment on 5 stars across the board is why I take little notice of the DSR's of a seller.

The postage cost rating is a tricky one as in most cases you do know the cost. It only upsets me as a buyer when I have paid for registered mail express etc only to find the seller to a fair cheaper option than I paid for.

[rumplebear1951]

thats supoosed to be the postage time should have two components time taken to post and time taken to recieve.

um........yeah?:|

I am sorry but I disagree...time taken to post...fair enough.

Time taken to receive is entirely out of the sellers hands and it would be very unfair to mark them down because of the tardiness of AP etc.

I received a parcel from Ireland on Tuesday..non ebay..which was posted on the previous Thursday...5 days in total including a weekend.

The previous parcel I received from the same person took over three weeks to arrive.

[extra-keen]

Unfortunately enough buyers read "Time taken to post" as "How long was it before I got it". Enough to take away that TRS.

I have had items sent within Australia take over a month to get across the city (even though posted same day as item paid for). This isn't often, but happens often enough to destroy a sellers TRS.

As regarding who leaves these lows - If it is genuine, the comment comes with the positive feedback - something like "nice item, but took ages to get here".

I think there are a few buyers out there who accidentally press the 1 star instead of the 5 stars. Once it is done it seems it is impossible to change.

My other thoughts regard "item as described". How on earth do we address this issue if we are unable to tell who was unhappy.

It is a an imperfect system, but the question is - Can it be improved and how? - there is a suggestion box, I think under customer support somewhere. If you think the system needs fine turning/changing, let ebay know. I've done it, but that won't happen unless more of us do something about it.:-D

[Anonymous]

The time taken to post 'should' be autofilled ( like free postage is ) when a Click and Send item is processed and the first scan takes place within a certain period ( allowing for weekends & public holidays ) of payment being recorded.

This could easily be accomplished by software if PayPal is the payment method.

[patchoo78]

I only said I give 5 stars because that's my honest opinion of how the transaction went.. I have never bought from a seller with unreasonable postage, I just shop somewhere else..  I am quite reasonable, I accept that the postage section is for how long it takes for the seller to deliver the item and also that sellers charge a handling fee.

I have always received my items, and the one time I didn't, the seller gave me a refund on the proviso that I would pay again if they showed up, which I did..

If I ever did come across a seller that wasn't as helpful as previous sellers had been, then obviously I would rate them accordingly.. Fortunately that has not happened yet

[arb_games]

Hi Koalablue, I never saw that apology and cannot understand why it would have been removed.

Sparkesy - sorry if I sounded harsh and your apology would have been happily received had I seen it.  I haven't had any private contact from you either - maybe Ebay deleted your message to me also?

As I stated before, all my software descriptions do have the system requirements in the item listing in bright red, as I always want to make purchasing online pretty much the same as in person, so that the customer can make ( or should make ) an informed decision when purchasing any software.

Thanks guys

[gem-boy-g]

it's dead right that one bad DSR can wreck one's status, Before Christmas one person gave me the lowest possible DSR for postage time, I always post within 24 hours of payment without fail. I contacted ebay with the usual unhelpful response. I'm now close to the PS stage but will fail to get the TRS badge, due to one illiterate cretin who can't read a postage label.