Impossible to please buyers

[shoppingbag*]

Please tell me what I must do to please buyers. DSR ratings, the usual gripe.  Now we can no longer find out who left them.

I struggled very hard in the beginning with ridiculous DSR's. $2 postage for a large letter (actual postage cost), rated as 3 stars, even though I supplied the padded envelope. (Just one example)  I have always, only charged the actual postage, and stupid me buys boxes, tissue paper, bubble wrap, and sticky tape, as well as I drive to the Post Office every day that there is a parcel that can be sent. AND, stupid me, never charges a handling fee of any kind. Only sometimes, I can cut costs a little by recycling a box.  So, after finally getting my 5 star ratings on everything, some kind soul has given me 4 stars for postage costs, (just wondering if only one would suddenly drop me down to 4.9)

So to all you who have hardened up against inconsiderate and ungrateful buyers, please tell me how much handling costs I should charge. I think it is probably about time.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

[twyngwyn]

Why can't you find out who left them? Is this another 'new improvement'?

[imastawka]

And what would you do to the ungrateful buyer if we told you the formula for

finding out who it was that dented your stars?

DSR's no longer matter in the scheme of all things ebay. 

Once they meant a defect, but not anymore.  

They have no relevance IMO.

.

[melbourneclearance]

I charge $9.70 for under 500g nowadays, and that's not even covering all costs. A buyer recently complained (after buying, of course) that she could get my $20 item for $7 where she lived.

Physically restraining myself from pointing out that she should have got it where she lived in the first place and not bothered me, I replied with:

Australia Post - $8.30, ebay commission on postage - $0.83, ebay commission on the rest - $1.17, PayPal transaction fee - $0.30, PayPal commission $0.70, box - $0.80, packing tape & material & fuel to post office - $0.90. Yeah, $7 is about right. You have a good local seller.

[imastawka]

I think she meant the local seller only charged $7 for your $20 item in a B & M store -

no postage involved.

She should have bought local and not whined about the postage.

Spoiler

 

Don't know that you should have pointed out all your fees though.

It's none of their business, really

[melbourneclearance]

Yeah, I think she did mean a local B&M shop. My item was a "Free Postage" - so she probably thought that it got from me to her on a free Aladdin carpet ride.

But I am always suspicious of "I can get it cheaper" claim after the fact. It always sounds like they're just after a discount.

[imastawka]

Yeah, I used to work Sunday markets, and when I heard

"I can get that cheaper at so and so's"  

I used to reply with

"Well, you'd be silly to buy it from me then" and promptly put it under the table.

It was worth it for the reaction.

[shoppingbag*]

They have taken away the feature to find out, some time back now.  I have located the culprit who has admitted they rated it on what they wanted to pay (not what the postage cost is) so they have offered to remove it, but I cannot request that ,as they have left a Positive feedback, I told them to contact eBay, doubt if they will.  Meantime they are on my blocked list.  I take my reputation as a Seller seriously, and as I bend over backwards and supply all packaging, they can just go buy somewhere else.  I am only a casual seller, selling my personal stuff, so I don't care if I sell in a hurry or not.

[shoppingbag*]

Well I disagree, DSR's are a reflection on my selling practices and reputation.  I certainly look at others when I am buying, and it just makes me furious when I am actually out of pocket for packaging only to be told "you charged too much" These buyers are welcome to go elsewhere, I am not in any mad hurry to sell. I am not running a business, nor in desperate need for the money.

[imastawka]

You can't change the DSR's.

Once they're done, they're done.

If the buyer rings ebay, they will be told that.