Not happy eBay - DEFECTIVE defect system !!

[thecatspjs]

Now my seller dashboard appearance has changed - AGAIN.

Now my defect rate for past 12 months has SIGNIFICANTLY changed again !!!  Its half of what it was !!

Now I have NO ability to download report at all ~ not that any report I was actually able to download showed anything I did not know.

I KNOW I have a neutral and two cases opened for not as described - I know this, I asked buyers to open cases to be on the record, before DEFECTIVE defect system was introduced.   What about the other defects that have gone from 9 to 2 ????

What an absolute defective crock of a system. 

^^^ catmad in size 40 font, bold and red !!!

[cmcoins2000]

About the dates - I feel really special. 281167260433 1096361976018 19/09/2013 X NA NA Yep, 19/9/2013 - item not as described methinks. Hope they don't check under their desks for more.

[cmcoins2000]

We could resort to 'big ones' - that would stomp the MODS.

[i-love-my-sheep]

I can't see any transaction numbers for my defect and never have. It was an item not as described and since I got it, I have tried to download a report, but it keeps telling me I don't have any issues for the current period. It has said that since day 1. I can't even remember when I got it now it's been that long. I still have no idea who even left it for me! Not that it really matters now, but I was curious as to who left it and why.

Like you, if my listings needed improving, I needed to know, rather than just blunder along the way I am.

[bigbrickshop]

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@thecatspjs wrote:

Holy Moly ... all is well, my dashboard has changed again and I am now back up to 9 for item not as described

According to the trending data, I do not have single defect from May onwards - which probably just reflects that I lost my eBay seller mojo and have done hardly any new listings on this ID since May compared to previous volumes and have just been relisting.same stuff.

My report still only shows the three defects I know about, one neutral feedback and two not as described, all before May. 

Can other sellers see transaction numbers for defects from prior to May ?

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Glad to hear your defects have found their way back home  🙂

No, we can't see transaction numbers for the old defects. The only transaction numbers we can see are for cancelled sales.

[sut6556]

I have had the same problem with the defect report which stated i had 3 low DSR;s in July.

I first checked the report and they did not show up at all, so I could not check which items they were.  And given I had Positive Feedback from all my buyers for this period!

I emailed Ebay and they told me there were 3 defects and gave me the details of the Item numbers.  

I then went to see the report again and "low and behold" these new 3 defect items immediately appeared on my report.

I expect there was an error as the defect items being low seller rating which did not show originally, and when I brought this to Ebay's attention they fixed the problem.

On checking these, 2 of the Items were Brand new and I received Feedback from the buyers that they loved the items!!!!

I realise that they still may have left low DSR's but cannot understand how they could put Item not as described esecially on 1 item which was a scarf Brand New with Tags.... all info had been included inlcuding material etc etc  I don't understand after leaving feedback that she loved the scarf she could then leave a low DSR ????  The other was a new lipstick..maybe it was not the colour she thought it would be???

As a Top Rated Seller I was obviously concerned that I mayloose my Top Rated Seller Status and to be "downgraded" to Above Standard!

In the email Ebay advised me I should be more careful about my listings to ensure I did not get low DSR's, I found this comment insulting given my previous selling history.  And given the items were as described!!!! But maybe just not what the buyer thoought it was?????

Has anyone else had this sort of problem with low DSR's within the last couple of months?

[davewil1964]

That only happens for those on 3 month evaluation periods - 400+ items per 3 months.

The rest of us get evaluated over 12 months, and my dashboard is showing defects for that period. And none of the 7 occurred after May 1. And the 3 I know about won't start dropping off until December.

[black*poppy]

I had a buyer in June whose positive feedback stated "Thanks, as described" and then gave low DSR for item as described without explanation.

I've decided I'm not going to worry about the DSR system.  There's too much randomness about it..... so it's fruitless worry about something you can't control.   My listings are super-thorough, and the pics as clear as anyone's mostly - I honestly don't think I'm capable of doing much better.   And it is a bit reassuring I guess, that if it's happening to me and other honest sellers, then it's happening to everyone.  (I know that sounds arrogant but my feedback speaks for me!) 

So if sellers like us can't protect ourselves against low DSR's then I can't worry about it.  I'm thinking of adding a line to my listing template that alerts buyers that low DSR scores aren't anonymous and maybe if we all confront buyers to explain the score given we can slowly educate them.  

Anyway, even if I lose my top-rated status, I'm not sure I care.  Buyers can't find the badge easily as it's not on the listing page.  As a buyer (and I buy alot), I never notice top-rated status to be honest, only neg feedbacks so I can get a feel for the chances of receiving the item I paid for.  I'm not aiming for premium status as I won't ever offer free postage on all listings unless everyone else does.....   As for listings not making the first page in Best Match, well, I can't answer that if it's a problem, but I like to think that buyers don't rely on best match for searches or only look at the first page - I never do and I humbly know that I'm not unique.  I didn't notice any difference in sales once I made Top Rated I have to say, and my other selling account I started recently seems to be doing ok without it.

SO... after losing top rated there's still alot of room for alot of low DSR's before accounts get restricted, which would be something to worry about.  But if I keep up my current standard I'm pretty sure that won't happen.  My aim is to continue to avoid negative feedback and keep selling.  And smiling!

[thecatspjs]

My issue is not with buyers who ding stars.  So be it.  On this ID I reckon I do pretty well not to have more defects given I sell second hand clothes that may not even fit the buyer.  I accept that I will have to keep on trying harder to improve my descriptions and photos to more clearly depict goods.

My issue is with the eBay system that is being arrogantly introduced to "encourage" transaction perfection in a uncontrolled setting with highly subjective measures AND the system itself is so flawed that it is laughable, given its purpose.