Receiving Feedback, a question for sellers.

[rosey03]

Hi all,

I'd appreciate some replies on how I can improve feedback I give to sellers. From your perspectives of course.  I'm very grateful that sellers take the time to list such items, often sellers clearly aren't making much profit. I tend to use the Buy it Now feature, normally no communication is sent between myself and the seller.

On another matter, I recently messaged a seller to see if rather than flat packing an item, they would send it via Aus Post satchel, at my expense of course. They agreed, and added the postage method. Transaction went fine and item recieved in perfect condition, not a single issue there. With how Ebay works, have I now cost the seller some profit when they have agreed on postage method and done me the favour?

My order:

1 itemAU $12.00

PostageAU $9.95

Order totalAU $21.95

What it would have been without my requested postage change:

1 itemAU $12.00

PostageAU $3.30

Order totalAU $15.30

If so, suggestions on how I would remedy this.

~ Kind regards and thank yous: Rosey

[repentatleisure1952]

Rosy, imo you are overthinking leaving feedback.

The feedback you have left is fine.

I have no idea why you think you have cost the seller some profit.

What is it you would like to remedy?

[veiled-lady]

Hi Rosey,

Your feedback is great.

As a seller, we always appreciate when a buyer takes the time to write individual feedback for each transaction, and make particular mention of (for example) good packaging or service, as you do - sometimes the feedback sounds great (which is fine) but then we find that the buyer uses the same feedback for every seller, no matter what they buy.

And before someone asks if we do the same as sellers, yes we do to a certain extent, although with multiple orders we unfortunately only have the option to leave one feedback across the whole order rather than separate wording for each item.

As far as costing the seller some profit, if wouldn't have been much (if any), and if they were happy with the transaction, then you shouldn't worry. 

[papermoon.lady]

I am not sure why you think you cost the seller some profit either, as you paid for additional postage. Sellers are happy to add tracking, but sometimes they don't (was this your case?) to keep costs down for buyers, but if buyers want to pay more for additional peace of mind, it ultimately benefits them too.

I think the feedback you have left is fine too, and I am sure sellers appreciated it. Apparently many buyers don't even leave feedback.

[rosey03]

Good evening everyone. 

Thank you all kindly for having taken a look, glad to know I'm on the right track.  

As for having cost the seller, Fvf being 13.4% deducted from a sellers sale amount, which includes postage, would make it the seller who has done me a favour would be charged a larger overall amount. 80 odd cents decrease in profit. Delving further I have retrieved the box, the Parcel post sticker states $9.70. They must have taken a loss.

They've been kind enough to spend their time altering their listing to have the option requested, and have come out at a loss. It's not the amount as much as the principle.   🙂

The only remedy I see is to request a price increase on an item, then purchase it. 

Kind regards and thanks for the replies: Rosey

[repentatleisure1952]

Rosey... you don't know if the seller has taken a loss... unless you somehow know what their cost of goods was.

You have good intentions but let it rest & move on.

[eol-products]

They may have a Mypost account and pay over the counter so the price on the parcel will not reflect what they pay.

Also by you paying a parcel rate this covers them for non delivery as they now have a tracking number they can provide. Usually low valued items are hard to justify the extra postage costs to get a tracking number and stay competitively priced against the competition.

[p9games]

As a seller I scan through feedback.  Many of the messages left are 'Good' or 'Great' or whatever, quick one or two word messages.  I don't blame the buyer for the brevity as I do feel the feedback interface could be overhauled to make it easier for buyers.

But I do get some more detailed feedback messages.  Anything that is even slightly critical (thankfully rare) I will message the buyer and get more feedback and incorporate that into selling practices if necessary/practical.   Feedback is important to sellers.  Whether it is good or bad, a good seller / business owner will listen to feedback.

[springyzone]

Part of the reason for feedback is also to inform other buyers.

So think of specific rather than general.

I think you are already doing that.

As a buyer, I hate feedback that just says 'great' as I don't know what was great-was it the item, was it that the packaging was excellent or that it was posted quickly? I have no idea.

In the same way, I hate negative feedback that says something like 'avoid at al costs'. I am left wondering why.

I used to sell though and quite frankly I was grateful for any positive feedback even if it only said thanks.

So don't worry too much about it, but just be factual and specific. If something goes wrong and the seller fixes it with admirable communication etc, that's worth a mention too.

As for postage-the seller sets it, don't fret about it after the act, just go with the flow.