I've been selling here for a little while and I know what it's like being on the other end. I do strive very hard to give all my customers the very best service that I can provide. However, it seems that the harder I try the weaker the detailed rating that I get. I really do want to provide exemplarary customer service and follow all the criteria that ebay asks of it's sellers such as:
Was the Item Described accurately?
How well does or did the Seller Communicate with it's buyers?
How Quickly Did the Seller ship the item?
Were the Shipping And Handling Charges Fair?
I encourage buyers to ask questions prior to bidding. Thus far, I haven't had any dissatisfied buyers (knock on wood) and I try to describe the way that eBay suggests. I describe and supply photos of the flaws, etc in every possible to give my Customers a visual as to the item's condition. I Communicate with my buyers telling them when I've received payment, when I've shipped their winning item (I even email them the Delivery Confirmation number). I ship the item, proviso that their Paypal payment has cleared, usually the next business day unless it's a Sunday. Plus, If I do charge a shipping charge, sometimes I offer Free Shipping, if there are any monies left over I email and ask if the Customer would like a refund of the remaining monies, however small. Still I get mediocre ratings. Thus, it puts me in the lower Search Standard.
Furthermore and very recently, I've had buyers who didn't either pay me or did not pay me on time. I gave extensions and extra time to pay and still I get penalized and get low ratings.
It almost seems like a losing battle but you know what?
To those other Sellers out there, this is the conclusion that I've come to. Do the very best you can and don't let those low rating scores deter you from continuing to eBay and sell! Strive to be the best and maybe there will be some Honest buyers who will rate you accordingly. Take that FEEDBACK as a gift, however hurtful. Email those offenders and ask them, WHY DIDN'T YOU CONTACT ME? Those sellers that don't care, it shows and I've dealt with quite a few out there who just in this for the money and have left Customer Service out of the equation ( I am beginning to name those, just check out my Guide that I have started to compile!). If there are others who feel this way, write a guide and express how you feel. I am going to continue to give the best Customer Service that I can here on eBay because I do care. I am not going to let those low ratings get the best of me. I will still voice my opinion and let those buyers know, do what humans do that sets us apart from the animals, COMMUNICATE! I will continue to eBay and do the best and strive to improve, too! Then maybe eBay will see that we are all valued Sellers. WORD!
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