Buyer upset about my handling time...

[sin-n-dex]

I'm not 100% sure if the buyer is upset about the handling taking too long, or if he just wants to know how I have a Top Rated badge with more than one day handling.

In any event, it says in my description that I have to courier items to New York "please note additional handling time". If you check the listing, I think somewhere it says 10 days handling. And there's a little flag under the buy it now to tell buyers delivery is in 16 or more days.

So a buyer buys an item last Thursday (7 days ago). I print a label Friday. Drop it off at Chit Chat's drop spot Saturday, Chit Chats picks it up from there Monday and it's scanned into USPS on Tuesday.

Today I get a message from the buyer (whom I think is a little upset, although the message was very calm and civil), telling me he picked me as a seller because of my Top Rated badge which means I'm supposed to ship within one day, no exceptions, because he needed the item soon for a customer.

I politely replied back to explain about the shipping. He asked how come I have a Top Rated badge if I can add several days handling to each order.

Maybe I should be complaining about that Top Rated badge. It's bunk, and it doesn't me squat. I don't know why I have it, or what I need to do to get one, but they've given me one, and now someone has looked at the badge to determine my shipping practices instead of reading the actual listing.

I'm feeling a little defensive, and it's not because I didn't deliver on a promise, but eBay's assigned me a label that buyers think means something.

Cheers, C.

[castlemagicmemories]

So sorry this happened to you, I feel your frustration.

Buyer made an assumption that was wrong, as you know.  Some buyers feel the TRS means nothing, and that you have no great chance of a successful transaction than you do with the rankest amateur newbie seller.  

You might consider telling the buyer that Ebay gives you that badge and that you fulfill the requirements for it.  Sorry for any misunderstanding.  That you allowed to choose your handling time and are only required to ship within it, which you do.

An online search shows:

To become a Top Rated Seller on eBay.com, you must have:

• Been active for at least 90 days.
• At least 100 or more transactions with a minimum of $1000 in sales (US buyers only) over the last 12 months.
• Uploaded shipment tracking within promised handling time for 90% of transactions during last 3 months.

o become a Top Rated Seller on eBay.com, you must have:

• Been active for at least 90 days
• At least 100 or more transactions with a minimum of $1000 in sales (US buyers only) over the last 12 months
• Uploaded shipment tracking within promised handling time for 90% of transactions during last 3 months
• Less than 0.30% of Money Back Guarantee and PayPal Purchase Protection cases closed without seller resolution
• A maximum 0.5% of transactions with one or more transaction-related defects for last 3 months (12 months for sellers with less than 400 transactions)
• Less than 3% of transactions with late shipping

Late shipping is defined by shipping outside of your handling time.

You might want to add something to the description (I know, buyer didn't read that anyway) that states your handling time as Ebay stopped showing that last year.  

Good luck.

[centexcompsvcs]

 Castle is correct.

It sounds as if your buyer is confusing the the TRS "Badge" with the TRS+ "Badge".  Only the TRS+ badge stipulates that you must ship within  1 business day.   It is all a  moot issue in my mind...your auction was quite clear as to the  shipping/handling times..did they not read that information, or were they just  operating from a misinformed assumption? 

Or did they use that "wonderful" mobile app, which may not have shown them the complete  auction TOSs? Remain calm and be courteous in your response.

[missjen831]

So basically your buyer looks at the badge.....and not the estimated delivery date on the listing? Why is that not a surprise?

[sin-n-dex]

I've exchanged another message with the buyer, and it is all fine, he bought from me before but forgot I had to courier items (and skipped reading the description).

But I am still frustrated about that TRS/TRS+ thing. 

Oh, in the buyer's reply, he did mention TRS+ so I think you guys are right that he confused the two.

Cheers, C.

[lovtaco0]

I don't see a badge on your listings. I see badges on TRS+ listings, but not on TRS listings. Anyone else?

[castlemagicmemories]

So glad it's ok, then.

[castlemagicmemories]

That's like reading seller's feedback comments after you buy.  

[reallynicestamps]

@lovtaco0

Even more fun: We Canadians, and other non-US sellers, can have TRS status on our own sites, but the badge does not appear on the US site (dotCOM).

However, this is actually the first time, since 1998, I've ever heard of a buyer paying attention to those badges.

Sellers appreciate the discounts. Even the mingy ones we get now.

[lovtaco0]

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@reallynicestamps wrote:

@lovtaco0

Even more fun: We Canadians, and other non-US sellers, can have TRS status on our own sites, but the badge does not appear on the US site (dotCOM).

---

That's really interesting. On the .ca site I do see the badge but it does not have text inside the medallion (like TRS+ listings on .com do). On the .com site the badge does not appear.

On the .ca site it shows a 12-16 day estimated delivery, no orange flag. On the .com site it has an orange flag for extended handling time and a delivery estimate of May 11-16, greater than 11 business days.

[reallynicestamps]

We foreigners have our own ways-- strange and exotic.
Come-- I will show you the astonishing hosers at Timmie's with their double-doubles and maple dip.

[emerald40]

Not every question deserves a response.

That is why potential buyers need to hit the back button if they do not agree with a seller's handling time.

I saw an item I really wanted, and the guy is in Pennsylvania, not less.  Pennsylvania to Rhode Island and I would not get it until the middle of May.  So I moved on.

As far as the buyer's question - I would simply state once that apparently ebay allows me to have this with my shipping and handling time.

[berserkerplanet]

Yep. I see the same thing you do on the US site (No TRS badge, orange flag, extended handling time, greater than 10 business day delivery estimate)

TRS badges do not display on listings or search results on ebay.com - only TRS+ do for eligible listings.
The only place anything about TRS appears to buyers is on a seller's about me page.

Buyer has misconceptions and unrealistic expectations based on those misconceptions (and not reading the listing details.)

[d-k_treasures]

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@berserkerplanet wrote:
Yep. I see the same thing you do on the US site (No TRS badge, orange flag, extended handling time, greater than 10 business day delivery estimate)

TRS badges do not display on listings or search results on ebay.com - only TRS+ do for eligible listings.
The only place anything about TRS appears to buyers is on a seller's about me page.

Buyer has misconceptions and unrealistic expectations based on those misconceptions (and not reading the listing details.)

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And the feedback page.

[berserkerplanet]

►►The only place anything about TRS appears to buyers is on a seller's about me page.
►And the feedback page.

Actually , you are correct and I misspoke - a TRS notice only appears on feedback page, not about me page, is not a badge, clearly states Top Rated not Top Rated Plus, and has a help ? next to it that describes TRS but also contains a link to more TRS info.

Unfortunately, that "Learn More" info link goes to a (new?) eBay TRS Plus help page, that touts the benefits of shopping with a TRS+. Linking from a TRS to TRS+ info this way is a COMPLETE AND TOTAL eBay FAIL that probably helped mislead the buyer who was doing his due diligence (but still ignored the details on he item listing). I may owe the buyer a partial apology for my previous statement