eBay

chariot_badges · ‎05-22-2025

A VERY high percentage of the stuff I mail (USPS) doesn't make it.

This last batch of 14 I sent I got two claims of "not delivered."

One of them WAS delivered, the other one the buyer gave me his old address (he admitted this in a message.)

I am currently at a Transaction Defect Rate of 1.08%, so I am already paying an 8 percent fine for my laziness and bad customer service.

Adding these two in on that will bring my TDR to about 1.2% -- at 2% I'm fired.

This trend is not good:

The post office isn't going to improve. In fact I think it will get worse.

You guys will be glad to see some competition going away.

Ebay isn't going to cut a small seller a break. (they don't want small sellers here and are doing all they can to eliminate as many as possible).

And, no matter how hard I work to please the buyer,

it is not possible 100% of the time. Ebay knows this and is using that

as a tactic to eliminate as many small sellers as they can, and convince us that

it's our fault for being 'bad'.

I've asked for advice here before and it really appears that there isn't any.

The only thing I will say is the "just do a better job" advice ... isn't really advice.

kensgiftshop · ‎05-22-2025

@bonjourami wrote:
Looks like most of your complaints are for item not as described, and transaction cancellations, thats the kiss of death for any seller.

They have a lot of stuff in their descriptions, but nothing about the items.

Have a great day.

fashunu4eeuh · ‎05-22-2025

@chariot_badges Wrote: “Well, that must be because I suck. Right? And I should be fired. Right?

”I want them to stay away, and if my response to
stupidity offends them, they can shop at YOUR store…”

Ok—apparently time i spent today, thinking about your issues, @chariot_badges, and hoping to come up with some decent advice, was to no avail.

Because it can be a serious roadblock to resolution when one asks for help, and then responds by metaphorically spitting in the giver’s face.

itsjustasprain · ‎05-22-2025

@chariot_badges wrote:
@tobaccocardyahoo wrote:
I use USPS and rarely have an item which has a not delivery claim.
Well, that must be because I suck. Right?
And I should be fired. Right?

No one has said that except you.

It is true though that your descriptions go on and on about how customer supportive you are and yet your Neutral and Negative feedback shows numerous arguments in reply. It might be more clear to say (in the listing) that these are used emblems pried off of junked and wrecked vehicles and so people should study the flaws that will be present. That excuse that mounting pins will probably be missing because they are 'brittle from age' is not terribly convincing when the whole vehicle is sometimes less than 10 years old.

Your photos are extremely clear but you might want to call out missing pins or other obvious damage. You know at listing time if the buyer is going to have to use adhesive because the original pins are gone so call that out in the listing in order to avoid a buyer surprise later on. Not all are worth selling after all. Slow shipping just compounds things when the item finally arrives and is deemed (by the buyer) as not fit for service.

chariot_badges · ‎05-24-2025

@fashunu4eeuh wrote:
@chariot_badges Wrote: “Well, that must be because I suck. Right? And I should be fired. Right?

”I want them to stay away, and if my response to
stupidity offends them, they can shop at YOUR store…”
Ok—apparently time i spent today, thinking about your issues, @chariot_badges, and hoping to come up with some decent advice, was to no avail.

Because it can be a serious roadblock to resolution when one asks for help, and then responds by metaphorically spitting in the giver’s face.

I apologize for my response.

But, it's true. I DO suck.

And, I can say that and get it out of the way, or we can wade thru the next dozen posts explaining exactly HOW I suck.

I know what I need to do. Instead of spending fifteen minutes on getting a listing up, I need to spend a half hour - or more.

I won't be able to keep up.

Thank you to all who posted here, but there IS no help.

I will continue to provide good service to buyers.

But, I will become MUCH more resistive to refunds.

I will need to be forced by eBay to refund.

I have over 1500 listings ... my pictures are (I think) very good. I spend a lot of time on pictures. Color correcting, cropping, all angles.

Researching and appraising each one.

That's not enough.

Because I suck.

tarotfindsandmore · ‎05-24-2025

Can you take a little time off? Give yourself a week to just relax a bit and regroup. Reading your posts, it sounds like you're absolutely frazzled. You don't suck. No one here has said that, and I doubt they think it.

You do appear to need a break however. Sometimes, when we're feeling doomed and defensive, it's a sign that a little self care is needed. Just put up your away message for a little bit, go touch grass, spend some time away from eBay and your computer, and take a few moments to chill out and regroup.

At the end of a week, come back have another look at the posts and see what you can take from them to improve your listings, your sales, and your customer service.

adamcartwright · ‎05-24-2025

@chariot_badges

@tarotfindsandmore is right. Kick off your shoes and walk on the grass, hug a tree, get grounded.

Take the rest of the long weekend off and come back on Tuesday when you're rested. You can't ship anything out until then anyway.

chariot_badges · ‎05-24-2025

Just put up your away message for a little bit, go touch grass, spend some time away from eBay and your computer, and take a few moments to chill out and regroup.
.

Yeow!

I can only imagine the red feedback for that.

I got a ding once because I took ONE day off.

They needed an emergency RFN answer to "will this fit my 1990 Volkswagen?"

The red comment is in there.

For ALL to see.

reallynicestamps · ‎05-24-2025

One of them WAS delivered,

If you put the Proof of Delivery into the Claim, you win

Do NOT trust eBay to do this.

You must actively do this yourself.

If there is no Claim you don't really have to do anything as far as eBay is concerned.

the other one the buyer gave me his old address (he admitted this in a message.)

That is an Undeliverable item.

If you put the Tracking number into the Claim, you win

Do NOT trust eBay to do this.

You must actively do this yourself.

The tracking will show that the item was Undeliverable.

EBay does not require a seller to refund a single cent on an Undeliverable shipment.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy...

Note that most sellers will refund at least the purchase price when the item eventually returns home. But not shipping or other fees.

But it's optional as far as eBay cares.

If the buyer goes to Feedback to complain, you can ignore it or you can Respond "No Claim was filed. Delivered 25/12/2024" or "Returned as Undeliverable 1/1/2025"

If the buyer files a credit card chargeback, you will be contacted by eBay.

Follow the same instructions as if it were an eBay Claim.

EBay will probably back you.

But you can't sit back and allow stuff to happen.

You have to actively fight.

christworks · ‎05-24-2025

Wow, what a mess.

First, I'm sorry @chariot_badges for what you are going through. I don't think you'd be here venting or talking about what is going on if you didn't care and didn't want to get out of this mess. Everybody gets frustrated while the way you handle may not be the way others would, I don't see anything wrong with it. Probably half the neutrals and negatives you have seemed to come from ignorant buyers, so I get it.

I can vouch that USPS has been and is very screwed up. I'm in Virginia, and back in March at the peak I had over two dozen packages stalled in the USPS system. After two buyer complaints I looked into everything I had shipped that had not been delivered and observed that most everything was stalled. I use "stalled" because most of the time that's what is going on, rather than it being lost. Orders were remaining at my local USPS, where I dropped them off, for days at a time. One order stayed for two weeks. Others got stalled at various distribution centers.

Once I saw what was going on I proactively reached out to buyers. I reassured them I was monitoring things, and I emphasized that their order was not lost. I also explained the process where I would file a missing mail request if there were no scans in 72-hours. In the past, I've been able to do this and every time packages get delivered within a day or two.

Most of my buyers were understanding. The two buyers that were angry had purchased items that cost $10 or less. One reason I want to get away from selling very low dollar items is because I find those buyers tend to be cheap and cheap people also tend to want things perfect, including a bow on top of their packages. I'm kidding, of course, but probably not too far from the truth for some buyers who gravitate to inexpensive items.

My local USPS has gotten better, but there are still delays. There is only one truck per day now that moves mail from my town to the regional sorting facility. This is why things get backed up so quickly. Christmas is going to be a nightmare if something isn't changed, and buyers will need to buy earlier than normal. I can't speak for all post offices, but I was told here that it does not do any good to buy Priority Mail as that mail is sitting stalled, too.

My advice is do not give up. Be proactive. If you want your business to succeed, you may have to suck it up and do some things you don't want to do in order to get your metrics right. I wholeheartedly disagree that eBay wants to get rid of small sellers. Small sellers are their bread and butter. Most of the platform is made up of small one-man-band sellers. Like any business, they do want to get rid of problems. I'm not saying you are one of them. I don't think that. But someone looking at your feedback who does not know the context might think you are the problem. IMHO, that's what you need to fix.

I also don't see why you can't take a vacation (which I agree with the other poster, we all need one sometimes), and set up the auto response for messages. This way you don't have to worry about personally responding within 24-hours.

@pikabo-icu , FYI, some post offices have implemented limits on how many packages they are willing to scan at the counter. Mine is 10. During Christmas peak they will only scan 5. Anything more than that, you have to leave them without getting a receipt.

johnrj1226 · ‎05-25-2025

You said -

"This last batch of 14 I sent I got two claims of "not delivered."

One of them WAS delivered, the other one the buyer gave me his old address (he admitted this in a message.)"

My simple question how can you point the finger at the USPS in your example -i I see no harm no foul on the part of the USPS.

I shipped 1665 items from my eBay sales only had 2 items ever lost both were lost at the same sort facility in Jamaica NY. - never shipped via ground service ( i.e. real hard to get a package to Hawaii via ground), never shipped internationally but did ship to All 50 US states, , US Protectorates, Puerto Rica, APO/FPO . Shipped all by USPS, bought label thru eBay A always had a return policy 14 day initially and 30 day policy the day after eBay introduced.

In a nut shell the eBay Money Back Guarantee. Average $ of al items sold $46 dollars + change + a shipping and handling fee (based on the counter - Average GP % before taxes 46.5%

Plus I shipped a bunch (hundreds guesstimated with a SWAG) of personal shipments to family & friends including girl friends via USPS. Started that in 1968 after I graduated college & finally had some extra spending $ - never had a lost anything letter or package sent or received.

"I have the right to remain silent but I didn't have the ability." Ron White, Fritch, Texas
"Stay away from negative people, they have a problem for every solution." A. Einstein
"The Devil made me do it!" - Flip Wilson
"If the band can only play loud - they ain't no good - peps too!" J.R. Johnson

chariot_badges · ‎05-25-2025

@johnrj1226 wrote:
You said -
"This last batch of 14 I sent I got two claims of "not delivered."
One of them WAS delivered, the other one the buyer gave me his old address (he admitted this in a message.)"

My simple question how can you point the finger at the USPS in your example -i I see no harm no foul on the part of the USPS.

I already addressed that.

It's obviously because I suck.

Isn't that your point?

Just say it!

chariot_badges · ‎05-25-2025

@christworks wrote:
Wow, what a mess.

Once I saw what was going on I proactively reached out to buyers. I reassured them I was monitoring things, and I emphasized that their order was not lost. I also explained the process where I would file a missing mail request if there were no scans in 72-hours. In the past, I've been able to do this and every time packages get delivered within a day or two.

My advice is do not give up. Be proactive. If you want your business to succeed, you may have to suck it up and do some things you don't want to do in order to get your metrics right.
I wholeheartedly disagree that eBay wants to get rid of small sellers. Small sellers are their bread and butter.

Excellent post. Thank you.

I'd like to address a couple of points that you made.

First: I'm not gonna 'give up'. Not in my DNA. I can be defeated ... but I don't surrender. My defect rate was up to 1.5% in a month. It is now at 1.03%. I lowered prices aggressively, doubled sales, prevented more defects, etc. The two open return requests I currently have may screw that however.

Second: The day after I mail the packages, I send a message to each buyer explaining that there have been delays, and damaged goods delivered and to PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE EBAY, I can help them quicker, and I usually do that by throwig money at the deal. They end up with free product. This happens at about 5% of sales. I do this because I CAN NOT get any more defects. NONE.

Third: By implementing more hand holding of 'buyers' I am adding more hours of work. This would be anti to the advice here about 'take a vacation'. If I'm going to add two hours a week to my workload by holding these buyers hair back while they vomit ... ?

Fourth: It would be nice if sellers here got some actual help from eBay, instead of just screwing with 'improvements' and threatening messages about low performance. A system where a robots decision can be appealed would be nice. Instead of an update that totally trashes the search function, how about a return to fair play and justice and ... lol, never mind - not gonna happen. The biggest improvement eBay could make would be to make their sellers feel more WELCOME. I know eBay says they do ... but I go by actions, not promises. I have an ex who swore love and devotion ... but sure didn't act like it. One day I had to wake up and declare "this is not love, this isn't what it looks like." And I KNOW this with certainty. I have worked under competent leadership. I have been supported by a company before ... I know what it feels like. It isn't here.

I will continue to give the best service I can and make the money I can, right up to the point where I can't. But, unless things change, I can see how this will end. I have been set up like a bowling pin. I hear the bowling ball rolling down the lane.

Will it miss this time?

tarotfindsandmore · ‎05-25-2025

@chariot_badges wrote:
@christworks wrote:
Wow, what a mess.

Once I saw what was going on I proactively reached out to buyers. I reassured them I was monitoring things, and I emphasized that their order was not lost. I also explained the process where I would file a missing mail request if there were no scans in 72-hours. In the past, I've been able to do this and every time packages get delivered within a day or two.

My advice is do not give up. Be proactive. If you want your business to succeed, you may have to suck it up and do some things you don't want to do in order to get your metrics right.
I wholeheartedly disagree that eBay wants to get rid of small sellers. Small sellers are their bread and butter.

Excellent post. Thank you.

I'd like to address a couple of points that you made.

First: I'm not gonna 'give up'. Not in my DNA. I can be defeated ... but I don't surrender. My defect rate was up to 1.5% in a month. It is now at 1.03%. I lowered prices aggressively, doubled sales, prevented more defects, etc. The two open return requests I currently have may screw that however.
Second: The day after I mail the packages, I send a message to each buyer explaining that there have been delays, and damaged goods delivered and to PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE EBAY, I can help them quicker, and I usually do that by throwig money at the deal. They end up with free product. This happens at about 5% of sales. I do this because I CAN NOT get any more defects. NONE.
Third: By implementing more hand holding of 'buyers' I am adding more hours of work. This would be anti to the advice here about 'take a vacation'. If I'm going to add two hours a week to my workload by holding these buyers hair back while they vomit ... ?
Fourth: It would be nice if sellers here got some actual help from eBay, instead of just screwing with 'improvements' and threatening messages about low performance. A system where a robots decision can be appealed would be nice. Instead of an update that totally trashes the search function, how about a return to fair play and justice and ... lol, never mind - not gonna happen. The biggest improvement eBay could make would be to make their sellers feel more WELCOME. I know eBay says they do ... but I go by actions, not promises. I have an ex who swore love and devotion ... but sure didn't act like it. One day I had to wake up and declare "this is not love, this isn't what it looks like." And I KNOW this with certainty. I have worked under competent leadership. I have been supported by a company before ... I know what it feels like. It isn't here.

I will continue to give the best service I can and make the money I can, right up to the point where I can't. But, unless things change, I can see how this will end. I have been set up like a bowling pin. I hear the bowling ball rolling down the lane.
Will it miss this time?

Take a vacation quite literally means take a vacation. You seem to be experiencing some sort of issue processing what is being shared with you on this board. NO ONE has said you suck, other than you, and taking a break means taking a break. I don't know how you've twisted this into anything else. Your feedback is bad, your replies are worse, and you've been given mountains advice...yet here you are again caterwauling away over your unique plight.

Do you honestly believe that you matter so much to eBay that your experience is unique? You're getting clobbered by your business and your customers precisely because you seem to feel your time and energy is more important than everyone else's. What do you think other sellers are doing that allows them to operate much larger stores with far more complex inventories while maintaining a defect rating of zero and perfect feedback??

Maybe it's time to put your big girl pants on, stop whining, and put some of this pukerific energy into improving your business. You are your problem, not us, not eBay. There is NO free lunch so stop crying and get to work, or close up shop until you're ready to.

conservitvs · ‎05-25-2025

@chariot_badges wrote:
@fashunu4eeuh wrote:
@chariot_badges Wrote: “Well, that must be because I suck. Right? And I should be fired. Right?

”I want them to stay away, and if my response to
stupidity offends them, they can shop at YOUR store…”
Ok—apparently time i spent today, thinking about your issues, @chariot_badges, and hoping to come up with some decent advice, was to no avail.

Because it can be a serious roadblock to resolution when one asks for help, and then responds by metaphorically spitting in the giver’s face.
I apologize for my response.
But, it's true. I DO suck.
And, I can say that and get it out of the way, or we can wade thru the next dozen posts explaining exactly HOW I suck.

I know what I need to do. Instead of spending fifteen minutes on getting a listing up, I need to spend a half hour - or more.
I won't be able to keep up.

Thank you to all who posted here, but there IS no help.
I will continue to provide good service to buyers.
But, I will become MUCH more resistive to refunds.
I will need to be forced by eBay to refund.

I have over 1500 listings ... my pictures are (I think) very good. I spend a lot of time on pictures. Color correcting, cropping, all angles.
Researching and appraising each one.

That's not enough.
Because I suck.

@chariot_badges

Don’t be so hard on yourself.

We ALL suck at times. I make mistakes on here too… and lots more off eBay (just ask my wife; she has a list, I’m sure).

Relax. Breathe. Refocus.

eBay has never (ever) been “easy.”

I’ve been here a loooooong time, and I am no closer to having eBay figured out than I was back in 1996.

CONSERVITVS • Volunteer Community Mentor
eBay member since: 1996

tobaccocardyahoo · ‎05-25-2025

Maybe you suck and maybe you do not suck.

There has been little to no discussion of how you package.

Most of your items are small and light and likely to ship by Ground Advantage.

My first reaction would be to wrap them in bubble and throw them in a 5 x 7 plastic envelope. But I fear that would lead to missing shipments.

I might try this but it is likely that if I was having missing shipments, I would change how I package until I did not have missing shipments. Could require the use of cardboard, could require boxing the emblems.

There has been packaging I have used which generates shipments which are lost or delayed. That includes some Ebay labeled packaging. I stopped using that packaging years ago and as I stated earlier in the thread I have few problems with USPS.

Failure to consider changing your packaging might mean you suck. Having chosen wrong and correcting it in the future would suggest you do not suck. Customer service includes the way you package, it starts when you list the item and includes every step in the process. It does not only include the way you handle post-delivery complaints.