I think it is wrong that defects in Tracking Uploaded cannot be appealed

[alternative_lab_source]

This post is for sellers that are rated top-rated or aspire to be top-rated.

Recently, my seller's level fell from a top-rated seller to "above standard", so I looked into the issue and found that I have several defects in the category of " Tracking uploaded on time and validated". Turns out that for these transactions, I voided the initial labels and bought new labels, and the system did not get updated. I buy labels from Pirateship, and Pirateship communicates with eBay and uploads the tracking. So the lesson is that whenever you use a third party vendor for labels, be sure to update the tracking on eBay whenever you void the initial label.

So I brought up the issue with eBay, hoping that these defects could be appealed. After all, it was a system glitch, and nobody was hurt. This is where I found out that defects in this category cannot be appealed. As you probably know, you could appeal defects in the other three categories, namely, Transaction defect rate, Late shipment rate, Cases closed without seller resolution. Is it weird that defects in the tracking upload (probably the most harmless defect) cannot be appealed, although it does affect the seller's level?  Well, that is how the system is set up as of now, and I sure hope that it changes in the future.

You might wonder why I care about the seller's level. Top-rated sellers get a 10% discount in FVF. Depending on your regular FVF rate, the discount is worth 1.3 to 1.5% of the transaction. Those defects stay with you for three months, so for three months of not being a top-rated seller, I'd be paying $450 more in FVF based on my past three months' sales. Not a small loss. 

[allthingssurplus]

Not according to eBay IT dept.  When I cut a label from ShipWorks the tracking number is sent to eBay.  ShipWork does not forward the tracking info.  eBay's system detect the delivery and applies that date and time to both original shipment and the replacement.  Why is it so hard to believe eBay is not at fault here.  The platform has more issues than our government leaders.

[itscalledapostingid]

I was talking about the problem you mentioned about a repeat customer's tracking number being applied to their previous order from the week before.

[alternative_lab_source]

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@orangehound wrote:

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@alternative_lab_source wrote:

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@orangehound wrote:

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@alternative_lab_source wrote:

So I brought up the issue with eBay, hoping that these defects could be appealed. After all, it was a system glitch, and nobody was hurt. This is where I found out that defects in this category cannot be appealed.

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I feel for you ... and I understand how the buyer is not impacted.  But, I'm not sure how eBay could judge an appeal.

Moreover, eBay is losing money when any of us buy labels on pirateship, so there is zero incentive for eBay to make adjustments when pirateship is at fault.

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eBay shouldn’t “lose” money when we buy labels from a third party, unless eBay makes money from shipping labels. If this is case, the eBay shipping discount is kind of hypocritical. I do remember comparing rate between eBay and pirateship and found the latter to be slightly less, which is why I stick to it.

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Three things:

• Both eBay and pirateship will receive a commission from the USPS when they sell postage through their platform (as well as any other postage broker).  You think pirateship is doing this as a public service?
• In addition to profits, I'm of the opinion that buying postage from them inflates their GMV ... they are obscure about all the things that go into calculating that number.
• Now that eBay is finally implementing USPS cubic rates, I'm not noticing any difference in USPS shipping costs between pirateship and eBay (based on maybe a dozen size/weight/distance experiments).  If you have an example where pirateship is cheaper, I would love the education.

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You are right that the rates are the same now. One small benefit with pirateship is that you are paying with credit card vs. eBay deducting from your payout, so there is the small advantage depending on your credit card cash back. Shipping cost is a large expense for sellers and it adds up. Also, I just like to the pirate ship’s interface better and the fact that I have everything at the same place. For instance, shipping needs not related to an eBay order

[alternative_lab_source]

I agree that not having the correct tracking number did take away the buyer’s ability to track the shipment, although they get it on time anyway because it’s a bookkeeping issue, not actual fulfillment. 
my point is that there should at least be an appeal process. Lots of sellers here have shared their own experience how system glitches result in defects in this category. 

[alternative_lab_source]

That is not what the eBay  reps told me. If you know how, let me know and please share it here.

[alternative_lab_source]

I guess we do care about the discount because eBay’s FVF rate is too high in the first place

[alternative_lab_source]

My thought too. No sellers have the time to commit the fraud that provides minimal benefits. Feels like it’s just a subtle way eBay raises the bar for sellers to get their discount