Regards,
mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999
So I checked my Seller Metrics and saw the pie chart and my % compared to peers and thought, " how utterly stupid". The Pie chart shows ONLY 1 Not as described return yet the % compared to my peers is based on 5??? The other 4 returns were NOT "Items not as described". I have 3 "arrived damaged" ... so is that MY fault?
here's the other issue ... I have NO IDEA who I am being compared to and I can bet you dollars to dozens that since I sell mainly in collectibles the comparisons don't even match. Its not like I am selling NEW T-shirts and am being compared to hundreds of other Seller selling New T-Shirts. No, I am selling items that range from 30 to 60 (+) years old and if I OR any other Seller in these categories gets a real picky collector we might get an unjustified (ie: LYING) INAD return ... this is totally and completely subjective not to mention the Seller metric page does not even make sense ...
@greenhousefoliage wrote:They should at least tell you if you are being compared to other sellers that sell in the same category as you do. That would at least be a little helpful.
@greenhousefoliage - here is what eBay says as far as the Peer Group
If you look at the top part of service metrics page, it shows drop down menus where you can see the listing site, category and time period. If you only sell in one main category, that will be the only option but if you sell in multiple main categories you should be able to select them from that drop down and the metrics should change to show your performance in that category.
In @mr_lincoln 's example screenshot above, the metrics being displayed would be in the Toys & Hobbies category on the eBay.com site (US site).
So generally speaking, those metrics should be compared to other sellers in any sub-categories under Toys & Hobbies, selling on the .com site, that have similar condition, delivery dates, return policy, price & attributes as Mr. Lincoln.
So they do tell you which category you are being compared in - but it is the broader top level category, not the specific sub-category. All of the other "similar" criteria is just vague enough that it is impossible to tell exactly how "similar" your "peers" really are and if in fact the comparison is even remotely close to accurate or fair.
@reallyhardtofind wrote:Somehow I don't think they want Antique & Vintage and collectable sellers here anymore.
No that isn't it at all. I know you may feel like this is happening, but it is across the board for all sellers. This policy doesn't apply more to one type of listing over another.
@valueaddedresource wrote:
@mr_lincoln wrote:here's the other issue ... I have NO IDEA who I am being compared to and I can bet you dollars to dozens that since I sell mainly in collectibles the comparisons don't even match. Its not like I am selling NEW T-shirts and am being compared to hundreds of other Seller selling New T-Shirts.
@mr_lincoln - One thing I think eBay could do to make the Service Metrics at least a tiny bit more fair would be to base the peer group on the specific sub-category the item is in, not the often much broader main category.
A main category like Fashion might have much closer average return rates across sub-categories, but many of the top level categories are so broad it is ridiculous to lump all the sub-categories in together.
eBay Motors is a great example - that category encompasses complete vehicles, car parts & accessories that have very specific fitment requirements, boat parts, airplane parts, on down to things like car wax, tools & repair manuals, key chains, automotive themed t-shirts/apparel and more.
Obviously those sub-categories are going to vary widely as far as average rates of returns with those who sell fitment specific parts being much more likely to encounter false SNADs from people who order the wrong item for their particular year/make/model and just want a free return.
In Collectibles you are probably correct that those you are being compared to may not match up in a lot of ways to what you are selling. eBay needs to be a lot more transparent about what exactly makes up the "peer group" in my opinion.
They may be doing that, we don't know because there is no transparency on who is in the peer groups.
@greenhousefoliage wrote:They should at least tell you if you are being compared to other sellers that sell in the same category as you do. That would at least be a little helpful.
'Item arrived damaged' is 80% your fault and 100% your responsibility.
If it is a problem for you, you should reconsider your packaging practices. See if you can get packaging tips from other sellers that sell items similar to yours (I actually bought similar items to see how they were packaged, what worked well and what didn't). Try out new packaging ideas by packing up similar, unimportant items and putting the package through the worst you can imagine the post office can do. It takes a bit of work but it pays off in the end.
To try to prevent damage, I always package my items with the assumption that the postal workers will play dodge ball with the box.
I would venture a guess that they do. So I don't think same categories are an issue, but sub categories might me.
@spoo_4285 wrote:eBay is stupid in general some might say.
Yes so stupid they were able to build a site that 30+ million sellers are able to earn money on, many of them making a living selling here. Yes so stupid that over 180 million active buyers shop on the site. And Yes, so stupid as to be a profitable company for many years and just celebrating their 25th anniversary.
While Ebay does make changes that often times many disagree with, that doesn't make the stupid. They are a viable company that gives us a vehicle to sell our stuff worldwide with more traffic that most other similar site.
I think that those that see them as "stupid in general" are very short sighted.
Ebay has made many changes over the years that I don't like at all. Do I think they are stupid, absolutely not. They have no responsibility to make sure I agree with every change they make. The Service Metrics is one of those changes I strongly dislike. And there are others. Overall the Ebay site enables me to sell my stuff and earn money to feed my family. Maybe a little broader view might help you.
@little*blackdog wrote:I guess I'm a classic example of "ignorance is bliss" because I've never been able to FIND my "Seller Metrics" !
The best I can do is locate my Seller Dashboard. It looks pretty good!
On your Seller Hub, it is under the Performance Tab, last item on the list.
