Tracking

[zarchy]

This is more of a rant than anything else. The only thing that ebay really dings me on with regard to my seller rating is "Tracking uploaded on time and validated".  This is simply because I sell a few items for which I use a shipping method that has no tracking, namely, an envelope with a postage stamp or two.  I use this typically for small low-priced paper items where the shipping cost would exceed the item's selling price if I used shipping with tracking.  I don't think these items would sell very well at all if I didn't keep the shipping cost as minimal as possible.  I'm not trying to make tons of money here, just getting rid of personal items that I don't need that I want to go to somebody that has a use for them.

I know some of you will say that I'm just wasting my time trying to sell these things, but that's not the way I feel about it.

[pantlandia]

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@zarchy wrote:

This is more of a rant than anything else. The only thing that ebay really dings me on with regard to my seller rating is "Tracking uploaded on time and validated".  This is simply because I sell a few items for which I use a shipping method that has no tracking, namely, an envelope with a postage stamp or two.  I use this typically for small low-priced paper items where the shipping cost would exceed the item's selling price if I used shipping with tracking.  I don't think these items would sell very well at all if I didn't keep the shipping cost as minimal as possible.  I'm not trying to make tons of money here, just getting rid of personal items that I don't need that I want to go to somebody that has a use for them.

I know some of you will say that I'm just wasting my time trying to sell these things, but that's not the way I feel about it.

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eBay has their rules and guidelines. Only you can determine whether or not you want to abide by them. If they won't sell with tracking costs, are you making enough money on them to take the penalty? Are you selling enough of them that they will take you below the threshold that gets your account in trouble?

Before they put in the tracking rules, I sold postage stamps from all over the world. I mailed them in envelopes with stamps. Once they put the rules in, I changed and after I could the items were no longer feasible, I changed what I sold. I figured out it wasn't worth it and made the change.

[partial*eclipse · Accepted solution]

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@zarchy wrote:

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 ... The only thing that ebay really dings me on with regard to my seller rating is "Tracking uploaded on time and validated".  This is simply because I sell a few items for which I use a shipping method that has no tracking, namely, an envelope with a postage stamp or two.....

And that  requirement will soon increase from 90% to 95%.

Many sellers set up a separate selling ID for "plain envelope" items, so they can don't jeopardize their TRS status on their regular account.

[zarchy]

Thanks! Never thought of that.

[nowthatsjustducky]

And hopefully you are using a PayPal Micro Payments account for this stuff.  If not, you are throwing away perfectly good change on too high PayPal fees.

Items with a total price (including shipping) of under $12 benefit from the different fee structure of 5% plus 5 cents as opposed to the normal 2.9% plus 30 cents (with the lower the price, the more significant the difference).

Over $12, a standard PP account gives a better rate.  $12 itself is a wash and can easily go either way.

[zarchy]

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@nowthatsjustducky wrote:

And hopefully you are using a PayPal Micro Payments account for this stuff.  If not, you are throwing away perfectly good change on too high PayPal fees.

Items with a total price (including shipping) of under $12 benefit from the different fee structure of 5% plus 5 cents as opposed to the normal 2.9% plus 30 cents (with the lower the price, the more significant the difference).

Over $12, a standard PP account gives a better rate.  $12 itself is a wash and can easily go either way.

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Thanks, I'll have to look into that.  Hadn't heard of it before.

[daisytwist72]

I have the same problem in and have no idea how to fix it

[dericthreatt-0]

Where is my 3 tao and alo mask coming

[currietp]

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@pantlandia wrote:

eBay has their rules and guidelines.

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And this particular rule results in more problems than it solves.   Not just for sellers of small low items that fit in an envelope.   One of the unintended effects is that it annoys the hell out of some buyers because it causes sellers to create labels and post "tracking" numbers long prior to actually shipping the item.   I understand that it sometimes takes the postal service as much as 12 hours to actually post the tracking information when a package is mailed -- but it does not take the post office three days, especially when you find that when the tracking data does show up on the USPS system, it shows that the package was just mailed that day - not when the seller printed the label or posted a tracking number. 

It's laughable when eBay sets the status of a transaction to SHIPPED and sends out an email proclaiming that the package is on its way -- especially when the item is supposedly "shipped" on Friday night and you know there is no way it is going anywhere before Monday or Tuesday.

As a buyer, I wish that eBay would wait until an item was actually shipped before proclaiming "You're item is on its way!"

[kiaba1720106]

I haven't received a package from this seller from gametimecar I used a guest account and don't know how to get ahold of him what should I do

[etvideo1ataol]

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@zarchy wrote:

This is more of a rant than anything else. The only thing that ebay really dings me on with regard to my seller rating is "Tracking uploaded on time and validated".  This is simply because I sell a few items for which I use a shipping method that has no tracking, namely, an envelope with a postage stamp or two.  I use this typically for small low-priced paper items where the shipping cost would exceed the item's selling price if I used shipping with tracking.  I don't think these items would sell very well at all if I didn't keep the shipping cost as minimal as possible.  I'm not trying to make tons of money here, just getting rid of personal items that I don't need that I want to go to somebody that has a use for them.

I know some of you will say that I'm just wasting my time trying to sell these things, but that's not the way I feel about it.

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You are not allowing Big Brother to watch everything you do.  You might be engaged in "FEE AVOIDANCE"!  The whole purpose of the HUB is to better monitor sellers activities.  To see how often you list the same item.  To keep a record of everything you do and to punish transgressions.

It's why eBay wants to eliminate Turbo Lister.  Less CONTROL.

[plarson]

It's s bunch of **bleep**! eBay should take in to consideration items such as postcards in their selling rating tracking rules. I used to seek lots of paper too 

they have really tried to become Amazon -not an auction house which was original intention. No one wants to pay 2.77 to ship a postcard baseball card brochure ect, not fair

ebay is not fair to sellers anymore

been selling since 1998 on eBay 

[modern-artifact]

Same issue here, and I explained that I had several similar listings. The Friendly "helpers" at ebay phone help told me not to worry,  just mark it shipped and message the buyer,  and all will be OK. Well, no, not so much... Just received a hit on my seller status. Ha-Ha...more ebay help malpractice. Now it will take an hour on the phone to get it fixed. Sigh. 

[nhauctioneer]

I also sell many items for less thn $10 and have to add up to $2 extra cost for tracking does not make sense. I include shipping (its not free no matter howes eBay promote it) in my price so it is a direct cost. If I add it so eBay can have more commission, my buyer pays more. I believe that tracking should not be required or used as a grading point for items under $10.  

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@zarchy wrote:

This is more of a rant than anything else. The only thing that ebay really dings me on with regard to my seller rating is "Tracking uploaded on time and validated".  This is simply because I sell a few items for which I use a shipping method that has no tracking, namely, an envelope with a postage stamp or two.  I use this typically for small low-priced paper items where the shipping cost would exceed the item's selling price if I used shipping with tracking.  I don't think these items would sell very well at all if I didn't keep the shipping cost as minimal as possible.  I'm not trying to make tons of money here, just getting rid of personal items that I don't need that I want to go to somebody that has a use for them.

I know some of you will say that I'm just wasting my time trying to sell these things, but that's not the way I feel about it.

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