What's the logic behind hiding TRS status from buyers when not offering free return shipping?

[craigsfinds]

Ebay decided to "incentivize" (some would say extort) top rated sellers to provide free return shipping for any reason by eliminating their TRS discount if they don't comply. I don't agree with this strategy but at least I can see the logic behind it. However, I fail to see the logic in making it harder for buyers to find the "most reputable sellers" (a.k.a. Top Rated Sellers) by not prominently displaying the top rated badge or something similar, simply because the seller chooses not to offer free returns for any reason.

"Free returns" is already prominently displayed so it would be easy for buyers to distinguish TRS's who offer free return shipping from those who don't. 

Put another way, what would be the down side of promoting ALL TRS's? 

[1tuna]

if the subject has changed I can adapt to that

lots of mininformation out there on MP

everyone has there own ideas of what its all about

I know I sure do

little concrete info is actually available

lots of hearsay

did somone say "Timeline"

lets get serious here,it will happen when it does

paypal is sure it will take place within 12 months.............all users

a paypal CSR told me this...........sounds like a canned generic answer

just as I am sure that GTC is going to weed out the stale merchandise

MP can also be used as a threat.......tool.....stick and carrot approach

I have way to many foreign sales to get invited so far

have been trying to get charities set up with ancient tools from turbolister

giving to charity will also keep you from MP

donating money is all administered thru paypal

I would guess that means those enrolled in MP are not into charity at the moment

I know it never crossed my mind till my Sister mentioned the SPCA

maybe I will be the last group invited

who knows............does anyone care

does getting stuck with paypal for another 18 months hurt me or help me

just what rewards are the early adapters to MP promised.......are they followed thru on

I am sure there will be many theorys with MP as its rolled out to the people

my target date is the election

lots of unhappy voters will be sure to blame MP for ruining there life in 2020

vintaevixen tm

[mr_lincoln]

I was just on another thread where an Asian Seller's item was being discussed so I went to the link and noticed immediately that they have the older TRS Badge (the one that resembles a 1st Place Ribbon at the County Fair) ... I wonder why they still get that and US Sellers don't?  Could it be that their domain is running on the older software?

[steveonmars]

As a buyer I never look at badges. I don't care. I will look at feedback even though that's basically useless. I've sold over tens of thousands listings on eBay and my feedback rating is still only in the 3000's. Most people just don't leave it. People will be more likely to leave negative feedback though, so I will look for that and see why it was negative.

As a seller I refuse to pay for free return shipping because I'm not paying for someone's buyer's remorse.  I already shipped the item free, if you change your mind after I ship it that's your problem.

For the mp and sellers having to wait for printing labels, it's not about having the funds to print the labels that's the problem. I print $100's worth of labels some days, why should that come out of my pocket when I don't know if the buyer is going to cancel the credit card payment between the time I ship the item and the time eBay finally decides to give me my money.  I know that probably won't be an issue, before someone yells at me, but it's the point of eBay forcing us to ship something we haven't been paid for yet.