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? 

[nobody*s_perfect]

It would give less advantage to the TRS who do offer free returns.  Some sellers might choose not to offer free returns if they got a TRS badge even without that.

The badge on listings is ebay's way of manipulating sellers to offer the terms that eBay wants to see, generally because it's what eBay believes that buyers want.

[craigsfinds]

You may be right but it's not logical. 

If ebay thinks it needs to give TRS's offering free shipping for any reason an advantage, it proves that offering free shipping for any reason is not that important to buyers.  

[dhbookds]

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@craigsfinds wrote:

You may be right but it's not logical. 

If ebay thinks it needs to give TRS's offering free shipping for any reason an advantage, it proves that offering free shipping for any reason is not that important to buyers.  

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I don't think that's a valid conclusion..........shipping is a much more complicated thing to declare as a requirement.

[pburn]

Tagging--

As a buyer (only), I'm not the least bit interested in whether a seller has TRS status. I'm guessing most buyers not only don't know what it means, but also don't even care.

That's just a guess, though. It would be interesting to see some kind of survey on whether buyers are influenced by a seller's TRS status.

As far as shipping goes, I sort all my search results by lowest price + shipping. If the "free shipping" is the least expensive, that influences my purchase selection. If the item cost + shipping is lowest, that's fine, too. (Of course, there are factors other than cost that I take into consideration.)

[my_boston_baked_beans]

If ebay defines a TRS  as one who provides the services they want why bother even stating Top Rated on dashboards? eBay should discriminate (that is what they are doing anyhow) and only allow TRS to those sellers that follow all their rules of service . I can not afford *free returns* hence I can not play with the big boys/girls. I do not get any discount, but continue to provide good items and service regardless. Therefor, TOP RATED on my dashboard has no meaning/value.

[my_boston_baked_beans]

I agree, but I do look into a seller's feedback especially if they have negatives, I want to know why others were dis-satisfied before buying from this seller. So feedback has value in that respect not TRS.

[upgradedendmills]

A survey would be helpful on this and many other topics.  For me, it is not worth anything to try for TRS status simply because I don't want to either print labels or upload tracking on every sale.  I have no clue as to rather or not this costs me sales, but am convinced it lessens aggravation. Another personal decision.

     Recently read a post from a seller stating that they would never buy any item that was pictured on a plain white background. They post frequently and I have all the respect in the world for the good information they give when I read their posts.  I have also read posts stating someone wouldn't consider purchasing from a seller unless they were TRS and posts stating they would not purchase from any seller that was TRS status.

     Even with the new information about white backgrounds, I did not immediately go in and change any of my listings that have that.  You will never be able to have your listings appeal to 100% of the market on eBay no matter how you do it or what your status is. Do the best you can and move on.

     Sometimes when buying, I prefer sellers with 98% feedback and a couple of negatives. They have more of an incentive to do things right than a seller with 50K feedback and 99.9999999% positive.

[slippinjimmy]

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@craigsfinds wrote:

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? 

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TRS status is almost meaningless anyway, it's so easy to achieve and retain. TRS Plus on the other hand not only requires free returns but also 1 day handling.

[upgradedendmills]

There doesn't seem to be a lot of logic used in purchasing decisions most of the time.

[craigsfinds]

Shipping is a much more complicated thing to declare as a requirement?

I don't understand what you mean. 

[pburn]

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@my_boston_baked_beans wrote:

I agree, but I do look into a seller's feedback especially if they have negatives, I want to know why others were dis-satisfied before buying from this seller. So feedback has value in that respect not TRS.

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I didn't say anything about the value of feedback one way or the other, so I'm not sure what prompted your reply. What I said was, "Of course, there are factors other than cost that I take into consideration." One of those would be feedback. I can list the other factors I take into consideration if you'd like to know what those are.

Including, but not limited to:

• Proximity
• Handling time
• Estimated delivery date
• Number of items available
• Ending time of listing
• Number of watchers
• How much I need the item
• Amount of discretionary funds I have available
• Local availability

[1tuna]

I like what you sell

i ran a bridgeport off and on for 18 months or so

I get the same remarks about my verbiage

I used to sell plenty of new parts with bad packaging

you are buying a cutting tool

you are not buying the background

the tube packaging for end mills is just fine with some oil on it

really............i mean who cares about a background

certainly not a tool buyer

I am able to manipulate this forum screen easier than I can write an auction

hard for me to see in turbolister

wish I could do bullet points like you are reading now.........

maybe one day I will learn the basics

[1tuna]

I am not so sure that TRS is that easy for most people

ebay executives stated in interviews in 2018 that only 20% make the grade

that is one TRS.............for four that did not make it

[slippinjimmy]

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@1tuna wrote:

I am not so sure that TRS is that easy for most people

ebay executives stated in interviews in 2018 that only 20% make the grade

that is one TRS.............for four that did not make it

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20% makes sense because I have no doubt that 75% of eBay sellers are small time and or casual sellers who can't get to the 100 transaction mark and that is the only reason they are not TRS.

eBay has tossed out the 6 Million US based sellers number, probably 5 million of those never have and never will have 100 sales per year.