My eBay Powerseller status is at risk, should I care?
Bayard1908
Posts: 4,095 ✭✭✭✭
I don't offer free shipping; so, my rating on the shipping charges metric is 4.56. 4.60 is required to remain a Powerseller.
I almost never get the Powerseller discount anyway. Should I care if I lose the Powerseller status?
I almost never get the Powerseller discount anyway. Should I care if I lose the Powerseller status?
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-Paul
If a silver coin sells for $20 with free shipping, it will sell for $15 wit$ 5 shipping and $19 with $1 shipping.
It gets trickery when a seller puts shipping so high - even though actual realizable gain is the same - and the fine print says if returned, less shipping.
I believe it is another tactic that I am beginning to see more and more.
I like Jerry's way of "actual shipping charges."
<< <i>Shipping is always in the price - even an auction item.
If a silver coin sells for $20 with free shipping, it will sell for $15 wit$ 5 shipping and $19 with $1 shipping.
It gets trickery when a seller puts shipping so high - even though actual realizable gain is the same - and the fine print says if returned, less shipping.
I believe it is another tactic that I am beginning to see more and more.
I like Jerry's way of "actual shipping charges." >>
As a seller, shipping is NOT always in the price of the coin PLUS what many buyers FAIL to see/understand/realize is that although eBay does not factor in a Final Value fee on shipping costs, Paypal does. So..........for every dollar I receive in shipping costs, PayPal takes 3 cents.
What this means is if I sell an item for actual postage costs, I lose 3% on each transaction if the buyer pays via PayPal which just so happens to be eBay's financial handler of prefereance.
Additionally, as a seller, I am also a buyer and I buy from venue's other than eBay where the costs can be significantly higher, standardized and fully acceptable.
Most auction houses charge a minimum of $7.50 for every package they send out and this is totally acceptable by their buyers. If I were to adopt such a policy, I'd be NRU'ed in a week or month at the outside not to mention losing any interest in my items at all.
Real shipping prices combined with PayPal fee's would shock most buyers and IMO to give buyers the option of rating a seller based upon shipping charges (that are published in the auction
The name is LEE!
I have completely sworn off selling coins on the 'bay. Coin shows are much better.
Empty Nest Collection
<< <i>
<< <i>Shipping is always in the price - even an auction item.
If a silver coin sells for $20 with free shipping, it will sell for $15 wit$ 5 shipping and $19 with $1 shipping.
It gets trickery when a seller puts shipping so high - even though actual realizable gain is the same - and the fine print says if returned, less shipping.
I believe it is another tactic that I am beginning to see more and more.
I like Jerry's way of "actual shipping charges." >>
As a seller, shipping is NOT always in the price of the coin PLUS what many buyers FAIL to see/understand/realize is that although eBay does not factor in a Final Value fee on shipping costs, Paypal does. So..........for every dollar I receive in shipping costs, PayPal takes 3 cents.
What this means is if I sell an item for actual postage costs, I lose 3% on each transaction if the buyer pays via PayPal which just so happens to be eBay's financial handler of prefereance.
Additionally, as a seller, I am also a buyer and I buy from venue's other than eBay where the costs can be significantly higher, standardized and fully acceptable.
Most auction houses charge a minimum of $7.50 for every package they send out and this is totally acceptable by their buyers. If I were to adopt such a policy, I'd be NRU'ed in a week or month at the outside not to mention losing any interest in my items at all.
Real shipping prices combined with PayPal fee's would shock most buyers and IMO to give buyers the option of rating a seller based upon shipping charges (that are published in the auction
Buyer's don't care about your fees, they care what they pay. Seller sets asking price on a buy it nowwhile the buyer sets the selling price on a buy it now and on auction style listings. If no buyers agree with your buy it now price, you don't sell. Shipping costs are figured in to what buyer is willing to pay. With a buy it now it doesn't matter to the buyer if you have free shipping or not, they are looking at total cost to them. Same thing with auction style; buyer will adjust what he is willing to bid based on the additional shipping charge. Buyer only cares about total cost, fees are your problem and if you're smart you will do buy it now listings with fees and postage figured in. With buy it now listings you determine if you make a profit. With auction style listings market determine if you will make a profit. If you prefer the potential upside of the auction style listing then set your opening bid at the minimum you are willing to let the coin go for. this way you can cover all of your costs and build in a profit.
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
Besides shipping USPS costs there's handling and communication and packaging.
What are you doing consistently wrong?
How often do you communicate to your buyer and when?
How is your packaging, secure and protected?
How long do you wait to ship, next day? three days? once a week?
Customer service is as important as shipping costs and is part of that expense whether you think
so or not.
As a buyer I like to be acknowledged within 24 hours that the seller has seen my payment.
Then I want to know when he will ship and how.
Then I want confirmation from the post office that he's printed the shipping label and we have a DC number to track.
Then I want the coin to arrive safely protected with bubble wrap, cardboard mailers, etc.
Oh, and nice feedback before I receive the coin is a plus, makes me feel good and pleased with the seller just before
I get the coin in hand.
I charge a minimum of $1.95 and usually $2.45 on a one coin, under $100 shipping. Above $100 you get whatever
is reasonable to me. Never free shipping as there's no such thing, so just charge and be reasonable.
But, this is the key: I have all auctions end when I'm at home so that I can communicate and congratulate the buyer
the moment they pay. If not paid in the first 30 minutes or so then I do send an invoice through ebay's system.
When paid I acknowledge receipt and indicate when it will be handed over to the PO.
Then when the label is printed it automatically sends a PO confirmation with tracking number to the buyer.
Then my coins are shipped inside a cardboard mailer (raw are always in an envelope inside) and then packaged
bubble wrapped in a bubble envelope or Priority box. Always protect their coin!
I don't see how your rating can be so low unless you are doing something wrong. I've sold over 300 sales in past
90 days, 100% rating, and DSR's above 4.9 on all four. So, just figure out what part of the above needs help and
watch your ratings rise!
Good luck, and yes it is important to me as it should be to you.
bob
<< <i>I don't offer free shipping; so, my rating on the shipping charges metric is 4.56. 4.60 is required to remain a Powerseller.
I almost never get the Powerseller discount anyway. Should I care if I lose the Powerseller status? >>
It's apparent that your s&h fees are out of whack. How about supplying us with a link to your auctions? I'm a buyer & seller, about 50 - 50, so I'm familiar of what it cost to mail an item.
like the one I ran across who sends out little slips of paper with a coin, pleading for the buyer to leave good feedback and dsr.
this is the same guy who I've seen lately "keygrade spamming" his ebay auction titles.
you know, "PCGS VF25, looks VF30 to me."
My shipping rating is 5.0 and I get my 20% final value fee discount
If the item is over $1000 I usually offer free shipping.
But it is better to charge actual than to eat it all like ebay wants you to do. Especially when free shipping doesn't even make good feedback likely. --Jerry
PS BTW, I won an auction for a golf club this morning, paid for it with my phone, and got the shipping confirmation 15 minutes later. This guy has good feedback, imagine that. He charged $13 to ship one golf club UPS ground. Seems about right to me. --Jerry
<< <i>"Powerseller" means nothing to me when I buy something on e-bay. Maybe its a macho title for the seller to have, I don't know. As far as shipping fees go, I glance at them before I bid, add the amount to the price I am willing to pay and thats it. Must be way more complicated for sellers than buyers-----------BigE >>
He wasn't addressing the question to buyers. Powerseller is for sellers, not buyers. --Jerry
Tom
But as a seller, it may be worth it to retain Powerseller status - but only you can run the numbers to make that determination. (In my case it wasn't worth it).
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
<< <i>Actually the term "Powerseller" hasn't existed for a while. It changed to "Top Rated Seller" >>
No, they both exist and mean different things. --Jerry
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
I do find it strange your one rating is so low. My shipping ranges from 4.85 to 4.95 and i just throw a reasonable shipping number out there. I reuse all the package materials i can, print invoices on top of used paper and use the cheapest envelopes possible with a terrible tape job. I do sign all the invoices with a "thank you, enjoy and my name" in what i would call a 85 year old man with parkinsons disease. Maybe my buyers feel sorry for me.
I forgot to add all my packages reek of cigarette smoke to boot.
I tell me wife every month, that this is going to be the last month i sell on ebay. lol
NGC registry V-Nickel proof #6!!!!
working on proof shield nickels # 8 with a bullet!!!!
RIP "BEAR"
<< <i>
<< <i>Actually the term "Powerseller" hasn't existed for a while. It changed to "Top Rated Seller" >>
No, they both exist and mean different things. --Jerry >>
Duh!...you are correct. I thought it went away when they went to the "top seller" thing. I just looked and I do have both next to my Ebay ID......
<< <i>I wonder how long before eBay offers a PowerSeller subscription. $x a month and you can buy a certain level of PowerSeller status to reduce your fees. The only catch is that, like a cell phone contract, you have to commit to a unforseeable future's worth (a year to two), which means even if you stop selling, you still have to pay a minimum fee. >>
They already have that. It's called an "ebay Store". Either subscribe (and pay less onerous 4% to 6% FVFs), or pay an egregious 9% FVF on everything.
<< <i>I qualify but they claim i opted out. I am used to getting the short end of the stick so i do not really care.
I do find it strange your one rating is so low. My shipping ranges from 4.85 to 4.95 and i just throw a reasonable shipping number out there. I reuse all the package materials i can, print invoices on top of used paper and use the cheapest envelopes possible with a terrible tape job. I do sign all the invoices with a "thank you, enjoy and my name" in what i would call a 85 year old man with parkinsons disease. Maybe my buyers feel sorry for me.
I forgot to add all my packages reek of cigarette smoke to boot.
I tell me wife every month, that this is going to be the last month i sell on ebay. lol >>
I'm sure you meant the above as a joke and believe me I'm not one of those PC- types... but frankly don't appreciate the Parkinson's comment. My mother has been battling Parkinson's for over 10 years and she is barely able to stand, much less write anything. Not funny imo.
RIP Mom- 1932-2012
<< <i>I don't offer free shipping; so, my rating on the shipping charges metric is 4.56. 4.60 is required to remain a Powerseller.
I almost never get the Powerseller discount anyway. Should I care if I lose the Powerseller status? >>
I don't offer free shipping, and mine is at 4.91. To get all the way down to 4.56 either a) You're moving so few items that a single buyer can have a dramatic impact, or b) You're over-charging for shipping.
Russ, NCNE
<< <i>We have lost our Powerseller stauta, and thus our 20% discount on FVF, effective April 20, 2.15% have complained about high shipping, although we ship either free or at actual cost. We will also be limited on how many items we may list until May 20, and those items will be shown at the last of the list. >>
I looked over some of your completed coin auctions, and you were charging $3.95 to ship items, that would cost you at the most ( with Delivery Confirmation- 3 oz 1st class package rate) $1.75. Granted the cost did not include the bubble envelope. I don't consider that "an actual cost."
<< <i>I looked over some of your completed coin auctions, and you were charging $3.95 to ship items, >>
The listing explicitly states $3.95, bidders argee to this by bidding, and then complain the cost is too high? Sounds like the bidders are the ones with a problem, not the seller.
<< <i>Granted the cost did not include the bubble envelope. I don't consider that "an actual cost." >>
Regardless of anyone's own personal interpretation, packaging materials are actually one of the costs involved with shipping an item.
<< <i>3.95 is totally fair, people just really want the item and feel forced to pay it. What ever happened to member Relayer? I remember some of his posts about how he figured the amount of tire wear and gas he used to mail an item
I'm not saying that it's not fair, but a far cry from " actual cost"
<< <i>3.95 is totally fair, people just really want the item and feel forced to pay it. What ever happened to member Relayer? I remember some of his posts about how he figured the amount of tire wear and gas he used to mail an item
$3.95 is fair, but would you consider it "reasonable" or "very reasonable"? That is the difference between a 4 and 5 on ebay's scale.
$5.00 to ship a slabbed coin worth less than $100 would be considered high by most buyers unless you are using priority mail.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
<< <i>we ship either free or at actual cost
$5.00 to ship a slabbed coin worth less than $100 would be considered high by most buyers unless you are using priority mail. >>
OR $3.95 for a coin worth less than $20
<< <i>$5.00 to ship a slabbed coin worth less than $100 would be considered high by most buyers unless you are using priority mail. >>
You know, the post office has done a fabulous job of convincing people that priority mail is somehow a superior service to first class mail. Here is USPS's very own description of the two services, copied direct from the DMM:
Priority mail:
Service Objectives
All Priority Mail receives expeditious handling and transportation. The USPS follows uniform guidelines for distributing and delivering mail but does not guarantee delivery within the specified time.
First class mail:
Service Objectives
First-Class Mail receives expeditious handling and transportation. Service objectives for delivery are 1 to 3 days; however, delivery time is not guaranteed.
Big difference, huh?
I think they should have a PowerMonger status.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay
<< <i>Is insurance available on first class?----------------BigE >>
Yes.
No.
didn't eBay say awhile ago that if ratings were too low, they would not allow you to sell at all?
(unless your massive volume made eBay so much money, that they would let it slide)
Service Objectives
All Priority Mail receives expeditious handling and transportation. The USPS follows uniform guidelines for distributing and delivering mail but does not guarantee delivery within the specified time.
First class mail:
Service Objectives
First-Class Mail receives expeditious handling and transportation. Service objectives for delivery are 1 to 3 days; however, delivery time is not guaranteed.
Big difference, huh?
Priority mail is unnecessary unless the package exceeds 13 oz., in which case it is actually cheaper than 1st class. In the case I was referring to above, when a single slabbed coin is being shipped, obviously priority mail is not the shipping method a seller should choose.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.