Author Topic: SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR eSAYERS SELLERS (Read 9730 times)

bnwt · « **on:** May 31, 2010, 12:38:34 PM »

eSayers would like to thank you, our valued sellers, for participating in eSayers by giving you the opportunity to learn about buyers' preferences and expectations when shopping on eBay. We hope that these insider tips will help you excel as sellers.

Here's how the process will work:

You get to vote: We'd love you to tell us what you would most like to know about what buyers want when it comes to shopping on eBay. We will send you a short survey where you can 'vote' on what topics we ask buyers about, as well as suggest some of your own topics.
We survey buyers: Once we have collated your votes, we'll invite buyers from eSayers to answer your questions through a survey.
We provide feedback to you: When we have the results from the survey with buyers, we'll send each seller who voted an exclusive short report summarising the key insights.
Your part in this process is easy: you'll just be asked to complete a short 5 minute survey and tell us what buyer insights would most help your selling. So, look out for this survey in the coming days and in the meantime, please have a think about those burning questions you have always wanted to ask buyers.

Best wishes,
The eSayers team
http://www.esayers.com.au/

bnwt · « **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2010, 12:50:20 PM »

I'd like to suggest non paying buyers be banned ........ along with nutcase buyers

also buyers need to be educated about feedback ....... for example saying things like "took 5 days to be delivered" when postage from sydney is usually 5 - 7 days

I have had a run of nutcases leaving feedback over the last months

*Brum6y* · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2010, 09:15:47 PM »

This is a perfect opportuinty for something I was musing about yesterday.....

While eBay may not be too keen, I thought it would be a great idea to survey buyers on their thoughts and expectations that guide their communications with, and ratings of, sellers - especially in regards to feedback and DSRs.

Also, how perceptive buyers are when problems are caused by eBay, PayPal, Australia Post, etc. - NOT the seller. This is particularly important in regards to feedback and DSRs - since these are the ONLY places buyers can voice their disapproval - and the seller has to wear it all as being directly responsible, including being penalised and being told they need to 'lift their game'.

You could also ask some questions so as to determine how well acquainted buyers are in using eBay. (This was inspired by a suggestion from a seller to determine what grade of 'numpty' a buyer was.)

*wheels* · « **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2010, 11:00:00 PM »

Something definitely has to be done about Non Paying Buyers - I mean they are not buyers if they don't pay, so why should they be able to leave feedback etc? From reading the eBay boards the number of NPBs seems to be growing. I cannot buy anything on another site anywhere and not pay for it! Payment should be immediate or negotiated with the seller.

*wheels* · « **Reply #4 on:** May 31, 2010, 11:31:20 PM »

buyers' preferences and expectations when shopping on eBay

Quality products at bargain prices, shipped yesterday!

*Brum6y* · « **Reply #5 on:** May 31, 2010, 11:35:36 PM »

... and if you're still not happy - you money refunded in full - No questions asked!

(forget whatever the policies state)

*wheels* · « **Reply #6 on:** May 31, 2010, 11:37:07 PM »

A suggestion for the Buyer survey

Free Post
Do buyers prefer Free Post items, or would they rather see calculated postage, based on actual delivery costs?

I ask this because we recently listed an item for $17.99 with Free Post. No sales. We relisted it for $11.95 plus $5.95 post and have sold 5 so far.

*wheels* · « **Reply #7 on:** May 31, 2010, 11:46:49 PM »

another one

Feedback
A lot of buyers do not leave feedback. Why?
On another site I use the buyer can tick a box to say the item has been received. There is still the option to leave feedback. Maybe eBay could introduce a tick box in MyeBay that says item received and if the box is ticked and no further feedback is left then the seller gets an auto positive.

*wheels* · « **Reply #8 on:** May 31, 2010, 11:50:54 PM »

I thought I should check our feedback before I say too much more about feedback!

We've had a couple of buyers apologising for leaving late feedback! And we do not ever ask for or send reminders about feedback. I can't stand sellers who are pushy about feedback.

*CountessA* · « **Reply #9 on:** May 31, 2010, 11:52:23 PM »

After a really, really exhausting day yesterday, and a feeling of bone-deep (no, marrow-deep actually) weariness now, I'm in a cynical mood.

*narrows eyes cynically*

There. See? Cynical.

I can see the sort of questions that might be asked as follows:

Do you as a buyer prefer to be sold items with free postage, or would you prefer to be given a complete money-back guarantee (including the postage you didn't pay, and the amount you would have paid if you'd ordered three of the items, and the full cost of the item itself) if you're at all unhappy on the day that you receive the item?

Do you as a buyer feel that it is fair for you to be able to rate your seller on whether you sneezed or your cat overshot the litter box?

*smee* · « **Reply #10 on:** May 31, 2010, 11:53:03 PM »

I would never go the free post option as a seller , and as a buyer it wouldnt sway me either way

*Brum6y* · « **Reply #11 on:** May 31, 2010, 11:54:17 PM »

They're not silly - it's 9 cents cheaper!!!

Seriously though - it's all about the perception. Although the total cost is (practically) the same, $17.99 is probably expensive for the item - but $11.95 is a good price.

Having an additional shipping cost with the lesser price is not as scary, because the buyer may see that $5.95 is not unreasonable. For many buyers, adding the two together more usually happens at the time of payment - not prior to purchase. Even then, they will still be considering $11.95 a good price and $5.95 reasonable to ship - and if they suddenly feel it seems a little high, they are likely to just check the addition to make sure it's right ..... but the important thing is that they have already made a commitment by purchasing and will feel obligated to complete it - which is completely different to the freedom to walk away if they are still looking.

It's a very similar issue to the one that puts a price of $9.99 on something rather than $10.00.

I'm not into marketing theory, but I am aware that subtle changes in how things are presented to prosepctive purchasers can make noticeable differences in the decision to buy. Pricing is a big one

*CountessA* · « **Reply #12 on:** June 01, 2010, 12:06:33 AM »

There is definitely a number of perceptions about price... and it seems to vary with respect to WHAT someone is selling.

Some items (and services) are looked at askance if priced too low. And for some, the opposite is true - there seems to be a new breed of buyer, the sort who are "savvy" buyers, and they're looking for the best deal. They'll have no compunction in internetting and googling around, or even phoning around, taking up people's time, doing price checks and comparisons, and they'll plump in the end for the best value even if it's 5 cents cheaper.

I think I'm a half-savvy buyer in that sense. I will certainly shop around, but I won't go for the cheapest option. I always take other factors into consideration, and if I'm phoning around, the sort of response I get makes a difference to me because I consider it in the light of the sort of response I could expect if there's a problem. When buying online, I look at any information I can about the seller's/company's after-sales service, reliability, speed of supply, range, expertise, etc.

Do you think there IS a sense of buyers looking for the absolute rock-bottom cheapest deal rather than security in their purchases? Or have I misread it?

*wheels* · « **Reply #13 on:** June 01, 2010, 12:11:01 AM »

Well I would have liked to have sold it for over $20, but eBay has been flooded with listings from the UK with free post so we took a chance and priced the item the same as the UK sellers were offering and hoped that some buyers would prefer to buy from an Australian seller and pay the $5.95 postage. And it's worked!

*wheels* · « **Reply #14 on:** June 01, 2010, 12:22:49 AM »

Another topic for Buyers

Best Offer
Do buyers understand how it works, ie. the buyer can only submit 3 offers, the seller has 48 hours to respond, the seller does not have to accept the buyer's Best Offer. Really, it should be called Make an Offer

As with most grievances by users on eBay, better education, clearer instructions, better Help pages, knowledgeable and helpful Customer Service staff at Live Help who can provide relevant, correct answers would go a long way to fixing many of the problems.

tellomon · « **Reply #15 on:** June 01, 2010, 12:35:43 AM »

Quote from: *wheels* on June 01, 2010, 12:22:49 AM

....knowledgeable and helpful Customer Service staff at Live Help who can provide relevant, correct answers would go a long way to fixing many of the problems.

*Brum6y* · « **Reply #16 on:** June 01, 2010, 12:53:06 AM »

Can't argue with ya Tello!!!

*Brum6y* · « **Reply #17 on:** June 01, 2010, 12:53:58 AM »

Quote from: *Countessa* on June 01, 2010, 12:06:33 AM

...because I consider it in the light of the sort of response I could expect if there's a problem.

This is the number 1 consideration for me. ANY reservations about this and the seller is off my list. Period.

Price comes after this.

But research before purchasing is something that recently registered buyers increasingly seem to be lacking - and it is encouraged by eBay and Paypal with their "We'll look after to you at any cost (to the seller)" approach.

But then, eBay probably don't want people to look around - or they might end up like I did in my last product research exercise.... I was looking for a 240V Power Meter that displayed Power Factor, so I could accurately assess power requirements in selecting UPS's. To cut a long story short, I started off looking on eBay at ones from Hong Kong for $25-$28 with free shipping, with an adapter thrown in to suit Australian sockets - I ended up by finding one for $19.95 at Jaycar (which is just up the road from me) and it's made for Australian use.

EBay: 0 Brumby: 1

bnwt · « **Reply #18 on:** June 04, 2010, 01:38:55 PM »

you'll now see that all eBay sellers problems will solved

[attachment deleted by admin]

*wheels* · « **Reply #19 on:** June 04, 2010, 02:27:09 PM »

bnwt, there are some questions that should give good feedback to sellers, a couple of questions seem to be more aimed at eBay looking for answers and some just seem to be asking if buyers have or use common sense.

bnwt · « **Reply #20 on:** June 04, 2010, 02:51:12 PM »

.............................. and some just seem to be asking if buyers have or use common sense

what sort of response do you think you will get if you ask a moron if they are retarded ???

the trouble is 99% of customers are fine but it's that one moronic percent that cause the grief and honestly I don't think anyone can do anything to solve that

*Brum6y* · « **Reply #21 on:** June 04, 2010, 02:56:06 PM »

Maximum of 3 selections...?

I think I'd like to know what answers eBay had to just about all those questions - some out of specific interest and others out of curiosity.

But, come to think of it, eBay probably has no idea - and is asking sellers to help them draw up a survey to send out to buyers.... but don't you just know sellers are likely to get either no results or a very superficial summary, if that is the case.

The cynic in me would consider this an exercise in using experienced eBay sellers to help identify areas of difficulty and collect information to assist hand-holding of the 'big boys' -

- because the current eBay management haven't a clue.

surf-inside · « **Reply #22 on:** June 09, 2010, 04:39:44 PM »

You're right, ebay is clueless about merchandising. This is clearly evident in their management of the business.

I prefer NOT to receive feedback from my buyers. I have a good feedback rating, relatively high DSRs, I'd like to keep it that way. I cringe whenever I get feedback.....

I sold an electronically transmitted item a couple weeks ago. Buyer asked if I emailed the item or mailed it, and I said I emailed it the same day. So he purchased. I went to church, then came home and saw he made the purchase, emailed him the product. Time from sale to delivery: 2 hours. Feedback left: "Seller TOOK FOREVER TO DELIVER!! And STILL Hasnt left me feedback!" He also dinged my Shipping DSR.

Sometimes you just can't win no matter what you do.

*CountessA* · « **Reply #23 on:** June 09, 2010, 05:05:06 PM »

If forever = 2 hours, then that wretched buyer may reach his "Eternity" of heavenly bliss, only to have an angel boot him out...

Buyer: Ah... This is heaven. Just heaven. Wonderful! And to think I've got this joy forever!
Clock: DONG... DONG...
Angel: All right, Mister, it's time to move along.
Buyer: What? What? But...
Angel: It's closing-up time for you, sonny.
Buyer: What do you mean? Isn't this supposed to be forever?
Angel: Yeah. But you gave "forever" a timeframe - 2 hours.
Buyer: (as he's dragged out) No! I'm sorry! I was a rat, a swine, a piece of slime! Sorry! Sorry! Please!
Angel: Sorry. But we're as fair as eBay feedback up here.

*Brum6y* · « **Reply #24 on:** June 09, 2010, 05:51:16 PM »

Quote from: *Countessa* on June 09, 2010, 05:05:06 PM

Angel: Sorry. But we're as fair as eBay feedback up here.

Hmmm.... I might challenge the location as 'heaven' - sounds more like the other place...

News:

Author Topic: SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR eSAYERS SELLERS (Read 9730 times)

surf-inside