It really torks me off because then ebay gets to compute their final value fees on a higher final price (if you incorporate the shipping into the cost of the item and give "free shipping")
Now, with that being said, I think sellers who offer free shipping on an item should AUTOMATICALLY get a 5 from ANY buyer giving their DSRs. I mean seriously, WTF?! The option should ONLY be for them to give a 5. It really pisses me off that they are even allowed to rate their opinion on a shipping charge they didn't even freaking pay.
By the same token, in SOME defense of the buyers, and certainly the newer buyers, if ebay is telling them that 4 is "good" then I think most of them think they are giving you a good rating by giving you a 4 and very very few buyers are likely to given anyone a 5 because they figure no one is "perfect".
Here is what will REALLY help your DSRs. Make up a little card that you put into each of your shipments basically explaining how anything less than a 5 star DSR rating in any category hurts your standing and keeps you from getting certain status ratings and discounts on fees and that can even get your account suspended below I think it is soon to be 4.4. When I started doing that my DSR's did a dramatic jump. I'm at all 4.9's with one 4.8 sometimes. There is actually someone on ebay who sells those little cards but I just basically copied their idea for my own auctions. Give it a try, can't hurt and might help.
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