Yes but it would be really difficult to educate the minority of ebay buyers that have the potential knowing or otherwise to mess you up.
For example I received 2 echeques that took 8 days to clear, and then I sent the item (which everyone should do anyway only after payment clears) The buyer then decides to leave a low DSR for dispatch time, despite the problem being their end and not yours.
This is just one example of how this can mess up your business.
The only way to counteract this is to send a couple of emails explaining the situation.
To be honest I send out the standard automated emails and as above explain items to the best of my ability, post out fast for a fair postage cost.
Then of course the rest of it is out of your hands. Like I say I sent my first 50 items with free postage and was interested to see that I had a 4.7 on postage charges, so someone is marking me down for free postage, go figure.
Also it is always a risk that if you try to be as professional as possible emailing buyers explaining DSR and its impact then there are also a minority that will use this as an opportunity to indulge in a little bit of "feedback blackmail" to either get a little more discount or some other favour in return for a nice 5 star rating.
Now I know there are not a lot of this type, but they are still there none the less.
I think you have a good point and that there is a case for emailing the buyer and explaining the impact of DSR, also it is an option to just hope for the best and hope that most buyers know what they are doing and are fair people.
Another tip I sometimes try out is to have an automated feedback rating that I leave for buyers, something like this:
****Excellent 5 Star Ebayer. Great job*** FIVE STARS!!!
This has the psychologically effect of a buyer thinking "well thats great, they rate me as 5 stars, the least I can do is return the favour"
Usually I leave this feedback in response to a positive comment, but often if a month has passed I leave feedback first.
I think the feel good feeling that a buyer gets from good feedback and especially that you mention them as being a "five star" ebayer will encourage them to leave the same for you.
It is true that most people who receive the above feedback will have a positive feeling and they will respond with a 5 star rating in return as this will add to that "good feeling" that they have. To mark you down on the ratings will dampen down that feeling. This is psychology at work!
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