Free Shipping to Earn Automatic 5 Stars

eBay sets new default DSR score for shipping cost.

by Auctiva.com staff writer
- Aug 27, 2010

Nearly three years after introducing its controversial star-based seller-rating system, eBay this week fixed one of the problems with the Detailed Seller Ratings that most troubled sellers: the fact that buyers could still downgrade them based on shipping cost, even if shipping was free.

On Tuesday, sellers' DSRs for shipping cost began defaulting to five stars if they offered free shipping. eBay reports the change is not a test, but rather is intended to remain as a permanent policy. The only stipulation is eBay must be able to "verify a buyer did not pay for shipping," according to the company's eBayInk Blog.

"Sellers have been asking for this, and we are excited to bring it to them before the holiday season," notes Andrew Chase, blogging for eBayInk. "Free shipping attracts buyers, and this important new protection for sellers will ensure that DSR scores for shipping cost will not receive a score of less than 5 if buyers choose free shipping."

To qualify for an automatic 5-star rating, the listing must offer a free shipping option and the buyer must choose the free shipping option during payment. Additionally, sellers must offer a verifiable payment method (meaning, one of eBay's approved electronic payment methods), and use either eBay Checkout or a third-party checkout system that provides full post back information, Chase states.


16 Comments

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16  
masb99 I completly agree with you in the latest post and in this matter. We have had 100% feedback for nearly 2 years no problems what so ever until we get one simple buyer who placed a order from our website called in a chargeback mind you the only one in 2 years we refunded the amount no problems at all but at the same time ask't the customer to respect our chargeback policy which states that we will not accept any further orders from the same buyer. What does this person do ?? He goes into ebay and finds the same item again buys the same item again in the same name we discover that and ref

  Posted by trd at 9/11/2010 3:35:00 AM
15  
There is another issue that has been overlooked so far in this discussion, and that is that DSR are not compulsory. That means that not everyone who leaves feedback also leaves star ratings. A very large proportion of buyers leave feedback because they want to make sure that they get feedback themselves, to demonstrate what good buyers they are by having large feedback scores after their names (since the 100% rating for a buyer has become completely meaningless). So, feedback, while not compulsory, is very common. But leaving DSR with your feedback is optional. We have watched this very clos

  Posted by masb99 at 9/10/2010 5:16:00 PM
14  
I have to agree on with masb99 regarding this subject... We ship all of our items the day they are purchased (or the following business day if they are purchased outside business hours) use brand new packing materials, and pack items above and beyond what would be required, just to make sure they arrive safely, all the while offering free shipping on 99% of our items. "Which DSR are you having trouble with?" you might ask... THE SHIPPING DSR! This just reinforces what the above poster already mentioned.... customers base scores on their own set of standards, not the standards set by ebay. Th

  Posted by Delinda - PH Customs at 9/10/2010 5:11:00 AM
13  
Here is a trick on how to get bad thief buyers who think that all must be free away from the site. In my 15 years in eBay I have learned one trick that always works. Lets say I sell a watch $ 120.00 plus $ 6.00 in international shipping fee. The buyer from the get go says well the shipping seems high. You agree with that person and ship the item stating the full value or base value on the Customs declaration form. Buyers who are trouble from the get go get a nice surprise when the item arrives in most countries outside the USA the Import duty can range from 7 - 25% the import tax from 20- 35%

  Posted by trd at 9/10/2010 2:01:00 AM
12  
I am sorry did I miss something in live ?? Nothing is free in live except for death and that cost's you life. It is clear that I agree with all in this blog about the so called D.S.R system a system worked out by bored Ebay employees just to keep their jobs and to keep us on our toes. Or could it be that Ebay's profits have gone down. ?? Has anyone even reflected over the fact that all fees for ebay sellers have gone up and we are to list and post items sell them free ship them for free only to receive a D.S.R which is misleading and incorrect and pay fees to ebay and paypal ?? The D.S.R syste

  Posted by trd at 9/10/2010 1:38:00 AM

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About the Author

Auctiva staff writers constantly monitor trends and best practices of those selling on eBay and elsewhere online. They attend relevant training seminars and trade shows and regularly discuss the market with PowerSellers and other market experts.

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