3 Tips for Earning Favorable Reviews on eBay
With the rise of online auction sites, people are finding it easier than ever find buyers for valuable and/or unwanted possessions. As the web’s most popular auction site, eBay is a bustling digital marketplace that boasts millions of satisfied sellers and buyers. Whether you’re an infrequent seller or someone who consistently makes money through eBay sales, customer reviews are vital to your continued success. Poor feedback can make buyers think twice before doing business with you and even earn you reprimands from the site. Fortunately, earning favorable customer reviews doesn’t have to be an arduous undertaking – particularly if you’re armed with the following pointers.
- Make Sure Orders Are Shipped on Time
One of the biggest complaints lobbed at eBay sellers is a lack of timeliness with regard to shipping. Despite promising to ship items within a specific window (usually between one and three days), some sellers will blow past this window and send items out whenever they feel like it. Not only is this guaranteed to displease customers, it’s liable to make them request a refund and/or report your conduct to the site. With this in mind, make a point of never missing shipping windows. If an unforeseen emergency prevents you from shipping an item on time, take care to contact the seller to make them aware of your situation.
- Protect the Merchandise
Depending on the type of item you’re shipping, it may be vulnerable to damage while in transit. If you regularly ship delicate merchandise, it’s imperative that you prioritize safety when putting together the packaging. This means providing fragile items with sufficient cushioning and insulation and using shipping labels designed specifically for delicate packages. Furthermore, if an item is sensitive to extreme temperatures, consider using temperature data loggers to ensure that the package is able to maintain a consistent temperature throughout its journey.
- Be Responsive to Customer Queries
A lack of responsiveness is another common gripe eBay customers level against sellers. If an item is taking an inordinate amount of time to arrive or a customer is having problems with a purchase, it behooves you to respond to such queries as quickly as possible. This will show buyers that you’re attentive to their needs and make them more apt to leave you favorable reviews and do business with you again. Needless to say, if buyers feel that your commitment to customer service ends the instant a payment is processed, you can expect the feedback to be scathing. A little bit of responsiveness can go a long way when it comes to earning customers’ trust, so the next time you receive a query from a buyer, take care to respond posthaste.
Whether you make your living selling items on eBay or only sell something once in a blue moon, you’d be wise to recognize the importance of customer feedback. While it’s true that some buyers will rate you poorly no matter what, most should be more than willing to give you a fair shake. Treating your customers as you wish to be treated can prove tremendously helpful in the quest for eBay glory.
