Negative Feedback Doesn't Matter (and other common eBay myths)

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Related videos:
- Settling the eBay free shipping debate once and for all • Settling the eBay free...
- When to use auctions vs. Buy it Now • When to Use Buy it Now...
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[@TheNinjaPicker]

1,600 items sold. Never gave a partial refund except for shipping and I have 1 negative feedback. I am a Golden God! 😂😂

[@Zweihorne]

Your description of buyers fishing for a partial refund perfectly described a situation that happened to me with a car stereo head unit. Buyer claimed it didn't work as described and wanted me to "do something" about it. I wasn't aware of this tactic before this video, but luckily I did exactly what you suggested and offered a full refund and return. The buyer magically figured out the problem in half an hour and never returned the item. Love your videos, quality content.

[@PokeRetroFan]

You’re right about negative feedback. I’m a top rated seller and I’ve sold thousands of items on eBay and you will get negative feedback no matter what you do. Someone left me a negative feedback because they had to sign for their package. It will happen especially since a small percentage of buyers will straight up try to scam you. The good thing now is that eBay now allows you leave a reply to negative feedbacks. I’m fact an Ebay rep straight up told me not to pay too much attention to negative feedbacks and to just focus on being a great seller.

[@gorgorjim]

I scour the internet for a couple of days trying to find which box sizes I should in general keep on hand as a thrift store flipper with various item types and sizes: Disappointment. I see you've released a new video and I watch 2 minutes and 30 seconds: Success! Thanks again for your help! Confession: sometimes while I'm out sourcing I imagine you, FlippingJunk, and ReadySetResell as transparent blue Jedi/Force Ghosts standing next to me, giving advice on which items I should get.

[@branscoset]

Negative feedback doesn't matter to most buyers, but it does matter to the search algorithm.

[@Wendy-Go-0411]

I just got my first negative after 4 years of selling. I was crushed. This video made me feel alot better about it. Thanks.

[@DarkInception]

Sorry, that sucks. What reason did they give

[@Wendy-Go-0411]

@@DarkInception they said that the battery compartment was corroded and didn't work. The item was new, still in the original packaging, fastened in place so I had no reason to believe it wouldn't work. Perhaps it came with batteries and I didn't notice. Alas, I'll never know because they didn't show me photos or return the item. I just refunded their funds, blocked them and moved on with my life.

[@maxbean1245]

@@Wendy-Go-0411 I feel you, ten years of selling just got my first neg, literally some guy complaining an unfinished hobby kit advertised as such arrived needing to be finished....

[@Wendy-Go-0411]

@@maxbean1245 well that blows. People just don't read.

[@bbh7550]

First one after 18 years this week. Dropped my score to 97.6

[@mycrazylife408]

I at one point had 50% feedback because i had only 2 positive and 2 negative and i still sold something as often as before. Not only that i made my highest sale which was $800. So i’m sure some buyers won’t buy but i didn’t find it make a huge difference at all. The bottom line is if you have valuable items people want they will pay you and take the risk. Most of them know they can get a refund should anything go wrong.

[@cowbelltv4865]

I still use auctions because it allows me to know what day of the week I will need to ship. My schedule makes it difficult to ship everyday.

[@cjsparkle100]

Just say in your listing. This item only ships out on Saturdays etc...

[@AlexButler-ry3hj]

Someone left Me a negative feedback on a VHS critiquing the movie lmao

[@Aries329]

I had 100% positive review for 2 years until one buyer was unhappy and wanted a full refund but refused to send the item back and ebay refused to remove the review at first i was upset but came to realize it really doesnt matter since im still rated a top seller

[@pauldyck4596]

As usual your comments are practical and spot on correct. The vast majority of ebay buyers are nice and reasonable but inevitably you will run into ones who are not. I totally agree with you regarding auction format - I had a pair of World War II dog tags that I auctioned and got $136 for but that is the rare exception. I am a small seller and have not had to buy boxes - from time to time I source boxes by walking around the neighborhood on recycling day and reusing the neighbors' boxes.

[@kimmerw8677]

Great video. I got my 1st negative today and it has upset me. I sent 11 pics with measurements, and they didn't give me an option to make good on the purchase before placing the axe to my store. I sent them an apology and asked them to start a return in which I would cover. Waiting on a response. Ebay should not let someone place a neg review if the seller hasn't been notified by the buyer that there is a problem.

[@stevepyles8871]

This video was a breath of fresh air. I was just about to call it quits.

[@justinresells]

stick with it

[@TheSoberReseller]

Great video once again! I learned the hard way with the priority boxes 😆 !

[@mayakoyama9130]

I actually use priority mail flat rate all the time. Jeans are one of my main niches and most of them can fit into the paper flat rate envelopes. For items over a pound it's way cheaper to use those for zones 6 and further (California is zone 8 for me and I ship there a lot using flat rate). For zones 5 and below the cubic rates are usually cheaper.

[@justinresells]

agreed, i use these the most, too! also for jeans and other clothes that weigh over a pound but can be squished in there

[@juliasilverstone2626]

Thanks for all the tips, I'll watch your other videos now too! Oh man, I would like to part with my role-playing book collection (approx. 600 books/ boxes+++ - some of them very old and in good condition)! I noticed that this AD&D 2nd. Ed. Books are MUCH MORE VALUABLE here in the USA than here in my country Germany and there is also a US-collector's market for them! However, I have enormous concerns about shipping with reference to internationally/oversea-shipping! In the past I have bought books from all over the world (UK, US, EU etc.) and the sellers were conflicted about the stated SHIPPING COSTS on E-Bay (which I transferred/ paid) and the real costs that they ultimately received in the post to pay had CLEARLY different! Many sellers later wrote me messages saying that the SHIPPING COSTS were SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER than shown in E-Bay and that they had made a real MINUS deal... THAT may not happen to me! ​ @justinresells Do you know of a GOOD website for international shipments that gives reliable SHIPPING COSTS... or is E-Bay reliable? Thanks for your help! Best GREEEETZ AND LOVE FROM GERMANY

[@uncommonthrifts]

Wonderful content Justin!

[@brianswitzerbbmw]

Finally! I was getting worried about you. Awesome content, as always. Many thanks.

[@justinresells]

I'm alive! Just busy :)

[@relax2calm]

I just got some really bad negative feedback which ebay wont remove, that's why I searched and found this video. It has really cheered me up and I am surprised it has not got more views. The buyer lied about the product, threatened to leave negative feedback because they thought I should have given them a refund without them sending the product back. But ebay sucks because in my case they are not even sticking to there own policy so why do they have it if they not even going to follow it through.

[@williambreeze2659]

Thanks for the pointers!

[@mrslehman3]

Great advice! Well done!

[@Jake-Day]

People hunting for free boxes are thinking short-term and undervaluing their time.

[@justinresells]

agreed!

[@Nurmi860]

Love this video well done!!!

[@theresakralik1820]

I am a prorated seller plus meaning i ship within 24 hours and offer free RETURN shipping. I do not offer free outgoing shipping because too many buyers buy wothout reading and looking at pictures. I want buyers that are equally vested in the cost of shipping as me.

[@greengiant311]

Great content, thanks!

[@raybar121]

Thank you for helping

[@Resellocity]

Negative feedback doesn’t matter. That’s not a myth at all. Some of the biggest sellers that I know get dozens and even hundreds of negative feedback every year, but it’s has no effect whatsoever on their business.

[@mrfrisky5887]

got screwed on a couple auctions. you have snipers that will bid last second

[@uncommonthrifts]

Could not agree more about negative feedback. Had a buyer who said I was a nasty person ! I left it alone.

[@uniniversalstar1974]

Flat rare is always cheaper for the clothing items I ship. My husband brings me boxes from his job when I need to ship using Ground Advantage

[@onlyluvisreal6691]

Have you noticed that every single negative feedback is visible right now from years back shows up!

[@user-wp8zt5jc6j]

Thank you

[@justinresells]

Welcome!

[@gravef1ghter]

I ordered a pile of those "free" USPS boxes and discovered shortly after, what you just said, they're not free. I am now using them for kindling in my firepit. 🤣

[@derekelliott6098]

Link Pirate Ship. Sometimes cheaper.

[@cathyeller5722]

Just don't use them to put under your container garden. They are sprayed with a water repellant and will kill your plants. They are great to lay down for walkways though, the weeds die.

[@alexives9274]

It is bad is you get bad feedback 3 out 10 items you sale you get a hidden strick you get 3 in a year they banned your account no questions ask doesn't matter how long you been a member

[@Psychvpath]

I just started reselling on eBay and my first sale that I shipped someone in the factory stole the item and the buyer left me a negative review will that affect me in the long run he was my first review

[@dhand34]

If there are lots of negs, you will get burned, when buying but don’t get scammed if you are a seller

[@Nurmi860]

Been selling in Ebay for 2 years out of the 10 auctions I’ve done only 3 of them paid. That’s 30%! Talk about scumbags, so word to those reading don’t use auctions it’s pointless since ebay doesn’t force them to pay which is ridiculous to me no auction house anywhere let’s you bid then decide not to pay for an item

[@TheWildwoodPicker]

I have to add my two cents in there about shipping... charge or not to charge. I think with the costs of shipping today plus when you add in the costs of purchasing shipping supplies you almost have to charge shipping to the buyer these days. Way back in the day like 10yrs ago I offered free shipping all the time, shipping was super cheap back then. I just shipping a gold club, 38" x 5" x 5" Ground Advantage and it cost $18.83 to ship. That will really cut into your profit margin if you don't charge shipping. I'm seeing more and more people charging shipping now. I think it's the new normal for ebay now. The golf club I sold was a Wedge for $65.00. It's bad enough I lost money from the brand new price I paid for it last year. I just never happened to use it. Roughly 65.00 is the going rate for wedges too, there is no way I can mark that up and charge free shipping. it will never sell if I listed it that way.

[@derekelliott6098]

All my items are free ship. 7,000 listings. Majority are media - some still go First Class cheaper. The vast majority are less than a pound. Here is my two cents: the smaller the items, the cheaper the shipping and packaging. I buy 200 of the 6x9 ebay padded with the coupons ~.9c each. And end of each year I buy a ton of supplies (try to get to the next lowest tax bracket). These are 5x7, 6x10, 8x10 (for books mainly). Average when buying usually 2000 each is .6-10c each.

[@bsimps589]

I just returned to selling on eBay after a few months hiatus. One of my biggest problems was finding the right size boxes for larger sized items I bought to resell, and the amount of time it took me to package them!! Think I was paying myself about $4 an hour with those items 😂 For example a Lego set new in box was 55cm long and 28cm wide- had to custom make the box myself! Also shipping has gone up in Australia for larger/ heavier shipped items, which hit me as well! I saw your issue with the iwalk crutch you sold and lost on shipping and the return. Do you now buy items to resell with all the above in mind? e.g smaller items Thanks again Justin for your brilliant content, has really helped me!

[@dereketnyre7156]

I like to keep Home Depot moving boxes on hand - small, medium and large. Sometimes need to resize them, but still work well. Can sometimes find them used on Craigslist from someone who has just moved....

[@bsimps589]

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@dereketnyre7156 Thank you for your reply. I’m in Australia but will check the Home Depot Equiv and see what they have. I’ll have to search KZbin for some good box resizing videos, as my skills are definitely wanting 😂

[@BelleResells]

imho, what matters most is shipping on time! not doing this hurts your shop SO much

[@justinresells]

agreed!

[@billargueta5458]

As a new seller i am starting to worry about sourcing thru the winter season. Thrift stores are high prices unlike swapmeet/fkea market and yard sells.

[@justinresells]

Yeah, gotta get creative! I do a lot of estate sales in the winter.

[@pamprier4710]

@billargueta5458 Perhaps you can try what I did. Since I was also concerned about sourcing during winter, I posted in my local fb group saying that if anyone plans to clean our their closet(s) before Cmas, I'll be glad to take the stuff off their hands.

[@simones.3563]

Thank you for this informative video. Do you recommend a tool to estimate shipping costs? I currently only offer calculated shipping that the buyer pays but I would like to investigate offering free shipping.

[@justinresells]

thanks for watching! eBay has a shipping calculator you can use but I just eyeball it. www.ebay.com/shp/Calculator

[@simones.3563]

Thank you!

[@AgathaBlanco]

I actually use a lot of Priority Boxes, specially if you sell on Poshmark is a must to have

[@derekelliott6098]

USPS MFR works great for holding books, DVDs, VHS. 24#s from Ohio to Cali for $28, insurance and signature costs not included. However, I RARELY sell heavy items. Way too much risk of damage. Then again, that was a $5500 Nakamichi Dragon. Saver's $12. NEVER, EVER give a full refund: If the item is still sealed, only refund return shipping. If the item was opened, used, damaged, different condition than pictured, or missing items, 50% refund. This option is available to Top Rated sellers. Non-positive feedback is was fairly easy to get removed. Not every single one. However, you wont get a result if you dont try, and then try again. And will be removed when a buyer initiated case closes in your favor. The last 2 are dependant on Top Rated status. I haven't been anything less in a long time.

[@oliviatrue2907]

The myth, or not, I'd like addressed is: Does eBay "throttle" your sales, for any number of reasons?

[@StevieClips]

I’m new to eBay selling and wonders what should I do refunds for I had someone purchase something and then instantly want a refund because I didn’t accept returns wondering if anyone could help me understand returns better

[@bajuracan]

Any recommendations where to purchase shipping supplies at great prices?

[@justinresells]

Like i said in the video i buy locally, so depends on where you live!

[@uncommonthrifts]

I think eBay doesn’t charge an insertion fee for auctions so it is a draw for new sellers.

[@UndercoverLover203]

Help! my eBay sales have tanked! I used to do pretty well, but now I'm stuck in the "below average" category after canceling a few sales in the past 3 months. ( that’s what happens when you cross list and forget). I've lost my Promote Now options as well. Should I just make a new eBay account since I know better now, or is there a way to fix this mess?

[@justinresells]

eek! I am not sure what would be best to do in this situation, sorry.

[@billargueta5458]

Why did you cancel the orders?

[@UndercoverLover203]

They had already been sold on Mercari, and I forgot to remove the listings from eBay. Two, possibly three, orders were canceled because I cross-listed.

[@UndercoverLover203]

it's ok, thanks anyways. Oh and your videos have helped and motivated me throughout my reselling journey outside of eBay as well. Keep up the good content. @@justinresells

[@gregkareem9824]

Keep on listing and make sure it has a high sell through rate

[@jschang29]

Here's a tip and what I do, I use USPS free boxes and just throw a bag around it. The price of a box compared to a price of a bag, drastically different. Doesn't work for everything but still .06-15 cents a bag is cheaper than .50+ cents a box.

[@justinresells]

You’re not supposed to do that. The freeness of the boxes are subsidized by using them to ship Priority. you’re basically stealing from usps and tax payers by using them for other purposes and is against regulation

[@showgirlsaroundtheworldada4484]

That is a federal crime

[@crosswalklarry]

And if they catch you the customer will get charged the priority rate before they can get the box and you will more than likely lose your profit and then some if heavy item paying them back.

[@jamess5883]

Couldn't you just use a marker and black out the usps logo? Or cut it the box and flip it outward?

[@justinresells]

no, that’s illegal

[@jamieomahen2656]

Since I am in St Louis too what local supplier do you use?

[@justinresells]

ST. LOUIS PAPER AND BOX CO. Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] www.stlpaper.com [e-mail]

[@jamieomahen2656]

@@justinresells thank you!!

[@michaeldenzer6024]

Ty! I needed to hear this...Great job

[@michaeldenzer6024]

Wont do auctions! No more...period

[@michaeldenzer6024]

1600 listed items. No sales.....uhg.....top rated seller

[@goldra8409]

Worth noting the free usps boxes double as free cardboard. If you need material for protecting magazines/etc in transit, these can work as an easy supply for scrap cardboard.

[@justinresells]

You’re not supposed to do that. The freeness of the boxes are subsidized by using them to ship Priority. you’re basically stealing from usps and tax payers by using them for other purposes and is against regulation

[@warplanner8852]

Re your first point - the USPS Priority shipping boxes - they're GREAT FREE storage boxes for stuff you keep on your garage or attic.

[@justinresells]

using them for purposes other than shipping via Priority service is effectively stealing. don’t do that

[@jermaineconcern1539]

I also use priority boxes to mail ground advantage/media mail by wrapping in packing paper and shipping plastic wrap (cheap and fast at my shipping station)

[@justinresells]

👎

[@seaturtledog]

That is bad advice. First it looks bad as a seller to not have a proper package. It also makes the costs for us that do use USPS go up higher. AS a buyer I would question your ethics and might at least give you a nuetral feedback for doing something illegal.

[@Wendy-Go-0411]

Not to mention illegal.

[@fadytawfiq3750]

eBay management is just group of fancy people who are not in the field and set in the nice fancy office building 🏢 do not know SH🤬T

[@danwilliams9442]

Get the boxes and use brown shipping tape

[@justinresells]

so steal from the USPS/tax payers? no thanks

[@ButterflyAlways8379]

This is not a myth, I have been with eBay 16 yrs.I moved my inventory and some items were broken and I had no idea until I retrieved them from my bins,so I had to cancel 3 orders, eBay put me at below standard and I am not able to promote my listings and am having next to no sales.After all these years I am considering leaving eBay.I do not have any negative feedback or unresolved issues.

[@justinresells]

Canceling orders is different than getting negative feedback from buyers. Cancel too many orders during a certain time period and eBay will effectively put you on probation, which it sounds like what happened to you, which is unfortunate.

[@junebrezgis1652]

Just end and sell similar every day a portion of your inventory and your sales will go up.

[@mycrazylife408]

@@junebrezgis1652no i don’t think you understand. when your account goes below standard your store gets shadow banned and you get no sales

[@mycrazylife408]

yikes yea you NEVER cancel orders i rather ship it broken then have them return it rather than get a seller cancelled order defect those are the worst ones you can get. The defects fall off after a year just so you know. Once one of your defects falls off you will only have 2 which means you will be above standard again. I’m sorry you’re going through this yea once you’re shadow banned it’s not even worth listing on ebay as you lose 95% of visibility as ebay shadow bans your store. I recommend calling them and explaining your situation and tell them how you been on ebay for 16 years and never had a problem and it was an honest mistake that will never happen again ask them if they can just remove one of the cancelled orders. If they say no i would recommend you keep calling until you get a rep that sympathizes with you. Worth a shot.

[@joegibson6041]

That’s a bummer. This is supposed to be fun, not depressing. When my sales recently tanked, I woke realizing this is my only income, feebay. Scary. 17 years and suddenly I can’t make it. Foreign knockoffs suddenly proliferate. It’s cheaper to ship from China. So much for patents and copyright when the culprit lives in the Wo-Chan Province. Yeah, you might do more sell similar with a tweek to each listing and sell more. New listings help.

[@user-vg1cc1wb9x]

Wait what,? U can definitely get free boxes from usps and even if its not the cheapest option to ship it through them ..all u do is wrap it in a poly bag over it.. I can't believe this guy doesn't know of such option

[@justinresells]

of course i know that is an option but it is against USPS regulation to do so. the cost of the boxes are subsidized by using them to ship via Priority service, so when you use them for other purposes or services, you’re effectively stealing. so stop doing that :)

[@user-vg1cc1wb9x]

@@justinresells ok if u can show me on the usps website that they prohibit u to use poly bag over them..then I might consider not doing so.. if it was consider stealing i assume they would create some measures for people not to do that options

[@justinresells]

faq.usps.com/s/article/How-do-I-Use-or-Reuse-Boxes-Properly “Boxes ordered from the Postal Store can be used only for the class of mail specified on the box (Priority Mail Express® service, Priority Mail® service, or Global Express Guaranteed®) and must be closed using the adhesive provided. These boxes should not be re-used and do not need to be as they can be ordered from the Postal Store at no cost. Misuse may be a violation of federal law.”

[@jeffdorris5321]

Hit the like button 👍

[@jermaineconcern1539]

I use priority mail boxes with UPS and FedEx all the time. All. The. Time.

[@justinresells]

👎