eBay makes a much needed change committing to withdraw bad feedback regarding customs fees

Burried 11 pages back into my feedback is a neutral with this comment:

ottimi oggetti, ma spedisce come commerciante e bisogna pagare tasse doganali

which according to an online language translator, means this:

optimal objects, but send as trader and must pay customs taxes

I wasn't too overly concerned about it, but it does go to show that this customs issue is one that can effect eBay sellers' feedback and DSR scores. Which in turn, can effect an eBay sellers' ability to rise higher in searches and earn powerseller discounts. So yes, it does matter.

I am happy to hear that eBay is now willing to consider taking off neutral or negative feedback that is explicitly about customs fees. However, there are certain things that you have to do. (Click here for eBay's page on the new policy) You must have clear text in your description about the possibility for customs fees and charges. eBay has a standard line they would like you to use and although they say "or very similar", I'll be working tonight to update my template with eBay's standard text.

Which by the way is this:

International Buyers – Please Note:
- Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer's responsibility.
-Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding/buying.

This new policy won't solve all the issues, it won't stop customers from getting upset about the fees, it won't stop buyers from asking sellers if they will mark something as a gift. But in my opinion, it is a step in the right direction. And had it been enacted a few months ago, I would have nothing but positives. That one neutral is the only neutral I have!

I'm really liking my DSRs right about now, tips to keep 'em up

I don't dwell on DSRs or feedback, I don't think anyone should. I do agree, they are important, but not enough to stress out over.

I think the most important aspect is if you are a powerseller and whether or not you qualify for those discounts. Yes, they can be substantial (I saved over $400 in fees last year!) but the way the system works, it is not worth your time or effort to watch every second, or every day. Do your best customer service, communicate with your customers and keep your shipping reasonable. It is just that simple.
My best advice, think like a buyer.
Sit down, put yourself in your buyers' shoes and make a list of everything you would want from a seller that you were purchasing your product from and do that.

No longer an Education Specialist

It is kinda sad to admit this, but I'm no longer an Education Specialist. It kinda stinks that it came to this, but at this point in my life it just didn't make sense to pay the fees to continue. My original plan was to teach quite a bit to supplement my income, reality being that I didn't enjoy teaching the basics class and wanted to move to the next level and teach advanced. However, in order to teach the "advanced" class, you have to have an ES feedback of 10 to qualify. In a year I couldn't get to 10. There are several reasons why, and I do take responsibility for most.
Most of the people I encountered are people already selling on eBay and looking to get to the next level. Most people who are at that point don't need the basics course. And, those are the folks that I really wanted to teach.
I had no desire to teach people how to navigate around eBay, I wanted to teach people how to use eBay to make them money. I had lots of clients, but because I was dealing with them one on one doing coaching, I didn't build up that feedback to get qualified.
I should have sucked it up and gone out and did what I needed to do, but I just wasn't motivated.
I'm sure that without that endorsement from eBay and ability to be listed in their educators database, my coaching clients will be harder to find. But oh well, I'll just have to make-do.

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Shamless self promotion:

Items for sale on eBay under user id Shelley-Faye

Items for sale on eBay under user id Love2DressUp

Items for sale on Etsy under user id KitschyAprons

I wish I had some spacebags! My sewing room is getting out of control

Ok, so the holidays are over, inventory is finished and the new year has begun. I did a big craft show right before Christmas so I had been sewing pretty much non-stop for months before that. Then my entire family came down for Christmas and now, everything is just a mess. I want badly to get back to sewing and selling on eBay & etsy but I cannot do a thing until I clean out the sewing room. I have two big metal shelving units and before this latest sewing excursion, I would keep all my fabrics folded neatly and organized.
Now, I've increased my inventory for my eBay store and would love to use one of those shelving units to house the extra handbags that are just stacked up on my pool table. I think a
Space Bag
or two would be perfect, you know you've seen their commercial, they are amazing. I need to get some. (and if you haven't seen their commercial, click that link up there and check it out)

-Cheers