Welcome!

Due to the recent feedback changes at eBay, we here at Bell's Treasure Trove feel that it is necessary to explain our reasoning for our own feedback practices, and also to give a guide for buyers for classification of the fairly new star rating system on eBay.

SHOULD BUYERS LEAVE FEEDBACK OR STARS AT ALL?

It's important to remember that leaving no stars does not help or hurt the seller.  If you are leaving negative feedback, and think that if you leave low stars for the seller will actually help the seller, that is incorrect.  Low star ratings hurt a seller regardless of the feedback that is left, and in like manner, good stars help a seller's rating. 

If you aren't comfortable leaving stars for a seller, or you aren't comfortable leaving feedback at all, don't worry.  eBay does not require its users to leave feedback or ratings, though it is encouraged.  It is also not eBay policy to dictate whether the seller or buyer must leave feedback first.  Many sellers leave feedback first, but other sellers wait, because the transaction is not over with the payment.  The transaction is over with a satisfied customer, and the customer can let the seller know he is satisfied with positive feedback and high star ratings.

1. FEEDBACK POLICY

We, as sellers, do not immediately provide positive feedback to our buyers upon payment of an item for a two main reasons. 1. The transaction is not over until YOU, the buyer, are happy with the item(s) you purchased, and we want to make certain that your experience with us deserves a 5-star rating. 2. We have felt the need to protect ourselves in the past from people who may try to scam us, demanding refunds (along with keeping the item), only to punish us with a negative feedback after our attempt to satisfy the buyer. We trust that most people on eBay are honest and forthright (or else we wouldn't be selling here), but we have experienced some strange refund requests in the past.

Many buyers are confused and feel we are holding feedback as "ransom." That is not our intention at all. We withhold feedback to encourage COMMUNICATION with our buyers. As we state in our listings, our emails, and our About Me page, we encourage communication, and want all our buyers to be happy with their experience with us. If you are not happy, and feel your experience is not a 5-star experience, PLEASE LET US KNOW BEFORE LEAVING NEGATIVE OR NEUTRAL FEEDBACK, OR ANYTHING LESS THAN A 5-STAR RATING. We want to make sure you are happy. If you leave anything other than positive feedback or 5-star ratings with us BEFORE contacting us saying you are unhappy with any aspect of the transaction, do not fear retaliation. We simply, however, may politely decline to leave feedback at all, because we were not given the opportunity to correct the situation to your satisfaction. That is our only recourse when the buyer does not communicate dissatisfaction with us prior to leaving feedback for us.

2. STAR RATING GUIDE

Many buyers are also confused with giving classifications for the "star ratings" for the seller. Here is a rudimentary guide for those stars, and hopefully, after reading this, you will feel that we as the seller are deserving of 5-star ratings.

On all ratings, you are asked to rate each aspect (Item Description, Communication, Shipping Time, and Shipping/Handling Charges), between 1 and 5 stars, (1 being lowest, 5 being highest). Some people refrain from giving 5 stars for anything, but according to what eBay is asking you, 5 stars should be rather easy for any seller to attain in any transaction, especially if they adhere to eBay's policies and their own promises/policies as stated in listings. NOTE: It is the buyer's responsibility to read the seller's policies prior to bidding. Bidding on an item puts you in a "contract" with the seller, and thus in agreement with the seller's policies on terms such as shipping times, refunds, payment, and more.

Logically, it would seem that if you leave the seller a positive feedback, then star ratings of mostly 5s would appear, a neutral would warrant mostly 3s in the stars and a negative would warrant mostly 1s.  Again, we encourage all buyers to communicate their displeasure with sellers BEFORE leaving feedback, but here's a guide if you are completely at a loss of what to leave for a seller, based on each of the 4 categories as they currently exist on eBay.

A. Item Description

5 stars: The item was exactly as described in text and pictures.

4 stars: The item contained MINOR flaws that were not stated in the description or were not photographed, those flaws not affecting the overall purpose/appearance of the product.

3 stars: The item contained a very VISIBLE flaw that the seller did not describe or photograph, but still does not detract from the product. Perhaps it is the wrong size/color, if applicable (NOTE: Here at Bell's Treasure Trove, we would consider a partial or complete refund or exchange, which we would hope would cause you to leave us a higher rating if this is ever the case.)

2 stars: The item is completely different from what your listing described.  If a seller offers a refund or replacement, consider increasing your rating.  Also, if the seller does not offer a refund/replacement, and you think 1 star is deserved, then leave it.  Hopefully you will also be giving that seller a negative feedback rating.  (NOTE: consider purchasing insurance if you fear it will be damaged in transit. Sellers should not be held responsible for how the post office handles your package.)

1 star: The item is broken (which is clearly NOT a result of handling by the post office), and the seller does not offer refund or replacement.  If a seller offers a refund or replacement, consider increasing your rating.  Also, if the seller does not offer a refund/replacement, and you think 1 star is deserved, then leave it.  Hopefully you will also be giving that seller a negative feedback rating.  (NOTE: consider purchasing insurance if you fear it will be damaged in transit. Sellers should not be held responsible for how the post office handles your package.)  Also, if you did not receive the item at all, consider this rating.

B. Communication

5 stars: Seller's listing describes payment and shipping terms clearly, and seller communicates clearly through email expectations and stages of the transaction, as well as some form of communication in the package.

4 stars: Seller's policies are slightly different than what is stated in the listing, or seller only emails once (either after payment was received, or after package is shipped). (NOTE: Make sure your eBay and PayPal email address match. Some sellers respond to the PayPal payment notification, and other's use eBay's message system. So, you want to make sure you are using an email that you check frequently.)

3 stars: Seller does not communicate at all with buyer, but buyer still receives package and is satisfied with the item.

2 stars: Buyer attempts to notify seller more than once regarding a question or complaint because the seller does not respond. (NOTE: This would not apply if the seller responds, and back and forth communication about the same issue has occurred.)

1 star: The seller does not respond at all to an issue, and/or item is not received.

C. Shipping Time

NOTE: The length of time the postal service handles the package should NOT be reflected here. Sellers have no control over packages and shipping times once it leaves their hands, and weather can sometimes delay shipments unexpectedly. Also keep in mind that packages can't be shipped on Sundays and on federal holidays. The seller should not be punished for this. Finally, keep in mind when you are given the option between shipping services when you make a bid or purchase, eBay provides estimates based on the type of shipping method (i.e., priority vs. first class vs. parcel post vs. media mail). International shipments also take longer to arrive at their destinations.

5 stars: The seller ships the package from their location in the time frame indicated in the listing, and uses the shipping method the buyer chose, or upgrades to a faster shipping method at no cost to the buyer.

4 stars: The seller ships a package 1-2 days later than the seller or the listing indicates.

3 stars: The seller ships the package 3-4 days later than the seller or the listing indicates, with no alert to the buyer that shipment was delayed.

2 stars: The seller ships the package 5 days-1 week later than the seller or listing indicates.

1 star: The seller ships the package more than 1 week after he or listing indicates.

D. Shipping/Handling Charges

NOTE: The postal service has recently increased postage rates, and plans to do so again in May 2008. As a result, the cost to ship your package has increased. Sellers should not be punished for the cost incurred to get your package to you properly. If you are curious about the actual shipping cost, please ask the seller to provide that info before rating this category. Also note that handling fees help cover the cost of packing peanuts, bubble wrap, boxes, and even gas to get to the post office. Also please note that the following amounts are suggestions, but keep in mind that with rising fuel costs rising costs of consumable goods (such as shipping materials), and the weakened US dollar, your sellers are incurring a larger cost to get the item to you as well, and often times it must be passed along in the end to the consumer (the buyer), so these prices reflect such.

5 stars: The seller's HANDLING charge is $1.00 or less than actual shipping.

4 stars: The seller's HANDLING charge is between $1.00-$1.25 of actual shipping.

3 stars: The seller's HANDLING charge is between $1.25 and $1.50 of actual shipping.

2 stars: The seller's HANDLING charge is between $1.50 and $1.75 of actual shpping.

1 star: The seller's HANDLING charge is $1.75 or MORE than actual shipping.

I hope you find this guide useful, and if you have any questions or suggestions AT ALL, please don't hesitate to contact me.