I like the new seller rating system ebay started in May.  My only concern is people are rating how fast the post office is not how fast the seller ships an item after payment.  I am not an ebay seller.

To rate how fast the seller is look at the post date on your package.  That is the date the seller shipped out your item.  Then rate on how many days it took for the seller to send out your package after you payment was received by the seller.  The post office can be slow especially in big cities.  The slowest states are Texas and Florida.  (My mom is a letter carrier =p)

The seller should always contact you when they have shipped your item and give you a tracking number or delivery confirmation number.  If you pay any other way than Paypal, contact the seller when you shipped your payment.  The seller should contact you three times after that.  First, when they received your payment, second, when your payment has cleared, and third, when they shipped your item. 

I've seen quite a few negative feedbacks concerning items not being shipped.  I've order about 100 items off ebay and never had a shipping problem.  If you're concerned about an item then insure it, get tracking, delivery confirmation or something to have assurance that your item is received. 

To file a dispute with ebay about an item not received you must have a delivery confirmation number.  Request delivery confirmation for any package coming from a seller with negitive feedback concerning an item not received.  It will be worth it.

To sellers- use paypal to print a shipping lable if possible.  It comes with free delivery confirmation and contacts the buyer automatically when you print a lable.

Remember to use the post date when rating.

I hope this helps someone.

Val