Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
06:09:49pm
Unfortunately, my response was in the form of "I'm sorry, but I won't buy any of these". Then I proceeded with a very polite (I hope!) critique of her auctions -- everything from scans, to presentation to pricing.
I am pleased to say that she was very receptive, both to my critique and to actually following up with huge improvements. In fact, if the newly listed material were the countries I am looking for, I would be actively buying.
Such a willingness to improve should be rewarded, so I would like to encourage all buyers (particularly of French area) to explore her listings. Like I say, such a willingness to "do it right" should be rewarded with at least a look. Take a look at the earlier items versus the latest additions. Send a note of encouragement and/or a request for certain countries if you agree with me.
Here is the link:
https://stamporama.com/auction/auction_main.php?action=13&user=thaisballtrap
P.S. I had a chat with Michael, our auctioneer, about the idea of reviewing certain auction and approval practices, good and bad, via the Discussion Board, with the object of helping sellers improve their listings and pointing out good practices.
His response was:
"There is no prohibition on members posting reviews of another member's offerings. So, they can do it anytime that they want."
but he offered the {correct, in my mind} opinion that such reviews from anyone on the management team or overseeing the sales areas would be inappropriate.
So this is the first of such reviews.
Roy
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delighted you're doing this Roy. it will be a great benefit to us all.
I hope we all take the suggestions in the manner in which they're offered: advice from someone with a strong track record in sales, especially internet sales.
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I can see the reasons for this.
However I can also see the reasons NOT to go down this line.
They are the same reasons that we do not have a "Dislike" button on any posts.
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It would be nice if sellers would list there payment methods they accept and the shipping cost.
If they do not state this in there listings I just move on and do not buy from them.
Yes I could contact and ask them these questions, but I am not going to waste my time, when it would be to the sellers benefit to list this information.
Doug
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‘Continuing Improvement’ was a big part of my job experience as I have worked to implement ISO at several corporations. It is not an easy or simple topic for many people; some people simply do not respond well to improvement suggestions.
I also have contacted over 2000 eBay sellers (part of a Stamp Smarter Community project) with suggested improvements to their listings. Of those 2000+ contacts, about 60% responded professionally and were interested in improvement. The other 40% responded in a way that was, ummm ‘less than ideal’ (purposely understated for family consumption). Note that this Community Project also encouraged 'positive' eBay reviews but less than 5% of all reviews submitted by others were positive. For whatever reason(s), people only wanted to submit reviews if they found listings lacking or needing improvement.
I once saw a quote which has always stuck with me, “Honest criticism is hard to take, particularly from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance or a stranger.” My opinion is that you are going to anger at least 1/3 of the sellers if you implement this, it is just human nature.
Don
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I think that sellers with poor listings do so out of lack of skill rather than a desire to suck!
There are people who do not have computer skills, and it's just not in their wheelhouse. My wife has been on computers for 10-15 years and still gets stumped over the simplest things. I don't think she'll ever be proficient.
And the same goes for sales skills. Some folks just automatically understand this and others never will.
Many years ago we had a garage sale. I understand sales, presentation and people so everything we offered was assembled, displayed nicely on tables, and prices were clearly marked. Clothes were on hangers on racks. We had posted strategic signs in the neighborhood and had an ad in the garage sale section of the local newspaper (pre-internet). We did very well.
My next door neighbors, teachers with masters degrees, watched and were interested in having their own garage sale. The next week they dumped some boxes of junk and old clothes on their driveway. Didn't take anything out of the boxes, nothing priced. No signs, nothing. And they were upset they didn't do well. And they didn't understand what we did different that earned our success. Some folks just don't get things.
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My thoughts would be that if it is done then it needs to be done as a private message not a public post.
The improvements suggested should be accompanied with an explanation of why it could be better.
None of us like criticism but put in the right manner is normally acceptable. It comes better as a request for help rather than an order. In the form of " do you think that you could..." better than a " your scans are !@@#%".
I know that approach works for me and I would appreciate feedback along those lines.
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The problem with "reviews" are they are SUBJECTIVE not OBJECTIVE.
i.e. They are an individuals perceptions.
Here is part of a members private message to me:-
"" I do not like paying postage and handling a getting a few common machin head stamps on the sending envelope. I am a stamp collector a current special stamps would be a lot better. A penny saved cost a customer."
See a SUBJECTIVE view.
No consideration given to the fact that our local post office does not always have "special" stamps, and that ALL post offices in the UK would normally stick a machine label on instead of stamps.
Do YOU really want to go down this road!!!!!
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Hi Everyone;
@ Roy;
That was a great thing to do, and I'm glad you were rewarded with the seller taking your advice to heart. There is no greater reward than that.
Quite a while ago, back when I was actively selling, I got to know a member on here who was also a seller. However that seller was ready to thrown in the towel and quit selling. I spent a few hours putting together a tutorial on our bulk up-loader, and how to create listings more efficiently, using it. I also offer many tips and ideas as well. I did all of this privately thru the PM messaging.
I saved that tutorial somewhere, and will maybe use it again. This seller took my advice, and also publicly thanked me on the discussion board, and went on to become rather successful. That was the best reward I ever received for a few hours spent helping a friend. That was over a year ago, and that same seller now has over 60 approval books and is very busy now.
@ 51Studebaker;
I know exactly what you mean, about people not responding well to change. A manufacturing company I once worked for employed me to make efficiency and quality improvements in the way that their products were assembled. I would usually start by taking my tie off, rolling my sleeves up and sitting down next to them while they taught me how they were trained to perform their job. This gave me lots of great ideas, as I brainstormed with each worker and listened to their suggestions. It also got for me their respect, that I was not afraid to get my hands dirty, and listen to their input. Those changes were so successful, that when a prospective customer came thru the plant, the vice president brought them out to the line to show some of the results of my work. Another way I gained respect was by giving most of the credit to the worker, whether I used all of their suggestions or not. Lesson learned, never steal other workers thunder, and share some of that credit with them.
@ sheepshanks;
You are correct about doing this privately, and when advice is given, inform the seller that this is private criticism meant to help them be successful, and will not be part of the discussion board, "it's just between you and me".
@ BenFranklin1902;
You also have a good point, and I agree 100%. After helping this seller, I tried to privately help another member, but he was just unable to get it. Some people just aren't into computers that much and will probably never get it, no matter what.
So to sum it up, I think it's a great idea Roy, but would work better if kept private thru the PM system. In my case I used PM, and e-mail to send the tutorial as an attachment, and then messaged the seller, that a attachment was on the way. Some people are afraid to open attachments.
still sortin'....
TuskenRaider
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BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 500 categories
04 Nov 2017
06:09:49pm
Recently, I responded to one of our members who was kind enough to post some French Colonies airmails in response to one of my "Wanted" postings.
Unfortunately, my response was in the form of "I'm sorry, but I won't buy any of these". Then I proceeded with a very polite (I hope!) critique of her auctions -- everything from scans, to presentation to pricing.
I am pleased to say that she was very receptive, both to my critique and to actually following up with huge improvements. In fact, if the newly listed material were the countries I am looking for, I would be actively buying.
Such a willingness to improve should be rewarded, so I would like to encourage all buyers (particularly of French area) to explore her listings. Like I say, such a willingness to "do it right" should be rewarded with at least a look. Take a look at the earlier items versus the latest additions. Send a note of encouragement and/or a request for certain countries if you agree with me.
Here is the link:
https://stamporama.com/auction/auction_main.php?action=13&user=thaisballtrap
P.S. I had a chat with Michael, our auctioneer, about the idea of reviewing certain auction and approval practices, good and bad, via the Discussion Board, with the object of helping sellers improve their listings and pointing out good practices.
His response was:
"There is no prohibition on members posting reviews of another member's offerings. So, they can do it anytime that they want."
but he offered the {correct, in my mind} opinion that such reviews from anyone on the management team or overseeing the sales areas would be inappropriate.
So this is the first of such reviews.
Roy
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this post
re: This is how our auctions can be improved!
delighted you're doing this Roy. it will be a great benefit to us all.
I hope we all take the suggestions in the manner in which they're offered: advice from someone with a strong track record in sales, especially internet sales.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
09:26:52am
Auctions - Approvals
re: This is how our auctions can be improved!
I can see the reasons for this.
However I can also see the reasons NOT to go down this line.
They are the same reasons that we do not have a "Dislike" button on any posts.
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
Auctions - Approvals
re: This is how our auctions can be improved!
It would be nice if sellers would list there payment methods they accept and the shipping cost.
If they do not state this in there listings I just move on and do not buy from them.
Yes I could contact and ask them these questions, but I am not going to waste my time, when it would be to the sellers benefit to list this information.
Doug
Login to Like
this post
re: This is how our auctions can be improved!
‘Continuing Improvement’ was a big part of my job experience as I have worked to implement ISO at several corporations. It is not an easy or simple topic for many people; some people simply do not respond well to improvement suggestions.
I also have contacted over 2000 eBay sellers (part of a Stamp Smarter Community project) with suggested improvements to their listings. Of those 2000+ contacts, about 60% responded professionally and were interested in improvement. The other 40% responded in a way that was, ummm ‘less than ideal’ (purposely understated for family consumption). Note that this Community Project also encouraged 'positive' eBay reviews but less than 5% of all reviews submitted by others were positive. For whatever reason(s), people only wanted to submit reviews if they found listings lacking or needing improvement.
I once saw a quote which has always stuck with me, “Honest criticism is hard to take, particularly from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance or a stranger.” My opinion is that you are going to anger at least 1/3 of the sellers if you implement this, it is just human nature.
Don
Login to Like
this post
re: This is how our auctions can be improved!
I think that sellers with poor listings do so out of lack of skill rather than a desire to suck!
There are people who do not have computer skills, and it's just not in their wheelhouse. My wife has been on computers for 10-15 years and still gets stumped over the simplest things. I don't think she'll ever be proficient.
And the same goes for sales skills. Some folks just automatically understand this and others never will.
Many years ago we had a garage sale. I understand sales, presentation and people so everything we offered was assembled, displayed nicely on tables, and prices were clearly marked. Clothes were on hangers on racks. We had posted strategic signs in the neighborhood and had an ad in the garage sale section of the local newspaper (pre-internet). We did very well.
My next door neighbors, teachers with masters degrees, watched and were interested in having their own garage sale. The next week they dumped some boxes of junk and old clothes on their driveway. Didn't take anything out of the boxes, nothing priced. No signs, nothing. And they were upset they didn't do well. And they didn't understand what we did different that earned our success. Some folks just don't get things.
Login to Like
this post
Approvals
re: This is how our auctions can be improved!
My thoughts would be that if it is done then it needs to be done as a private message not a public post.
The improvements suggested should be accompanied with an explanation of why it could be better.
None of us like criticism but put in the right manner is normally acceptable. It comes better as a request for help rather than an order. In the form of " do you think that you could..." better than a " your scans are !@@#%".
I know that approach works for me and I would appreciate feedback along those lines.
Login to Like
this post
11:06:57am
Auctions - Approvals
re: This is how our auctions can be improved!
The problem with "reviews" are they are SUBJECTIVE not OBJECTIVE.
i.e. They are an individuals perceptions.
Here is part of a members private message to me:-
"" I do not like paying postage and handling a getting a few common machin head stamps on the sending envelope. I am a stamp collector a current special stamps would be a lot better. A penny saved cost a customer."
See a SUBJECTIVE view.
No consideration given to the fact that our local post office does not always have "special" stamps, and that ALL post offices in the UK would normally stick a machine label on instead of stamps.
Do YOU really want to go down this road!!!!!
Login to Like
this post
re: This is how our auctions can be improved!
Hi Everyone;
@ Roy;
That was a great thing to do, and I'm glad you were rewarded with the seller taking your advice to heart. There is no greater reward than that.
Quite a while ago, back when I was actively selling, I got to know a member on here who was also a seller. However that seller was ready to thrown in the towel and quit selling. I spent a few hours putting together a tutorial on our bulk up-loader, and how to create listings more efficiently, using it. I also offer many tips and ideas as well. I did all of this privately thru the PM messaging.
I saved that tutorial somewhere, and will maybe use it again. This seller took my advice, and also publicly thanked me on the discussion board, and went on to become rather successful. That was the best reward I ever received for a few hours spent helping a friend. That was over a year ago, and that same seller now has over 60 approval books and is very busy now.
@ 51Studebaker;
I know exactly what you mean, about people not responding well to change. A manufacturing company I once worked for employed me to make efficiency and quality improvements in the way that their products were assembled. I would usually start by taking my tie off, rolling my sleeves up and sitting down next to them while they taught me how they were trained to perform their job. This gave me lots of great ideas, as I brainstormed with each worker and listened to their suggestions. It also got for me their respect, that I was not afraid to get my hands dirty, and listen to their input. Those changes were so successful, that when a prospective customer came thru the plant, the vice president brought them out to the line to show some of the results of my work. Another way I gained respect was by giving most of the credit to the worker, whether I used all of their suggestions or not. Lesson learned, never steal other workers thunder, and share some of that credit with them.
@ sheepshanks;
You are correct about doing this privately, and when advice is given, inform the seller that this is private criticism meant to help them be successful, and will not be part of the discussion board, "it's just between you and me".
@ BenFranklin1902;
You also have a good point, and I agree 100%. After helping this seller, I tried to privately help another member, but he was just unable to get it. Some people just aren't into computers that much and will probably never get it, no matter what.
So to sum it up, I think it's a great idea Roy, but would work better if kept private thru the PM system. In my case I used PM, and e-mail to send the tutorial as an attachment, and then messaged the seller, that a attachment was on the way. Some people are afraid to open attachments.
still sortin'....
TuskenRaider
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