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| | | Author: | FigBits  | | Posted: | Jul 31, 2014 20:46 | | Subject: | Suggestions: checkboxes to describe sellers | | Viewed: | 283 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | | Status: | Discarded | |
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| There is a lot of information about sellers that could be captured through forms
and checkboxes, instead of always relying on store terms. I suggest that all
sellers fill out a form so that we can systematically store this information.
Right now, we already have this covered for a few items:
Countries I ship to
Minimum order
Accepted currencies
Accepted payment types
We should add more:
Minimum shipping
Additional fees
* Lot fee
* Small order fee
* Payment type fee
* Handling fee
* Other fees
Expected Dispatch time from date of payment
When I leave feedback
* On payment
* On shipping
* After "Received"
* Other
How I deal with order errors
* Ship correction at my cost
* Refund
* Buyer's Choice
* Other
These are the ones I can think of that could be useful. I am sure there are others,
but this would be a great start.
--
Marc.
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| | | | | Author: | CoachMcGuirk | | Posted: | Jul 31, 2014 21:13 | | Subject: | Re: Suggestions: checkboxes to describe sellers | | Viewed: | 48 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, FigBits writes:
| | There is a lot of information about sellers that could be captured through forms
and checkboxes, instead of always relying on store terms. I suggest that all
sellers fill out a form so that we can systematically store this information.
Right now, we already have this covered for a few items:
Countries I ship to
Minimum order
Accepted currencies
Accepted payment types
We should add more:
Minimum shipping
Additional fees
* Lot fee
* Small order fee
* Payment type fee
* Handling fee
* Other fees
Expected Dispatch time from date of payment
When I leave feedback
* On payment
* On shipping
* After "Received"
* Other
How I deal with order errors
* Ship correction at my cost
* Refund
* Buyer's Choice
* Other
These are the ones I can think of that could be useful. I am sure there are others,
but this would be a great start.
--
Marc.
|
Agree! I hate reading lengthy and confusing terms that 95% of the time boil all
boil down to the same basic set of info. A commonly formatted table of data across
all sellers would be awesome!
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| | | | | Author: | BLUSER_416220 | | Posted: | Jul 31, 2014 21:15 | | Subject: | Re: Suggestions: checkboxes to describe sellers | | Viewed: | 51 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| Yes, please!
This suggestion can make it easier for new customers to see what they're
getting into on BL with an order. Perhaps the checklist could be tied to the
wanted list somehow so that after checking for the parts you want, certain
stores with the potential buyer's unwanted options could be grayed out, so
that there is not a surprise upon placing an order.
Yes, we all expect caveat emptor, and the buyer to read terms. But
making the sale easier for the customer is in everyone's interest, isn't
it? (including BL, per our fees)
I have been shopping on websites that let you search for an item, and then
with a checkmark:
eliminate all that are not in stock,
sort for price,
sort for color,
choose a specific option, say in the case of BL, sort for region, or for a specific
sticker.
While those options are for items that are for sale in a store, having the option
to pick your store based on the options the buyer likes, gives the buyer the
power to choose to shop in stores with terms that are amenable to his or her
liking.
It also gives me the option as a seller to broadcast my intentions to do
business with sellers that are agreeable to my terms.
Both sides are given the freedom to do business with whomever they like.
If a buyer finds that they can't find a store to do business with, maybe
they should be willing to loosen up on their demands.
If a store finds that suddenly their sales drop off, maybe they should loosen
their terms to encourage a broader clientele.
Most suggestions tend to favor one or the other side in a transaction, buyer
or seller. This one seems to be extremely fair and beneficial for both sides.
Pay attention, admins!
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| | | | | Author: | picabo | | Posted: | Jul 31, 2014 21:22 | | Subject: | Re: Suggestions: checkboxes to describe sellers | | Viewed: | 64 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, FigBits writes:
| | There is a lot of information about sellers that could be captured through forms
and checkboxes, instead of always relying on store terms. I suggest that all
sellers fill out a form so that we can systematically store this information.
Right now, we already have this covered for a few items:
Countries I ship to
Minimum order
Accepted currencies
Accepted payment types
We should add more:
Minimum shipping
Additional fees
* Lot fee
* Small order fee
* Payment type fee
* Handling fee
* Other fees
Expected Dispatch time from date of payment
When I leave feedback
* On payment
* On shipping
* After "Received"
* Other
How I deal with order errors
* Ship correction at my cost
* Refund
* Buyer's Choice
* Other
These are the ones I can think of that could be useful. I am sure there are others,
but this would be a great start.
--
Marc.
|
I like the idea. However, how would you suggest handling the following. I charge
actual shipping plus $1. Another seller charges $2.93. So for 1-3 ounces we are
exactly the same. However, they get to check no additional fees even though they
actually do have an additional fee.
I'm not being critical, just asking.
Thanks.
Pam
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| | | | | | | Author: | Brick_Wizard | | Posted: | Jul 31, 2014 22:11 | | Subject: | Re: Suggestions: checkboxes to describe sellers | | Viewed: | 53 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, picabo writes:
| |
I like the idea. However, how would you suggest handling the following. I charge
actual shipping plus $1. Another seller charges $2.93. So for 1-3 ounces we are
exactly the same. However, they get to check no additional fees even though they
actually do have an additional fee.
I'm not being critical, just asking.
Thanks.
Pam
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In that case, there should be a box that would indicate: Actual Postage ONLY.
In my experience, I would never use "No Additional Fees" as a search criteria.
Most of the time when searching stores for wanted list items, I've found
that stores that charge a small packaging fee, can be far cheaper than some who
don't. Not always the case, of course, but well worth searching a wider variety
of shops.
Regards,
Gary
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| | | | | | | Author: | FigBits | | Posted: | Jul 31, 2014 22:49 | | Subject: | Re: Suggestions: checkboxes to describe sellers | | Viewed: | 47 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, picabo writes:
| | In Suggestions, FigBits writes:
| | There is a lot of information about sellers that could be captured through forms
and checkboxes, instead of always relying on store terms. I suggest that all
sellers fill out a form so that we can systematically store this information.
Right now, we already have this covered for a few items:
Countries I ship to
Minimum order
Accepted currencies
Accepted payment types
We should add more:
Minimum shipping
Additional fees
* Lot fee
* Small order fee
* Payment type fee
* Handling fee
* Other fees
Expected Dispatch time from date of payment
When I leave feedback
* On payment
* On shipping
* After "Received"
* Other
How I deal with order errors
* Ship correction at my cost
* Refund
* Buyer's Choice
* Other
These are the ones I can think of that could be useful. I am sure there are others,
but this would be a great start.
--
Marc.
|
I like the idea. However, how would you suggest handling the following. I charge
actual shipping plus $1. Another seller charges $2.93. So for 1-3 ounces we are
exactly the same. However, they get to check no additional fees even though they
actually do have an additional fee.
I'm not being critical, just asking.
Thanks.
Pam
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I was thinking of continuing Bricklink's trend of not considering anything
in the Shipping field as an additional fee. So neither you nor the other seller
would list as having additional fees. I do also see the advantage of showing
"exact shipping only" or something similar as an option.
--
Marc.
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | calebfishn | | Posted: | Jul 31, 2014 23:09 | | Subject: | Re: Suggestions: checkboxes to describe sellers | | Viewed: | 42 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, FigBits writes:
| | In Suggestions, picabo writes:
| | In Suggestions, FigBits writes:
| | There is a lot of information about sellers that could be captured through forms
and checkboxes, instead of always relying on store terms. I suggest that all
sellers fill out a form so that we can systematically store this information.
Right now, we already have this covered for a few items:
Countries I ship to
Minimum order
Accepted currencies
Accepted payment types
We should add more:
Minimum shipping
Additional fees
* Lot fee
* Small order fee
* Payment type fee
* Handling fee
* Other fees
Expected Dispatch time from date of payment
When I leave feedback
* On payment
* On shipping
* After "Received"
* Other
How I deal with order errors
* Ship correction at my cost
* Refund
* Buyer's Choice
* Other
These are the ones I can think of that could be useful. I am sure there are others,
but this would be a great start.
--
Marc.
|
I like the idea. However, how would you suggest handling the following. I charge
actual shipping plus $1. Another seller charges $2.93. So for 1-3 ounces we are
exactly the same. However, they get to check no additional fees even though they
actually do have an additional fee.
I'm not being critical, just asking.
Thanks.
Pam
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I was thinking of continuing Bricklink's trend of not considering anything
in the Shipping field as an additional fee. So neither you nor the other seller
would list as having additional fees. I do also see the advantage of showing
"exact shipping only" or something similar as an option.
--
Marc.
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i don't think you should put "Exact shipping only" in one of these check
box fields. Because then you will need to define it. For some people, "exact
shipping" is not the same as "exact postage".
I much prefer your original list which allows sellers to disclose the types of
fees and costs that are included in their store terms. The buyer will need to
read the terms to learn what these check boxes mean anyway.
Some of the check boxes are not really about store terms, but are just information
about practices, such as "when do I leave feedback". I hope that a seller could
select more than one checkbox in some of these categories, because sometimes
it "depends". These are not terms, and should not be a matter of a guarantee,
or a reason to cancel like a store terms. For example my preference is to leave
feedback after I ship. That is my intention and I usually do that. But sometimes
I am delayed, or forget.
In this list, I would like to see "Minimum shipping" next to "Minimum Order".
It is a short way of saying, "on some orders of small size, there is an additional
fee". As with some of the other fees, ie. lot fees, buyers still need to read
the seller's terms to see how much those fees are, and when they will be
applied.
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| | | | | | | | | | | Author: | BLUSER_424058 | | Posted: | Jul 31, 2014 23:12 | | Subject: | (Cancelled) | | Viewed: | 34 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| | (Cancelled) |
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | ToriHada | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2014 01:10 | | Subject: | Re: Suggestions: checkboxes to describe sellers | | Viewed: | 43 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, FigBits writes:
| |
I was thinking of continuing Bricklink's trend of not considering anything
in the Shipping field as an additional fee. So neither you nor the other seller
would list as having additional fees.
|
I'm confused by this. If actual postage starts at $2.32 but the seller's
terms say shipping starts at $3.50, you or BrickLink would not consider the $1.18
above actual cost to be an "additional fee"? It is certainly a "fee" and certainly
"additional" to actual postage. Where would this store fall if you use this form
as the basis to determine whether they should be included in search results when
the buyer looks for stores that don't charge fees?
I don't like the idea that this form could be used as the basis to include
or exclude stores from certain search results. I know that was not mentioned
in your suggestion. But it will be the very next suggestion if this form is implemented.
The form does not tell the whole story, and if you make it detailed enough so
that it does, then you might as well just stick with store terms.
Thor
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| | | | | Author: | calebfishn | | Posted: | Jul 31, 2014 21:37 | | Subject: | Re: Suggestions: checkboxes to describe sellers | | Viewed: | 41 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| I think some of the categories and items could use tweaking, but in general,
this is a good idea.
It does not replace a store's terms, but does highlight them in a manner
buyers can easily access. And these could become searchable fields as well.
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| | | | | Author: | ToriHada | | Posted: | Jul 31, 2014 21:48 | | Subject: | Re: Suggestions: checkboxes to describe sellers | | Viewed: | 89 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| I have several reservations regarding this suggestion.
First, this form could very likely become a crutch or substitute for buyers actually
reading seller terms. In other words, after reading this form many buyers won't
bother to read the full terms. Is this form intended to replace seller terms?
Second, as another poster mentioned, this form gives an unfair advantage for
those who hide fees in their minimum shipping charge.
Third, it forces sellers to be pigeon-holed into narrow checkboxes that may not
accurately reflect how they actually operate their business. For example, I don't
always leave feedback the same way. And I don't always handle order errors
the same way. I also don't have the same processing times for every order.
Some orders are just handled differently than others. Yet buyers who read this
form are going to expect their orders to be handled as shown in the form, when
that may not actually be the case. Thus, this form could create even more problems
and disputes between buyers and sellers. And if the form is just going to be
a non-binding general guideline, why even bother with it?
Thor
In Suggestions, FigBits writes:
| | There is a lot of information about sellers that could be captured through forms
and checkboxes, instead of always relying on store terms. I suggest that all
sellers fill out a form so that we can systematically store this information.
Right now, we already have this covered for a few items:
Countries I ship to
Minimum order
Accepted currencies
Accepted payment types
We should add more:
Minimum shipping
Additional fees
* Lot fee
* Small order fee
* Payment type fee
* Handling fee
* Other fees
Expected Dispatch time from date of payment
When I leave feedback
* On payment
* On shipping
* After "Received"
* Other
How I deal with order errors
* Ship correction at my cost
* Refund
* Buyer's Choice
* Other
These are the ones I can think of that could be useful. I am sure there are others,
but this would be a great start.
--
Marc.
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| | | | | | | Author: | calebfishn | | Posted: | Jul 31, 2014 23:19 | | Subject: | Re: Suggestions: checkboxes to describe sellers | | Viewed: | 56 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| And if the form is just going to be
| | a non-binding general guideline, why even bother with it?
Thor
I think the check boxes are still useful, in providing a quick summary of key store terms and practices. It could actually encourage buyers to read terms more carefully.
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if for example "Handling fees" is selected, that should be a cue for the buyer
to read the terms carefully, to find out what those fees are and when they will
be applied.
The checkbox cannot replace the actual store terms, but they could be searchable
fields that help buyers sort through stores. The checkboxes are a "Description
of Seller", not the terms. (or at least they should be)
The form should be kept simple. As soon as people try to make a system like this
account for every eventuality, you might as well just have complicated legal
language in written terms.
Also, some will ask: "But what if a seller does not disclose a fee?" Well, that
happens now in the current system with less than scrupulous sellers. In all cases
buyers must be encouraged to go past the advance advertizing and read the actual
terms, as with any business contract.
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | ToriHada | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2014 00:56 | | Subject: | Re: Suggestions: checkboxes to describe sellers | | Viewed: | 57 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, calebfishn writes:
| | The checkbox cannot replace the actual store terms, but they could be searchable
fields that help buyers sort through stores.
|
Then this is why I would vote no. If I charge a modest handle fee on only a small
minority of orders (e.g. on orders below $10), why should I be excluded from
the search results for bulk buyers looking for stores that don't charge fees?
The form over-simplifies things to the point of being inaccurate (at least if
used for searching purposes). And while you say the form won't replace seller
terms, the simple fact is that this form WILL be used as a crutch by some buyers
to NOT read the terms.
Why complicate things? If the form does not replace shop terms and won't
be binding then all it is doing is adding yet another layer of complexity to
buying.
Suppose there is a discrepancy between this form and a seller's terms. Which
will control? If the store terms control then how will BL and the seller handle
buyer complaints that the seller did not follow what was on this form? So, in
addition to complicating things this form may well add to buyer confusion and
differences with their seller.
Thor
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| | | | | Author: | BLUSER_424058 | | Posted: | Jul 31, 2014 22:54 | | Subject: | (Cancelled) | | Viewed: | 31 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| | (Cancelled) |
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| | | | | | | Author: | BLUSER_36530 | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2014 01:21 | | Subject: | Re: Suggestions: checkboxes to describe sellers | | Viewed: | 40 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, Inventrious writes:
| | In Suggestions, FigBits writes:
| | There is a lot of information about sellers that could be captured through forms
and checkboxes, instead of always relying on store terms. I suggest that all
sellers fill out a form so that we can systematically store this information.
Right now, we already have this covered for a few items:
Countries I ship to
Minimum order
Accepted currencies
Accepted payment types
We should add more:
Minimum shipping
Additional fees
* Lot fee
* Small order fee
* Payment type fee
* Handling fee
* Other fees
Expected Dispatch time from date of payment
When I leave feedback
* On payment
* On shipping
* After "Received"
* Other
How I deal with order errors
* Ship correction at my cost
* Refund
* Buyer's Choice
* Other
These are the ones I can think of that could be useful. I am sure there are others,
but this would be a great start.
--
Marc.
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Do we need this? Yes.
Will we get this? No.
Voted yes
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Voted NO!
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | FigBits | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2014 01:30 | | Subject: | Re: Suggestions: checkboxes to describe sellers | | Viewed: | 38 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, ALL writes:
| |
Voted NO!
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Can you share your reasons? It could help mold the idea if there's something
in particular that wrecks it for you.
The reason I posted this suggestion is because of the other thread from earlier
today about orders that are missing parts. As a selller, I would be among those
who take the hit to fix my mistakes. But how do I properly (systematically) let
potential buyers know that? There isn't a way.
At the same time, I am not always the fastest shipper. It's something that
I am working on improving, but I know that there are many stores faster than
mine.
So, if a buyer needs items in a hurry, it would benefit them to know which stores
ship super-fast, and which take a few days. As a seller, it benefits me to be
able to attract buyers with the positive aspects of my business, while also setting
realistic expectations on the parts where I am not among the best.
--
Marc.
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| | | | | | | Author: | FigBits | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2014 01:36 | | Subject: | Re: Suggestions: checkboxes to describe sellers | | Viewed: | 42 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| | | Do we need this? Yes.
Will we get this? No.
Voted yes
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I still have hope. I know that it's dispiriting that so few suggestions have
been implemented in the last couple of years. And the most recent nonsense about
the feedback removal doesn't make it seem like the new BL is all that interested
in doing the right think by its customers... and yet, I can't help but make
these types of suggestions when it is clear that there is a better way than the
current way.
Thanks for your vote, for whatever it is worth.
--
Marc.
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| | | | | | | | | Author: | Rob_and_Shelagh | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2014 02:59 | | Subject: | Re: Suggestions: checkboxes to describe sellers | | Viewed: | 55 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, FigBits writes:
| | | | Do we need this? Yes.
Will we get this? No.
Voted yes
|
I still have hope. I know that it's dispiriting that so few suggestions have
been implemented in the last couple of years. And the most recent nonsense about
the feedback removal doesn't make it seem like the new BL is all that interested
in doing the right think by its customers... and yet, I can't help but make
these types of suggestions when it is clear that there is a better way than the
current way.
Thanks for your vote, for whatever it is worth.
--
Marc.
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Initially this appealed to me (with some changes to the boxes) but after much
thought I voted no for many reasons already mentioned. In another thread Foster
said we need "better" sellers here. There are a lot of excellent sellers here
but his comment clearly grew from the number of complaints we hear on the forum
about a few substandard sellers (of course we only hear the small percentage
of bad things whilst the vast majority of transactions here are fine). IMO if
anything needs to be done to improve this it would be to "require" some "better"
minimum standards of ALL sellers rather than give them checkboxes to use a excuses.
A checkbox for a seller to state he chooses not to send parts he missed off the
original order is not IMO a great advert for the quality of the marketplace for
example!! People make lots of comments and suggestions about the FB system but...
most of the problems we hear are from buyers who have purchased from zero FB
sellers or the problems are actually stated in previous FB left for the seller
which the buyer could have digested before making an informed buying decision.
Robert
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| | | | | | | | | | | Author: | FigBits | | Posted: | Aug 1, 2014 09:19 | | Subject: | Re: Suggestions: checkboxes to describe sellers | | Viewed: | 46 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, Rob_and_Shelagh writes:
| | IMO if
anything needs to be done to improve this it would be to "require" some "better"
minimum standards of ALL sellers rather than give them checkboxes to use a excuses.
A checkbox for a seller to state he chooses not to send parts he missed off the
original order is not IMO a great advert for the quality of the marketplace for
example!!
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I agree. But having that checkbox would still be better than bot having it. And
if BL ever wanted to implement something around minimum service requirements,
they would already have the list of sellers they need to discuss it with.
--
Marc.
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | Author: | ToriHada | | Posted: | May 22, 2015 09:23 | | Subject: | Re: Suggestions: checkboxes to describe sellers | | Viewed: | 27 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| In Suggestions, FigBits writes:
| | In Suggestions, Rob_and_Shelagh writes:
| | IMO if
anything needs to be done to improve this it would be to "require" some "better"
minimum standards of ALL sellers rather than give them checkboxes to use a excuses.
A checkbox for a seller to state he chooses not to send parts he missed off the
original order is not IMO a great advert for the quality of the marketplace for
example!!
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I agree. But having that checkbox would still be better than bot having it.
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No it won't, for the reasons already mentioned above. On the contrary, these
checkboxes will complicate things and create even more problems and disagreements.
See:
http://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=841700
http://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=841737
http://www.bricklink.com/message.asp?ID=841738
Thor
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| | | | | Author: | ToriHada | | Posted: | May 22, 2015 10:40 | | Subject: | Re: Suggestions: checkboxes to describe sellers | | Viewed: | 27 times | | Topic: | Suggestions | |
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| Sigh... Does anyone else see what is going on here? First make an innocuous looking
suggestion "to help buyers" and then start excluding from searches anyone who
doesn't tow the same line. This suggestion is just the first step by a few
militant grandstanding "do-gooders" to either make you do things their way
or grab more orders away from you because they can't compete with you on
price, selection or service. It is the classic "liberal" ploy to force you to
do and think like them. Either you do what they say or they take away your business.
Thor
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Canada, Ontario
USA, Wisconsin
United Kingdom, England