An annual review of your EastMallBuy shopping data is a powerful exercise in financial awareness and smart consumerism. By systematically analyzing your purchases, quality control (QC) outcomes, and refund history, you can gain valuable insights into your spending patterns and identify the most reliable sellers. This guide will walk you through the process using your EastMallBuy spreadsheet.
Phase 1: Data Consolidation & Preparation
Begin by ensuring your spreadsheet for the past year is complete. Your data should be organized with columns for:
- Purchase Date & Order ID
- Item Name & Seller
- Price, Shipping Cost, and Total
- QC Status
- Refund Status & Amount
- Item Category
- Refund Status & Amount
Use spreadsheet functions like SUMIFS, COUNTIFS, and AVERAGE
Phase 2: Summarizing Annual Purchases
Evaluate your overall spending behavior by calculating:
- Total Annual Spend:
- Monthly Spending Trends:
- Spending by Category:
- Average Order Value (AOV):
- Monthly Spending Trends:
Ask yourself: Was my spending aligned with my needs and budget? Which categories were planned versus impulsive?
Phase 3: Analyzing QC Results & Product Quality
Your QC data is a direct indicator of product and seller reliability. Create a summary that shows:
- The percentage of items that passed QC
- The common types of flaws
- QC Pass Rate by Seller:
- The common types of flaws
This analysis helps you "vote with your wallet"
Phase 4: Reviewing Refund Activity
Refunds are a key metric for dissatisfaction and financial impact. Analyze:
- Total Amount Refunded
- Refund Rate:
- Primary Reasons for Refunds:
- Seller-Specific Refund Rates:
- Refund Rate:
High refund rates from a particular seller or category signal high risk and poor value for money.
Phase 5: Synthesizing Insights & Action Plan
Correlate data from all three areas to form a complete picture. For example:
- Did a high-spend category also have a low QC pass rate? You may be paying more for disappointing quality.
- Did a specific seller have excellent QC results but a slow shipping time that tested your patience?
- How much money was effectively "lost" to refunds or low-quality items?
Based on your findings, create an action plan:
- Seller Blacklist/Whitelist:
- Budget Adjustment:
- Purchasing Rules:
- Budget Adjustment:
Conclusion
An annual review of your EastMallBuy spreadsheet transforms raw transaction data into actionable intelligence. It empowers you to make more informed purchasing decisions, optimize your spending, and build relationships with trustworthy sellers. By dedicating time to this process, you become a more mindful and effective shopper on the platform.