A data-driven guide to analyzing orders, refund rates, and QC success for better buying efficiency.
Why Conduct a Yearly Purchase Review?
Your BaseTao Annual Spreadsheetsave money and time
Key Metrics to Analyze in Your Spreadsheet
1. Total Orders & Spending
Calculate your total number of orders and the sum of all costs (item cost, domestic shipping, international freight, service fees). This provides the baseline for your analysis.
- Insight:
2. Refund Rate Analysis
Count all transactions where you requested and received a refund (due to out-of-stock items, seller issues, etc.).
- Formula:
- Insight:
3. QC (Quality Control) Success Rate
Review your QC photos. How many items passed your initial inspection? How many had issues (flaws, wrong color/size) that led to exchanges or refunds?
- Insight:
4. Seller & Category Performance
Group your data by seller and item category (e.g., sneakers, jackets, electronics). Calculate average cost, refund rate, and QC satisfaction for each.
- Insight:"Trusted Sellers" list"Caution List"
Step-by-Step Review Process
- Export & Consolidate:
- Clean Data:
- Create Pivot Tables:
- Visualize with Charts:
- Write Conclusions:
- Clean Data:
Turning Data into Action: Improving Future Efficiency
Analysis is pointless without action. Use your findings to:
| Finding | Potential Action |
|---|---|
| High refund rate with "Budget" sneaker sellers. | Allocate more budget to mid-tier sellers with higher QC pass rates. |
| Peak spending in November/December led to rushed choices. | Plan and pre-purchase holiday items in October to avoid panic buying. |
| 90%+ QC success rate with Seller "X". | Prioritize Seller "X" for new releases in their specialty category. |