A Data-Driven Guide to Smarter Online Shopping
In the world of e-commerce, understanding seller performance is key. This guide will show you how to use a simple spreadsheet to transform raw data on your purchases and refunds into clear insights about refund processing speedseller reliability. Take control of your shopping experience with data.
1. Setting Up Your Data Table
Start by creating a master table to log every relevant transaction. Consistent data entry is crucial.
| Order ID | Seller Name | Item Price ($) | Refund Request Date | Refund Completed Date | Refund Reason | Seller Promised Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LB2024-001 | TechGadgets Inc. | 89.99 | 03/10/2024 | 03/15/2024 | Faulty item | 03/18/2024 |
| LB2024-002 | BookWorld | 24.50 | 03/12/2024 | 03/20/2024 | Wrong item sent | 03/17/2024 |
| LB2024-003 | StyleHub | 45.00 | 03/05/2024 | 03/10/2024 | Size exchange | 03/12/2024 |
2. Key Formulas for Analysis
Add these calculated columns to your table to generate actionable metrics.
A. Refund Processing Speed
Processing Time (Days):
Promise Met?
=IF(ISBLANK([@[Refund Completed Date]]), "", DATEDIF([@[Refund Request Date]], [@[Refund Completed Date]], "d"))B. Seller Promise Adherence
=IF([@[Refund Completed Date]]<=[@[Seller Promised Date]], "Yes", "No")
3. Summary Tables: Seller Reliability Dashboard
Create pivot tables or summary areas to aggregate data by seller.
Seller Refund Speed Analysis
| Seller Name | Avg. Processing Time (Days) | Fastest Refund (Days) | Slowest Refund (Days) | Total Refunds Logged |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TechGadgets Inc. | 5.0 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| BookWorld | 8.0 | 8 | 8 | 1 |
| StyleHub | 5.0 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| OVERALL AVERAGE | 6.0 | -- | -- | 3 |
Seller Accuracy & Promise Reliability Rate
| Seller Name | Promises Met | Promises Missed | Reliability Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| TechGadgets Inc. | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| BookWorld | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| StyleHub | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| TOTAL / AVG RATE | 2 | 1 | 66.7% |
Reliability Rate Formula: =[@[Promises Met]] / ([@[Promises Met]]+[@[Promises Missed]])
Turning Data into Decisions
By maintaining your LitBuy Spreadsheet, you can now:
- Identify Reliable Sellers:
- Set Expectations:
- Spot Trends:
- Set Expectations:
Empower your future purchases with historical performance data, making you a more informed and resilient consumer.