Ok... This is how it works.
If you sell 25 things in say 3 months and you get good feedback, this is all of the equation.
If you have less the 25 feedback in 3 months, you wait 21 days unless you use something other then paypal.
Please see the above picture, this is my feedback. You will see that in the time frame 01/12/11-29/02/12 my stats are rather good except for 14 lovely bozo's in the states that think that if you are buying multi auctions and it lists .50 cents per additional auction, then you have the right to leave lower feedback for postage.
Anyway, how did I deal with this, I lowered my postage for actual even with additional auctions won. I had no choice. Now I clear right away, however if your being held back 21 days and then you are elevated to a higher standard, the money in the holding pen still needs to wait the full 21 days, which is where I am now. However all I sell now will be available right away until I fall below this imaginary line of existence again.
Now, they say if you have a tracking number blah blah blah.... Forget that stuff unless your selling something of value, but if your selling 5.00 and 10.00 or less stuff, really, not a big deal. If I sell 1000 things and I get 5 bounce back as not getting delivered, I take it in stride as there is nothing I can do about it. I factor that in the starting price of cards I am selling to get some of that $$$ back. Its like in business, you address what you charge accordingly to pay for shrinkage.
So, a suggestion is if your going to sell on ebay, have some money in the bank to pay for postage. Wait the 21 days and all should be fine if you give top shelf service and charge the postage of what it actually costs to fill the bag.
If your going to sell high end stuff, offer free postage and most likely if your taking bids on it, you will make more then if you didnt. If you do buy it now, add it into the price. Ebay claims that free postage will get you your money faster, but in reality, its just a marketing ploy and I do not believe it.
Hope this helps.....
Mike