eBay Says….

Setting new minimum standards to improve quality

* From 1st October 2009 all eBay sellers (including PowerSellers) will need to keep their number of transactions with DSRs of 1 and 2 for item description below 3%. For communication, dispatch time, and P&P charges we’ll be looking for no more than 4% of transactions with DSRs of 1 and 2.

* If a seller’s rate of 1s and 2s goes over these maximums they’ll get lowered placements in searches and may even face limits on selling activity until their ratings improve.

We want to continue encouraging all our sellers to improve their ratings – so throughout 2010 we’ll be raising the bar on the minimum standards of service and quality that sellers are expected to reach.

Our Survey says….

OK, as Hairfreax I don’t sell a lot, so one disgruntled customer will prevent me from selling – in a nutshell.
eBay is only a play thing for me luckily and the bulk of my sales are done through my website, in fact looking at my ‘description DSR’s I am at 3.57% for ’12 month lows’ so in 2010 I won’t sell on eBay, I have 100% feedback so the person could not have been THAT mad.

But lets look at one of my main clients who does around £600K per year though eBay, and pays them roughly £24K in fees. Currently a Platinum Powerseller that will NOT be able to be a Top Rated Seller, I might add.

Well his highest ‘low’ percentage is 0.68% so even though he will loose 15% of his discount by not being a Top Seller and loose the use of ‘Featured first’ – eBay might still let him trade. That’s nice of them. They want their money.

Tough luck eBay, this client is going full steam ahead on the website front and well, you have given this client no choice but to move away.

I imagine lots of other sellers will face these conditions and with website traffic getting easier (and cheaper) to generate, eBay is not so attractive. They STILL don’t crack down on the dodgy sellers – just punish the easy targets – much like the law really.

So eBay, my dear old friend we have been together now for 10 years but I think it is high time we fell out.