Below standard seller status
Summary: The discussion titled "Below standard seller status" involves an exchange between several participants, including jjba6541 who initiates the conversation. However, the posts do not contain any substantive content, limiting the ability to provide a detailed summary. Participants exchange multiple responses, yet due to the lack of descriptive content, it remains unclear what specific issues or solutions are being discussed. Overall, the thread appears to involve numerous individuals across different times but does not disclose the nature or outcome of their discussion about the seller status.
After 22years Ebay have given me a below standard rating on my main selling account For the 1st time ever..They say I have until February 25 to improve or I will be cut back on more selling privalges,,How, am i supposed to improve when they are already cutting back on items i can list and saying that My listingss wont be near top in Topmatch ,They have listed me below standard because i had to cancel a couple of sales.,,I believe Ebay are getting rid of the small time sellers in Favour of bigger sellers,This is their way of doing it,,
bobthewelder46
·1 year agoI am suffering the same cutbacks with what I can sell I have been a power seller for many many years.
Now surrounded by businesses claiming to be based in Australia, have all the Australia flags and Australia post logos, when I do the search about the competitors they are based in China. Basically, I will eventually remove my welding equipment shop and concentrate promoting my own website. eBay is still charging me all the monthly fees, goes beyond extortion. And we all have the cancel orders, slow tracking for whatever reason that is just a factor in doing business in the 21st century. Other thing that I find offensive is all the little competitors adds plastered all around my listing. Just not a level playing field, You would think if we select Australia only we would be shown on Australian seller not the case Chinese sellers are getting around that loop hole too. Not happy Bom Moore trading as Bobthewelder46 on eBay [MOD EDIT: Please do not post personal details in public]
sandypebbles
·1 year agoAustralia only does not mean the seller is registered in Australia, so no loophole there
And pretty much if listings have 'Australian flags and logos' plastered on them, it screams seller in China pretending to be in Australia, it is what they do
Not something here other members can do anything about, other than not supporting such sellers
springyzone
·1 year agoOther thing that I find offensive is all the little competitors adds plastered all around my listing. Just not a level playing field, You would think if we select Australia only we would be shown on Australian seller not the case Chinese sellers are getting around that loop hole too
That is what a lot of buyers assume too, that Australia only means they will be looking at products from Australian sellers. Once upon a time on ebay, that worked. But these days a lot of international sellers list items available to Australia.
It's not exactly a loophole but it is misleading and would be better if seller location was shown upfront, but don't hold your breath. I don't think ebay is moving in that direction.
Yes, as a buyer, I can see all the little ads that pop up around any item I look at. In some cases, it has led me to click and buy from someoone else if the product is identical. I can see how annoying it would be if you were a selleras you want potential customers to concentrate on your item, not be introduced to a range of other sellers.
From the point of view of ebay though, all they want is a sale, any sale, so if they can tempt a viewer with a better price or similar item, they are happy.
We're only people on a messageboard though, we're not ebay and we can't make any changes even though we'd sometimes like to.
the_dutchess_of_dork
·1 year agoI'm going to agree to disagree with everyone on this, jjba6541.
I think you are absolutely right. eBay don't care a whit about small sellers.
I wrote in another thread, one seller I looked at had almost 700 Negative and Neutral feedback in the past twelve months and was still being described as "One of eBay's most reputable sellers" and "Consistently delivers outstanding customer service". You have one cancellation, not including the buyer cancellation request, and eBay is going all "bad cop" on you.
I think it should be about the bigger picture. As they say, you can't please everyone, so an occasional hit is inevitable. However, it should be about the overall conduct of a seller. Clearly someone who is repeatedly getting negative / neutral feedback - often for the same issues and same items - is demonstrating a pattern of not being reputable or delivering outstanding customer service.
The only reason they stay afloat is because they are volume sellers and often low value sellers. A lot of buyers can't be bothered pursuing it because of the value of the item versus the time to reach a resolution. These sellers are also notorious for offering partial refunds which increase as buyers dig their heels in so many probably settle for a partial refund and it goes no further.
I think it's sad because, for me, what sets eBay apart from other online shopping sites is the smaller independent sellers; mostly with pre-owned items. All the low price low quality new products are available anywhere. It's the niche stuff that's kept me on eBay for 20 years. I think it's a shame eBay don't value these sellers as much as they should.
sardonicus001
·1 year agoLike the original correspondent I was downgraded from Top Seller to Below Standard. I have been selling on eBay since 2011. After eceiving a warning I did a stocktake of my inventory to ensure that I was in possession of the items I was offering for sale. Unfortunately this effort was in vain because I don't expect to be re-evaluated until March. As a consequence I have unlisted 400+ items and will relist them at a later date. Does eBay charge higher fees for people in my position? I think someone suggested that they charge an extra 5.5%. If this is the case I would cease listing altogether as it becomes uneconomical. In any case, why should eBay feel entitled to make an extra profit, even if I am at fault?
lezned-toycollector
·1 year agoIt has nothing to do with eBay feeling entitled. They will charge the extra 5.5% FVF not because of how they feel, but because you have given them permission to do so. If you don't like the fees they charge, then don't sell anything on their platform... it really is as simple as that
sardonicus001
·1 year agoI didn't consciously give them permission to charge me an extra 5.5% FVF because, since 2011, I haven't seen any reference to this fee and did not have the option of agreeing to it. Perhaps I should do as you suggest and leave the platform.
lezned-toycollector
·1 year agoThat's just a load of **bleep**. You can't list anything on eBay without agreeing to their rules. As you are well aware, you also need to agree to their user agreement to use their site. The simple fact that you've listed anything is proof positive that you've read and agreed to eBay's terms.
Every time eBay change their user agreement, each and every member gets an email advising them of the changes and the date they will take effect. Each recipient is given the option of either agreeing and doing nothing, or disagreeing and closing their account. The simple fact that you are here at all is proof positive that you've personally accepted eBay's terms.
You don't get to say you've read and agreed to something, then get lazy and not bother reading it at all, then claim that you haven't seen it. Regardless of whether you've read the relevant text or not, you have personally confirmed your knowledge of and agreement to all of eBay's rules/policies.
So, at the end of the day, you have given eBay permission to charge you an extra 5.5% FVF - like it or not.
designers*n*more
·1 year agoI rarely check my performance ratings as I rarely have issues and if I do I resolve them. However, I did check my ratings a few months ago and was in shock when I saw there were 2 defects for « closed without resolution.
One was for late last year, which has now dropped off when i just checked but, the item went missing in the post and had tracking, dispute resolution resolved because « I » initiated the refund, not eBay. Tried to appeal this but couldn’t due to time lapse, so requested a call back. Was told it would be removed, but never was.
second item again missing in post had tracking and I promptly initiated a refund to the buyer, not eBay. Can’t appeal as it’s been more than 90 days 😢
springyzone
·1 year agoThat is very poor on ebay's part, they must have the technology to deal with this and they have let you down. You must have been very disappointed.
It shouldn't matter if it is over 90 days, an ebay rep should be able to fix things if they can clearly see a mistake has been made.
I guess the only thing you can take from this experience is if you ever do the right thing and eg cancel an order for a customer or initiate a refund, that you check out your ratings soon afterwards, just in case.
lezned-toycollector
·1 year agoThe "below standard" rating has absolutely nothing to do with how many items you have listed, or how many you sell.
It is calculated solely by the percentage of sales where you have failed to meet your obligations.
To put it simply... you reap what you sow, but then, you already know this 😉😄
bjlcr
·1 year agoI know this,But how can I sell anything when they restrict my selling.Cut back listings ect,It makes no sense,,Unless they are getting rid of small time sellers.Which i believe they are,
davewil1964
·1 year agoI'm a small time seller. Not as small as you, but certainly not a business.
I am Top Rated and Above Standard on my selling accounts.
What I do is ensure I have what I list, address any issues proactively, and provide 5 star (according to my feedback) service.
jjba6541
OP1 year agoI cancelled 2 sales.One was requested by a buyer.Ive been with Ebay 25 years.This account i not the account I have below standard.
gutterpunkz05
·1 year agoIt has nothing to do with getting rid of sellers, small or large. Your selling metrics are readily available to you, and you should have been taking steps to improve those metrics, before you fell to below standard.
Best of luck, but you have a very limited window in which to turn it around.
jjba6541
OP1 year agoI believed my metrics were very good,The account that has the below standard is not this account,Which I hardly use.
The Below standard wnaring came as a shock.
I had the cancel on 2 sales and one was a buyer request.
This seems to be the issue they are complaining about.
davewil1964
·1 year agoHow did you address the buyer request?
If you chose 'buyer requested' you wouldn't have been dinged.
I suspect there is more to this than you are revealing.
And it's pointless complaining on the boards.
After 25 years you are fully aware that eBay rarely read the boards, and even more rarely reverse decisions even if they are at fault.
bjlcr
·1 year agoYou can think all you like. I Know Ebay dont come here and I just really am commenting on what is happening ...Commenting/ complaining (whatever)..I wasnt expecting anyone from the company to respond..Tried talking to a robot.That was hopeless..If I knew I done I had done something wrong I wouldn't bother comming here,
I've seen seller's with more negative feedback than positive and they have high rating .
Now they limit my selling options,Charge me higher FV Fee,And tell me ,Go fix your rating by February
or we may limit you more and maybe cancel your account,,.How can anyone fix their account if all this happens.I can't fix my account if they wont let me sell.
There's nothing more to this,Just Ebay getting rid of small sellers,
davewil1964
·1 year agoI didn't think, I suspected.
Given you have provided no relevant information, that is all any of us can do.
And as I have previously posted, I am a small seller. But I know how eBay works and ensure I don't get tripped by not knowing the pitfalls.
jjba6541
OP1 year agoIt was 2 items I had to refund and one of those was a buyer cancelling,Go figure,I think they are just after
The small time sellers.
springyzone
·1 year agoI don't know that they are after you as such but what happens to smaller sellers is that even one or two transactions that go wrong can have a big impact, whereas with some of the huge sellers, they can and do get away with it because the bad transactions get lost in the dozens or hundreds of other transactions where no claim was opened.
I actually agree with you that ebay does not care about small sellers all that much and would rather have big volume sellers of new stuff on their site.
And the Duchess is 100% spot on in that what has set ebay apart, if they only realised it, is that there are second hand and one off items available here, often from smaller sellers.
But back to your problem.
In future if a buyer requests a cancellation, only ever cancel it as a buyer request otherwise ebay will ding you for it.
If you have been restricted in the number of items you list, have a look at past sales and see what sort of things are the easiest to sell and maybe for a while, restrict yourself to those.
For a while, you may have to cop slightly higher fees, you may be able to work that into your asking price by slightly raising the overall prices, even by a few cents here and there.
I don't know that you can improve except by sending out your sold items quickly and resolving any problems quickly. Just keep under the radar for a few months, with what sales you do have running smoothly.
davewil1964
·1 year agoThe metrics are there for you to read.
If you fall below standard, the remedy is in your control.
Don't sell things you can't send would be a good start.