topic Re: Anyone Else Noticed Drop Off In Sales Since New Top Rated Seller Program? in Selling

Anyone Else Noticed Drop Off In Sales Since New Top Rated Seller Program?

arlottstreetstation — Sun, 22 Sep 2013 03:26:10 GMT

Has anyone else noticed a drop in sales since the new program took effect? Only about 1/4 to 1/3 of my listings qualify for the new Premium Seller because I can't offer Free Post due the cost. I've noticed a pretty BIG drop in sales which I put down to my items now being virtually invisable. If this keeps up it won't be worth it anymore.

Re: Anyone Else Noticed Drop Off In Sales Since New Top Rated Seller Program?

jfmgray — Sun, 22 Sep 2013 05:15:59 GMT

I actually don't think the best match search results have changed yet. I only have a few listings that qualify for the premium seller badging and their placement on best match search have not changed at all. If I search anything by best match, the premium seller items are not at the top (yet). I know that the TRS baqdge has gone, but sales have been the same for me.

Re: Anyone Else Noticed Drop Off In Sales Since New Top Rated Seller Program?

davewil1964 — Sun, 22 Sep 2013 13:14:24 GMT

My sales are about what they were before I was a TRS and after I was a TRS, so no real change here.

Re: Anyone Else Noticed Drop Off In Sales Since New Top Rated Seller Program?

nicole-n-daz — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 05:43:54 GMT

95 % of my listings now qualify for the premium badge,and yet my items have dropped about 8 pages in the search engine and i am now hardly getting a sale.

Is this the reward ebay promised us for doing what they ask ?

Re: Anyone Else Noticed Drop Off In Sales Since New Top Rated Seller Program?

flurosfairdinkumdeals — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 05:37:11 GMT

ebay has clearly focused on buyers too much and have left their sellers in the cold, Im actually getting more sales on my own website than ebay now with cheaper overheads..when ebay first come out it was the best idea ever, It now seems all ebay tries to do is make it harder to sell by making sellers charge very high postage rates and all the listing restrictions etc and to finally take the cake the strike system lol what a joke...buyers dont care.....but one thing I have noticed is that the people that come to my website actually buy things and are fantastic customers so Im in two minds with ebay ATM

Re: Anyone Else Noticed Drop Off In Sales Since New Top Rated Seller Program?

buttonxbrat — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 08:49:11 GMT

Same here. I've had a massive drop in sales since updating my listings for the top rated seller program. My sales are down by well over 60%. I'm not sure what to do now... if this program has reduced my sales then perhaps I should opt out?

Re: Anyone Else Noticed Drop Off In Sales Since New Top Rated Seller Program?

davewil1964 — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 09:00:05 GMT

I left mine the same as they were previously, which means they don't comply with TRS+. No changes to my sales. Mind you I only got TRS last month.

Re: Anyone Else Noticed Drop Off In Sales Since New Top Rated Seller Program?

ambridgebuckskins — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 10:12:32 GMT

I haven't changed any thing to meet the new requirements and sales have been ticking along nicely. On this account, they are actually better than in the past.

Re: Anyone Else Noticed Drop Off In Sales Since New Top Rated Seller Program?

davewil1964 — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 10:21:11 GMT

Mine are, month on month, much better than last year. But that has been the case since May, when the new fees came in. Win-win - less costs, more sales.

I only sell books. The exchange rate has resulted in at least two mega-dropshippers adding a buck to their prices. Which still doesn't make my prices less than theirs, just not as much more. Maybe the bit in all my titles about the books being located in Australia helps. Maybe those who didn't do the sums and pulled their listings helped. All I know is that I have gone from 20-30 sales per month to 50+. And I am not unhappy.

Re: Anyone Else Noticed Drop Off In Sales Since New Top Rated Seller Program?

buttonsvintageandnewstore — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 00:40:18 GMT

Yes, I have noticed a dramatic drop over the last two days. I rang eBay yesterday and I have just rung again. My listings were always showing on the first page, now I have to go to page 6 to see just two of my listings. I have changed all my listings to meet the ebay premium service. I noticed on the first page there was a seller selling something similar to me, they are a new seller and don't meet the ebay premium service and have 5 days for their auction to finish, I am wondering how can they be on the first page, when I have one that finishes in 11 hours and is pages away and meets all the criteria plus has good search keywords etc. I have just rung ebay and they couldn't give me an answer, they are going to call me back during the day. So frustrating.

Re: Anyone Else Noticed Drop Off In Sales Since New Top Rated Seller Program?

js-evo — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 01:44:26 GMT

Hi everyone, I found a smiliar drop since ebay started to work on their program or upgrade their system or whatever since early Aug. Sometimes item even not searchable. I hv most my item qualify for ebay premium service. Do u guys feel the same or just the TRS?

Re: Anyone Else Noticed Drop Off In Sales Since New Top Rated Seller Program?

js-evo — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 01:46:00 GMT

Did they get back to u? Any good news or new way to fix this. Hope u can share with us. Appreciate so much. 🙂

Re: Anyone Else Noticed Drop Off In Sales Since New Top Rated Seller Program?

buttonsvintageandnewstore — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 03:43:31 GMT

No, I haven't heard back yet, but I will post on here when I do. I will ring them back tomorrow if I haven't as I will be asking them, what it is we need to do to have the listings ranking higer.

Re: Anyone Else Noticed Drop Off In Sales Since New Top Rated Seller Program?

buttonsvintageandnewstore — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 22:00:06 GMT

Hi,

I have had an email from them which is below. Though I still can't figure out when I search 'buttons' that this listing here from a sellar that has had no feedback and does not qualify for premium buyer status, no free postage, auction finishes in 4 days etc would be on page 2

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Light-Pink-Teddy-Bear-Buttons-/251345025315?pt=AU_Sewing&hash=item3a8554b923

when this listing of mine finishes in 3 hours and is on page 10

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290967534013&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT,

another one that finishes is 3 days I couldn't even find, I searched as far as page 17, and they are all Premium Service have good key words etc.

Hello Kaye,

Thank you for Calling eBay earlier regarding your bestmatch search result, I will be more than happy to explain this further to you.

Because the algorithm for Best match is very complicated, we can't share exact information about what must be changed to shift listings to a higher placement. Meaning that the most appealing listings from sellers who deliver great service, value and products are likely to be higher up on the page.

• Seller track record

• Competitive pricing, including postage & handling costs

• Relevance of the listing to the buyer's search

To improve the visibility of your listing

1. Make your listing relevant to the buyer’s search

2. Focus on customer satisfaction

3. Offer competitive prices and low-cost or free postage

4. Build a score based on recent sales relative to impressions

Be sure to include keywords that buyers will search for, unique or descriptive attributes, and always check your spelling.

There are many factors used in Best Match. Some, like how relevant your item is to the buyer's search are outside of your control. For example, if you're selling an evening dress and the buyer is looking for a power drill, you aren't going to be a match.

However, other factors like having a complete listing with a fair price and offering great customer service are completely within your control. This is the area that should be your main focus. Having a complete and high-quality listing will not only help you attract buyers, it will ensure your items are evaluated and ranked properly against the competition.

To learn more about this, please visit this link:

http://help.ebay.com.au/Help/Selling/Advanced_selling/Best_Match/Best_Match_FAQs#fifteen

Again, thank you for your call.

Warm Regards,

James F.

eBay Customer Support

Re: Anyone Else Noticed Drop Off In Sales Since New Top Rated Seller Program?

buttonsvintageandnewstore — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 22:04:19 GMT

and this one finishes in a day and I can't even find it 😞

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290923449799&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

Re: Anyone Else Noticed Drop Off In Sales Since New Top Rated Seller Program?

digital*ghost — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 23:38:59 GMT

@buttonsvintageandnewstore wrote:
For example, if you're selling an evening dress and the buyer is looking for a power drill, you aren't going to be a match.

I'm sorry, but what now?

Do eBay think there are sellers who are expecting their listing for an evening dress to rank highly in a search for a power drill?

Re: Anyone Else Noticed Drop Off In Sales Since New Top Rated Seller Program?

my_online_gift_shop — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 03:39:14 GMT

I found the same problem too, my sales dropped almost 60% in September. There is anything we can do? It's not fair, we worked so hard to keep our TRS badge and we don't get any benefits but dropping in sales....

Re: Anyone Else Noticed Drop Off In Sales Since New Top Rated Seller Program?

daniellebradydesigns — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 07:26:32 GMT

I'm having the same issue here. Massive drop in sales. Became TRS about a month ago. Sales were going really well. Then all of a sudden they pretty much stopped altogether. I've updated most of my listings to meet the premium service, and while traffic has picked up since doing that, sales are still slow. I do have seasonal lows, but not to this extent. My stuff used to come up on the first page. Now sometimes I can't even find my items. Is this related to the new changes? I'm thinking about opting out. Seems like more hassle than it's worth in my opion.

Re: Anyone Else Noticed Drop Off In Sales Since New Top Rated Seller Program?

buttonsvintageandnewstore — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 09:56:27 GMT

I'm sure it's to do with the new changes. Mine just dropped off a few days ago, normally I'm getting sales regularly throughout the day, now I've hardly had anything. Are your listings Good till Cancelled? As mine all are, it seems that even if someone has a listing that say is a 7 day auction and finishes in a couple of days, that it will be ranked higher than someone that has a Good till cancelled listing that finishes in 1 day. I wouldn't be surprised if eBay are doing this to make more money, by making people choose shorter auction times instead and that way they can charge as they will be relisted quicker. With the store I have I think it is 200 listings I can list per month for free, I have just over 200 listings, if I started doing 7 or 10 day auctions I would have to start paying to relist them.

Re: Anyone Else Noticed Drop Off In Sales Since New Top Rated Seller Program?

daniellebradydesigns — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 10:05:30 GMT

My listings are Good till Cancelled too. Your post makes so much sense. And doesn't surprise me if that is the cause.