Defect impact question

[gec2002]

I have a few other IDs and one has a store with low recent sales of approx 5 - 10 a month as I have pretty much stpped my involvement with the line of merchandise.

My issue is this. Overall the ID is 100% FB and only has 1 neutral. However over Xmas it copped several defects (buyers asking where is my item that immediately became defects and INRs (yeah right!!)) so it currently stands at 3.4% based on a years worth of sales, but with the defects being recent. If I leave it as it stands, even with no more defects it will go over 5% as the higher number of sales from earlier in the year drop off. ie I have 6 in 178 if that drops to 6 in 120 (the defects being relatively recent) I am at 5%, and with the reduced sales level that will happen.

My understanding is that becoming Below Standard on 1 ID will impact on all my IDs, result in a 21 day hold on my paypal receipts from all IDs (which would give me an unsustainable cashflow) and could see me get banned, all serious stuff.

I understand I could try to get more sales, but I would rather not do that if possible, and concentrate on my other stores and IDs. My question can I just shut down 1 ID ie no longer have it registered, and remove the potential danger to my other IDs.  I can't see any other viable option.  I would like to keep it if possible as it has a high FB score and a name that I have registered so I don't want want someone else using it.

This seems like a real hidden issue for any seller who just stops selling for awhile be it due to illness, holidays or just want a break, they could well finish up being banned if the timing of their defects is in recent cluster, as might be expected with Xmas sales rush.

[dylan11235813]

I have no idea to your question but I think you need defects from at least 8 different buyers to go below standard (5 for top rated)

[i-love-my-sheep]

EBay won't let you close your account if it has dropped to below standard. If it's still above standard at the moment, you could try, but it takes 60 days of no activity for it to close. Not sure if the process would be stopped if you dropped to below standard in that time.

[gec2002]

Sorry I can understand if you owe money to a buyer or ebay that you would need to clear the outstanding accounts, but were does it say in the T&C you can't close an account if you are below standard.  That doesn't make sense

[digital*ghost]

dylan is correct, the defects need to be from at least 8 different buyers before they will impact your account and cause restrictions, so if it is from 6 transactions / buyers, the account should not be impacted.

[gec2002]

Yes I think that may be an out in my case but I can certainly see were some unfortunate sellers would not be so lucky.

Also if can't close an account if you are below std virtually means no matter how good or large other IDs are you are done for.  The other IDs could be in limbo for months.

I also note the T&C say that you cannot use new ID to avoid buying and selling limits, which would in theory mean if you open a new ID which is limited to say 40 sales a month (or whatever), then so in theory your other IDs would be included in that tally?  Having started an other ID mid last year that isn't the case.

[gec2002]

Again that may be the theory, but the selling ID has been reduced from TRS to above avaerage with only 6 defects, or does it only apply to restrictions.  After all we told TRS is the be all and end all so being reduced to above std must have impacted on my sales.

[digital*ghost]

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@gec2002 wrote:

Again that may be the theory, but the selling ID has been reduced from TRS to above avaerage with only 6 defects, 

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That's because the standard for TRS is maximum 2% defect rate (from 5 or more buyers). So you can lose TRS but not be rated below standard.

The buyer-count thing does come into effect, as when the system was introduced, I watched my dashboard go from TRS to Above Standard. When I only had 4 different buyers who had given a defect, I didn't lose TRS even though the total number of defects would have otherwise put me over the 2% for losing TRS. The second I had a fifth buyer who gave me a defect, all individual transactions / defects were counted and I lost TRS, so I presume that unless you have defects from 8 or more buyers, the same will apply for Above Average / Below Standard. 

[5kazam]

From Site Map>Selling>Close my account

Can I close my account if it's currently below standard?

If your account is no longer meeting minimum standards, you can't close it until your account is no longer below standard.