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New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

Has anyone seen this garbage yet???


Spring Seller Update: New performance standards will affect your status
This summer, seller performance standards are being updated to reward those sellers most responsible for keeping buyers on eBay.

Starting with the regularly scheduled monthly seller evaluation on August 20, a new measurement, your transaction defect rate, will replace the current four detailed seller rating requirements used to evaluate your seller performance.

Your defect rate is simply the percentage of your transactions over the most recent evaluation period with one or more of the top predictors that a buyer will leave eBay or purchase less, such as an opened eBay Money Back Guarantee case, a return because the item wasn't as described, or negative or neutral feedback.

Based on the last seller evaluation on February 20, your defect rate is expected to be higher than the 2% maximum allowed for Top Rated Sellers.

Start now on improvements needed to lower your rate so you can regain your Top Rated status after the new requirements take effect August 20.

A low defect rate is important. It indicates that your buyers consistently receive the item they expect, when they expect it. Buyers won't see your defect rate. But in general, the lower your defect rate, the better your position in Best Match search results.

As a Top Rated Seller today, you've shown your commitment to providing great service. We appreciate that and we're here to help. We've arranged for an exclusive, one-on-one session with an eBay Outreach expert who can help get you back to Top Rated status as soon as possible. I encourage you to schedule your appointment today!

Track your status in your new seller dashboard
Starting the week of April 16, you'll get an up-to-date preview of how you're tracking toward the new standards in your new seller dashboard. Your dashboard will be fully updated with the new standards on August 20.

Where to focus based on your recent selling
In the meantime, based on your recent selling history and the factors included in the new defect rate, pay special attention to these basic services all buyers expect:

Note, the new defect rate is designed simply to identify transactions where something was not quite right. Each transaction can only count once toward your defect rate, regardless of the number of defects associated with it. When your buyers consistently get the items they expect when they expect them, your defect rate will reflect it—so focus on the basics of good customer service.

Capture sales with easy returns
Recent and future updates to eBay hassle-free returns—including a clear message to buyers on your item page—makes it easier than ever to win more potential sales with your confidence-inspiring return policy.

Category and item specifics updates
As always, changes to categories and item specifics are included with the rest of seller updates. Changes are coming the week of April 7 in these categories.
Find out if your listings are affected.

Business & Industrial
Cell Phones and Accessories
Clothing, Shoes & Accessories
Coins & Paper Money
Collectibles
Dolls & Bears
Health & Beauty
Home & Garden
Jewelry & Watches
Motors
Pet Supplies
Sporting Goods
Sports Memorabilia
Stamps
Travel

More information

Get details on the 2014 Spring Seller Update.
Use the Seller Checklist to stay on top of important dates.
Find out how you can update your listings quickly and efficiently with
bulk editing tools.
For additional insight, you're also invited to talk with members of my staff during the next two days on a special discussion board we've set up for this purpose. Join me and other leaders from eBay in a Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, March 12, from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm PST.
Register now for a special online workshop for valuable tips on what you can do right now to stay on top with the new standards. Chose the date that's best for you: Thursday, March 13, 1:00 pm PST
Wednesday, March 26, 11:00 am PST.

As always, thank you for selling on eBay.

Sincerely,
Michael Jones
Vice President,
Merchant Development

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

Isn't this better, it will be easier to get and maintain TRS this way. I myself don't have a lot of returns and idiot buyers won't be able to damage you by leaving 1 star for no reason and have you lose your trs

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

It definitely is not better. The order defect program essentially adds to the list of things that can officially damage your account, disqualify you from TRS status, decrease your position in the search results, and drop you to below standard. Thereby giving buyers lots more power and taking what little power sellers have away from us.

In the real world, an order defect rate of 2-5% is normal and would be a perfectly acceptable standard at a retail business, restaurant, or even your own website. But in the land of Ebay where it is riddled with scammers, impatient/paranoid nutcases, and your average buyer knows that they have you by the nads (and can hide behind a computer screen while making ridiculous demands), even maintaining a 8% defect rate can be quite difficult.

Account suspensions for below standard will become more common then ever. Even among people who provide good customer service, sell with integrity, and ship fast. One of the reasons for this is the customers will quickly figure out that they have more power then ever and the demands and scams will skyrocket. I expect to see at least a 30% increase in account suspensions by the end of the year.

Now creating stealth accounts will be more important then ever. Load up on those people; You are going to need them.

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

Well put my friend. I could not agree with you more. Whatever my actual defect rate is, I would say about 90% of the causing factors (most likely and mainly item not as described) are false and result from ignorance on behalf of the buyer.

I describe everything as if I was presenting my items to a cave man. Yes my items are so well described that even a cave man can buy them faithfully. I would say that in my listings but I would probably get a Vero TM violation from Geico...

Most of the time my buyers forget to do simple things like remove a battery tab from an electronic to allow the battery to make proper contact. I include photos, videos, and disclaimers that this must be done in order for the product to function yet I still receive a ton of "item not as described" cases on this exact issue.

I am stressing this but not as much as much as one would think. It's a continuing evolution. The strong will survive. I will be strong. Most here are strong as well! Work hard, play hard. Amen, goodnight!

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

The biggest issue for me is the shipping time issue. It will no longer require a buyer to leave a low DSR for shipping time, eBay will be gathering them from tracking data. And with all of the glitches in the US Postal system, I do not see ANYONE keeping their TRS status.

I agree this is a total slap in the face to sellers.

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

I just saw recently that USPS will be giving more updates throughout the transit of parcels. I laughed...

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

They advertise now that they offer actual tracking, and not just Confirmation anymore.

It's still not reliable, as many employees at sort facilities don't scan everything.

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

Yeah. AND, my local sorting center closed maybe 6 months ago. The new one they are using for my area is a NIGHTMARE! Packages check in, but they don't check out! They sometimes go mysteriously missing for a week or so. JUST ENOUGH time to get me smacked around by the customer. I have complained, but I doubt it will do anything. Either they are overloaded, or the employees are pissed because of the lost jobs. Either way, I lose!

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

Same here... I don't even get my mail every day anymore. I am lucky if it comes once every three days. Half of the neighborhood is getting late payment notices because they never got their bills in the mail. Big mess

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

Did you approach your local center?

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

What about free postage (the cheap & small stuff that ships without tracked info - standard parcels etc.)
:yar:

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

Regarding the Returns changes - do you think they will make you specify where to return items on your ad/page?
This would require all accounts to have a relevant / usable / different address.
Are they going to try to automate this process further?
If so, this will be a pain for some :rant:

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

Yes, of course. I told the lady who runs our local post office. She told me they have a LOT of complaints about that sorting center and that USPS is working on the problem. Of course, she has no specific information and it is not her fault.

The problem is that eBay will not give a damn. I will go from being a TRS to a problem seller, all though no fault of my own.

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

Reminds me of being a Teacher. They expect too damn much out of us.

About Ebay Spring Seller Update!
 

Hi Everyone, I received this message on my account that i can no longer sell on, does this mean my account will be reinstated and i can start selling again?




Spring Seller Update: New seller standards reward great service

Dear chris18181:

Updates coming to seller performance standards will recognize and reward sellers who are most responsible for keeping buyers on eBay.

Starting with the regularly scheduled August 20 seller evaluation, a new measurement, your transaction defect rate, will replace the current four detailed seller rating requirements used to evaluate your seller performance.

Your defect rate is simply the percentage of your transactions over the most recent evaluation period with one or more of the top predictors that a buyer will leave eBay or purchase less, such as an opened eBay Money Back Guarantee case, a return because the item wasn't as described, or negative or neutral feedback.
As of the last seller evaluation on February 20, your defect rate is above the 5% maximum expected of eBay sellers. I encourage you to start now on some focused improvements to lower it.
A low defect rate is important because it indicates whether your buyers consistently receive the item they expect, when they expect it. Buyers won't see your defect rate, but eBay will. With a defect rate higher than 5%, your listings won't have an optimal position Best Match search results. You may be also be notified of limits or restrictions to your selling privileges when the new requirement takes effect August 20.

I know you want to provide great service to your buyers. Please take some time to get familiar with the new performance standards—especially tips for maintaining a low defect rate.

Track your status in your new seller dashboard
Starting the week of April 16, you'll get an up-to-date preview of how you're tracking toward the new standards in your new seller dashboard. Your dashboard will be fully updated with the new standards on August 20.

Where to focus based on your recent selling
In the meantime, based on your recent selling history and the factors included in the new defect rate, pay special attention to these basic services all buyers expect:
Have enough stock: It's especially important to have the item on hand to ship. Keep your multi-quantity listings up to date and in synch with your inventory.
Note, the new defect rate is designed simply to identify transactions where something was not quite right. Each transaction can only count once toward your defect rate, regardless of the number of defects associated with it. When your buyers consistently get the items they expect when they expect them, your defect rate will reflect it—so focus on the basics of good customer service.
Capture sales with easy returns
Recent and future updates to eBay hassle-free returns—including a clear message to buyers on your item page—makes it easier than ever to win more potential sales with your confidence-inspiring return policy.

More information
Get details on the 2014 Spring Seller Update.
Use the Seller Checklist to stay on top of important dates.
Find out how you can update your listings quickly and efficiently with
bulk editing tools.
For additional insight, you're also invited to talk with members of my staff during the next two days on a special discussion board we've set up for this purpose. Join me and other leaders from eBay in a Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, March 12, from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm PST.
Register now for a special online workshop for valuable tips on what you can do right now to stay on top with the new standards. Chose the date that's best for you: Thursday, March 13, 1:00 pm PST
Wednesday, March 26, 11:00 am PST.
As always, thank you for selling on eBay.

Sincerely,
Michael Jones
Vice President,
Merchant Development

Re: About Ebay Spring Seller Update!
 

I highly doubt it.

Its an automated message sent out to all of the accounts.
But if the account has had issues in the past, ive noticed the headers vary from your message to "You're in great shape"

I get the message you received on accounts that Ive had cases on in the past 2 months.

But accounts that have none get the great shape message.

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

I saw something somewhere else that said with this update ebay wants to see actual scans and moving of the package on the first day. I guess too many sellers were uploading false or printing out the labels and not actually shipping it. How can we make usps actually scan and move the item on the first day.

Re: About Ebay Spring Seller Update!
 

This won't work at all. I'm speaking from experience. Had an account indefinitely suspended. Sent me this message telling me how great of a seller I am blah blah blah. Then when I tried to list an item, said I can't list.

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

You gotta bring it in front at the counter, meaning waiting in line.

I drop in the back, so first scan is at the Sort Facility in my state ( If I'm lucky ).

Re: About Ebay Spring Seller Update!
 

Look, eBay is on crack. Don't believe all the emails and claims they say.

The only way to be sure is to log in and check yourself.

Sorry to burst your bubble.

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

My Po let's me walk up in front of the line and leave at the counter. I guess if someone has more than 10 or so packages that could be a problem.

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

Sure you can leave them on the counter in the front, no need to stay in line for that, but they aren't scanned there.

Usually they will have a guy pick-up that stuff when too many pile up, a few times a day and bring it in the back. No acceptance scans still.

I guess suburb/villages and the sorts will operate differently, but in a big city where they are understaffed and there is lots of traffic, no such thing in my experience.

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

This is going to hit hard if they count open cases. Even if they have been resolved will the ratr of cases be counted as defect items? Not as described

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

My post office doesn't take my packages through the window. They bring them through the door and they don't get scanned until they reach the next sorting facility. They told me I have too many packages for them to scan...

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

Just going through my accounts I have noticed eBya are now putting a summery in a pop up window that will show how you seller performance will look in August.

The thing that worries me is eBay have been pushing buyers to open cases for the past 12 months even when the buyer just wanted to ask a question, now these cases are being counted towards the defect rate, cases that were opened and closed with seller resolution.

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

^ I'm below standard in August, lmao.

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

I am on mine, even the best one its Frightening.

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

I have one that is going to be TRS in a couple days but Below Standard in august

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

They really trying hard to get off the small guys like us I guess.

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

You just got to buy from yourself....I do it all the time to push bad FB down the page a bit. They warn you so... it's so easy.

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

It is easy when you do it stealth way

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

This in My opinion would of been beneficial to sellers if instead of giving you a defect for an open case, you get a defect rating if it closes without seller resolution.

OR seperate the contact form and Buyer protection forms.

Ive had 2 buyers this week open disputes against me when it wasnt their intention to do so.

Does anyone know if you and the buyer agreed it was accidental, could you call up ebay to have it removed from your record?

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

There are volume sellers getting these claims daily without harm. There are sellers that deal in clothing were returns are the norm. I don't think this is that big a deal.
If you look at any catigory up and down any page you will see mostly small sellers. Ebay is mostly small sellers, they won't kill their daily bread.

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

You make all great points, everything that I'm concerned about. Buyers do open cases by accident , I didn't believe them when they told me before, until I made a purchase

I went to message the seller and the way they set it up is so deceiving , all I wanted to do was message the seller and it led me to opening a case which I would of never did to another seller on purpose

EBay is crazy, I couldn't believe something like messaging a seller they take advantage of and steer the buyer to open a case

But I think that we are missing something because I know it says you can have 5 defects tops to be TRS and 8 defects to keep standard but volume would have to take part in this somehow , or it would be even more ridiculous than it is , so so a seller that has 1000 orders and 8 defects is in the same position as a seller with 10 orders and 8 defects??

There has to be something that factors volume into the equation that hasn't been released yet

Unless they really are doing away with the small business seller and going all Big Company and buyer with occasional sales, who knows

But best thing is to operate with at least double the accounts you have now and spread sales even thinner

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

I've seen ebay commercials (very rare) on TV that promoted selling household goods and the like along with how easy it is to use ebay mobile.... Even those emails ebay sometimes sends to your sleeper accts promoting home sales.

They want small, big, any sellers. But they do look at what scammers do to there site too!!

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

Mass marketing concepts

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

I believe it is 5% for AS and 2% for TRS

The 5 and 8 numbers are like how we are allowed 3 1-2 star scores before they start penalizing us for it.

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

Hmm wonder if these will change by end of year

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

I spoke to customer support and after being passed from pillar to post the end result was these case WILL be counted towards your defect rate.

I then asked why since the last seller update have eBay been encouraging buyers to open cases when all the buyer wanted to do was ask a question - they said they hadn't been doing that and if I have a TRS account that is now going to be Below standard in August that is a reflection on the customer satisfaction I have given and that I need to improve.

Re: New eBay Performance Standards, are they serious ?!?
 

I don't like that competitors can damage my account with a simple low rating of something you cant hardly even see.... Such as shipping time, etc.... Another point added without really knowing who is doing the damage.

There will be some pushback on next update I don't doubt, by then the damage may already be done.

I am excluded from the new rules until March 2015 on some account as per ebay. So I might need to blow it out for this season....

I am seriously thinking of getting out....