eBay Revamps PowerSeller Program as Part of September Changes

[eBayNews]

As reported last week in AuctionBytes, eBay is introducing major changes that affect its marketplace sellers, including a new seller responsibilities policy and an overhaul of its PowerSeller program with the introduction of a Top Rated Seller designation and badge. eBay published the changes to its website overnight and will post them on its Announcement Board later today. Most of the changes go into effect in the September - October timeframe, prior to the holiday shopping season.

One of the major changes revolves around how eBay measures the quality of its sellers. eBay will continue to measure sellers by the average "Detailed Seller Ratings" (DSR) feedback left anonymously by buyers, but it will focus more on a new Low-Score metric - the percentage of low DSR scores (1's and 2's) left by buyers. Top-rated sellers will receive 20% Final Value Fee discounts beginning in October, and in April 2010, all other PowerSellers will get a maximum PowerSeller Final Value Fee discount of 5 percent. eBay will only consider ratings left by domestic buyers when calculating the low-score, however.

eBay will also introduce a new Seller Dashboard in September that includes a Search Visibility tool that displays recent sales and impression range for all of a seller's listings.

eBay will introduce a new streamlined Unpaid Item process with an auto-option with no negative feedback and will expand the dispute resolution for buyer claims it introduced in April 2009, with the number of buyers and sellers who see it is gradually increasing with a goal of completing the changeover before the holiday 2009 selling season. Once complete, the new on-eBay resolution process, backed by eBay Customer Support, will be the primary resource for buyers who are unable to resolve disputes directly with eBay sellers.

Selling Manager Applications will be available to sellers in August for free trial. This is eBay's new "open platform" approach that was beta-tested under the name Project Echo.

There is much more to eBay's forthcoming changes, available now on its website. eBay will make an official announcement on its Announcement Board later today.

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