As we reported last week and in yesterday's AuctionBytes Update newsletter, eBay is introducing major changes to its marketplace including a new seller responsibilities policy called Selling Practices, and it will revamp its PowerSeller program with the introduction of a Top Rated Seller designation and badge. eBay published the changes to its website overnight, and eBay will be making an announcement on the Announcement Board later today.
eBay will give sellers an 8-month transition period as it shifts the PowerSeller discount structure and begins to measure sellers on their rate of low DSRs - specifically 1s and 2s. Beginning in April 2010, there will be a new structure for PowerSeller Final Value Fee discounts: 20% for eBay Top-rated sellers and 5% for all other PowerSellers. (Top-rated sellers will be able to get their discounts beginning in October.)
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 discontinue most optional, fee-based listing features. When sellers purchase Featured First (which will only be available to Top Rated sellers) or Bold along with International Site Visibility, these features will be displayed only on the site of purchase to ensure that domestic listings get top visibility.
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.
Other changes include:
For all Auction-style items listed on or after October 1, the Buy It Now price will have to be at least 10% more than the auction start price.
Optional buyer charges for shipping insurance no longer allowed.
My Messages and post-transaction emails changes, including: buyer identity will be kept anonymous until after the sale is complete.
Sellers will be able to upload tracking and delivery confirmation numbers for more carriers. Buyers will see a message next to sellers' handling time on the item page and will see tracking information and stated delivery time right in the Feedback and dispute resolution flows. For transactions with free shipping, there will be clear messaging in the Feedback flow encouraging buyers to leave a 5 DSR for shipping and handling charges. No shipping DSRs with local pickup.
Selling Manager Applications will be available in August for free trial.
The new eBay Top-rated seller badge will be displayed on sellers' item pages and other member profile pages, and eBay will begin testing the badge in search results pages. The current PowerSeller icon will no longer be displayed on buyer-facing pages like the item page and other member profile pages, but will continue to be displayed in My eBay, Selling Manager and Selling Manager Pro.
See all the changes about eBay's forthcoming changes on its
website, and keep an eye out for eBay's official announcement on the
eBay Announcement Board.
eBay Publishes September Changes ahead of Announcement 
