eBay Policy Changes Rewards Sellers For Providing an Excellent Customer Experience

eBay is the world's marketplace and is dedicated to the buyer experience there. Because membership is free at eBay, they have instituted a set of policies that help ensure a quality experience for buyers. But the policies have been recently updated and the changes benefit the sellers in a more positive way.

First , eBay uses a rating system called a DSR or detailed seller rating. This is calculated by buyers rating their experience in four areas:

1. Communication.

2. Accuracy of item description.

3. Shipping time.

4. Shipping and handling charges.

eBay has made a change from using an overall average of ratings to the amount of low reports (1s and 2s) instead. In addition, only transactions with buyers in the USA will count for US sellers. Also transactions and reports from returning US buyers will be used to reward sellers who continually provide excellent service.

This new way of looking at the DSRs benefits both sides. Sellers get a firsthand look at areas that need work and buyers can see exactly how many low scores you have received. As an added benefit, sellers with a top rating will receive discounts on fees, promotions on Fixed Price Listings, be able to purchase featured first and will have a badge prominently displayed on item pages.

Top rated sellers will qualify for these benefits if they meet the following criteria:

1. Have 100 transactions equaling $3000 or more over the last 12 months.

2. No more than .5% of those transactions receiving low DSRs of 1 or 2 on each of the four areas.

Even low volume sellers can be a top rated seller. These are sellers with less than 400 transactions per year. For these sellers, two DSRs of a 1 or 2 will be allowed prior to the .5% being instituted.

eBay has also revamped the time period at which the DSRs will be evaluated. Sellers with more than 400 transactions within a 90 day period will be evaluated every 3 months. All others will be evaluated every 12 months. This is based on a calendar month.

eBay has also made it easier to become a PowerSeller. The discount structure is tiered like this through April 2010.

- For sellers with a 4.9 or higher DSR, 20% discounts are applied.

- For sellers with a DSR of 4.8 receive 15% discounts.

- Sellers with a DSR of 4.6 receive 5% discounts.

These discounts will continue from now until April 2010, so current PowerSellers can continue to receive these discounts as long as the 30 day DSR level is kept up.

For PowerSellers, this means that you can receive the discounts for a full eight months while you acclimate yourself to the new system and adjust your selling practices to adhere to the new standards.

These changes have been made to empower the seller and, at the same time, benefit the buyer ion a mutually beneficial way. Sellers receive discounts and make more money while buyers can more readily assess the status of the sellers. Everybody wins in the long run.