PowerSellers

FAQs about qualification to the PowerSeller programme

1. How often are the status and the eligibility to the PowerSeller programme evaluated?
2. I've tried to sign into the PowerSeller pages and I'm told I don't qualify. What should I do?
3. How do I maintain my current PowerSeller status?
4. How do I move up to the next PowerSeller level?
5. How do I qualify for eBay Top-rated seller status?
6. How do I find out if I'm an eBay Top-rated seller?
7. What is the policy for using the PowerSeller or eBay Top-rated seller badge?
8. Why is eBay only counting low star ratings from buyers in the UK and Ireland?
9. Why is the minimum performance standard being raised?
10. Are there minimum performance standards on other eBay sites?
11. How are low star ratings calculated?

FAQs about membership to the PowerSeller programme

1. Does it cost anything to join the eBay PowerSeller Programme?
2. Are there tools that can help me improve my sales?
3. How is the 98% positive Feedback rating calculated?
4. Where can I see my Feedback performance scores?
5. How do I comply with all eBay listing and marketplace policies?
6. What is the purpose of the Selling Practices policy?
7. What do I need to do to be compliant with the Selling Practices policy?

FAQs about qualification to the PowerSeller programme

1. How often are the status and the eligibility to the PowerSeller programme evaluated?

Eligibility to the programme and PowerSeller status are evaluated every month. Qualifying sellers will automatically receive an invite to join the programme via email.

Sellers should make sure they have opted in to receive advanced selling notifications for PowerSellers by mail, email, and telephone, by visiting the Notification Preferences area in My eBay.

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2. I've tried to sign into the PowerSeller pages and I'm told I don't qualify. What should I do?

When a seller's eligibility is confirmed, an email invitation to join the programme is automatically sent within a month of evaluation. A seller who qualified but didn't receive an email invitation should contact, Customer Support for assistance.

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3. How do I maintain my current PowerSeller status?

PowerSeller eligibility is reviewed every month. Sellers should check their Seller Dashboard regularly to stay on track of their performance and identify any areas at risk that may result in a downgrade or loss of PowerSeller status.

Find out more about the qualification criteria and level requirements of the PowerSeller programme

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4. How do I move up to the next PowerSeller level?

To move up to the next PowerSeller level, sellers should:

• Continue to comply with the eligibility requirements of the PowerSeller programme
• Reach and maintain the next level's minimum volume and/or service requirements.

Read more about the eligibility requirements for all PowerSeller levels.

Sellers will automatically be notified via email and the Seller Dashboard about a change in their PowerSeller status.

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5. How do I qualify for eBay Top-rated seller status?

To qualify as an eBay Top-rated seller, sellers need to meet following requirements:

• Be a registered PowerSeller
• Have a minimum of 100 transactions over the past 12 months
• Have an average detailed seller ratings score of 4.6 in all four areas
• Comply with the selling practices policy
• Have no more than the maximum allowed number of low star ratings of 1 and 2 stars:

  Item as described: Max: 0.5%% OR 2
  Communication: Max:0.5% OR 2
  Dispatch time: Max: 0.5% OR 2
  P&P charges: Max: 0.5% OR 2

Read more about the qualification criteria for eBay Top-rated seller status.

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6. How do I find out if I'm an eBay Top-rated seller?

Sellers who qualify for the eBay Top-rated seller status will be notified in their Seller Dashboard and by email.

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7. What is the policy for using the PowerSeller or eBay Top-rated seller badge?

The eBay Top-rated seller badge will automatically be displayed on search results and view item pages when a seller qualifies as an eBay Top-rated seller. It will be the only icon on the site that will inform buyers about sellers who provide great service and customer experiences on eBay.

Sellers should review the selling practices policy on the use of the PowerSeller and eBay Top-rated seller badges. Other than what eBay automatically displays for eBay Top-rated sellers, sellers are not allowed to use the PowerSeller or eBay Top-rated seller logo, badge or similar artwork and expressions anywhere on the site, including in listing descriptions, listing templates, About Me pages, eBay Shops pages and any other buyer-facing pages. Words and phrases like 'top rated seller', 'top seller', 'trusted seller', or other similar terms may not be used.

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8. Why is eBay only counting low star ratings from buyers in the UK and Ireland?

Sellers who sell internationally can be disadvantaged in postage-related ratings because of customs and other factors. By only including transactions with buyers from the UK and/ or Ireland for the low star ratings, sellers can continue to expand their businesses internationally without risking their performance ratings too much.

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9. Why is the minimum performance standard being raised?

Raising the minimum performance standard will ensure a consistency of shopping experience across the entire marketplace and will continue to deliver sellers with the highest buyer traffic and conversion rates on the web.

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10. Are there minimum performance standards on other eBay sites?

Minimum performance standards also exist for other eBay markets. Sellers dispatching to US, Germany, Austria and Switzerland must meet the minimum performance standards for those countries. Likewise, international sellers selling to the UK and Ireland must meet the minimum performance standards of these sites.

Learn more about the minimum performance standard for eBay.com

Learn more about the minimum performance standard for eBay.de (similar to eBay.at and eBay.ch)

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11. How are low star ratings calculated?

Sellers can see a daily updated snapshot of their low ratings of 1 or 2 stars by each detailed rating area on their Seller Dashboard.

Detailed ratings are calculated across four areas: item description, communication, dispatch time and postage & packaging charges. There are allowable maximum rates of low ratings of 1 and 2 stars for each area for all eBay sellers.

The calculation is as follows:

Number of 1 or 2 star ratings received, divided by total number of transactions

The total number of transactions includes all transactions to buyers in the UK and Ireland, not just transactions where detailed ratings have been received.

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FAQs about membership to the PowerSeller programme

1. Does it cost anything to join the eBay PowerSeller programme?

There is no cost to join the PowerSeller programme. Membership is free for eligible sellers.

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2. Are there tools that can help me improve my sales?

There are several tools sellers can use to stay organised, maintain excellent communication, as well as streamline and improve sales:

• The Seller Dashboard for detailed information about performance as eBay seller including current PowerSeller level and detailed seller ratings. The Seller Dashboard also provides insights about the specific business practices contributing to low star ratings.
• Turbo Lister and Selling Manager Pro to create professional listings, automate process and track sales
• eBay Picture Services to present items in the best possible way
• eBay Shops to give merchandise more exposure, and to encourage repeat buyers to find your listings easily
• Visit the business centres for the UK and Ireland for guidance on trading as a business

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3. How is the 98% positive Feedback rating calculated?

The rating is calculated each month by taking the total number of positive Feedback ratings and dividing them by the total number of Feedback ratings (both positive and negative). Sellers may see a different % positive Feedback number in the Seller Information Box in view item pages since it is calculated based on unique positive Feedback.

The PowerSeller Feedback score is calculated based on total user Feedback to better reflect the fact that many PowerSellers have satisfied, repeat buyers.

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4. Where can I see my Feedback performance scores?

Sellers can find all information regarding their performance on their Seller Dashboard, including their current PowerSeller level, their overall current Feedback rating and their current detailed seller ratings.

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5. How do I comply with eBay listing and marketplace policies?

To comply, sellers must not violate the Shill bidding, Feedback manipulation, or Counterfeits policies - these policies are considered severe and may result in loss of PowerSeller and Top-rated seller status for a minimum of 180 days. Additionally, repeated violations of any eBay policies may result in the loss of PowerSeller status. The following limits apply:

• Bronze: 4 violations in a 90-day period
• Silver/Gold: 5 violations in a 90-day period
• Platinum: 6 violations in a 90-day period
• Titanium: 7 violations in a 90-day period

Compliance with the Selling Practices policy is also required from eBay Top-rated sellers and for all other sellers from April 2010.

Sellers can check the status of their compliance in the Seller Dashboard. Visit the help pages for a complete list of eBay policies. For assistance with policy violations, contact customer support for more information.

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6. What is the purpose of the selling practices policy?

Clear guidelines and standards regarding professionalism on eBay will benefit both buyers and sellers. The selling practices policy is designed to:

• Give buyers a professional shopping experience
• Clearly show sellers what aspects of the transaction they are accountable for

Learn more about the selling practices policy.

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7. What do I need to do to be compliant with the selling practices policy?

To ensure compliance with the selling practices policy, sellers should review listing descriptions and listing templates and make any necessary changes – bulk editing functionality is available to edit your listings fast and easily.

• Check any terms and conditions within a listing to make sure they're consistent.
• Change any generic templates that include multiple or inconsistent conditions for the same item.
• Include accurate information regarding postage charges, dispatch time and returns policy.
• Sellers are responsible for their item until it arrives safely in the buyer's hands. Sellers should not imply in any way that they are not longer responsible for timely delivery or its condition on arrival.
• Avoid disclaiming the availability of the item listed and remove or edit listings when an item is sold out.

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