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eBay Fall Sellers Update 2016
Starting from the end of Feb. 2016, Sellers and Drop-shippers will have a slightly different relationship with eBay due to the eBay Fall Sellers Update.
What does this mean and how will it affect your sales on eBay? Is this good for the sellers or bad?
The OLD Seller Performance Standards:
Up till Feb. 20th 2016 there were a lot of things that could go wrong with your sales and these could permanently damage your reputation as a seller. For example:
- Negative feedback from buyers.
- Low Detailed Seller Ratings (DSRs) when the buyer claims the item wasn’t as described.
- Returns requests (for items not as described) even when they were successfully resolved with your buyer.
- Items not received by the buyer.
- When eBay closes a case after the seller doesn’t settle with the buyer.
- When the seller cancels a transaction.
- Low Detailed Seller Ratings (DSRs) for a late delivery.
There were many opportunities to mess up and get a bad seller rating. Once you get Below Standard, you stand a chance of getting shut down. For good (or bad…).
The NEW Seller Performance Standards:
Starting from Feb 20th life will be a bit easier for sellers. Only the following Defects will count against you:
- When you don’t resolve an argument with a buyer on your own and eBay closes the case against you.
- If you cancel a sale because you don’t have the item in stock.
- Late delivery of the item. To be considered “late” is when:
- You do not upload tracking information, and your buyer states the item arrived after the estimated delivery date.
- You uploaded the tracking number BUT tracking shows that there is no acceptance scan within your stated dispatch time, AND the item arrived after the estimated delivery date, AND your buyer doesn’t confirm that the item arrived on time or says it arrived after the estimated delivery date.
That’s it. All the other Defects won’t be counted against you.
How to avoid getting in trouble with eBay:
There are three very important things you need to do in order to keep a good reputation and not get into trouble with the eBay Fall Sellers Update Standards:
- Always respond to customer complaints quickly, professionally and pleasantly. Do everything in your power to resolve the issue with the buyer without getting eBay involved in the argument. Sometimes it’s better to lose a bit of money rather than losing a case. After all if you decide to fight the customer to the end – you still might end off losing the case, paying the money AND getting a defect on your record. Is it really worth it?
- Always upload your tracking information in PayPal and in eBay (there are important reasons for doing it in both systems). If humanly possible, get it done within your handling time. If you often miss the time, then change your handling time. Better to promise a 3-day handling time and get it done in three days, then to promise 1-day handling and get it in after 2-days.
- Make sure you always have your items in stock.
This is fairly easy for a seller who holds the inventory at home or in a warehouse. But what about drop-shippers who don’t hold any inventory at all??? You have no control over the items and they can go off the shelves without warning!!
For this reason alone, it is absolutely critical to have the right software automation that will track your supplier’s prices and inventory. If its important to you to avoid a defect when your supplier is out of stock, read this post about Drop-Shipping Software.
In conclusion, is the eBay Fall Sellers Update good for the sellers?
Definitely yes!!
But…you need to do a good job to avoid the few defects that might hurt you.
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Wishing you much success!
Adriano.
