27 years as a buyer and seller on Ebay!
Summary: tampatitan shared frustration over their eBay account being moved to below-standard status due to five out-of-stock items, resulting in additional fees. Several participants explained that the notification of this status change typically comes in the form of an update on eBay's platform, and discussed that other platforms might impose stricter penalties. Others provided advice on inventory management to avoid future issues, and some acknowledged the challenges of keeping up with eBay's rules. The discussion highlighted differing views on fairness and rule application, with some suggesting long-term sellers should receive more leniency.
Hello everyone,
I’ve been an eBay buyer and seller for 27 years. I have completed more than 1,600 transactions and maintained a positive feedback rating of over 99%.
My account was recently moved to below-standard status because of five out-of-stock items. When this happens, eBay adds an extra 6% fee to every sale. Standard eBay fees are already about 13% to 15%, so this additional charge significantly reduces a seller’s profit. I was not contacted or notified about the change; the fee was simply added. For example, I recently sold an item for $420 and received only $320 after fees.
I do not understand how eBay considers it fair to add an extra 6% fee without notifying sellers. After 27 years and thousands of dollars in sales generated for the company, this penalty feels excessive—especially when it resulted from only five out-of-stock items over that entire period. Has this happened to anyone else?
Tampatitan
wstoler
·1 week agoeBay fees always hurt, but it is a cost of doing business. The best way I can see out of this is to sell as many items as you can as quickly as you can. This will either (a) change the ratio of fulfilled vs. out of stock items and move you back up in the ranks or (b) make you enough money so you can stomach the extra 6% until the status changes.
I can certainly sympathize with you. I have been on eBay for 28 years and sold about 28,000 items. Every once in a while an item that I have sold has disappeared from my shelves (we call that shrinkage or pilferage) and I can't fulfill the item. I quickly cancel the sale and refund all money, or offer alternative items from my store at about double the original value so the person isn't upset and gets some extra value. My overall reputation is worth more than losing a few dollars.
Then again, my items are usually in the lower dollar figures and not approaching your higher dollar items.
Even as a relatively high volume seller, I don't sell enough in any given year to get special services from eBay. I treat eBay as my choice to sell items because a brick and mortar store with employees, overhead, etc. would cost me more than eBay charges.
Good luck in the future and hope you get back to Above Standard.
oldwestgold
·1 week agoCall it an educational experience, as there is nothing you can do about it. I have been here for 27 years and have sold a few million - $250,000 in eBay fees. I don't get any special treatment, other than concierge service with CS, which is definitely nice. We all make mistakes. eBay has so many rules; no one can keep up with them. I wish you the best.
"Don't look back. You're not going that way."
sfau
·1 week agoHow did your items get out of stock? I can't say that I haven't lost an item over the years, but I originally had it when listed.....
inhawaii
·1 week agoThe rules shouldn't apply to any seller who has been here more than 25 years.
mam98031
·1 week agoThe rules apply to everyone. There is nothing in the policy that states that if you have been a seller of good standing for XX years we will bend the rules for you. I'm sorry this happened to you, but that is part of the rules. OOS cancellations cause damage to buyer relationships, not just between you and the buyer, but the buyer and ALL of Ebay. That has been proven time and time again.
@tampatitan With respect, I would like to ask you, in all seriousness, why did you think the rules would not apply to you? I am sincere, I'd like to understand why you thought it wouldn't apply? I mean absolutely no disrespect and I am not trying to be rude.
oldwestgold
·1 week ago · EditedI agree to some extent that any seller or buyer should know most of the rules, but you can't be serious that every seller and buyer should know ALL of the rules. I have been here 27 years, and I still find I'm learning. And then there is the thing when they continue to change the rules.
mam98031
·1 week agoYou are right and that is NOT what I said. You are trying to stir something up that is totally unnecessary. This thread and my answer above was on ONE subject and ONE subject only. TRS.
I neither brought up any other policies other than TRS related. IDK why you are always trying to make my post seem like they are something they are not, but as I've told you before. If my post rubs you the wrong way for ANY reason, feel free to ignore it instead of REWRITING or misrepresenting what I've actually said. It serves no good purpose and doesn't help anyone.
dbmm-media
·1 week agodo not list items that you do not have, in time, that should fix your issues
kandf_vintage_finds
·1 week ago · EditedYou are being punished for not shipping buyers item after the sale. This creates disappointed buyers and eBay highly frowns upon this. At some point you will dig you way out of this but you really need to take full responsibility.
stainlessenginecovers
·1 week ago@tampatitan ....this penalty feels excessive—especially when it resulted from only five out-of-stock items over that entire period.
It is NOT over that 'entire period'. It is over 3 months or 12 months, depending on quantities sold. So you had MANY OOS in a short period.
Also, you don't go from 'Top Rated' to 'Below Standard'....you fall to 'Standard' first, and THAT was your first warning.
hartungcards
·1 week ago · Edited"After 27 years and thousands of dollars in sales generated for the company, this penalty feels excessive—especially when it resulted from only five out-of-stock items over that entire period."
Yeah , no. Five out-of-stock items over 27 years doesn't put you Below Standard. But five out-of-stock items in the recent past will.
christworks
·1 week ago@tampatitan You were notified. eBay policy clearly states how you can drop below standard and what happens when you do. I don't know what other notice you want.
OOS cancellations are one of the worse things you can do. I'm glad you were honest and did not blame it on the buyer. Having more than one or two when you've only sold 40 items the past 90 days is going to hurt your metrics. It would literally be better to send the buyer something and deal with a return, then nothing at all.
I don't know why you were OOS, but I would go through all my listed inventory and make sure I have it so you don't have anymore. That is the type of thing that can eventually get you banned from selling and I'd hate to see that for someone who has been on the platform for so long.
As far as the fees, if you feel you aren't making enough money, then find better things to flip so the extra 6% doesn't sting so much.
You do not want anymore OOS.
mamacassidy
·1 week agoOP asked: Has this happened to anyone else?
Yes, this has happened to many people. The seller standards are a calculation that is clearly defined here:
Seller standards policy | eBay
I am surprised you were not notified. A few years ago I had a few out of stock cancellations and I was notified that I had fallen out of Top Rated status and was at risk of falling Below Standard if I didn't fix my cancellation problem.
jonathanbrightlight
·1 week agoThe notification is in the Below Standard status update, and most other platforms would simply ban you from selling if you reached the same criteria that eBay uses for Below Standard.