How Important is it to be a "Top Rated Seller"?
So basically I've gotten a lot of US postage to ship my cheap stamp lots by using stamps instead of ESE, and I noticed my shipping with tracking has dropped to 95.47. Under 95.0 I won't be top rated anymore.
How important is that?
Does it give me preferential placement in the searches or more visibility? Or is the only perk that badge that shows up on your listings to say you're top rated? Does anyone pay attention to that?
I know shipping with tracking is not mandatory (unless you want to be sure to win INRs). This postage I have is basically free, and other posters here have said stamp collectors like their packages to be mailed with stamps. In Canada and International it doesn't matter, eBay is only tracking my shipping with tracking on US sales.
It's great to save 1.16 in postage on my covers and presentation packs and ship the buyer's stamps with stamp postage, but if it's going to have negative consequences, I'll have to ensure I don't fall below the 95%.
I already don't ship some items with stamps because they seem to create more INRs than usual (like banknotes). But I haven't had problems with stamp customers except them getting upset the ESE shows delivered when they don't have it yet (and it's a lot of work to try and explain that to someone when they insist they know best).
I ship enough stuff that I should be able to stay 95% if I monitor it, I just wanted to know if the forum thinks this is important or not (and if it's important, what I benefit from being top rated). My handling time is too high to get the 10% discount, so aside from that... what else does it do for me?
C.
squinkercat59
·2 years agoI was a top-rated seller for years, but I have a few defects from not being able to find a few items after we moved and having to refund the buyers, and then I became above standard when I received a defect for a case that was closed "without seller resolution", even though I kept trying to resolve it. Item was lost in the mail, I put out a search for it through USPS, notified the buyer, etc. etc., then tried to refund her but the system wouldn't allow it because the case was under review. So they gave me a defect, which caused me to lose top-rated seller status. Frankly, it's a load off my mind, and it's very liberating. I lived in fear of things that might cause that, and now that it's happened, it hasn't affected my sales at all, and I no longer worry if I get a defect from things beyond my control, like packages not being scanned, packages arriving late, using Ebay standard envelope postage, etc. I never consider top-rated when I am purchasing, either, I look at the feedback of the seller which is more important.
duffy4444
·2 years ago@squinkercat59 :
The loss of TRS years ago was also a blessing in disguise for me, too. I no longer had to worry about circumstances beyond my control knocking me off my perceived TRS pedestal. My eBay selling stress was greatly relieved, especially when I realized that it made no difference in my sales. The TRS benefits are negligible with my business model. Others may differ, and that's ok.
When I buy something on eBay, I am never influenced by a seller's TRS badge. I look at their feedback rating and gauge their track record.
Cheers, Duffy
robbie31415
·2 years agoI personally don't buy from TRS sellers for certain reasons.
I also only buy from free shipping sellers and free returns.
I don't buy from sellers with 99%+ feedback or who have estaished high feedback scores.
So each buyer is different and TRS may or may not be helpful.
I don't need to trust my seller I trust the eBay MBG.
fern*wood
·2 years agoI pretty much agree with your last point, so why the need to make the other exceptions?
reallynicestamps
·2 years agoSince you and I are in Canada, we qualify for status as Global Top Rated sellers.
The main differences are that we are not required to show as much tracking, which considering the high cost of Tracked Packet USA is a blessing.
We still get the fee discounts and the quarterly shipping coupon.
Our dotCOM listings do not show the TRS badge, but our Canadian and overseas buyers do see it.
Not that many every notice that anyway.
sin-n-dex
OP2 years agoI'm actually considered a USA seller since my shipping address is in the US (plus listing on dot com), but I'm registered in Canada for tax purposes, so no EIN or SSN is required. But eBay is requiring me to ship all USA shipments with tracking just like USA sellers have to do.
C.
duffy4444
·2 years agoGreetings, C!
I had TRS for a while, and all I got from it was a token shipping discount, a badge, and a cheap paper plaque for the wall in my office. I since took it down because for me it was just a temporary cheerleading pat on the back. When I went below 95% on my Tracking Uploaded and Validated metric, over which I fought and unnecessarily stressed, I saw NO difference in bottom-line sales across the board - both tracked and untracked. My experience is that I don't think enough buyers care a whit about a seller's TRS.
I currently ship a LOT of items with just a stamp or two, or with untracked large envelope (of which you may or may not have the Canadian equivalent). On the Tracking Uploaded and Validated metric, I am currently at 61.7%, and I'll probably stay in the Above Average level from here on out. That metric cannot, by itself, drop a seller into Below Average. The difference in what I save with untracked postage more than makes up for any TRS discount I could get, and I have only had two or three INRs over many years of thousands of non-tracked shipments. Those untracked shipments included hundreds of letter envelopes from the liquidation of my 50-year-old stamp collection, which you and I talked about some years back.
I guess the bottom line is that you may need to figure out what your shipping cost savings are, as compared with what you could save by staying above the 95% mark for TRS.
Cheers, Duffy
sin-n-dex
OP2 years agoThanks for your feedback!
In Canada we have regular letters and oversized (by thickness and size) letters, and I have Canadian Stamps to mail things in Canada. The metric only applies to US shipments though, apparently they are not tracking anything I ship elsewhere. There is a metric for some EU and UK, but I don't ship to the EU. And I haven't paid attention to my UK metrics, but I'm above standard and there aren't too many shipments going there.
C.
mountainmommie
·2 years agoSuccess can be found outside the lines. It's just more rare.
That said, most people (statistically) have "group-think." eBay offers the label for a reason. It's a benefit to a majority of the people (buyers and sellers) over the (fill in the blank) of the alternative. When the label no longer represents the "goal" (subjective), it will be gone and replaced with a new one.
What you need to ask yourself is -- is does the goal eBay has in mind with TRS match mine? Get on board if so.
You will get EVERY answer here. There is no one "right" way.
12345jamesstamps
·2 years agoI was looking at some of your feedbacks and what the buyers have paid.
Is it really worth it to be a TRS when...no offense...a lot of low cost items have been sold?
And maybe not everyone feedbacks...but your (mine) feedbacks usually come from the cheapie sales so I consider them important buyers. We have to take care of these buyers who give us feedbacks.
gurlcat
·2 years agoWhy the heck is that?!!! I almost NE-VER get feedback from the buyers of the higher-dollar stuff. It probably doesn't matter but I do wonder if it would ever be compelling when someone is considering buying one of my more expensive items, if they looked at feedback and saw that previous high rollers were pleased with what they got. Oh well.
But I don't think I understand the assertion you're making about TRS vs. cheap item buyers. Why would being a TRS not take care of them?
12345jamesstamps
·2 years agoHA ha....I am an above seller...but because I don't use a lot of tracking for cheapie stuff I will never be a Top Rated Seller. It can get as low as 62 % with little tracking. LOL.
10 % discount TRS vs. getting stamps around 75% face value or less. So the 10% discount is not a lot for me.
Plus buyers prefer, want and some demand a seller use real stamps to mail their items to them. I have had a few buyers give them instructions...use stamps with birds or musicians...do not use flag stamps and so on.
I have a life and will never lower my shipping time...San Francisco is usually 60's all year...and rain will return in maybe November this year...I have a motorcycle.
My mailings receive faster than with tracking...buyers love this...and it gets "repeat buyers"...half my buyers are repeat buyers....they buy something once a week or so.
Items not received...buyers won't do that...buyers are afraid of getting block by a seller.
Going on year two nothing lost by the USPS.
I don't immediately leave feedback with those with no feedback or have never purchase stamps before...This excludes Guest Accounts of course.
I have seen a lot of "Top Rated Sellers" when I am looking at stuff to buy. The TRS means nothing to me...the feedback means everything to me. I have seen too many TRS with a low feedback and I won't buy from them.
How can someone be a TRS with 98 % rating of feedback? It just doesn't add up.
richard1rst
·2 years agoThat is a complete non-sequitur. The 10% is applied to your FVF - it has nothing to do with how you pay for your postage. And quite frankly I would never buy anything from someone with a 62% rating. I stay away from seller in the mid-nineties (UNLESS i see that the feedback is bogus).
Even YOU agree with that - you said - I have seen too many TRS with a low feedback and I won't buy from them.
12345jamesstamps
·2 years agoWe are talking about a rating of the TRS rating...not a feedback rating.
My rating is 62% because of little tracking. I have a 100 % feedback rating.
You might have misunderstood or totally misunderstood.
And it's a seller vs. a seller selling stamps vs. what you are selling. No offense.
It is totally sequitur...by the way. We sellers sell the same things...stamps.
Using the eBay standard envelope vs. .68(USA)...it has everything to do with postage.
If I buy a stamp which is worth .68 at .50...that is a savings.....if I use it vs. ESE.
dirk12955
·2 years agoNow you've gone and done it.
Here comes the whole "There's no such thing as discount postage"
Discussion for the 29th time.
12345jamesstamps
·2 years agoIt's still a no such thing because sellers don't want to believe...me laughing all the way selling items for 2 bucks and making a profit and getting more feedbacks than most.
sin-n-dex
OP2 years agoJames was talking about 62% uploaded tracking stats, not feedback.
C.
gurlcat
·2 years agoI don't even know where the badge is anymore, and I have one, so if I don't see it, you think buyers do? Just me personally, I would have free returns and ship in 1 day even if it didn't come with a fee discount, simply because I see both as beneficial and I can do them. If those store policies don't fit your life or intentions, then I don't see any reason to sweat TRS status whatsoever.
Honestly they could do more for the sellers in exchange for the better buyer experience, like why can't search results have a TRS filter? Or why not toss us a wee shipping discount? But ..... eh, they just don't. So really, I would let it go if maintaining 95% tracking would be even slightly stressful.
sin-n-dex
OP2 years agoI went looking, and I don't see it on the listing, but it says TRS on the feedback profile. I'm thinking with 10K in feedback at 100%, buyers don't even read my feedback profile. If I get a negative they might start to read it to see what it says. Some buyers for coins only buy from 100% sellers. I'm trying not to worry about getting a neg because in the past I got them for stupid reasons (and from scammers too). Some negs are very harmful to your selling business on eBay, so I am concerned I don't legitimately annoy any customers.
C.
chevymontecarlo88
·2 years agoGood questions. I don't believe you will get any preferential placement unless you use PL. I could be wrong but that is how i understand it. I honestly do not think the top seller badge does much for buyers. I think feedback plays more into the actual purchase than a badge. At least that is how i approach buying on Ebay. The 10% savings for handling time i think would make the biggest impact on your bottom line. I never took advantage of that because i did not do as much volume as you do. You business model is very different than mine (or was before i stopped my store) and am curious on what other more experienced sellers say on the subject. I still can't wrap my mind around having 10,000 plus listings as you and many others have here.
richard1rst
·2 years agoMany of us here (myself included) came from a B&M background.
So let's try this scenario. You are walking down Main Street USA looking to buy a certain something. You see 2 somewhat similarly themed stores - one crammed to the rafters with inventory and the other with a whole bunch of empty shelves. Be honest, which one are you more likely to believe has what you are looking for and, therefore, walk into.
Your decision notwithstanding, our experience and beliefs dictate our inventory level choices.
chevymontecarlo88
·2 years agoDon't get me wrong. I understand how you can achieve that number and myself included came from big box retailer and smaller B&M owned stores. My point was more of why would you beat yourself up with that much work. It amazes me that how many hurdles these platforms give sellers, especially with large volumes of inventory. I would rather sell a few items for more than many for less but i am not saying one is better. Whatever floats your boat and keeps you going. Kudos to you all for being able to weather the storms. (Online platform changes) I have only respect for volume sellers that can keep things going in a positive way. (taking care of customers and yourselves) I get tired just typing about it. 😀
sin-n-dex
OP2 years agoCoins and stamps are a hobby here, but I want to make money dealing them, instead of spending money collecting them (to store in my very small house and never look at them after I buy them). Then other collectors can enjoy them and I get to see all sorts of interesting stuff that I'd never buy, and find a good home for it.
It started with 1000 listings, but has grown over time. I go on listing binges for a week or two and the total in my store just gets bigger. Usually results from me getting a collection of sorts and working on it for a month or two to get all the items listed, and then if they don't sell that fast, it causes the total of my inventory to grow. Lots of items sit until the right buyer comes along.
C.
chevymontecarlo88
·2 years agoThat i can understand. Love what you do and its no longer is work.
chubbycatcollectibles
·2 years agoI like the 10% discount for shipping in one day. Great to save on shipping also. I don't know about all the other things, but those are nice
sin-n-dex
OP2 years agoI have 5 days handling but will consider reducing it if I think I can meet a closer target all the time. what I don't want to have happen is late shipments. So I don't get the 10%
Are you saying that Top Rated Sellers save more money on postage bought on eBay? I thought it was just an eBay discount for everyone who buys postage on eBay?
C.
mybigsale
·2 years agoNo. Top Rated Plus sales earn a 10% discount on final value fees.
Top Rated Seller Program | Seller Center (ebay.com)
richard1rst
·2 years agoAt one time there was also a 3% extra discount on Priority Mail labels bought on eBay (but not bought elsewhere) but it seems that has gone away.
There is however one additional BIG perk - in the event of a return not being in "original saleable condition" a TRS can deduct 50% from the refund AND eBay will remove negative or neutral feedback on a case such as this. I have used it multiple times and it does work.
And a false "not as described claim" can get you a $6.00 rebate on the return postage. Although in fairness given the typical "he said/he said" argument I am not sure how you prove it.
mybigsale
·2 years agoI am a TRS and fortunately have never needed to use the 50% deduction (for TRS+). I average 0-2 returns a year and so far, have no returns for this year. Nice to know the option is there if I need it. I understand other eBay sellers can also take advantage of the up to 50% deduction if they offer free returns.
adamcartwright
·2 years agoI believe the 10% discount for shipping in one day is only for Top Rated Plus, no?
turtles-trading-post
·2 years agoYes. I keep getting messages from eBay to become Top Rated Plus. I am currently Top Rated and have 3 day shipping. I have no desire to dance like a trained poodle for eBay to achieve one day shipping. It's nonsense! I don't like seeing average sellers fretting on message board that the post office didn't scan in their tracked package (just one!) and they fear eBay will kick them off. Yea, some community. eBay rules sellers by fear.
I am also a stamp dealer. One of the big issues on eBay is that they shove everything through the same set of rules whether it's a collectible item or a gallon of detergent. There is a vast difference in the sale of collectibles versus consumer items. Different market, different customers. A while back someone on a board suggested that eBay split off collectibles into a venue (like they did Motors) called "Classic eBay" and have a different set of rules that are more hospitable to the collectibles market.
It also ticked me off when I was getting promos from eBay stating "Smart Stamp Dealers Use eBay Standard Envelope" with their own bogus brand of tracking at 64 cents to save 4 cents! Smart stamp dealers buy their postage at deep discount. I buy mine at 50% of face from other stamp dealers. So I pay 34 cents to mail out an order. I do buy $500 face at a time to get that discount. And yes, I send my orders regular USPS mail without tracking.
I think us stamp collectors need to have our own group outside of eBay's system. Are you guys all on Facebook? I belong to a couple of general sellers group there, but wouldn't be opposed to starting one just for stamp dealers since we are a unique market.
gurlcat
·2 years agoI love the Classic eBay idea A LOT. But I could also picture it being a total disaster because they would probably (as usual) have less-than-amateur people deciding which categories should be in it or not. It's bad enough (just for one example) they don't even divide a category like dolls into baby and fashion dolls, never mind by age. So a 19th century porcelain baby doll has to be in the same category as brand new Barbies. It's either that or "Other vintage and antique toys."
Then there would be people listing all kinds of inappropriate items in Classic, including tons of Chinese junk, just to get more visibility. And .... this is going to sound pedantic but ...... when you say "collectibles versus consumer items" -there are people who collect consumer items. Ironically postage stamps are a perfect example; their main reason for being manufactured is pedestrian and utilitarian .... but ....people do collect them, including newly issued ones.
All you really need to predict how eBay Classic would be is to look at Etsy. -What is that venue actually "for" anymore? What WON'T they allow listings of?
sin-n-dex
OP2 years agoMy shop is not so kind with the discount on Canadian postage, but on US postage I get mine at 50% FV as well. They let me take whatever is in the "in bin", so I grab the denominations that will easily make up the 1oz, 2oz and 3oz postage for what I sent.
I recently lowered the shipping prices to international buyers on stamp lots and First Day Covers, Presentation Packs, etc, because I can use the discounted postage. I get it's my discount, but shipping a FDC to England costs $6.88 CAD, I charge 4.75 and use postage stamps to do it.
Canada and International don't seem to be the issue with the lack of tracking, it's US shipping they want me to put tracking on. I use ESE for banknotes because there's a higher amount of scams on those, but on the stamp products, if it's light enough to go as a letter, that's what I've been doing.
C.
sin-n-dex
OP2 years agoI can't possibly ship in one day. Even if my shipper were lightening fast getting my packages to USPS, I still have the issue of not being able to get things dropped off every day.
If the 10% is the only benefit, and I'm not seeing that, I figure I'm better off with my loose stamps that I purchase at 50% FV.
C.
house*of*paws
·2 years agoHi @sin-n-dex
I didn’t read all the replies … so I apologize if this has already been mentioned:
I’ve seen many posts from sellers saying they use a separate eBay account to list items they plan to ship without tracking. That way, their main account is not affected by any defects they receive for lack of tracking.
[Apologies to @chubbycatcollectibles for making it seem my post was in response to theirs. It wasn’t.]
sin-n-dex
OP2 years agoThe good thing about 10K in feedback and 36K in items sold, is the stupid scammers don't bother with me too much... I still do get scammers sometimes, but the ones the newbies complain about in the forum all the time don't bother with me.
So I'm not keen on the idea of starting a brand new account to list these stamps and open myself up to scams by people who think I'm brand new on eBay. Although I've been here since 1998, no one will ever know it if it's a brand new account. Plus I also have established customers that won't know to look at a brand new account for items.
C.