Top Rated seller sales tank
Why is it that each time I gain Top Rated seller, my sales stop or barely any sales? Top Rated seller is not a good thing apparently. Am I the only one?
29 comments
Why is it that each time I gain Top Rated seller, my sales stop or barely any sales? Top Rated seller is not a good thing apparently. Am I the only one?
reallynicestamps
·2 years agoMore stinkin' badges?
iart
·2 years agoMaybe, major changes to your account make the system reset. Maybe for a month or more. We've noticed this when upgrading our store subscription, coming back from 'vacation' or when stopping our auctions.
Really not sure though.
reallynicestamps
·2 years agoeBay really doesn't care that much about individual sellers
And the customer service reps are working for a paycheck, not always one from eBay.
They don't care much about the company's feelings either.
onefootflipper
·2 years agoTop Rated Seller is basically the default status for any serious seller. Your experiences are just coincidental.
ittybitnot
·2 years agoRated seller is not a good thing
@meltomenterprises
As a buyer, to me a TRS badge just means you sell alot, or at least enough. One can get hundreds of bad feedback indicative of poor customer service, shoddy products, poor shipping etc, each week and still be a TRS so long as you sell enough. Only you can decide if the benefits are worth the effort.
For me, I look to see how many customers you happened to have ticked off lately as opposed to whether or not you display a TRS badge. Of late, it takes entirely too many clicks to even arrive at the page where TRS status is displayed. Keep in mind, however, that is just my opinion and there may be buyers who only buy from TRS sellers.
Unavailable member
·2 years ago@ittybitnot
I'm TRS I don't resemble any of what you said.
TRS plus sellers have badges, regular TRS sellers don't have a badge. TRS status is in the feedback page.
But I know what you're saying.
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoThere isn't a TRS Plus seller - only TRS Plus listings (they have badges).
meltomenterprises
OP2 years agoThere really isn’t a choice. If you sell and follow the rules and take care of the customers, it’s an automatic thing. The only way to get rid of it is to not follow the rules. I don’t remember hitting a certain sales target for it.
sextons-sweet-deals
·2 years agoI thought TRS was based on buyer's feedback and sellers shipping service / timing?
Sounds like from some posts here; it is based on a seller's number of sales / revenue as if a seller is not selling enough and making eBay money, and think they are being punished.
Not sure I can agree with that. That would seem to a very big legal issue if it can be proven.
brightlightbookseller
·2 years agoYou're thinking of Top Rated Plus, which is a listing designation (not a seller status, though you must be a Top Rated Seller to take advantage of it), and requires shorter handling times and certain return policies.
To become a Top Rated Seller, you must meet the following guidelines:
No one is being punished, if they don't meet the requirements they're not a TRS, and that's just the way it's always been since this was introduced. Definitely no legal issue, I don't know what would prompt you to even suggest that.
stainlessenginecovers
·2 years agoTRS is NOT a thing. Nothing to see here, move along (as they say).....
except for the 'allowed 50% refund' thingy- worthless in the eyes of those that matter. Buyers.
tobaccocardyahoo
·2 years agoI'll second @inhawaii
Coincidence.
I ride a roller coaster for my sales numbers because I am not currently willing to bring my total number of listings high enough to level out my sales.
Whether I am TRS or not does not predict whether my sales are up or down.
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoTBH, I never noticed a difference in sales, either, and when I was seasonal, I would lose my TRS every summer. It would come back again in the fall and I'd be like "Oh, it's back!" There are some perks that come with it that make it worth keeping if you can.
12345jamesstamps
·2 years ago"Repeat buyers" are what you should be looking for. They do help me in slow periods of time.
TRS....too many rules...10 % discount on fees...that's the only thing I see might help if you don't do promoted listings.
Everyone saids feedbacks don't help...but they do...if I offer 3-5 business days shipping but ship the same day I get those feedbacks "fast shipping"...and maybe a repeat buyer.
ten_o_nine
·2 years ago@meltomenterprises
Why is it that each time I gain Top Rated seller, my sales stop or barely any sales? Top Rated seller is not a good thing apparently. Am I the only one?
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You're not alone in this challenge, but I think I've identified a key area for improvement. Your inventory is a bit lean, with some categories having only one or two items. To boost sales and maintain Top Rated Seller status, consider expanding your offerings by listing more items in those categories or creating new ones. With only 173 items, it might be tough to sustain TRS unless they're high-ticket items. By diversifying and growing your inventory, you'll increase your visibility and appeal to more buyers.
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoHe's got more running than I do, though. I rarely have over 160-170 items.
I also think it's coincidence, and also the smaller one is, the more ups and downs, at least in my experience (I used to be full time).
inhawaii
·2 years agoCoincidence.
cath-26175
·2 years agoCoincidence??? Give it a Big Break. I, and I feel comfortable saying, most women my age, (73) Are Not Stupid. I find your antics insulting .
kh-vince
·2 years agoHi everyone,
This discussion has gotten a bit heated. Please remember that, while it is fine to disagree with others, discussion should always remain friendly and respectful as required by the Community Guidelines.
Thank you for your cooperation.
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoHe's right, though. There are too many variables to pinpoint one single one, such as a seller designation. I hear all kinds of wild theories "I answered a survey and suddenly...no sales"..."I complained to customer service about XYZ and they shadow-banned me", etc. etc. eBay really doesn't care that much about individual sellers - we're not that important and corporations don't get their feelings hurt (they have no feelings), and whether someone is a TRS or not is purely a matter of metrics.
inhawaii
·2 years agoMy apologies.
You are correct.
When you reach top rated status ebay throttles your sales.
That way you lose money and they lose money.
They just like messing with you.
thriftgnome
·2 years agoSame here although I’ve had TRS for a while now. I’ve had one sale in three days with over 800 items listed. I’m down like 90% from last month. No reason why, nothing has changed for me.
meltomenterprises
OP2 years agoYes! I was doing 300-400 a month. This month 1 item and less than $8.
gwenscupboard
·2 years agoI sold and shipped out 2 items last week, I sold and shipped out 2 items the week before and going back another week, 4 items (nothing this week) = 8 things so far this month.
Last month was way better.
reallynicestamps
·2 years agoJune is not July.
How were your sales in 2023? 2022? (skip the pandemic surge in online buying) in 2019?
There are waves in retail.
Don't try to sell BBQs after Father's Day. The January market for Christmas ornaments is small.
The selling accounts on which I have been adding listings have been unusually strong this year.
The others have been normal to weak, compared to previous years.
I keep paper records that are easy to access.
When things are slow (for me that is November and December) I do inventory, refresh stale listings, shop for product, and try to get away from the all-consuming screen.
except for the 'allowed 50% refund' thingy-
I get so few Claims that I did not even know there was some perk relating to returns.
The only perk for me is the small discount on fees.
frugalmarketplace
·2 years ago@meltomenterprises
I was about $5000 a month consistently…you tell me and we will both know.
frugalmarketplace
·2 years ago@meltomenterprises
I have been a TRS since the program, and my sales for the last 7 days are $157 . YUP. Nothing, nada. It had to have been the eclipse.
meltomenterprises
OP2 years agoI don’t get it. What do they do to us?
meltomenterprises
OP2 years agoI fell off the TRS a few months ago when I sent a couple items with a stamp and sales picked up again. Now that I’m using the ebay letter, I’m back on TRS and selling nothing again.