Is it time for EB to change the metrics for "below standard" or "standard levels?

[liawrig.nq8rdwqa3]

Is Ebay using the same metrics for determining what is "above" or "below" standard that it was using 10-20-30 years ago?

I think so.  I don't think the needle has moved and we as sellers are being being judged by a) the economies of past - how the consumer behaves; b) Shipping times - we have more storms and disasters which disrupt shipping c) Traffic; we have no way to MAKE customers visit our stores & accounts; d) the # and amount of sales within a given time.  EB doesn't take into consideration that some sellers are PT or hobby or just want to sell a FEW things.  It doesn't differentiate between a PROFESSIONAL seller and non-professional, non-business seller - like AMAZON does.

Is it time for EB to revisit the metrics of what is a "standard"?

[dhbookds]

The old saw "be careful what you ask for"  comes to mind...........

[mtgraves7984]

@liawrig.nq8rdwqa3 

In my opinion, eBay is smart to hold all sellers to the same standard. But that's just me...

[m60driver]

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@liawrig.nq8rdwqa3 wrote:

Is Ebay using the same metrics for determining what is "above" or "below" standard that it was using 10-20-30 years ago?

I think so.  I don't think the needle has moved and we as sellers are being being judged by a) the economies of past - how the consumer behaves; b) Shipping times - we have more storms and disasters which disrupt shipping c) Traffic; we have no way to MAKE customers visit our stores & accounts; d) the # and amount of sales within a given time.  EB doesn't take into consideration that some sellers are PT or hobby or just want to sell a FEW things.  It doesn't differentiate between a PROFESSIONAL seller and non-professional, non-business seller - like AMAZON does.

Is it time for EB to revisit the metrics of what is a "standard"?

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Alas, there is a continuum between the professional seller, one who is hoping to make a living selling on Ebay, a part time seller like myself just trying to make lunch money, and the occasional seller just trying to offload some personal items.  It is unlikely that Ebay will ever care about these differences, nor should they.

[luckythewinner]

Is it time for EB to change the metrics for "below standard" or "standard levels?

I think you are fundamentally mistaken about what puts a seller "Above Standard" or "Below Standard".

a) the economies of past - how the consumer behaves

Consumer behavior has no affect on either "Below Standard " or "Above Standard". All you need to do to remain "Above Standard" to  resolve disputes proactively and not cancel transactions for being out of stock or unavailable. That is YOUR behavior, not the consumer's.

b) Shipping times - we have more storms and disasters which disrupt shipping

Shipping time has no affect on either "Below Standard " or "Above Standard"

c) Traffic; we have no way to MAKE customers visit our stores & accounts

Traffic has no affect on either "Below Standard " or "Above Standard"

d) the # and amount of sales within a given time.

Sales volume has no affect on either "Below Standard " or "Above Standard"

[stainlessenginecovers]

They HAVE changed it, quite a few times in just the past decade. 

A few I remember off the top of my head:

a.) They introduced 'stars' and made them 'count'

b.) They 'removed' "stars" meaning anything

c.) They made 'feedback' NOT count

They decided that a 'good transaction' that will lead to a customer returning and therefore keep the $$ wheels moving for the entity is

1.) Shipping time- do as you state (climate issues are always shown to 'excuse' late delivery, but first and foremost, you MUST have an 'acceptance' scan. 

2.) Returns- handle them yourself and quickly

3.) ship what you show/state

4.) do NOT 'sell' things you don't have

Regarding you cannot 'control' who buys what? 

YES- you absolutely 100% have control over that. 

If you are selling things that nobody wants, nobody wants them and you won't meet sales. Either get/find things that people want to live with what the system gives you. And/Or pay for promotions to get your items in front of the customer and not on page 394. 

[johnrj1226]

eBay has changed their metrics on evaluating sellers performance within the last  10 years or less.

 e.g.  they no longer evaluate performance based on Feed Back %.

Maybe you  just missed the Announcement

[tobaccocardyahoo]

Amazon does not have different standards for professional and individual sellers.

Amazon does not have a publicly visible seller rating. FB is only indirectly related to how Amazon rates its sellers.

IMO the only failure I see in Ebay's ratings is the use of a 1 year window.

Sellers who are going downhill do so quickly, and the one year window is higher risk than a shorter window.

Also, sellers who have a short run of bad luck may be penalized for too long a period.

I would prefer a 3 month window, but even 6 months would be better.

But I am not sure that the ratings matter that much to buyers. When I lost Top Ranked, it affected nothing.