Small-time seller returning after inactivity: How will this affect me?

[nichsch_4571]

So most of my activity on here was a couple years ago selling some of my old belongings. It was never meant to be a big thing. But since then I have found a few more things to sell and just posted a few new listings.

Now my concern has to do with how feedback will come into play. 100% of the feedback I got on what I sold has been positive, but it's also been a while since I've sold anything so my last feedback was over a year ago. When I did a search and saw my latest listing, the positive feedback showed up as 0%. If you click on a listing, though, it does show the old positive feedback.

So I'm not sure how my inactive period will affect my ability to sell things going forward.

[kensgiftshop]

The feedback % is based on the feedback received within the last year.

Your next feedback will bring you back to 100% as a buyer or seller.

Your funds can be held for 30 days.

[nichsch_4571]

Okay. But I'm kind of concerned that having it at 0% like this will keep me from selling anything.

[ebooksdiva]

You'll be fine, just don't sell items scammers are attracted to, like electronics, cellphones, designer items, high end trading cards etc.. 

[nichsch_4571]

Okay. Just a couple lego sets and some old Pokemon merch right now. I have planned on some trading cards later but I figured on selling a couple other things first.

[caldreamer]

I agree zero feedback score will scare customers away.    You might want to include an explanation why your feedback is zero (also you can direct customers to look at your "positive feedback" left for you when you account was active).    I checked and it shows 11 positive feedback at the bottom of your listing page.

[chapeau-noir]

I see 11 feedback. I wouldn't explain anything, people simply aren't that granular about feedback, though you may want to purchase a few things to get your account activity going.

Start small for your selling. Good luck! eBay is probably the toughest platform to get going on.

[johnrj1226]

You have 11 FB in your profile that are over 1 year old but just zero rating in the last rolling year period.  All sellers AND buyer start out with  a zero FB % rating - just  like you did when you first signed on to eBay. 

BTW  leaving FB is a voluntary exercise by buyers and sellers.

[nichsch_4571]

Yeah,  I think about a third of my buyers left feedback. I was just kind worried that people would assume I'm terrible. Especially since I had heard anything less than 99.5% positive fb was abysmal.

[chapeau-noir]

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@nichsch_4571 wrote:

Yeah,  I think about a third of my buyers left feedback. I was just kind worried that people would assume I'm terrible. Especially since I had heard anything less than 99.5% positive fb was abysmal.

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That's a bit of a myth. I had 99.3% for a while when I got one neg - that's all it took. The neg was pretty wild and I made a joking response and wished the leaver a good holiday season (yes, it was that time of year). Many perfectly good sellers bounce around between 99% and 100%, or even 98-something and 100% if they're quite small. Don't let feedback lead you too much, instead let best business practices and good customer service be your guide, and bone up on policy here (since things change quite a bit) - the feedback IMHO takes care of itself.

[itsjustasprain]

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@nichsch_4571 wrote:

Okay. Just a couple lego sets and some old Pokemon merch right now.

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I would be careful with the Lego sets. They have been the source of some drama in the past (more often for the bigger sets) with fake damage claims, returns missing important parts & etc. Research sold prices for your specific sets and see if they are in the 3-figure category. If so you might want to wait a bit on those until you get your sea legs back in terms of selling experience here. Good luck.

[soh.maryl]

If it's been longer than 90 days since you've sold here, be prepared to have your funds held because you'll be classified as a new seller.  You also may possibly be subject to listing limits.

It wouldn't hurt also for you to do a re-read of the rules just in case something has changed since you sold last. 

[soh.maryl]

ALL sellers start out with 0 FB, it's the way eBay works.  And a goodly percentage of them become successful sellers despite this.

If the 0 FB concerns you that much,  consider making a few cheapo purchases so the # won't be 0 any more. 

[nichsch_4571]

I'm only in the two-figure range and just barely on that. I've sold a few similar sets before.