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Wed Mar 8 2023 10:17:02

Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Penalty Fees

By: Reader

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Dear Ina,
I am not sure how all other Australian sellers of new and pre-owned clothing are going, but it appears that all my peers are, simply put, perfect sellers.

Currently our peer group % is ZERO and our return rate over the past 12 months 13 / 1,154 = 1.13% (compared to the general real world average of 20-25%).

Consequently, although all our SNAD's (Significantly Not As Described claims) were resolved without eBay's intervention, we have automatically gone in to the 'Very High' category and are currently paying a FVF + penalty.

I am just curious as to what my peers are seeing in service metrics as regards their peer group %.

Wishing you all well,
Nick

Note from the editor: You can read how eBay uses peer benchmarks on the eBay Service Metrics Policy page.

"Peer benchmarks are comparisons of your rates of 'Item not received' and 'Item not as described' requests to other sellers offering similar products under similar circumstances, including selling price, terms of sale, and shipping destination."

The page explains it charges an additional 5% fee for listings in categories where it determines sellers place "Very High" compared to their peers.

(Note that eBay also charges a 6% penalty fee for failing to meet minimum seller performance standards, as it explains on the eBay Selling Fees page.)

Comments (18) | Leave Comment | Permalink
Readers Comments

Perminate Link for Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen   Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen

by: comments This user has validated their user name.

Wed Mar 8 14:45:23 2023

The idea that SNAD returns are calculated by "peer groups" is just spin. If you sell only $500 items you are being compared with sellers in the same category with $5 items. On top of that ebay has intentionally resorted the SNAD return reasons. When the program first launched the bad SNAD reasons were mixed. Ebay then fixed that show only buyers remorse reasons were on top in an acknowledgement that people just chose return reasons willy nilly. When buyers stopped opening SNAD returns ebay resorted them again to put the most common buyers remorse reasons at the bottom such as "just didn't like it" while putting "not as pictured or described" on top. Now there is a significant increase in buyers choosing "doesn't match photos" and clearly outlining buyers remorse reasons.

It seems to be the only way to get out of the SNAD return trap is to sell a bunch of dollar items to water down the average. This is what the scum dumpster dive and chance listing sellers are doing to get away with poor service leaving legitimate sellers to take the abuse without recourse.

Perminate Link for Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen   Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen

by: pace306 This user has validated their user name.

Wed Mar 8 17:39:09 2023

This is eBay just being a sellers best friend ... YET AGAIN

Perminate Link for Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen   Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen

This user has validated their user name. by: Marie

Thu Mar 9 02:42:16 2023

Nick

The Service metrics is Category driven.  Do some research on your own and see what you come up with for sellers in the specific category you are having problems in.  That would go a long way to present an argument to Ebay.  Gather FACTS.

If there is another category you can sell your stuff in that is equally as appropriate, switch categories.  That will divert you from having these penalty fees for now.

I have fought the Service metrics since it was introduced.  In the beginning I was able to get them to change and have a minimum requirement before the Service metrics would kick in [10] as there wasn't one in the beginning.  The writing was on the wall, without that minimum casual and small sellers were going to be unduly punished by this policy.

But IMHO the policy as a whole stinks.

But do a deep dive and gather info.  You have to have peers, tell Ebay about the peers you have found yet the SM is not comparing you to anyone which is why you are Very High in the SM.

I hope you will come back and tell Ina if this helps you any as she would update the article.

GOOD LUCK!

Perminate Link for Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen   Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen

by: Snapped This user has validated their user name.

Thu Mar 9 08:41:19 2023

“ Gather FACTS.”

Would those be the same ‘facts’ eBay purposefully a d regularly denies when judging what the ‘facts’ reveal to be an undeserved ‘metric’ in the first place?  

eBay doesn’t use ‘fact’.  It uses algorithms fed by inaccurately derived data, designed to be regressively punitive, in rider to justify their agendas.  

But do try all the helpful and hopeful suggestions.  It’s will keep you occupied so not to dwell on the ‘fact’ that any hope all this may have is false in the long run.  

Perminate Link for Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen   Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen

by: pace306 This user has validated their user name.

Thu Mar 9 08:48:26 2023

A rigged con game by the shysters in San Jose

Rigged? enough bad marks and you pay more - why else?

Each seller should be judged on their OWN metrics and evaluated in their "entirety" as an account.

"Measuring up" to someone else, anyone else is %100 BS.

Can I "measure up" to some of eBays beloveds and get negatives erased? Can I "measure up" against them and not have to BEG to sell Refurb products?

Its all laziness and greed (as usual).

Perminate Link for Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen   Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen

This user has validated their user name. by: toolguy

Thu Mar 9 09:24:44 2023

Well the solution to this problem is simple.

DON'T SELL ON EBAY

If eBay were to charge me the higher fees I would just stop selling on eBay.

Just too many options out there to be bullied by San Jose

eBay no longer pays my bills!

The American tax payer does. . . .

Perminate Link for Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen   Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen

by: cillianred This user has validated their user name.

Thu Mar 9 09:26:42 2023

A few people here seem to have a huge chip on their shoulder regarding a certain person and it gets OLD. I swear, if that person said 2+2=4, you'd be demanding proof or disputing it.

You all may not realize it, but your constant, belittling comments come across as childish and petty.

Are we all adults here or not???

Perminate Link for Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen   Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen

by: pace306 This user has validated their user name.

Thu Mar 9 15:53:00 2023

cillianred

dunno if you mean me - but if you didnt - apologies, if you did - theres a maxim I learned as a child (stitch in time saves nine, early to be early to rise etc) oh and one more ..

"the squeaky wheel gets the grease"

Perminate Link for Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen   Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen

This user has validated their user name. by: toolguy

Fri Mar 10 06:13:48 2023

@pace306

Carly Simon

I do believe they were talking about Marie! (but you do take a solid 2nd place)

Perminate Link for Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen   Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen

by: Fruitylovesyou This user has validated their user name.

Fri Mar 10 09:10:26 2023

This seems more like a reward management system. Don't forget you're the boss. Companies like to get you to obey that way their decisions and metrics look like they know what they're doing. But most of them don't. They can't tell their shareholders we tried but they wouldn't listen.
If it doesn't give you a clear understanding of your costs and you have to constantly monitor then how can that be a good tool for your business.  

Perminate Link for Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen   Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen

by: pace306 This user has validated their user name.

Fri Mar 10 10:22:58 2023

Tool

You're So Vain - You Probably Think This Song (reply) Is About You, Dont You?

Perminate Link for Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen   Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen

This user has validated their user name. by: toolguy

Fri Mar 10 11:08:38 2023

So my message came across loud and clear. lol

Let's face it neither you or I are the most popular here, Marie takes that honor and it's well deserved.

Perminate Link for Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen   Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen

by: pace306 This user has validated their user name.

Fri Mar 10 13:36:52 2023

TOOL

its not a popularity contest (for me) - is it for you? Are you that bored now that you are retired?

What ever position(s) I hold (I ALWAYS put sellers (since I am one) FIRST.

If people here like my view(s) then great, if not - "sorry, not sorry".

If Marie is the "most popular" person here - then god bless her - nuff said - we just dont agree on certain points pertaining to eBay and how it runs/treats its sellers.

Perminate Link for Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen   Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen

This user has validated their user name. by: Rexford

Sat Mar 11 07:53:03 2023

"A few people here seem to have a huge chip on their shoulder regarding a certain person "

I don't think that it is a chip on anyone's shoulder as much as it is the sheer annoyance of the arrogance. I think that this statement about know-it-alls from Quora sums it up:  They think they have all the knowledge that others don’t know, and they start spilling it into the conversation. They constantly talk about factual topics, constantly correct others, and they often just speak just to show off their knowledge.  

Know-it-alls focus on their "truth". Self-appointed narrators who occasionally state "facts" with nothing to back it up are just stating opinions, yet they will call folks out even when those folks back up their statements with facts.  They will not tolerate being disagreed with and rarely EVER admit that they are wrong.

Perminate Link for Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen   Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen

This user has validated their user name. by: toolguy

Sat Mar 11 10:11:48 2023

@pace306

YOU ~ "What ever position(s) I hold (I ALWAYS put sellers (since I am one) FIRST."

ME ~ What ever position I hold I ALWAYS put the buyer FIRST because I CARE!

See how we differ in life? I usually put others before myself, I'm the kind of guy who would risk my life for yours!

Perminate Link for Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen   Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen

This user has validated their user name. by: toolguy

Sat Mar 11 10:25:06 2023

When it comes to eBay

There are those that make it work

and those that make work of it

Over the years I've learned to adapt to eBay's silliness, I complain about eBay but not very often.

eBay has found me some great items that I could have never found without them, and to top it off they got it for me on the cheap.

eBay allowed me to make a living from the comfort of my garage. eBay paid my bills for 20 years!

Now the working American can pay those bills. . . . .I'm on Social Security oh yea! Life is GOOD

Perminate Link for Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen   Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen

by: pace306 This user has validated their user name.

Sun Mar 12 10:34:32 2023

"@pace306

YOU ~ "What ever position(s) I hold (I ALWAYS put sellers (since I am one) FIRST."

ME ~ What ever position I hold I ALWAYS put the buyer FIRST because I CARE!

See how we differ in life? I usually put others before myself, I'm the kind of guy who would risk my life for yours! "


WITHOUT SELLERS THERE IS NOTHING TO BUY - I'd suggest you be nicer to them.

Perminate Link for Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen   Seller Questions eBay Benchmarks Used to Apply Pen

This user has validated their user name. by: Marie

Sun Mar 12 13:13:32 2023

Without buyers there is no need for sellers.  Without sellers there is no need for buyers.



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