eBay is giving sellers an easier way to report problem buyers, and it’s encouraging Top-rated Sellers to shoot for a shiny new emblem that will help them save on final value fees.
The marketplace has made its seller reporting hub “more accessible” by placing more links to it throughout the site, and has enhanced the hub, eBay reports. The marketplace also notes it will debut its Top Rated Plus badge in November.
All sellers will have access to the enhanced reporting hub, but only Top-rated Sellers are eligible for the new emblem, which is meant to help buyers spot good sellers at a glance, eBay notes.
Easier to report bad buyers
With the enhanced reporting hub, merchants will be able to report buyers for making unreasonable demands, not paying for items, misusing eBay’s buyer protection program, leaving inappropriate feedback, using offensive language and misusing returns, eBay states in its FAQs.
Sellers will find links to the hub on their My eBay pages, in the Selling Manager, when leaving feedback for buyers, in the resolution center and during the returns process. eBay adds it is also streamlining the reporting process so sellers can report issues with just a few clicks.
eBay will use the reports to monitor buyers for patterns of bad behavior. It will not act right away
Rebecca Miller, an eBay seller of more than 13 years, hopes the adjustments will help eBay more easily identify and deal with problem buyers. However, she’s not sure how effective the effort will be.
eBay says it will use reports merchants submit to monitor buyers for patterns of bad behavior. It will not act right away. If eBay staff members notice a pattern of bad behavior, they will investigate and could take actions, like removing negative or neutral feedback, or low detailed seller ratings left by buyers, eBay explains.
New emblem to debut
Regarding the new Top Rated Plus badge, eBay says it will be available to Top-rated Sellers who offer a one-day handling time, and a 14-day or longer return policy with a money back option.
eBay states in its General Announcements that when buyers see the new emblem, they’ll know the item ships fast, comes from an experienced seller and that they can return products “hassle-free, within a reasonable window of time.”
The Top Rated Plus badge will debut the week of Nov. 12, eBay reports. At that time, eBay will retire the current Top-rated Seller badge in all categories, except Motors.
Top-rated Sellers who upload tracking information for at least 90 percent of their sales to U.S. buyers within their stated handling time, offer a minimum of a 14-day return policy with the money back option, and provide one-day handling time will qualify for the new emblem and the discount on final value fees. Others will not.