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http://pages.ebay.com/sell/July2009Update/Details/index.html#1-2

Seller update: September 2009

Updates that impact your listings are now being consolidated with more lead time for you to adapt. These updates are scheduled to take place the weeks of September 22 and October 1, 2009.

1. Rewards for sellers delivering great buyer experiences
   • New way to look at DSRs
   • New eBay Top-rated seller status
   • New PowerSeller requirements and rewards
   • Highest rewards for sellers with great service
   • New minimum standard for all sellers
   • Changes scheduled with time to adjust
   • Enhancements to help you get good DSRs: Only domestic counts
   • New Selling Practices policy
   • No optional buyer charges for insurance
   • New Seller Dashboard

1. Enhanced search presents more relevant listings
   • Updates to Best Match
   • New Search Visibility tool
   • Auction-style listings with Buy It Now update
   • Some listing features discontinued
   • Product pages update; get exposure for your product pictures

1. Easier, more profitable selling on eBay
   • Faster process for unpaid items
   • eBay dispute resolutions for buyer claims: Seller update
   • Managing buyer emails
   • Exclude ship-to locations
   • Tracking for more carriers
   • Tracking more visible to buyers
   • Faster ways to edit listings
   • Update GTC listings with your return policy and handling time by September
   • Selling Manager Applications free trial
   • Category and Item Specifics changes
   • Stores sellers—now put all your Fixed Price listings on vacation

1. Rewards for sellers delivering great buyer experiences

Today's online buyers expect the best, and eBay sellers who deliver will enjoy even greater rewards—more visibility in search results for Fixed Price listings, discounted fees, a prominent badge on their item pages, and other great benefits. Quality is not a result of how big you are, but your dedication to doing right by your customers. The main focus of these changes is to give sellers the rewards, insights, and help they need to improve and succeed.

• New way to look at DSRs: Underlying all these changes is a shift in the way we look at detailed seller ratings (DSRs). Our research shows that low DSRs are a more accurate measure of the quality of buyer experiences provided by sellers on eBay. That's why we are evolving the way we measure quality, focusing more on how many low DSRs—1s and 2s—a seller receives than on a seller's DSR averages.
  • The 1s and 2s a seller receives are tracked for each DSR: Item description, communication, shipping time, and shipping and handling charges. Low instances of 1s and 2s will be the main quality requirement for the new Top-rated seller status and the PowerSeller program—and even continuing to sell on eBay. Sellers are encouraged to focus more on avoiding 1s and 2s than on getting more 5s or higher averages.
  • Only transactions with U.S. buyers will count for eligibility requirements on eBay.com. Repeat sales from your U.S. buyers will also count-good news for sellers who inspire repeat business from satisfied customers.
  • You can see a monthly snapshot now of your standing toward the new low DSR requirement through a link at the top of your Seller Dashboard. In October, you'll be able to see your standing updated daily.
    
    For more details on the change in focus to low DSRs and how DSRs are calculated, see Frequently Asked Questions.

• New eBay Top-rated seller status: It's not sales volume that distinguishes quality of service. That's why, starting in October, a new PowerSeller status—eBay Top-rated seller—will highlight and reward those sellers creating the best buyer experiences.
  • eBay Top-rated sellers will earn top rewards: 20% fee discounts, exclusive promotion in search results for Fixed Price listings, exclusive ability to purchase Featured First, and a prominent Top-rated seller badge on their item pages.
  • PowerSellers of all levels, from Bronze to Titanium, can qualify as eBay Top-rated sellers if they have at least 100 transactions and $3,000 sales in the past year, and low DSRs (1s and 2s) on no more than 0.50% of all transactions with U.S. buyers on each of their 4 DSRs.
  • To ensure that lower-volume sellers (fewer than 400 annual transactions) can be included as Top-rated sellers, two instances of 1s or 2s on each of the four DSRs will be allowed before the 0.50% requirement is applied.
  • The time period over which a seller's low DSRs are evaluated will depend on sales volume: For sellers with 400 or more transactions over the past 3 months, it's 3 calendar months. For all other sellers, it's 12 calendar months.
  • Until April 2010, the current PowerSeller discount structure based on average 30-day DSRs will also continue: 20% for 4.9; 15% for 4.8; and 5% for 4.6. PowerSellers will continue to get those discounts through April 2010 as long as they continue to meet the 30-day DSR requirements. This gives PowerSellers eight full months to keep those discounts while they evaluate and adjust their business practices to meet the new requirements.

For more details on qualifications for the new eBay Top-rated seller status and how low DSRs are calculated, see Frequently Asked Questions.

• New PowerSeller requirements and rewards: Starting in April 2010, quality requirements for all PowerSellers will be based on low DSRs, and benefits will be extended to lower-volume sellers who meet those requirements:
  • To ensure PowerSeller status rewards consistently good service, a minimum of 100 transactions in the last 12 months will be required for all PowerSellers.
  • To allow more sellers providing great service into the program, the sales dollar volume requirement will be lowered to $3,000 per year.
  • Also starting in April, PowerSellers can have 1s or 2s for item as described on no more than 1.00% of transactions with U.S. buyers and on no more than 2.00% for communication, shipping time, and shipping and handling charges.

For more details on the new PowerSeller requirements and rewards coming in April, see Frequently Asked Questions.

• Highest rewards for sellers with great service:
  • Starting in April, there will be a new structure for PowerSeller Final Value Fee discounts, with the biggest rewards going to the best sellers: The maximum 20% for eBay Top-rated sellers and 5% for all other PowerSellers.
  • Until April, the current PowerSeller discount structure based on average 30-day DSRs will continue: 20% for 4.9; 15% for 4.8; and 5% for 4.6. This will give PowerSellers who continue to meet the 30-day DSR requirements plenty of time—eight full months—to keep those discounts while they evaluate and adjust their business practices to meet the new low DSR requirements.
  • Starting in October, Top-rated sellers will get the new Top-rated seller badge displayed prominently on their item and other profile pages. This summer we will also be testing the badge in search results. The current PowerSeller icon will no longer be displayed on buyer-facing pages like the item page and other member profile pages. The PowerSeller icon will still be displayed in My eBay, Selling Manager and Selling Manager Pro.
    
    
    
    
    Top-rated sellers get the new Top-rated seller badge on their item pages.

• New minimum standard for all sellers: We're evolving the way we assess quality for all sellers on eBay:
  • The current 4.3 minimum average DSR requirements will be replaced with new requirements based on a seller's incidence of low DSRs (1s and 2s) on transactions with U.S. buyers:
    • In October, all eBay sellers will need to have 1s or 2s for item as described on no more than of 3.00% of transactions, and on no more than 4.00% for communication, 4.00% for shipping time, and 4.00% for shipping and handling charges.
    • In April 2010, the standards will be stricter. All eBay sellers will need to have low DSRs (1s or 2s) on no more than 1.00% of transactions for item as described, and no more than 2.00% for communication, 2.00% for shipping time, and 2.00% for shipping and handling charges.
    • To ensure lower volume sellers are not penalized as a result of one or two transactions, it will take at least four instances of 1s or 2s before consequences based on low DSRs are enforced.

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  • Sellers with more than the maximum allowed 1s and 2s will receive lowered placement in search and may face limits on selling activity until their ratings improve.
  • Sellers with excessively high rates of 1s and 2s or other low performance measures may be restricted from selling.
  • The current Seller Performance Standards policy will be updated with the new DSR requirement.

• Changes scheduled with time to adjust: We're giving sellers extra time to evaluate their selling practices in the light of these changes—and still take advantage of new rewards as soon as possible.
  • Starting in October, current PowerSellers of all levels—and sellers with $3,000 in sales and 100 transactions over the past 12 months—can qualify as Top-rated sellers and get all the rewards right away.
  • The current PowerSeller program discount structure will remain in place until April 2010. That means PowerSellers who don't meet the Top-rated seller requirements in October will be able to keep their discounts according to the current discount structure until April of 2010: 20% for 4.9; 15% for 4.8; and 5% for 4.6. That gives them eight months to adjust business practices and qualify for Top-rated seller status.
  • The new DSR requirement for all sellers and the enforcement of the new Selling Practices policy are also being phased in over time to give sellers an opportunity to understand the new requirements and adjust their practices and listings.
  • Get an at-a-glance overview of scheduled changes.

• Enhancements to help you get good DSRs: Sellers have been quite clear on changes needed to help them get DSRs in line with great service. Toward that end, we're making some key adjustments to the DSR system over the coming months:
  • Domestic only: International transactions will no longer count toward the PowerSeller requirements, including the Top-rated seller status, or toward the new standard for all sellers.
  • All transactions and DSRs from repeat buyers will count—great news for sellers who inspire repeat business from satisfied customers.
  • Strong measures will be in place to prevent buyer abuse.
  • New messages to your buyers about shipping in Feedback flow: When buyers go to leave you Feedback, they'll see your uploaded tracking information and a message indicating when your package was delivered. For listings with free shipping, they'll also get a stronger message encouraging them to leave a 5 for shipping and handling charges.
  • No shipping DSRs with local pickup: When the only delivery option in your listing is local pickup with no shipping charges, your shipping-related DSRs will be "turned off."

• New Selling Practices policy: A new Selling Practices policy will define clear standards for accuracy and professionalism in listings and listing descriptions, and for all stages of a transaction. Adhering to the new policy will be required for eBay Top-rated seller status in October and for all other sellers in early 2010. In short:
  • Information within a listing such as item condition and seller terms and conditions need to be consistent.
  • Sellers will be expected to follow through on their stated terms through all stages of a transaction.
  • Also, comments that undermine confidence in eBay sellers or misrepresent a seller vs. buyer's responsibility in a transaction will not be allowed in listings.

• Optional buyer charges for shipping insurance removed: The insurance option creates the perception that buyers need to purchase shipping insurance as a protection on eBay, an experience they're not accustomed to on other ecommerce sites. In fact, sellers have always been responsible for their items until they arrive safely in their customers' hands. That's why shipping insurance will no longer be included in the purchase flow as either an option or requirement for buyers.
  
  Of course you can choose to purchase insurance on shipments, but not ask buyers to buy insurance separately. In some categories like Antiques, Collectibles, and Jewelry, shipping insurance for sellers is essential. When appropriate, you can include the cost of insurance in your item or shipping price.
• New Seller Dashboard:
  • Get a snapshot of your current 1s and 2s now, updated monthly, from a link at the top of your Seller Dashboard.
  • In October, you'll be able to track your 1s and 2s on a daily basis in your Seller Dashboard and get insights about the specific business practices contributing to low DSRs.

2. Enhanced search presents more relevant listings

We're introducing a number of changes specifically designed to surface your relevant listings to more of the right buyers.

• Best Match update: We're continuing to refine and improve the technology for surfacing the most relevant, best-quality listings from sellers providing the best buyer experience at the top of search results—and give you the information and tools you need to get the best possible exposure for your listings.
  • As of July 27, 2009, raising the price or changing the title will not automatically reset your recent sales. We're making this change to the way Best Match works because we understand that actively managing prices provides a competitive advantage in some markets.
  • Listing performance score for Fixed Price—Impressions count: When only a few people view a Fixed Price listing and the item is snapped up quickly, it's a fair indication that the listing is more relevant to those who see it than a listing with thousands of impressions and no sales.
    
    That's why in the improved Best Match, launching in September, Fixed Price listings will have a listing performance score based on the listing's recent sales in relation to the number of recent impressions it received. An "impression" is any time a buyer sees a search results page that includes the listing.
    
    For example, in the new Best Match, a listing with 100 recent impressions and 10 recent sales will score higher than a similar listing with 1,000 recent impressions and 10 recent sales.
    
    This listing performance score will be a more accurate measure of how buyers perceive a listing's relevance than recent sales alone.
  • New multi-quantity and single-quantity Fixed Price listings will be given exposure in Best Match even though they have no sales history. These listings will be given a certain number of initial impressions based on the performance scores of similar listings. This change will improve the exposure of new Fixed Price listings that are relevant to buyers.
  • Titles count. Relevant titles will be more important than ever in getting the best position for Fixed Price listings. Since a good listing performance score is basically a close ratio between your impressions and sales, in some situations a title that is too general could bring you a short-term gain in impressions, but end up giving your listing a lower listing performance score.
  • Seller performance counts: Top-rated sellers will get promoted in Best Match for Fixed Price listings. Sellers not meeting the new minimum standard will be demoted for both Auction-style and Fixed Price listings.