Top Rated Or Not?

[anniethrifts]

I’m a Top Rated Seller, have been for about a year.

I’ve been thinking…does Top Rated really help my sales?

I’m changing things up this year and it may mean that I can no longer ship within the 1 business day window I’ve always done. If I changed my handling time I was told I’d eventually lose my TRS status.

So I was thinking…1. Is this true? 2. Does it really matter?

I of course want the discount, but other than that…is it really going to change my sales?

I see other stores that aren’t TR and they seem to be moving along just fine.

Any thoughts out there on this?

[Sharyn]

There is a confusion about top rated status because there are two types of being top rated. One is on a listing, which requires 1-day handling. I think it also requires free return shipping. You would have to look it up, but it does provide a discount of some sort.

However, there is also your seller status which can be top rated. This provides you with the reduced shipping rates. I have a 2-day handling time, and I have top rated status. My listings do not have top rated status.

[Jay]

Sonia is correct. I have often gotten confused by the two programs.
https://pages.ebay.com/seller-center/service-and-payments/top-rated-program.html

Top Rated Seller is your seller status:

To become a Top Rated Seller, meet the following guidelines
An eBay account that’s been active for at least 90 days.
100 or more transactions and $1,000 in sales during the last 12 months with US buyers.
A defect rate less than or equal to 0.5%, with three or fewer defects from unique buyers.
Cases closed without seller resolution less than or equal to 0.3%, and two or fewer cases.
A late shipment rate less than or equal to 3%, and five or fewer late shipments.
Tracking uploaded within your stated handling time, and carrier validation for 95% of transactions to US buyers.

Top Rated Plus is at the item level:

As a Top Rated seller, you can qualify for a Top Rated Plus seal and exclusive benefits when your listings offer the following services. Same or one-business-day handling, and A 30-day or longer free return period with money back option.
You can choose to offer these in some or all listings. For listings that qualify, you earn the following benefits
The Top Rated Plus seal, displayed prominently in search results and the listing description.
A 10% discount on final value fees.

If you can comfortably fulfill these criteria, why not get the benefits. But if you cant, I dont think its a big deal. I never ever ever worry purposefully buy from a TRS when I shop on eBay. Just looking at price and photos.

[sonia]

A *seller* can be Top Rated, but this doesn’t give you any discount on FVF. A *listing* can be Top Rated Plus if you have 1-day handling and free returns, and this gives you the discount. You can have some listings be Top Rated Plus, and some not.

I have 3-day handling, so I’m just Top Rated with no TR Plus listings. I have no complaints. Perhaps someone who recently adopted TR Plus requirements can chime in.

[Jay]

Yep, exactly. You first must be a Top Rated Seller. You dont get much at this point.

Then if you meet further criteria on your items, each item can be Top Rated Plus which gives a badge on the item, plus 10% off final value fees.

This link explains it all: https://pages.ebay.com/seller-center/service-and-payments/top-rated-program.html

[anniethrifts]

Guys how did I never know this??!! I guess I have some reading to do.

[jeanmarie01]

i’m no longer a Top Rated Seller and it has not made any difference. I still get discounted shipping. My income has not been affected.

[Author]

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