eBay Sellers Bristle At Seller Metrics Reminder From Ads Team
The eBay Ads team ruffled some feathers in the community today with a "reminder" about why seller levels are so important on eBay.
Seller levels are more than just a badge of honor. They're a way to help buyers shop with confidence on eBay and reward sellers with additional perks. But did you know you can lose access to tools like Promoted Listings if your seller level falls below our standards?
Our latest blog explores how a seller level is determined and what it takes to become a "Top Rated" seller on eBay. Read more on our website.
Some sellers didn't appreciate being reminded of all the hoops they must jump through in addition to the added expense of advertising or how sometimes the seller level metrics are unfairly impacted by situations outside of their control.
The greatest incentive eBay has going to maintain a "good seller rating" is to avoid final value fee punishment camp. The loss of the ability to pay ebay even more money for their promotional programs is not much of a motivator.
I lost my TRS during the height of the pandemic due to late shipping penalties. However most of my items were shipped timely and in the time frame ebay required to keep my rating. Now I'm just above average through no fault of my own, but at the hands of others short comings. Not fair.
eBay revenues must be down considerably to push/put what amounts to an add for promoted listings on the seller forum.
Instead of offering TRS sellers the ability to promote listings (who cares) why not reward TRS sellers with actual breaks on FVF? Sorry 10% isn't a break - that's a 1% fee decrease. Why not go back to 20%, or since you value us so much, how about 30 or 40%? THAT would be an actual 2%, 3%, or 4% fee decrease, something a little noticeable.
Oh wait, your name is ADSTEAM, of course you're going to be pushing advertising.
Newsflash - If everyone is advertising, it isn't advertising anymore.
Ebay takes advantage of sellers in every possible way. Right now when everyone is struggling through inflation you choose to maximize on every possible venue to impose all sorts off fees and penalties. Sales on platform are down but your revenue is up - how come?
Service metrics should be eliminated as they don’t serve any purpose but to stuff your pockets and stress everyone selling even Top Rated Sellers. Platform is unreliable traffic is unreliable and customers support is absent and untrained.
Losing access to tools that charge sellers even more fees and damages their margins on top of fees already paid is not such a bad consequence.
The advertising pitch may have landed particularly badly in the community due to longstanding frustration with eBay's lack of official support there.
While many business impacting issues go unanswered/unresolved by eBay staff week after week in the community chat, having staff devoted to pushing an advertising driven agenda rather than offering support seems a bit like pouring salt in the wound.
The fact that the ads team has yet to return to engage with any of these sellers who responded to their post speaks volumes.
eBay has made it no secret that their long term path toward increased revenue rests heavily on advertising, but it's a fine line to walk and many sellers are growing weary of paying ever increasing take rates while not getting what what they believe is enough value in return.
And if you thought eBay was done coming up with new and different ways to skin the ad rev cat, hold onto your hats - VP, GM Global Advertising Alex Kazim revealed in his presentation at Investor Day that eBay will have a new ad option to promote Stores "coming soon"!
What do you think of eBay's Promoted Listings advertising options and seller level metrics?
Are you getting increased value from advertising and do feel the metrics accurately measure your performance as a seller?
Sound off in the comments below!
