Figuring out how to get to the top is what most of us resellers dream of doing, isn’t it? The road may be long, but it definitely clears up along the way! I’ve gone up and down along the Top-Rated chart in my eBay days, but today I feel like I’m finally there. Here’s why Top-Rated should be your number 1 goal when selling on eBay.
The Struggle…It’s Still Real.
When selling on eBay, you have some serious hurdles to jump over. Not only do they have many Top-rated requirements to follow, but you’re consistently getting grading on these things every 30 days.
How hard could it be? You post your item, it sells, and you ship it, right? Nopeee. There’s a heck of a lot more that goes into it than that.
You’ll need to focus on getting to being Top-rated in the first place, as you don’t just get to start out like this…although that would be a nice break eBay!
You will need to work your way up from the bottom, proving to eBay at every turn that yes, you are indeed worthy of this truly amazing Top-rated status.
This includes but is not limited to:
- Answering offers in a timely manner
- Answering questions in a timely manner
- Shipping out sold items within the chosen time frame (you can choose your handling time)
- Accepting/countering current offers
- Making sure to not run out of stock (needing to cancel an order)
- Keeping good track of your inventory (…so you don’t have to cancel an order!)
Clearly, the list is long enough and you’re totally okay to get a little stressed about it at times! I’ve got a solution for you though!
Stay Consistent & Stay Worthy of That Top-Rated Status!
Listen, peeps, keeping your status is easier than baking pie. No, really. Just stay consistent with your routine on a DAILY basis…yes, this includes weekends and holidays.
- Related: Finding Balance as a Reseller
The perks of selling online are that you can sell anything, anywhere, any time of day, or any day of the year.
That also marks the negative side of it as well. Your store is online, therefore there are no breaks, (unless you check out vacation mode), but I highly recommend against this if possible.
If you can swing it, always adjust your handling time instead of adding the vacation mode to your store. This may still slow down your sales, but your potential buyers will not be put off by the message they get from eBay when trying to purchase an item, that you are on time away.
Systems are Super Life Savers.
Keeping a dedicated system on a regular basis ensures that you will always get the same things done, every time. It will also ensure that you won’t fall behind on a particular task.
Changing up your routine in other areas of your life may be exciting! Unfortunately, eBay isn’t all about this and would prefer instead that you choose one routine and stick with.
- Related: Are You Still Using the Bin System?
If you don’t believe me, go ahead and try an experiment for yourself! List 5 items per day every single day for a month, and see how that affects your performance in your Seller Dashboard.
Then, try another experiment. List 3 items one day, 2 items another, and then 6 more a few days later. You’ll start to notice your sales being inconsistent and that you may miss a shipment one of those days since no routine has been set in place.
Now, not only are your sales plummeting, but you’re also going to have a strike on your account for having a late shipment. No bueno.
Keep a good system in place on a regular basis and you’ll be sure to obtain that Top-rated status for months and even years to come!
But Wait…What’s All This Top-Rated Fuss About Anyway?
I was wondering the same thing at first. Geez, what’s the big deal if I’m Above Standard or Top-Rated?
There’s a big difference. And it can cost you a big chunk of dollars, too!
You may not realize it when starting out, but as time goes on and you learn more about your good business partner eBay, you’ll begin to understand that there are some serious perks for gaining that juicy status upgrade.
Here’s just a handful of the benefits you’ll receive when achieving Top-Rated:
- Enhanced visibility in search results
- Exclusive seller protections
- You’ll receive a Top-Rated Plus Seal beside your listings (letting potential buyers know you have put in the work and mean business!)
- When you offer 30-day or longer returns, eBay will provide you with even more benefits!
- You’ll also qualify for a 10% discount on final value fees if you abide by a few of their Top-rated only rules.
Feel free to check out more of this Top-Rated info through this link, and see how you, too, can qualify to become Top-rated!
Thank You!
A giant thanks to everyone that has supported me this far into my journey! I greatly appreciate you returning to read my posts hope that you will continue to drop by in the future.
Please feel free to drop any comments below that you would like to add! I am always open to advice, suggestions, or even hearing related stories of your own!
I stay as active as possible in the comment section, therefore I will reply to any questions asap.
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Happy selling friends!
-Shelby