In this article
	Standards overview Detailed seller rating requirements What happens if you don't meet the standards

Standards overview

eBay expects sellers to consistently provide service that results in a high level of buyer satisfaction. This includes setting and meeting buyer expectations by providing excellent customer service from beginning to end.

You're expected to:

• Charge reasonable shipping and handling costs.

• Specify shipping costs and handling time in the listing.

• Follow through on your return policy.

• Respond to buyers' questions promptly.

• Be helpful, friendly, and professional throughout a transaction.

• Make sure the item is delivered to the buyer as described in the listing.

For more information on meeting buyers' expectations, see our selling practices policy.

Keep in mind, too, that if you don't meet buyers' expectations, it can lead to:

• A bad experience for you and the buyer

• Low detailed seller ratings (DSRs)

• Negative or neutral Feedback for the buyers

• A buyer opening a case in the Resolution Center to fix problems

Detailed seller rating requirements

To meet the minimum performance standards that are required to sell on eBay, the number of 1s and 2s you receive on your detailed seller ratings can't exceed a certain percentage of your total transactions. 

Starting in April 2010, we will raise the minimum performance standards. This gives you time to make adjustments to—and improve—your business practices. Remember that the goal is to meet buyers' expectations.

Here are the current and future standards:

To accurately measure your overall performance, we will only count 1s and 2s if they come from two or more buyers within any given evaluation period. If you have more than 400 transactions, three or more buyers must leave low detailed seller ratings before they are counted

In addition to meeting the standards for low detailed seller ratings, you will be expected to minimize the number of:

• Cases for items not received or items not as described

• Negative Feedback received

• Neutral Feedback received

If you receive an excessive number of cases or negative or neutral Feedback, you may be considered performing below standard.

What happens if you don't meet the standards

If you don't meet the minimum performance standards, your search placement will be lowered and there may be limits to your selling activity until your ratings improve. You may also be restricted from selling items on eBay if your performance falls significantly below the minimum requirements.

If your account doesn't meet the standards, you:

• Need to resolve all issues on the account before buying or selling with other accounts

• Can't register for a new account

• Can't use an existing eBay account to avoid buying and selling restrictions or other policy consequences

For guidelines on how to meet buyers' expectations, see our selling practices policy.