Two types of performance evaluation
Given the nature of eBay's global marketplace, your eBay listings may be viewed and purchased by, and shipped to, buyers around the world. Such listings may be shown on the same or a different site on which you listed the item. As part of making sure buyers have a consistently good experience on eBay, seller performance evaluations apply to sellers on all eBay sites.
eBay use the same two types of performance evaluation across eBay sites, both based on recent sales:
- A seller standards evaluation is applied to all eBay sellers worldwide, with transactions assessed based on the country the item is sent to and counted into one of four eBay’s regional programs
- A service metrics evaluation is available on most eBay sites, with transactions benchmarked against sellers listing on the same site with a similar profile
The information below will give you an overview of how eBay's seller performance programs work when selling internationally. If you're listing on another eBay site and/or sending a large number of items overseas, we recommend you read the Seller standards and Service metrics policies on the relevant eBay site(s) for detailed information.
It's also important to familiarize yourself with the selling policies that apply when listing on sites other than ebay.com, as well as the requirements and time frames for eBay Money Back Guarantee when the buyer is using a different eBay site. For more information, please read eBay's International selling policy.
International eBay seller performance standards
All sellers on eBay are required to meet minimum standards, regardless of which eBay site they are using. eBay has four regional seller standards programs based on the country an item is shipped to.
If you sell on more than one eBay site, or you offer international shipping, your transactions will be counted into the respective program based on the buyer's delivery address.
| Seller standards program | Evaluation based on order destination(s) |
|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 US program Determines your seller level on ebay.com | US |
| 🇬🇧 UK program Determines your seller level on ebay.co.uk and ebay.ie | UK and Ireland |
| 🇩🇪 German program Determines your seller level on ebay.de, ebay.at and ebay.ch | Germany, Austria, Switzerland |
| 🌏 Global program Determines your seller level on all other eBay sites | All other destinations |
Example: if you list on ebay.com and you only post items within the United States, all of your transactions will be counted into the US program. However, if you also send some orders to the UK, those transactions will be counted into the UK program and will determine your seller level on ebay.co.uk.
The evaluation cycle and the metrics which determine your seller level are the same across all programs:
- Сases closed without seller resolution
- Transaction defect rate
- Late shipment rate
In turn, the requirements for each seller level can vary slightly between programs. The limitations which may apply to your account if you're not meeting a particular site's minimum requirements — such as additional final value fees charged — can also vary.
You can see your seller level and a detailed breakdown of your metrics for each of the applicable programs in your Seller standards dashboard.
Minimum and Top Rated status requirements by program
| Performance metric | Minimum standards | Top Rated status requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Сases closed without seller resolution | All programs You're allowed 2 cases closed without seller resolution within an evaluation period, or 0.3% of your transactions – whichever is higher. | All programs No more than 2 (or 0.3% of transactions). |
| Transaction defect rate | All programs You're allowed up to 2% of transactions with defects within an evaluation period.You'll only be evaluated as Below Standard if your transaction defects are associated with more than 4 different buyers. | All programs No more than 0.5% of transactions, associated with no more than 3 different buyers. |
| Late shipment rate | All programs A high late shipment rate on its own won't cause your account to be evaluated as Below Standard. | Global program No more than 5 (or 5% of transactions). US, UK and German program No more than 5 (or 3% of transactions). |
| Late shipment rate | US and UK programs A high late shipment rate on its own won't cause your account to be evaluated as Below Standard. Global program You're allowed up to 10% of transactions sent late within an evaluation period. German program You're allowed up to 9% of transactions sent late within an evaluation period. The rate only applies if this number of late transactions is exceeded 7. | Global program No more than 5 (or 5% of transactions). US, UK and German program No more than 5 (or 3% of transactions). |
What happens if you are Below Standard
The logic of the limitations which may apply to your account if you're not meeting a particular site's minimum requirements is generally the same for all programs. However, some details may vary.
Some limitations are applied straight away after the evaluation, while others take effect from the 1st of the following month. If your seller level improves at a future evaluation, the same time frames will apply for limitations to be removed.
- Your items may be placed lower in Best Match search results
- Your selling limits may decrease
- 🇬🇧 Learn more about selling limits on ebay.co.uk
- 🇩🇪 Learn more about selling limits on ebay.de
- You'll be blocked from using Promoted Listings, and won't be able to create new campaigns or edit existing campaigns
- 🇬🇧 Learn more about Promoted Listings on ebay.co.uk
- 🇩🇪 Learn more about Promoted Listings on ebay.de
- Funds from your orders may be placed on hold until tracking information shows that the item is on its way to the buyer
- 🇬🇧 Learn more about payments on hold on ebay.co.uk
- 🇩🇪 Learn more about payments on hold on ebay.de
- You'll be unable to deduct an amount from the buyer's refund if an item is returned used or damaged
- 🇬🇧 Learn more about refunding the buyer on ebay.co.uk
- 🇩🇪 Learn more about refunding the buyer on ebay.de
- 🇩🇪 On ebay.de, you'll be not allowed to display the eBay Plus logo or eBay Guarantee logo on your listings
Service metrics
Service metrics are provided for your listings on ebay.com as well as the following eBay sites:
- ebay.ca
- cafr.ebay.ca
- ebay.co.uk
- ebay.com.au
- ebay.de
- ebay.fr
- ebay.it
- ebay.es
The evaluation cycle and the way eBay calculates your service metrics and peer benchmark are the same on all sites.
If you list items on different sites, you'll see separate service metrics for each site.
