eBay is one of the most powerful tools in a resale business’s arsenal.
The auction site allows sellers to find collectors and other willing buyers for nearly any type of merchandise.
You can buy and sell items without the high overhead costs of maintaining a store-front, and you can connect with buyers from across the globe.
Every transaction you make on the site helps to build your business by affecting your reputation on the site. Because eBay rewards its best sellers, it’s in a merchant’s best interests to focus on ways to earn these rewards.
Approximately 4% of eBay’s merchants are considered Power Sellers and achieving that status can earn you substantial rewards:
- Shipping discounts for UPS and USPS
- Unpaid item protection
- Newsletters and access to Power Seller discussion boards
- Health insurance opportunities
- The ability to participate in research and promotional offers
- Phone consultations with eBay staff for support in becoming a Top Seller
Power Sellers carry a certain amount of prestige and earning. Maintaining this status is an important milestone toward becoming a high-earner on eBay. It does take some time to become a Power Seller, but with some effort you can earn that status after only 3 months.
First, be sure you are familiar with eBay’s rules as they are subject to change. Currently, Power Sellers must reach the following criteria:
- Be an active member for 3 months
- Make a minimum of $1,000 per month in sales for 3 consecutive months
- Have an overall feedback rating of 100% with a 98% positive or higher rank
- Follow all eBay rules and community values
Once you’ve reached Power Seller status, you can move up in tiers.
These tiers are determined by the amount of sales you make and the higher tiers translate to better rewards.
- Bronze must maintain $1,000 in sales per month.
- Silver must maintain $3,000 in sales per month
- Gold must maintain $10,000 in sales per month
- Platinum must maintain $25,000 in sales per month
- Titanium must maintain $150,000 in sales per month
Gold members have access to all of the standard Power Seller benefits plus access to eBay’s account manager software.
The secret to becoming a Power Seller is to maintain high sales and a level of professionalism.
Here are a few tips:
- Maintain good customer relations to improve your feedback ratings. Offer discounts or refunds when necessary, and keep communications open for your customers. It’s often worthwhile to lose some money in order to keep the customer happy rather than save the money and risk losing your rating.
- Keep a tight focus for your store. The best-rated eBay stores are often those that adhere closely to a specific type of merchandise. This makes it easier to maintain your listings and stay organized.
- Create professional listings and learn to take high-quality photographs. The quality of your photographs and descriptions will make a substantial difference in the amount of sales you make and will affect your customer ratings.
- Learn to use keywords to maximize the effect of your listing’s headline and description. This will help you show up in eBay and Google searches and improve your sales. Also be sure to run your auctions during prime sales times, such as weekends and evenings.
- Make it easy for customers to pay you. Accept international bids and multiple types of payment options. The more options you offer, the better your odds of securing a sale.
The tips on how to become an eBay Power Seller is simply to treat your eBay business seriously and focus on providing a positive customer experience while maximizing sales.
eBay automatically sends invitations to qualifying members each month, and participation in the program is free. As long as you continue to meet your sales goals along with good customer ratings; you will have constant access to the Power Seller benefits.
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