Selling products online is a great way to make a little side cash. In fact, the venture is often so lucrative that many people turn it into their full-time job. They’ll search for low-priced, high-quality products at thrift stores and garage sales, and upsell them online for great profits.
Ebay is one of the best online sales platforms for people in this industry. It’s widely known as a marketplace for selling used stuff at a great price, and for the most part, it’s known to be reliable option.
If you want to make a business out of selling on Ebay, you’ll want to qualify for their PowerSeller program. As a member, you’ll get special benefits like a reduced membership fee, higher credibility, and more profits.
In order to become a PowerSeller, Ebay has certain criteria in place. Use this guide to help you work your way to PowerSeller status.
How to Qualify for the PowerSeller Program
The best way to learn about becoming a PowerSeller is to read the information page by Ebay. Here are the basics:
“To qualify for the PowerSeller program, sellers need to consistently sell a significant volume of items and provide a high level of service to their buyers,” the page says. “Membership in the program is free.”
Qualifications include:
- Being registered as an Ebay business seller for at least 90 days
- Having an account in good financial standing
- Maintaining a positive feedback rating of 98 percent or higher
- Following all Ebay policies
- Making at least $1,000 per year
- Keeping the number of bad transaction cases to less than one percent
“You don’t need to apply for the PowerSeller program,” the page continues. “If you qualify, you’ll automatically be included. Just check your seller standards dashboard to see if you’ve achieved PowerSeller status. PowerSeller levels include Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Titanium depending on the number of items you’ve sold or the dollar amount of your sales.”
Everyone starts at Bronze level, and you’ll work your way up to Titanium level to receive the most benefits from the program. If your account falls below the requirements for Bronze, you’ll lose your PowerSeller status.
How to Do Well in the PowerSeller Program
After you’ve become a PowerSeller, the journey to success is not yet over. You’ll have to put in a lot of work to keep your status and maintain your success. Here are some things you can do to keep it up.
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Buy at Wholesale Prices
You’ll have a hard time making a profit if you purchase items for close to the price they sell for normally. People expect things on Ebay to be more affordable than box stores, not the same price or more.
You can often find great, affordable deals at thrift stores and garage sales. You can also shop wholesale stores and sell in bulk.
One nifty trick to buying wholesale and making it big is purchasing Amazon returns pallets. These pallets are marked down even below merchandiser price, so you’ll make an awesome profit when you turn around and sell the products!
Be a Reliable, Consistent Seller
You have to maintain a 98 percent feedback rating to be a PowerSeller on Ebay. This is in your best interest, as sellers with higher ratings will sell more.
In order to maintain your score, apply the metrics of good customer service. Ship products when you say you will, stick to your policies, reply to emails quickly, and accept returns.
You can also create a seller profile outside of your Ebay page. It can be in the form of a simple website with all your seller information and a shop. Consider using an SEO company to help you get the word out for this website.
Try to stick with a local SEO company. For example, if you live in Toronto, research “Toronto SEO” companies and see what pops up. They’ll help you create a positive online presence, which is great for your seller’s profile.
There are some challenges to maintaining this feedback rating, but put on your best service face and you’ll surely enjoy the benefits of PowerSeller status!