Powerseller discounts

[recyclemikey]

Hi, so I'm a bronze powerseller AGAIN (I'm on and off every now and then depending on how busy I want to be)..

but just curious when the powerseller discounts kick in? I've been a powerseller for about a month now and in the dashboard, the powerseller discount is always 'greyed' out..

any ideas why? I'm a poor man with a busted old computer (no 'cue' key).. I sure could use the discount.. then maybe I could stop eating cat food...

thanks

[recped]

the "snapshot" for eligibility for discounts happens once a month, if your billing date is the end of the month this will be sometime between the 23rd and 30th. Your dashboard will not change until your discount is calculated and applied which will be on the 1st or 2nd of the following month.

If you have a billing date of the 15th it's the same process just change the dates.

[recyclemikey]

thanks..
any idea if it's retroactive ?

[pierrelebel]

Discounts can only be earned while a PowerSeller. .

[axe_n_gear_music]

Honestly, in my opinion, I would advise you to focus your energy on your sales and not on the discounts. I am finding more and more that wasting my time looking at eBays smokescreen, I mean "dashboard", is nothing but a marketing lure that only a few sellers ever cash in on regularly. Instead of aiming for "discounts" that only eBay can tell you if you are good enough for, (they will never give you accurate proof to back anything up when it comes to your DSR scores), instead aim for great sales and customer service. Then when the discounts do come your way, then it's just an added bonus.
If eBay wanted to give fair discounts based on your DSR's, then they would give them out to all sellers whose DSR's averages are above eBays average in the dashboard. But if they did that, then they would be losing way too much money.

Again, in my opinion- there is not a seller out there that offers more honest and timely item description, customer service and communication, faster shipping or more economical shipping than I do (I ship daily, and many of my more expensive listings all offer free shipping). Last month I got a 20% discount, and this month a 5% discount. Unless you are selling nothing but low priced items and lots of them, you will rarely see consistant discounts.

I guess that what I've come to terms with lately, is that I work for myself, not eBay. I choose eBay as one of my venues to sell some of my product, and I am very happy to do so. I just won't get caught up in their bogus reward programs or incentives anymore. I used to, but not any more. If the discounts are there, I will gladly take 'em, but I will not get fixated on them. It took several other Powersellers and a bunch of experience to help me understand the above, and come to terms with being happy selling for myself, and not for eBay.

Cheers,
AXE

[pierrelebel]

"then they would give them out to all sellers whose DSR's averages are above eBays average in the dashboard"

Actually they do. More than 60% of PowerSellers receive a FVF monthly rebate based on their DSRs.

And above average DSR bring you more than discounts, they bring you raised standing in Search results on eBay.com. That may be a very valuable tool, depending on what you sell and your competition. .

[axe_n_gear_music]

"More than 60% of PowerSellers receive a FVF monthly rebate based on their DSRs."

That is correct. But the majority of that 60% only get the 5% discount. This is an easy way for eBay to dangle the "discount carrot", in front of their selling rabbits, as they know that most Powersellers will not consistantly qualify for the max discount anyway.
Note that I said "most".

AXE.

[coxengines]

We have received the highest discounts from month one and that has not changed. For January that amounted to over $200 in discounts.

Our focus is not discounts but high DSR's. The discounts are but a nice side effect.

High DSR's are a psychological issue and factor into listing exposure, customer perception and how you, as a seller, feel about your success.

The latter affects how you deal with your business and your customers, which boosts sales, in turn feeding your well-being, in turn.... you should get it by now.

Cheers
Bernie

[axe_n_gear_music]

That's great Bernie! And most months I receive the 20% as well, which as I said before, is a great bonus, especially since many of my sales are fairly expensive items, and it seems that the buyer scrutinizes you a bit more when there is more money at stake for them.

Although we are in the minority of sellers who are able to get this max bonus on a fairly regular basis, I will definately take it! B-)

Cheers,
AXE

[coxengines]

Yes, Axe, I concur and also concede that we we sell "easy" products, whereas our target group are baby boomers and older.

They sometimes require a lot of TLC because of their age but, on the other hand, they pay and seem to be happy.

I would cringe at selling electronics.

Cheers
Bernie

[faerywishes]

I agree! Don't focus on the DSR's!! If I get it great, if I don't not much I can do other than look at what I'm doing and see if I want to change anything.

Dec was the first time in months that I didn't send a leaflet in most packages telling them when I received their payment and when I shipped it. During my last review period my DSR's were 4.9, 4.9, 4.53 & 4.9. , I was puzzled by this as the last 2 months I received 20%. It also went back up to 4.7 during the review period but I got 0% discount this month. I was a bit disappointed as I had several sales using the Fixed Price Promo.

But on the positive side Jan was my best month since I've been on here. And I'll get my Silver PS back.

Now if I could get Blackthorne Pro to have my store categories I'd be ecstatic. Even if support would answer my emails would be a bonus for me at this point.

Colleen

[asiscanadian]

I would be more concerned with building a business with a user name that could be in violation of eBays rules

[recped]

OP's user id is "grandfathered", anyone registered before Nov. 2001 can continue to use this type of id.