You should change some of your information, to wit; “The new rules require a minimum of “4.3 stars” in each of the four categories of the DSR.” That has changed slightly to a requirement of 4.1 on all five detailed seller ratings. I applaud your efforts to make public any information about Ebay’s dirty little punish the seller policies. You are correct; in the real world a 4.3 rating would be a B+ which would give you a 3.5 grade average in any university. The new 4.1 standards are just as harsh, in the real world that would be a B grade; at my university it would give me a 3.0 grade average which is commendable to say the least. This DSR policy is unwarranted and only hurts those who are trying to make a living.
Thank you,
Jana Townsend

IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ THIS LETTER, IT EFFECTS YOU!

Dear valued customer,

Would you please take the time to read the following before leaving us feedback or assigning us “stars” on the DSR (Detailed Seller Rating).

On aug. 20th 2008, eBay moved the goal posts and changed the seller requirements (again) concerning feedback; now making it near impossible for honest professional sellers like us to remain on the site if you don’t help us in this situation.

Did you know that when you click on four out of five DSR stars (a B+ grade in the real world); this Is a failing grade for every seller on eBay? The new rules require a minimum of “4.3 stars” in each of the four categories of the DSR. If you don’t voluntarily leave sellers five out of five stars in all four DSR categories, we will all be removed from the site!

THIS IS NOT A JOKE, eBay recently removed us from the site for three weeks due to “Seller Non-performance” because of one negative, one neutral and a single 4.2 DSR category (shipping time) that were determined over a single 30-day period! We are not alone; without warning eBay has automatically done this to thousands of other absolutely good sellers ( for proof: Google “eBay non-performing seller”)

eBay’s ridiculous new statistics program threw out 9-1/2 years of unrivaled commitment to customer satisfaction and determines the survival of our business with a “30-day rolling sample window”.

With more than 10,800+ total positive customer ratings, we have always offered the eBay community; unique, useful and fully guaranteed technical products. In addition, we have also provided everyone free personal expert technical assistance through our toll free (800-544-3746) help line, with or without a purchase.

Could eBay possibly believe that these changes will help you the buyer have a better eBay experience? The answer is obvious, if eBay management persists in this direction, the only experience eBay buyers will have in the future is the loss of dedicated, hardworking, and ethical sellers like myself and many thousands of others.

The magic of eBay has always been the sites’ diverse marketplace, “where cottage industry became global”. When all the sellers of unique new and used goods disappear; eBay will become just another web site hawking automated electronic shopping carts filled with imported consumer goods! With your help and my commitment maybe we can bring the magic back to eBay.

Please call me if you have any questions. Thank you for your patronage and support, David Riddle

P.S. if you would like to receive a copy of the comprehensive article: ”There are lies, damn lies and then there are [eBay] statistics” that I wrote about this travesty of eBay’s managements’ “new ideas”, please call me! (This article was viewed by eBay’s “trust and safety” department and in 14-hours I was reinstated on the site, with restrictions of coarse!).