Premium Service Badge on listings

[liamtoretail]

Hi,

I just wondered if anyone could share their thoughts on having the premium service badge on their listings and if its worth it?

It's meant to increase visibility in searches but I've realised if I use it I might have to pay  more in postage costs due to having to offer fast delivery. Does anyone have this on their listings and did you notice any increase in sales whilst having it?

Thanks

[tribalgiftsuk]

I have used it and i have it running on about a third of my items, i dont really feel it makes much of a difference these days to be honest. Only promoting brings you at the top of the search now. Most of my best selling items are not on premium service. I think as Ebays estimated delivery dates are so short anyway now i dont think it will make much of a difference these days.

Why not try it on a handful of items and see what is does?

[liamtoretail]

Yeah good idea. I might just give it a go for a couple of weeks and see how it goes.

With regards to promoting, what sort of percentage have you been promoting at? I’ve had mine set between 2-5% for a while now whilst also running a 10% off coupon 

[5216elisabeth · Accepted solution]

I have it on most of my listings and I haven't noticed an effect on sales.  My stock is very seasonal but compared with the same time last year (when I didn't have the badge) I'm slightly down YoY.  However with all the changes on eBay and in the general economy in the past year I think it's hard to draw a conclusion either way from YoY figures.  Sales might be even more down if I didn't have it. 

What I do know is that I'm saving a few pence on final value fees each time an item sells which is always  good thing. It's not a huge amount but everything helps.

For me it hasn't meant increased postage fees as I offer Royal Mail Tracked 48 or Evri standard with an upgrade to Next Day/Tracked 24 for an additional charge.  Those are the services I was already using so it would depend what you use now. 

[liamtoretail]

You made a really good point there especially regarding the economy which as changed drastically over the past year and as bound to have had an effect on eBay sales.

I current have Royal Mail tracked 48 on my listings and could offer tracked 24 as at an additional charge. What’s your dispatch time? Id imagine for Royal Mail tracked 48 it would have to be same day dispatch to get the premium service badge.

[acmediauk]

"I current have Royal Mail tracked 48 on my listings and could offer tracked 24 as at an additional charge. What’s your dispatch time? Id imagine for Royal Mail tracked 48 it would have to be same day dispatch to get the premium service badge."

You are correct - I have Top Rated premium service badge on all my listings  and same day dispatch is essential for Tracked 48 service. However ensure your cut-off time is 4am or 5am so if someone wakes up at 6am and purchases your item, the expected dispatch is the next working day. 

This will allow you time to prepare item for dispatch and also qualify for the Premium Service badge.

In addition, premium service badge includes a minimal discount on your Business Seller fees on each listing - think it might be Final Value Fee?

In addition to Tracked 48 - add Tracked 24 as an "express" option for a maximum charge of £9.99 as you need to offer free delivery (2 to 3 working days) and express delivery (1 to 2 working days).

Hope this is helpful!

[5216elisabeth]

I changed my dispatch time from 1 day to same day but with an early am cut off time.  I kept wondering why I wasn't getting the badge until another poster on the forum mentioned it was necessary to set dispatch to same day but you can choose a really early cut off.  In real terms therefore it's only the odd early morning sale which has to be sent the same day.  

[liamtoretail]

That makes sense that and a really good idea too. I think I’m going to give it a try, like you say set your same day cut off time to an earlier time 

[5216elisabeth]

Good luck with the changes, I hope it works for you.  It have felt it's more challenging selling here this year than previously so every bit helps 🙂

[liamtoretail]

Thanks really appreciate it, good luck to you too.

I totally agree it’s definitely been difficult this year, I’m just trying out different things to drive up sales and find what works 

[5216elisabeth]

Thank you. 

I too have tried a few new things to try to drive up sales.  I had some minor success with a couple of 'early bird' sales on Christmas items last month.