Ebay Top-Rated Seller

[Delta]

I was browsing Ebay today and some auctions had a ribbon/medal and the words "Top-rated seller" near them, what does top rated seller mean exactly?

[klicker]

Its a new status from ebay to recognize those sellers who give good service and high quality

This is from their FAQ:

eBay Seller Update: July 2009

New eBay Top-rated seller status

What is the new eBay Top-rated seller status and what is its purpose?
The new eBay Top-rated seller status recognizes PowerSellers who consistently provide the best experiences to their customers. The program differentiates sellers by their relative performance and offers incentives and rewards for providing great buyer experiences.

When does the new eBay Top-rated seller status go into effect?
All sellers who qualify as eBay Top-rated sellers will be invited into the PowerSeller program to begin receiving the benefits starting in October 2009. Note the current PowerSeller program discount structure will also remain in effect until April 2010: 20% for 4.9; 15% for 4.8; and 5% for 4.6. This will give PowerSellers who continue to meet the 30-day DSR requirements plenty of time—8 full months—to keep those discounts while they evaluate and adjust their business practices to meet the new low DSR requirements.

What are the benefits of the eBay Top-rated seller status?
Exclusive benefits for eBay Top-rated sellers include:
Highest fee discounts: All eBay Top-rated sellers will receive the maximum 20% discount on Final Value Fees. Note that for other PowerSellers, the current discount schedule will remain in effect until April 2010.
Increased search visibility: Top-rated sellers will get increased search exposure on their Fixed Price listings in Best Match search results.
Featured First: Only eBay Top-rated sellers will be able to purchase Featured First.
Prominent badge on their item pages: The new eBay Top-rated seller badge will be displayed on sellers' item pages and other member profile pages. We will also begin testing the badge in search results pages. The current PowerSeller icon will no longer be displayed on buyer-facing pages like the item page and other member profile pages. The icon will still be displayed in My eBay, Selling Manager and Selling Manager Pro.

How do I qualify to be an eBay Top-rated seller?
To qualify as an eBay Top-rated seller, you need to:
Meet all the quality requirements for and accept the invitation to the PowerSeller program
Meet the sales volume requirements for Top-rated seller status: 100 transactions and $3,000 in GMV over the past 12 months
Have no more than the maximum allowed instances of 1s or 2s on all DSRs from U.S. buyers:
Sellers with 400 or more transactions over the previous 3 calendar months: No more than 0.50% of transactions with 1s or 2s on each one of the four DSRs over the past 3 months.
Sellers with 400 or more annual transactions, but less than 400 over the most recent 3 completed calendar months: No more than 0.50% of transactions with 1s or 2s on each one of the four DSRs over the past 12 months.
Sellers with less than 400 annual transactions: No more than two instances of 1s or 2s on each one of the four DSRs over the past 12 most recent completed calendar months. This will ensure that lower volume sellers are not disqualified based on a single transaction.
Minimum average across all four DSRs (based on PowerSeller requirement):
- Current: 4.5 on global transactions
- Starting April 2010: 4.60 on transactions with U.S. buyers.
Compliance with new Selling Practices policy requirements.
When will Top-rated sellers begin receiving the 20% discount?
If you qualify for the Top-rated seller fee discounts, you will see them on your monthly invoice applied to the Final Value Fees for your previous month sales. The first time you receive your Top-rated seller 20% discounts, here's how it will work:
If you receive your invoice on the 16th of each month, you will see your first Top-rated seller discounts on your October 16, 2009, invoice applied to your sales from listings sold on or after October 1, 2009. In the same invoice, for your transactions between September 16 and September 30, 2009, you will receive the current PowerSeller discount if you qualify.
If you receive your invoice on the 1st of each month, you will see your first Top-rated seller discounts on your November 1, 2009, invoice applied to your sales from listings started on or after October 1, 2009.
What is the eBay Top-rated seller badge and how will it be presented and explained to buyers?
Buyers will see "Top-rated seller" with the Top-rated seller icon in the upper right corner of the item page for items listed by Top-rated sellers. Beneath the badge and the seller's user name these three points will appear:
Consistently receives highest buyers' ratings
Ships items quickly
Earns a track record of excellent service

Buyers see the new Top-rated seller badge on Top-rated sellers' item pages.

As a U.S. seller, can I qualify for eBay Top-rated seller status on other eBay sites?
Not at this time. As other eBay sites adapt the new Top-rated seller status and work out appropriate local requirements, we will keep U.S. sellers informed.

What happens when an eBay Top-rated seller no longer meets all the requirements?
Sellers who no longer meet all the eBay Top-rated seller requirements but continue to meet PowerSeller requirements will no longer have Top-rated seller status or benefits, but will retain current PowerSeller status and discounts if they qualify.

Top-rated seller and PowerSeller status are evaluated monthly and sellers will be able to see how they are trending to meet those requirements on their Seller Dashboard.