eBay Seller Feedback
eBay's feedback system gives you two numbers: a score and a percentage. Most buyers only look at one. Here's how to read both — and buy with confidence.
Why Seller Feedback Is Your Best Protection
eBay's seller feedback system is the closest thing the marketplace has to a verified track record. Every time a buyer completes a transaction and leaves feedback, they're adding a data point about that seller's reliability — how accurately items are described, how quickly they ship, and how disputes are handled.
A seller's past feedback history is the single best predictor of what your buying experience will be like. Before committing to a purchase — especially an expensive one — spend 60 seconds reviewing the feedback. It can save you significant time and money.
Two Numbers That Tell the Real Story
Feedback Score
The total number of positive feedback transactions. A score of 500 means 500 completed sales with positive ratings. It measures experience — how many buyers have been through this seller successfully.
Feedback Percentage
The ratio of positive to total feedback received. A 99.8% rating means 2 out of every 1,000 transactions resulted in negative feedback. It measures consistency — how reliably the seller satisfies buyers.
Why you need both numbers together:
A seller with a score of 10 and 100% positive feedback sounds perfect — but those 10 transactions could all be $5 items. There's no track record for high-value purchases. Compare that to a seller with a score of 2,000 and 99.8% — that's a deep, proven history with only a handful of negative outcomes across thousands of sales. The percentage alone doesn't tell you how much experience backs it up.
Feedback Risk Reference
| Feedback % | Score context | Risk level |
|---|---|---|
| 99.5% – 100% | Score 500+ | Low risk |
| 99.5% – 100% | Score < 100 | Low–medium |
| 98% – 99.4% | Any score | Medium risk |
| Below 98% | Any score | High risk |
| 100% | Score < 10 | High risk — new seller |
These thresholds are general guidelines. Adjust based on item value — stricter for expensive purchases, more flexible for low-cost items.
Read the Feedback Comments — Not Just the Numbers
A number tells you how many negatives exist. The comments tell you why. Look at the actual negative and neutral feedback before buying from an unfamiliar seller. Patterns matter:
- ! Repeated "item not as described" comments are a strong warning — the seller may be misrepresenting condition or details.
- ! Shipping complaints (slow, damaged, poor packaging) suggest operational problems that could affect your order.
- ! No-response to disputes is the highest risk sign — a seller who ignores buyer complaints will ignore yours too.
- ✓ Isolated negative among hundreds of positives may just be an outlier — context matters.
Always Check the Return Policy
A seller's return policy is your safety net. Before placing a bid or clicking Buy It Now — especially for an expensive item — confirm that the seller accepts returns and understand the conditions.
Sellers with high feedback scores generally accept returns to protect their rating. It is in their interest to resolve disputes quickly and fairly rather than risk a negative that affects thousands of future buyers' trust in them.
Filter Sellers Automatically with SearchDome
Manually checking every seller's feedback before acting on a search alert takes time — especially with automated searches that may surface multiple new listings at once. SearchDome provides tools to filter sellers automatically so your alerts only include sellers who meet your standards.
Feedback Score & Percentage Filter
Set a minimum feedback score and minimum percentage when building your search. Listings from sellers below either threshold are automatically excluded from your results.
Exclude Sellers List
Add specific seller IDs to your Exclude Sellers list to permanently block them from all your automated search results. Useful for repeat problem sellers or known high-risk accounts.
Include Sellers List
Restrict a search to only show listings from sellers you trust by using the Include Sellers list. Ideal for monitoring stock from a specific trusted dealer or liquidator.
Common Questions
What is a good eBay seller feedback percentage?
99.5% or higher is the standard for a trustworthy seller. Below 99.5% increases risk noticeably — fine for inexpensive items, but a concern for anything valuable or hard to return.
Why doesn't a high percentage alone make a seller trustworthy?
A seller with 10 transactions and 100% positive feedback has almost no real track record. A single future negative would drop them to 90%. The score tells you how many transactions back the percentage — both together give you the full picture.
Should I buy from a new eBay seller with no feedback?
Proceed with caution. New sellers haven't established a track record. If the price is compelling, check that eBay buyer protection covers the transaction and confirm the return policy. For high-value items, the risk generally outweighs the potential savings.
How do I filter eBay results by seller feedback in SearchDome?
SearchDome's search builder lets you set a minimum feedback score and percentage. Sellers below your thresholds are automatically excluded. You can also maintain an Exclude Sellers list for known problem sellers and an Include Sellers list to restrict results to trusted accounts.
Buy from Sellers You Can Trust
SearchDome's automated search filters exclude low-rated sellers automatically — so every deal alert you receive comes from a seller who meets your standards.