You can ethically improve your feedback score quickly. 

Remember, each eBay member can only affect your feedback score once (for better or for worse).

First, take advantage of purchases you already make! 

Make a list of small office supply items (ex. paperclips) or other items you need to run your business.

Second, search the eBay category for each of those items. 

To make this less time consuming for yourself, select to see only Buy It Now items, then sort by lowest price.  Note:  you can also do this through eBay Express.  The advantage here is that eBay Express will sort lowest price for your total cost - purchase price plus shipping.

Third, find the cheapest listing for the item you need. 

Remember to keep an eye on the shipping costs!  You want the lowest total cost - purchase price plus shipping.  You also want to make sure that the seller is someone you have NEVER bought from before!  Remember to only buy one item from each seller as each seller can only help your feedback score ONCE.

Fourth, buy it and pay for it IMMEDIATELY so that you know that you will eventually get positive feedback. 

No delays here or you could shoot yourself in the foot.

Fifth, as soon as you receive each item (and check it out), IMMEDIATELY leave positive feedback for the seller. 

If you delay here it will take longer for you to get your positive feedback from the seller.

What if there is something wrong with your purchase? 

• Do NOT leave negative feedback. 

• Give the seller the opportunity to make things right.  Contact the seller and briefly and factually explain what is wrong and how you would like this resolved.  A seller is most likely to make things right if they believe they still have the chance to turn a negative experience into positive feedback.  Shaft them by not giving them a chance and you will - justifiably - get negative feedback from them. 

• After the issues are resolved, leave them positive feedback.

 

How long will this take?

It could take 3 or 4 weeks total for all the feedback to come in, but the investment in time and money is well spent. 

If you are trying to make it to the next feedback star level, or if you are trying to overcome negative feedback, I recommend you invest at least $50 to $100 at a time. 

By choosing to be a good buyer, this could add 10 or 20 positive feedbacks to your score.  That is a very good investment, and you needed those supplies anyway!

In truth, the total cost to you is less than that $50 or $100.  Why?  How much would you have paid for those supplies anyway?  Subtract that from your investment and that is your actual cost!

Building your feedback score over the long term.

It's always a good idea for a seller to occasionally buy their smaller supplies from eBay members they haven't purchased from before. That way, on an ongoing basis, you can easily increase your feedback score over the long term through both buying and selling.

I have favorite suppliers I purchase regularly from, but there is always some small item I need that I can buy from someone new every once in a while. And that someone new benefits, too, from having another opportunity to be a good seller.

Make our eBay community better!  VOTE for this Guide!