Understand Seller Standards and DSRs

The Overview tab on the Feedback page shows a read-only mirror of the seller performance figures eBay itself calculates: three performance gauges and four Detailed Seller Rating (DSR) star bars. This article explains what each one measures, the standards eBay applies, and why a gauge can be empty even on a healthy account.

The three performance gauges

These gauges track the same measures eBay uses to decide whether an account is “Above Standard” and whether it qualifies for Top Rated status:

• Defect rate. The share of transactions with a serious problem, such as a case opened that the seller did not resolve, a low DSR or a payment dispute. eBay’s general minimum standard is a defect rate of 2% or lower. Top Rated status needs a much lower rate, around 0.5% or lower.
• Late shipment rate. The share of orders dispatched, or marked with tracking uploaded, after the promised handling time. eBay’s minimum standard allows a higher rate than Top Rated does. Top Rated requires a low late shipment rate together with tracking uploaded on the large majority of orders.
• Cases not resolved. The share of cases closed without the seller resolving them (for example, closed in the buyer’s favour or escalated to eBay). eBay’s minimum standard is a very low rate, around 0.3% or lower.

Each gauge shows where the account currently sits against eBay’s “Above Standard” line and, where relevant, the stricter Top Rated limit. Because eBay reviews and can adjust these exact percentages, treat the numbers on the gauge as the live figure and check eBay’s own Seller Standards page in Seller Hub if a precise current threshold matters for a decision.

The four DSR star bars

Below the gauges, four bars show the average Detailed Seller Rating buyers have left, each on eBay’s 1 to 5 star scale:

1. Item as described
2. Communication
3. Dispatch time
4. Postage and packaging charges

These are separate from the overall positive feedback percentage and cannot be removed or replied to individually, buyers leave them privately alongside ordinary feedback. To keep Top Rated status, eBay generally expects an average of 4.60 or higher in each of the four categories over its evaluation period.

Why a gauge or bar might show no data

Because the figures are eBay’s own, if a number on this tab ever looks out of step with what is shown in Seller Hub, treat eBay’s Seller Hub as the source of truth and refresh the DashVue connection.

Using these readouts

Check this tab periodically rather than reacting to a single low rating. A defect rate or late shipment rate creeping toward eBay’s minimum standard is the early signal worth acting on, since falling below standard, or below the Top Rated limits, can affect search placement and eligibility for Top Rated benefits. See the related articles below for how to reply to buyer messages and handle negative or neutral feedback.