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| Requirements and benefits |
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| Promoting yourself as a Trading Assistant |
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| Selling as a Trading Assistant |
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What are the requirements for becoming a Trading Assistant?
To become a Trading Assistant, you need to meet the following requirements:
- You've sold at least 4 items in the last 30 days.
- You have a feedback score of 50 or higher.
- 90% or more of your feedback is positive.
- Your eBay account is in good standing.
If you meet these requirements, you can create a profile in the Trading Assistants Directory by clicking the "Create/Edit Your Profile" link. You'll be able to describe your specialties, fees, terms, contact information, and drop-in hours (if any). Your profile will appear in search results when people look for Trading Assistants in your area.
Including yourself in our Trading Assistants Directory is a lot like running a classified ad for your services. Each Trading Assistant runs his or her own independent business. Trading Assistants are not employees or independent contractors of eBay, nor do we endorse or approve them. The ability to join the directory is a privilege, not a right, and eBay can remove your ability to post a profile to the directory. This is something we might do, for example, if clients have serious complaints about your service as a Trading Assistant.
What are the benefits of becoming a Trading Assistant?
When you join the Trading Assistants Directory, you tell the world that you are willing to sell for others. Many Trading Assistants charge fees for their services. Selling as a Trading Assistant allows you to leverage your selling expertise without having to find products yourself-clients provide the items, and you are compensated for your efforts on terms that you decide. Many sellers already do this as a way of making money on eBay, and profit margins can be significant for higher-priced items.
How much does it cost to become a Trading Assistant?
Currently the program is free. While eBay reserves the right to charge a fee for inclusion in the Trading Assistants Directory, there are no plans in the foreseeable future to do so. Should this change, all Trading Assistants will be notified well in advance so that they have ample time to decide whether to remain in the directory.
Are there any legal considerations related to being a Trading Assistant?
Legal requirements and regulations for Trading Assistants vary based on the city, state, or region in which you operate your business. You are responsible for ensuring that the services you provide to clients are legal. Please see our legal considerations page for more details.
How are Trading Assistants presented in the directory?
By default, search results in the directory are sorted by distance to the client. On the search results page, clients can also sort the results by User ID and feedback score. They can also filter the results by category specialties, services, and other criteria. This helps them quickly find the Trading Assistant best suited to their selling needs.
What if I just want to sell items in certain categories?
That is completely your choice as a Trading Assistant. When you credit or edit your profile, you can select up to 3 main categories (and 5 subcategories for each) as your specialties, or you can indicate that you sell in all eBay categories. This information is displayed to clients and affects your appearance in search results.
Can I promote the fact that I am a Trading Assistant?
Absolutely! The more you promote your services as a Trading Assistant, the more business you're likely to generate. Here are some things you can do:
- Be sure to mention that you are a Trading Assistant in the descriptions of all your eBay listings. You can even use HTML to provide a link directly to your profile in the Trading Assistant Directory.
- In the Trading Assistant Toolkit, we provide promotional materials that you can download. Customise these posters and signs with your own contact information and then put them on public bulletin boards, in your own shop, or in any location where you think potential clients will see your name.
- Market your Trading Assistant status on your About Me page or on your personal Web site.
How can I remove myself from the Trading Assistants Directory?
You can remove yourself from the directory by going to your list of saved profiles and clicking the "delete" link next to each profile. We will ask you for confirmation. If you confirm, your profile will be removed from the directory. However, you can always put yourself back in the directory later (assuming you still meet the minimum requirements). It may be a good idea to remove yourself from the directory if you are planning an extended vacation or are unable to use eBay for a prolonged period of time.
Who sets the rules for how I work with my clients?
When you sign up as a Trading Assistant, you are essentially advertising your own independent listing service to potential clients. You and your client are in charge of negotiating all the terms. We do recommend, however, that you negotiate all details in advance before you begin working with your client. Make sure you both agree on what the starting price of the item will be, who pays eBay selling fees, who ships the item, what happens if an item doesn't sell, etc.
What kind of fees should I charge as a Trading Assistant?
The fees you charge are up to you and the client to negotiate. Fees can vary by item type, item size, and item price. Perhaps you will want to set some sort of minimum fee or charge secondary fees for additional services you offer. The key point is that fees are in your control, and you should negotiate up front how you are going to handle them with each client. Another point to remember is that regardless of your agreement with the client, you are ultimately responsible for all eBay fees because you are the official seller from eBay's perspective, and these fees will appear in your eBay invoice.
Do all normal eBay trading rules apply with Trading Assistants?
Yes, when you agree to sell items as a Trading Assistant, you are responsible for accurately describing the item and ensuring the item adheres to eBay's Listing Policies. When you list the item, you are the seller - you communicate with buyers, manage the sale, receive buyer feedback, and pay eBay selling fees.
What happens if someone brings me an item to sell and it does not sell?
Again, that is up to you to negotiate with the client. You can give the item to a local charity, or return it to the client, or work out another arrangement that is agreed to by both parties. The key is negotiating all these details in advance of any work with the client.
Who pays the eBay fees if I sell for someone else?
eBay will charge the fees to the formal seller of the item-the Trading Assistant. You may choose to pass eBay fees back to your clients, but the Trading Assistant is ultimately responsible for paying the eBay fees. This is an issue you should discuss in advance with clients.
When an item sells, who gets the feedback from the buyer?
The Trading Assistant who sells the item gets any transaction feedback-positive, neutral, or negative-that the buyer chooses to leave. For feedback purposes, the Trading Assistant is the seller. When you sell items for others, make sure you accurately describe each item because you are ultimately responsible for the transaction.
Is eBay Customer Support available to Trading Assistants?
eBay Customer Support is available to Trading Assistants in the same way that it is available to any other eBay member. You can contact us to ask a question or report an issue about using eBay. However, eBay will not mediate between Trading Assistants and their clients.
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