Total number of transactions in the last 3 or 12 months.
Cancellations due to out-of-stock or item no longer available.
Cases where eBay stepped in and found the seller responsible.
Total Defects:0
Defect Rate:0.00%
function calculateDefectRate() {
// Get input values
var totalTrans = document.getElementById('total_transactions').value;
var cancelledTrans = document.getElementById('cancelled_transactions').value;
var closedCases = document.getElementById('cases_closed').value;
// Parse values
var total = parseFloat(totalTrans);
var cancelled = parseFloat(cancelledTrans);
var closed = parseFloat(closedCases);
// Validation
if (isNaN(total) || total <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid number of total transactions greater than 0.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(cancelled) || cancelled < 0) {
cancelled = 0;
document.getElementById('cancelled_transactions').value = 0;
}
if (isNaN(closed) || closed total) {
alert("Total defects cannot exceed total transactions.");
return;
}
var defectRate = (totalDefects / total) * 100;
// Determine Status based on eBay Standard Metrics (Generic thresholds)
// Top Rated: <= 0.5% | Above Standard: 2.0%
var statusText = "";
var statusColor = "";
if (defectRate <= 0.5) {
statusText = "Potential Top Rated Seller Status";
statusColor = "#27ae60"; // Green
} else if (defectRate <= 2.0) {
statusText = "Above Standard";
statusColor = "#2980b9"; // Blue
} else {
statusText = "Below Standard (Risk of Restriction)";
statusColor = "#c0392b"; // Red
}
// Update DOM
document.getElementById('display_total_defects').innerText = totalDefects;
document.getElementById('display_defect_rate').innerText = defectRate.toFixed(2) + "%";
var statusBox = document.getElementById('status_box');
statusBox.innerText = statusText;
statusBox.style.backgroundColor = statusColor;
// Show result box
document.getElementById('result_display').style.display = "block";
}
Understanding Your eBay Transaction Defect Rate
For eBay sellers, maintaining a healthy account status is critical for visibility, sales conversion, and avoiding selling restrictions. The Transaction Defect Rate is one of the most significant performance metrics used by eBay to evaluate seller performance levels.
What Counts as a Defect?
Not every problem creates a defect. eBay defines a transaction defect specifically as:
Seller-initiated cancellations: This occurs when you cancel an order because the item is out of stock or you chose not to ship it. It does not include cancellations requested by the buyer.
Cases closed without seller resolution: These are instances where a buyer opens a case (usually via the eBay Money Back Guarantee regarding an item not received or not as described), and the seller fails to resolve it, forcing eBay to step in and close the case in the buyer's favor.
How is the Rate Calculated?
The Transaction Defect Rate is a simple percentage calculated using the formula:
(Total Defects / Total Transactions) × 100
Depending on your sales volume, eBay evaluates this over a look-back period of either 3 months (if you have 400+ transactions) or 12 months (if you have fewer than 400 transactions).
eBay Seller Performance Levels
Your defect rate determines your standing:
Top Rated Seller: Requires a defect rate of 0.5% or less (and no more than 3 unique buyers with defects). Being Top Rated offers fee discounts and the "Top Rated Plus" badge.
Above Standard: Requires a defect rate of 2.0% or less. This is the minimum expected standard for all sellers.
Below Standard: If your defect rate exceeds 2.0%, your account is considered Below Standard. This can result in higher Final Value Fees, lower search ranking visibility, funds availability holds, and even permanent account suspension.
Tips to Reduce Your Defect Rate
To keep your metrics healthy, ensure you manage your inventory accurately to avoid out-of-stock cancellations. If a buyer opens a case, communicate immediately and resolve the issue (via refund or return) before they escalate it to eBay for review.