How to Check an eBay Seller's Reputation Before You Buy

September 13, 2026

The listing looks great. The price is right. But should you actually trust this seller? On eBay, the seller is everything. A good seller ships fast, describes items honestly, and resolves problems without a fight. A bad one sends you the wrong item and ghosts you.

Here’s how to read an eBay seller’s profile like a pro.

1. The Feedback Score (That Number Next to Their Name)

Every eBay seller has a number in parentheses next to their username. This is their total count of positive feedback received from unique buyers. A seller with (2,347) has received 2,347 positive ratings.

• Under 50: New seller. Not necessarily bad, but no track record. Proceed with caution
• 50–500: Established casual seller. Check their recent feedback carefully
• 500–5,000: Experienced seller. Generally reliable
• 5,000+: High-volume seller or small business. Usually professional and responsive

2. The Positive Feedback Percentage

More important than the raw number is the percentage. Click on the seller’s username to see it.

• 99–100%: Excellent. This seller almost never has issues
• 97–98%: Good. A few unhappy buyers, but that’s normal at volume
• 95–96%: Caution. Read the negative feedback to see if there’s a pattern
• Below 95%: Avoid. Something is consistently going wrong

3. Read the Negative and Neutral Feedback

Don’t just look at the number — read what people complained about. On the seller’s feedback page, filter by “Negative” and “Neutral.”

Red flags:

• “Item not as described” appearing repeatedly — the seller is misleading buyers
• “Never received” multiple times — shipping problems or outright scams
• Seller responding aggressively to negative feedback — not someone you want to deal with if something goes wrong

Green flags in negative feedback:

• Complaints about slow shipping (annoying, not a scam)
• Seller responding politely and offering solutions
• The complaint is clearly unreasonable (“item arrived in 4 days, I wanted 2”)

4. Check the Detailed Seller Ratings (DSRs)

Below the feedback percentage, eBay shows star ratings for four categories:

• Item as described — the most important one. Below 4.5 stars? Walk away
• Communication — how responsive the seller is
• Shipping time — how fast they ship after you pay
• Shipping charges — whether buyers feel the shipping cost was fair

5. Look at What They’re Selling

A seller who specializes in electronics and has been doing it for years is generally safer than a random account listing one MacBook alongside garden tools and baby clothes. Specialization = experience with the product category.

QuickDeals Does This for You

When you search on QuickDeals, we automatically filter out sellers with poor ratings. Every listing you see comes from a seller with at least 98% positive feedback and 100+ ratings. No manual checking required.