eBay particularly courts “powersellers,” such as Mr. Levi in Manhattan — those with big sales and high customer-approval ratings — with special perks including travel deals and health insurance. Powersellers must meet minimum monthly sales ($1,000 for the lowest level; $150,000 for the highest) and must have an approval rating above 98%.

When Mr. Levi, who sells used cameras from his Manhattan apartment, was laid off from his position at Carolee Designs, a fashion jewelry firm in Greenwich, Conn., the layoff came as a shock. He’d been a globe-trotting salesman, spending much of his time on the road in Hong Kong, London, Sydney and other cities. “I’d never lost a job,” he recalls.

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