Seller News September 2010

---

Listing with a product from eBay catalogue required

From 20 September, this new product-based shopping experience will require sellers, listing in the MP3 Players and GPS Systems sub-categories, to list with a matching product (if available) from the eBay catalogue.

By listing with a product, sellers can save time by being able to add pre-filled product information and stock photos. Learn more about using product information from our catalogue

Listing with the catalogue is fast and easy

• New listings or relistings: When an item matches a product in the eBay catalogue, sellers are required to list using that product. They will also be able to add pre-filled product information and a stock photo to their listing.
• Listing bundles: To list a product bundle, sellers are required to select a matching product from the eBay catalogue, tick the bundle flag and add details of the additional components of their bundle in the listing description.
• Existing listings not listed with product details: Existing listings (including Good ‘Til Cancelled) that were not listed with a product from the catalogue, will be automatically linked by eBay to a matching product from the catalogue. For sellers who are affected, they will be notified by email, with clear instructions about what to do next. Listings that have been automatically linked won’t qualify for the "deals box" or the price promotion outlined below.

To optimise listings:

• Always list or relist with a matching product (if available) from our catalogue. Generally good practice, this will be a requirement for all listings in MP3 Players and GPS System from 20 September 2010.
• Add a subtitle to make your listing stand out (Free for a limited time only)
• Always include item condition and item specifics in all your listings.
• Offer the best competitive price below RRP that you can.

---

New product-based shopping experience

Making it easier for buyers to find, research and buy

In order to make a faster purchasing decision, online buyers expect to be able to find the product they want easily, including the best deals available from sellers who offer excellent service.

Product-based search results

That's why from the end of September 2010, rather than a list of individual items, all search results containing listings from MP3 Players and GPS Systems will be grouped by products, with a summary of the number of listings available and discounts being offered (in comparison with the Recommended Retail Price or RRP).

Example: Search results grouped by products, highlighting number of listings and discounts offered in comparison with the RRP.

Listings without matching products will continue to appear on search results as they do today.

Product pages highlight key information and the best deals

When buyers click on a product on the search results pages, they will go to a product page where they'll see everything that will help them buy sooner:

• A prominent “deals box” next to the product picture. Only the best deals from eBay Top-rated sellers will be featured, thereby rewarding excellent sellers.
• All other product listings available on eBay.
• Customer and editor reviews, product features and comparisons.

---

Take action

 

1. Which categories are affected by this change?
2. Why am I required to list with the catalogue in these 2 sub-categories?
3. How can I identify the listings I need to update?
4. What happens if I do not list with a product from the eBay catalogue even though a matching product exists?
5. What happens if a new product is added to the catalogue after my item is listed?
6. What happens if a matching product doesn’t exist in the catalogue?
7. What listings qualify for the "deals box" at the top of the product page?
8. What should I do if I don’t agree with the linking that was done to my listing?
9. The product that matches my item exists in the catalogue, however the product details are incorrect for my listing. What should I do?
10. Are there editing tools available to help me revise my listings?

1. Which categories are affected by this change?

• MP3 Players (sub-category # 171950)
• GPS Systems (sub-category # 156955)

Back to top

2. Why am I required to list with the catalogue in these 2 sub-categories?

In order to deliver this new, faster shopping experience for buyers, listings must include consistent product information drawn from the eBay catalogue.

Back to top

3. How can I identify the listings I need to update?

eBay will screen existing listings (including Good ‘Til Cancelled) and link them to the relevant products in the catalogue before the 20 September deadline. Sellers will be notified when this happens, and should check their listings to ensure the linking is accurate.

However, a listing that has been automatically linked by eBay will not qualify for the “deals box” or the free Subtitle or Supersize image promotion. To qualify, sellers must revise or relist with a product from the catalogue.

After 20 September 2010, sellers in MP3 Players and GPS Systems must actively list with a product from the eBay catalogue whenever there is a matching product.

Back to top

4. What happens if I don’t list with a product from the eBay catalogue even though a matching product exists?

From 20 September 2010, all items in MP3 Players and GPS systems must be listed, or relisted with a product from the eBay catalogue if there's a corresponding match. Listings that don’t follow this policy won’t qualify for the "deals box" or the free Subtitle and Supersize image promotion.

In addition, sellers who repeatedly breach this policy may be subject to a range of actions including listing removal, limits of buying and selling privileges.

Back to top

5. What happens if a new product is added to the catalogue after my item is listed?

As new products are added to the catalogue, eBay will automatically link existing listings in the MP3 Players and GPS Systems sub-categories to these new additions. You will be notified by email, but your listing will not qualify for the “deals box” or free Subtitle and Supersize image promotion until you actively revise or relist with a product from the catalogue.

Back to top

6. What happens if a matching product doesn’t exist in the catalogue?

Sellers should continue to list as normal. These listings will appear on search results pages along with other listings that have been grouped by product. However, it won’t appear on a product page as it hasn’t been matched to a particular product in the catalogue.

Back to top

7. Which listings will qualify for the "deals box" at the top of the product page?

To be eligible for the “deals box”, it must meet the following requirements:

• A listing from an eBay Top-rated seller
• Actively listed or relisted with the catalogue (that is, the listing has not been automatically mapped by eBay)
• Fixed Price format
• New item condition
• Priced competitively

Back to top

8. What should I do if I do not agree with the linking that was done to my listing?

You can:

1. revise your listing and link it to a more appropriate product in the catalogue, or
2. contact Customer Service to help resolve the matter

Back to top

9. The product that matches my item exists in the catalogue, however the product details are incorrect for my listing. What should I do?

If the product details provided by the eBay catalogue are incorrect, you should still list using a matching product from the eBay catalogue, disable the inclusion of product information and clarify the product details in the listing description as usual.

Back to top

10. Are there editing tools available to help me revise my listings?

You can revise listings in bulk in My eBay, Selling Manager and Selling Manager Pro and Turbo Lister. From September, the new and enhanced bulk edit and relist feature will be able to revise up to 500 listings at once. Learn more about the new bulk edit functionality

Back to top