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Frequently asked questions: Other updates
A more consistent buyer experience to drive more sales
Limits on shipping charges in some categories
Rewards for free shipping
Checks and money orders no longer allowed
New seller standards: minimum 4.3 on all DSRs
More relevant search results to drive more sales
Surfacing the best inventory in Best Match
Revising your listings
Tips, bulk editing tools, and more
New item conditions for Books, Movies & DVDs, Music, and Video Games
Adding shipping price and service to multiple listings
Other announcements
Closing eBay Express: The best features now on eBay
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A more consistent buyer experience to drive more sales
Limits on shipping and handling charges in some categories
What are maximum shipping and handling charges?
In Books, Movies & DVDs, Music, and Video Games eBay will be enforcing limits on what sellers can charge for shipping and handling. For specific information by category see Maximum Shipping Costs.
Why are you establishing maximum shipping and handling costs?
Buyers have told us that shipping costs on eBay are too high, and this is causing them to make their purchases elsewhere. This is hurting both our sellers and our buyers. Setting maximum shipping and handling costs based on historical date of what buyers have told us is reasonable will keep more buyers satisfied and drive more sales for sellers.
Why were these categories selected?
We are starting with categories where we believe buyer expectations are particularly heightened to free and reasonable shipping. Our goal over time is to bring reasonable shipping limits to more categories.
How did eBay determine the maximum shipping and handling costs for a category?
We based our maximum shipping & handling costs on recent transaction data of what sellers are charging and what buyers have told us is reasonable.
Do the maximum shipping costs include handling costs?
Yes. Handling costs are included in the maximum amounts.
Why are you setting limits on shipping charges lower than my actual costs to ship?
We based our maximum shipping & handling charges on recent transaction data of what sellers are charging and what buyers have told us is reasonable. We know that what buyers consider to be reasonable will be less than sellers' actual costs in some cases. We believe that by offering buyers at least one shipping option that they deem reasonable, sellers will increase their overall sales and conversion.
Are there shipping cost limits for international shipping services or expedited shipping?
No. Maximum shipping and handling costs apply only to the first flat rate shipping service to the U.S.
What can I do if the maximum shipping and handling costs do not cover my expenses for packaging and shipping?
The maximum shipping and handling cost may not cover sellers' shipping costs in some cases. In the event that it does not, you can do one of the following:
When selling a bundle or quantity of items, you can use the shipping calculator to charge actual shipping charges.
When selling via fixed price, include all or part of the shipping cost in the item price.
When selling via auction:
Continue to list your item with the same start price and a shipping price at or below the maximum shipping cost. Many of our sellers have success with auctions, even at free shipping, because their item looks more competitive to their buyers.
If your actual shipping costs are higher than the maximum shipping & handling cost, start the item price higher to cover your shipping cost. This technique will minimize risk that you will lose money on shipping.
Move your item to fixed price and include all or part of the shipping cost in the item price.
If you are selling a bundle or quantity of items, you can use the shipping calculator to charge actual shipping charges.
I'm an international seller. Do the shipping cost limits still apply?
Yes. If you are listing your item on the U.S. site, maximum shipping costs will apply for sales to the U.S. regardless of the location of your item.
How will limits on shipping charges affect my cross-border sales?
Maximum shipping and handling charges should not affect your cross border business. Sellers will be required to set at least one domestic shipping cost under limit, and can set alternative options for expedited and/or international shipping. International sellers listing directly on the U.S. site will be subject to shipping cost limits on their first domestic shipping cost.
In categories with maximum shipping costs, why is there a shipping cost DSR?
We are only setting a maximum shipping and handling cost for the first shipping option. Sellers can still set their price lower than the maximum shipping cost on that option as well as have alternative shipping options. Therefore, we will keep the shipping cost DSR in place.
How will the shipping calculator work with these shipping limits?
We recommend the shipping calculator to be used for items that are being sold in a bundle, quantity, or larger/heavier than the average item listed in the category you are listing in. We will monitor items using the shipping calculator to make sure that those that are over the limit differ from the assumptions that we used to establish the maximum shipping costs.
Will this apply to other categories in the future?
We currently do not have other categories scheduled. Consistent with any other major change we've made to our policies, we will let our sellers know well in advanced to adjust their listings.
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Rewards for free shipping
What specific benefits do I get when I offer free shipping this holiday season?
PowerSeller Final Value Fee Discounts - This holiday season, for items sold between October 1 and December 31, PowerSellers with high DSRs that qualify for Final Value Fee discounts will get double the discounts on their items sold with free shipping.
Free Subtitle Upgrade - In addition, all sellers get a free Subtitle upgrade on their listings with free shipping listed between October 1 and December 31. The Value Pack bundle will be 35¢ for qualified listings.
More Search Exposure - As always, all listings with free shipping get a boost in exposure.
How do I qualify for the double PowerSeller Final Value Fee discounts?
You qualify for doubling the PowerSeller fee discounts if you:
Are a member of the United States or Canadian PowerSeller program, and
Have maintained excellent detailed seller ratings (DSRs) over the last 30 days in all four areas - item description, communication, shipping time, and shipping and handling charges. All four of your DSRs must be equal to or greater than 4.6, 4.8 or 4.9 for increasingly deeper discounts, and
Sell items with free shipping between October 1 and December 31
If you are a PowerSeller, to see if you qualify based on your last 30 days of DSRs, check the PowerSeller fee discount section of the Seller Dashboard.
Find more information on the PowerSeller Final Value Fee Discounts.
When and how will I start seeing the double PowerSeller Final Value Fee discounts for free shipping?
If you qualify for the double PowerSeller Final Value Fee discounts, you will see them on your monthly invoice applied to the Final Value Fees for your previous month sales. The first time you receive your discounts, here's how it will work:
If you receive your invoice on the 1st of each month, you will see your first double discounts on your November 1, 2008 invoice applied to your items sold and sold on or after October 1, 2008.
If you receive your invoice on the 16th of each month, you will see your first double discounts on your October 16, 2008 invoice applied to your items sold on or after October 1, 2008.
If I change listings to offer free shipping, do I get the double PowerSeller fee discounts or is it just for new listings?
The double discounts are for new listings only.
How does free shipping improve my exposure?
Free shipping is one of the factors used in Best Match to help your listing appear higher in search results.
Will free shipping help my shipping cost DSRs?
Listings with free shipping average higher shipping cost DSR scores (4.8) than items without free shipping.
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Checks and money orders no longer allowed
What's changing with payments on eBay?
Beginning in late October 2008, checks and money orders will no longer be allowed as payment methods on eBay. All items appearing on eBay.com must be paid for using either:
PayPal (funded by PayPal account balance, credit card, debit card, bank account, PayPal Pay Later, PayPal Buyer Credit or eBay gift certificate)
Credit or debit card payment to a seller (through a seller's Internet merchant account)
ProPay
Payment upon pickup
In January 2009, all of the approved electronic payment methods will be integrated into eBay checkout. For example, if a seller offers credit or debit card as a payment option, buyers will be able to directly enter their credit card information securely in eBay checkout and their payment will be directly routed to the seller's Internet merchant account.
We are also working with other electronic payment providers currently included in our Accepted Payments Policy to integrate their services into eBay checkout in 2009.
Learn more at the Payments Overview Page.
Are there any categories excluded from these payment requirements?
Vehicles (Motors), capital equipment (Business & Industrial), Mature Audiences and Real Estate will be excluded from the new payment requirements. Specifically, the following categories will be excluded:
Motors > Cars & Trucks
Motors > Motorcycles
Motors > Powersports
Motors > Boats
Motors > Other Vehicles & Trailers
Business & Industrial > Agriculture & Forestry > Tractors & Farm Machinery
Business & Industrial > Construction > Heavy Equipment, Trailers
Business & Industrial > Food Service & Retail > Concession Trailers & Carts
Business & Industrial > Healthcare, Lab & Life Science > Imaging & Aesthetics Equipment
Business & Industrial > Industrial Supply, MRO > Fork Lifts & Other Lifts
Business & Industrial > Manufacturing & Metalworking > Manufacturing Equipment
Business & Industrial > Manufacturing & Metalworking > Metalworking Equipment
Business & Industrial > Office, Printing & Shipping > Commercial Printing Presses
Real Estate
Everything Else > Mature Audiences
How does this change benefit sellers?
We're making this change to better meet buyer expectations for a consistent, more secure checkout experience on eBay. This should increase buyer confidence in shopping on eBay, which should result in more buyers and increased sales for sellers.
The change will directly benefit sellers by making payments faster and more reliable, enabling sellers to ship more quickly and increase buyer satisfaction.
How does this change make payment to sellers faster?
Electronic payment methods give sellers more immediate access to funds. This allows for faster fulfillment and shipping, which should increase buyer satisfaction and the detailed seller ratings they leave for sellers. Of US transactions paid with PayPal, 25% were paid within 5 minutes and 73% within 24 hours.
How does this change make payment to sellers more reliable?
Using online payment methods lowers unpaid item rates. eBay listings that don't accept PayPal or credit cards are more than twice as likely to experience an unpaid item than listings that only accept these payment methods. PayPal will also be protecting all US sellers on eligible transactions through its improved seller protection at no additional cost, with no annual coverage limit.
How will the change increase buyer confidence?
Buyers will have a more consistent and secure payment experience on eBay. Right now, 1 out of 5 eBay transactions send buyers off eBay to complete their purchase. Buyers' experiences vary greatly depending on the seller and their payment provider. This lowers buyer confidence in eBay and leaves buyers more vulnerable to online fraud. By using only integrated electronic payment methods in eBay checkout, buyers will be able to stay on eBay to pay.
Buyers will also have fewer bad experiences, and if something does go wrong, they will have more recourse. Buyers who pay with a check or money order on eBay.com today are 80% more likely to file an "item not received" dispute, and 50% more likely to leave a negative feedback than buyers who pay with PayPal or a credit card. Starting in late October, eligible items paid with PayPal on eBay.com will be covered by PayPal Buyer Protection with no coverage limit and at no additional cost, and all other approved electronic payment methods' services will also include consumer protection.
Is eBay planning to eliminate third-party checkout?
Yes. We realize that checkout services offered by eBay Certified Solution Providers are valuable services to our sellers. Our plan is not to disrupt these services but to work closely with these providers to integrate them into eBay checkout in 2009. Ultimately, it's eBay's goal to have buyers always pay for their purchases within the secure confines of eBay.
What about Google Checkout, Checkout by Amazon or Amazon Flexible Payment Services? Will these payment methods be offered?
No. The electronic payment methods available on eBay already provide security and protections and are already used by the vast majority of our buyers and sellers. eBay will offer several other electronic payment options in addition to PayPal, namely ProPay to start, with more electronic payment providers to be added in coming months. Google's and Amazon's products and services compete with eBay on a number of levels, so we are not going to allow them on eBay.
Do these changes affect all eBay sites?
These changes only affect the U.S. eBay site. Check other countries' individual sites for more information and updates.
What is eBay doing to educate buyers about these changes and keep them shopping on eBay?
The vast majority of buyers already use the approved electronic payment methods to purchase items on eBay, and these changes won't affect their shopping experiences on eBay. eBay plans to educate and provide incentives to buyers who are heavy check or money order users to retain them. In addition, starting in late October, eligible items paid with PayPal on eBay.com will be covered by PayPal Buyer Protection with no coverage limit and at no additional cost. See eligibility.
If I already offer one or more of the approved payment methods, what do I have to do to comply and when will I need to make changes to my listings?
If you already offer only the approved electronic payment methods to your customers, you're already meeting the new requirements. If you offer one or more of the approved electronic payment methods and methods no longer allowed, you're fine. Starting in late October, your listings will only display the allowed methods. You will need to remove any reference to the prohibited payment methods from your item descriptions.
What if I only accept checks, money orders or other payment methods that will be prohibited?
By late October you'll need to do at least one of the following:
Add PayPal as a payment method to your listings. This can be done through your seller preferences page in My eBay.
Sign up with ProPay to offer this electronic payment option to your customers. We are also working closely with additional electronic payment providers to add them to our approved payment providers list. Learn more.
Accept credit or debit cards through your Internet merchant account.
What if I don't take at least one of these steps by late October, 2008?
You will not be able to list new items or relist using the same templates. Your current listings will remain on eBay.com until they end. Good 'til Canceled listings will be displayed on eBay until they come up for relisting at the end of 30 days.
Do I have to remove references to prohibited payment methods from my templates and item descriptions?
Yes, you must remove references to prohibited payment methods from your templates and item descriptions. This will not be done automatically. If prohibited payment methods are included in your item description, your listing will be in violation of the new Accepted Payments Policy.
What is the deadline for removing references to prohibited payment methods from my templates and item descriptions?
We encourage you to remove any references as you update your listings and listing templates between now and October 2008. We know that this is a busy time of year for sellers, so we will wait until January 15, 2009 before we begin insisting on the removal of prohibited payment methods from item descriptions.
What payment methods can a buyer choose when paying on pickup?
Buyers may choose whatever payment method seller and buyer agree to when they pay on pickup, including checks, money orders and cash. We encourage sellers to specify in their listing description what payment methods are acceptable if a buyer pays on pickup. Also note that sellers may not select "pay on pickup" as a sole payment option in their listing. At least one of the approved electronic payment methods must always be an option for buyers.
Is there an easy way to change my listings?
Yes. You can remove prohibited payment methods through your seller preferences page in My eBay.
What should I do if a buyer demands to pay with checks or money orders?
We know that some buyers will still want to pay with checks and money orders, even after this policy change goes into effect. When this happens, explain to your buyers the benefits that come with electronic payments:
More secure payments
Faster delivery of their purchases
More protection in case anything goes wrong.
Some buyers may be anxious about online payments or may not have a bank account. In these cases, suggest that they try using a prepaid debit card.
What should I do if I have long-standing, repeat customers who insist on paying with checks or money orders, even after I explain the benefits of electronic payments and offer suggestions?
We know this may happen occasionally, and if you accept checks or money orders from these customers a reasonably small percentage of the time, this will not be a violation of the new payments policy. However, we will not allow abuse of the new policy and will be watching for sellers who accept a significant amount of prohibited payments. Remember also, you can refuse to accept these payment methods. If the buyer doesn't pay, you can file an unpaid item (UPI) complaint. Buyers who insist on paying with these prohibited payment methods in a UPI claim will lose the claim and will not be allowed to leave negative feedback.
What happens to my feedback if a winning bidder refuses to pay using the payment methods specified in my listing?
If the buyer refuses to pay using the payment methods specified in your listing, file an Unpaid Item dispute (UPI). If the buyer fails to respond to eBay's requests for more information through the UPI process, provides an inadequate response such as nonsense words, or insists upon paying with an unapproved payment method, any negative or neutral Feedback left by the buyer will be removed.
What if a buyer threatens negative Feedback to demand payment by a method not specified in my listing?
You should immediately report the buyer to eBay. If there is clear evidence of undue pressure, eBay will take action. If a buyer shows a pattern of malicious behavior, eBay will most likely suspend the buyer and any negative or neutral Feedback the buyer left for any sellers will be removed.
What will happen if I ask a buyer to use a prohibited payment method?
Requesting prohibited payment methods from your customers either by email or in your item description is a violation of the new Accepted Payments Policy. Violations of this policy may result in:
Listing cancellation
Forfeit of eBay fees on cancelled listings
Limits on account privileges
Loss of PowerSeller status
Account suspension
If I don't already accept PayPal, how do I go about doing so?
Learn more about how to create a PayPal account and the many benefits of accepting PayPal as payment on eBay.
How can my buyers pay for items over $10,000?
In late October, 2008, PayPal will enable payments of more than $10,000. For a limited time starting in October, eCheck pricing for sellers will remain capped at $5 on transactions over $10,000. This will not apply to purchases of vehicles in eBay Motors, capital equipment in the Business and Industrial category, the Mature Audiences category or the Real Estate category.
What other improvement to PayPal are coming?
Concurrent with and prior to the changes in late October, PayPal will be making many improvements for eBay customers. In addition to making PayPal safer with expanded Buyer Protection and Seller Protection, PayPal will also be faster and easier to use on eBay.
Easier eChecks for buyers and sellers
Making it easier for buyers who do not have a PayPal account to pay directly with a credit card if a seller accepts PayPal
Simplifying checkout for buyers who forget their PayPal password
Simplifying PayPal registration for sellers
Making it easier for buyers to complete high-priced transactions.
What is an Internet merchant account? How do I get one?
An Internet merchant account is an account that allows sellers to receive credit card payments from online customers through a secure payment gateway to a credit card processor. You can start an Internet merchant account by contacting your bank, or by contacting a merchant credit card processing company. Transaction fees may vary, so compare several options before you open an account.
I have an Internet merchant account. How do I accept payments? Will this change in October?
To accept direct credit and debit card payments from your buyers to your Internet merchant account, simply add credit card as a payment option to your listings. You may also want to offer additional checkout instructions to let the buyer know how to send their credit or debit card information to you.
When will direct credit card payments to my Internet merchant account be integrated into eBay checkout?
Sellers with Internet merchant accounts will be able to accept credit card payments directly through eBay checkout in January 2009. This means that your buyers will be able to directly enter their credit card information securely in eBay checkout and their payment will be directly routed to your Internet merchant account. This option will offer a more convenient and secure option for your buyers and greater efficiency for sellers.
How will direct credit card payments to my Internet merchant account work and what do I need to do to use this option?
In checkout, buyers' credit card information will be sent securely to the seller's merchant credit card processor via the Payflow Payment Gateway. To take advantage of this option, sellers will need to have several things in place:
An existing Internet merchant account with their bank or credit card processing company.
Your processor account information from your Internet merchant service provider.
An account with Payflow Payment Gateway. This is a FREE service for eBay sellers, and can be established through a link displayed in your seller preferences page in My eBay starting late this year.
When are direct credit card payments a good option?
This option may work well for sellers who already accept credit cards in their online and offline stores, as this will allow them to use the same credit card processor. There are usually additional sign-up, monthly and transaction fees for Internet merchant account services. Consider these one-time and recurring expenses and compare rates and services from several providers before you sign up.
Are there extra fees if I accept credit cards through my Internet merchant account on eBay?
No. There are no additional charges by eBay if you accept credit card payments directly through your Internet merchant account on eBay. In fact, some sellers may save on gateway fees for eBay transactions by using Payflow Payment Gateway as their credit card payment gateway. Check with your Internet merchant account credit card processor for their schedule of transaction fees, as this will vary depending on your agreement with them.
I don't have an Internet merchant account. Can buyers still pay for my items with a credit card?
Yes. Your customers can also pay with their credit cards through PayPal, or if they are new to eBay or PayPal and do not yet have an eBay or PayPal account, they can pay with credit card as a guest member of eBay or PayPal.
How can I accept payments through ProPay and other electronic payment providers eBay will be adding?
You'll need to sign up with these payment providers first to accept payments through them. Starting in September, when you sign up with these payment providers, you'll be sent through eBay's authorization process for third-party service providers. You'll be asked to give permission to the provider so they can process your payments. After your account has been set up, you'll need to add these payment methods to your listing in Sell Your Item (SYI) or another listing tool. Fees and services may vary, so visit their websites for more information about these alternative payment options.
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New seller standards: minimum 4.3 on all DSRs
What are the minimum DSR requirements to list on eBay?
Starting November 1, 2008, in order to list, sellers must have a minimum of 4.3 over the past 30 days in all four detailed seller ratings (DSRs): item as described, communication, shipping time, and shipping and handling charges. Sellers with less than 10 DSRs over the past 30 days will be evaluated on their DSRs over the last 12 months.
Is this new Seller Standards policy likely to impact a large number of sellers?
No. The vast majority of sellers on eBay, about 96%, have DSRs at or above 4.3. The main purpose of this new policy is to protect the interests and reputation of that large majority from the impact of the few sellers whose customer satisfaction levels are below a reasonable standard.
What happens to sellers who do not meet the DSR requirements by November 1, 2008?
Sellers who do not meet the requirement will be blocked from listing on eBay.com, eBay Motors Parts & Accessories, and Half.com.
What does it mean to be "blocked" from selling? Is this the same as suspension? How long will a seller be blocked?
Sellers not meeting the standards will not be allowed to list, but will not be suspended. Sellers will continue to be blocked from listing as long as their DSRs do not meet the 4.3 minimum standard. Blocked sellers may list items again once their DSRs meet or exceed the threshold. Blocked sellers can accomplish this in the following ways:
Complete current transactions successfully and receive high DSRs
If 12-month DSRs are above the minimum standard, wait for low DSRs over the last 30 days to roll off until the 30-day DSRs are above the threshold or a full 30-days have passed
If 12-month DSRs are below the threshold, wait until low DSRs to roll off
Will existing listings of sellers falling below 4.3 DSRs be removed from the site?
No, existing listings will not be removed but sellers will be blocked from new listings and from relisting, and Good 'til Cancelled listings will not renew. Blocked sellers are encouraged to complete existing listings and earn high DSR scores to meet the minimum standards and regain listing privileges.
What happens to sellers who meet the thresholds by November 1st, 2008, but fall below the threshold in the future? Will I have an opportunity to improve or appeal?
Sellers will immediately be blocked from listing if they fall below the threshold after November 1st, 2008. Sellers will not be given warnings and opportunities to improve, but there will be an appeals process.
How are DSRs evaluated? Are DSRs rounded?
DSRs are based on the last 30 days of activity; sellers with less than 10 DSRs in 30 days will be evaluated on the last 12 months. DSRs are rounded, therefore a Shipping Time DSR of 4.25 meets the 4.3 standard but a Shipping Time DSR of 4.24 does not meet the standard.
What about new sellers or people who sell only occasionally with no DSRs?
Sellers with no track record will be allowed to sell and they will be evaluated using 12-month DSRs.
Will sellers from other countries be held to the Seller Standards?
Sellers from other countries listing directly on eBay.com, eBay Motors Parts & Accessories, and Half.com that do not meet our standards will be blocked.
Do my DSRs from outside the US count toward these requirement limits?
All DSRs are included in the computation of your scores. While international shipping and handling scores are on average lower than domestic, they impact typical US sellers by less than 0.02 points.
Will Seller Non-performance continue to be enforced?
Yes. Sellers are expected to maintain a Buyer Satisfaction rating of "Good" in their Seller Dashboard. Any rating below Good puts the seller at risk of violating the Seller Non-performance Policy, as well loss of PowerSeller status, demotion in search, selling restrictions, and other sanctions.
How will sellers be able to monitor their position in their Seller Dashboard?
Sellers will be able to monitor both their 30-day and 12-month DSR scores in their Seller Dashboard.
How can I improve my DSRs?
For tips for improving your DSRs, see the Seller Feedback best practices.
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More relevant search results to drive more sales
Surfacing the best inventory in Best Match
What's changing about how Best Match search results are sorted?
In Best Match results, the items within each listing format (e.g. Auction-style and Fixed Price) will be sorted based on different criteria—the most relevant criteria for the format—and then intermingled. Store inventory items will continue to be displayed at the bottom of search results.
Why are items of different formats sorted differently in Best Match?
The criteria to determine what is a relevant item is different for Fixed Price and Auction-style listings. For example, time remaining is not relevant for Fixed Price items but is important for Auction-style listings about to end. For these reasons and more, exposure for these two formats is based on different criteria.
What's most important in Best Match search results for Fixed Price?
For Fixed Price listings, item relevance and detailed seller ratings will continue to be important factors in Best Match, but instead of Time Ending Soonest, the focus will be more on total cost (price plus shipping) and recent sales history, favoring items that are selling the fastest. The best way to improve your recent sales history is to take advantage of the new 30-day duration and Good 'Til Canceled (GTC) automatic renewal option. See Best Practices for more tips on improving exposure for your Fixed Price listings.
How will the new "recent sales" factor in Best Match search results impact smaller sellers or sellers who list fewer items in many categories or unique items you can only find on eBay?
Relevancy, price, and seller ratings continue to be important in Best Match search results. Also, the weight given to recent sales as a factor in Fixed Price search results will vary from one category to another as appropriate. For more details and tips on how to take best advantage of these changes and optimize exposure for your listings, see Best Practices.
What's different about how Auction-style listings are sorted in Best Match?
For Auction-style listings, item relevance, detailed seller ratings and time ending soonest will continue to be the most important factors in Best Match search results.
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Revising your listings
How will sellers be able to revise their listings to meet the new requirements?
Sellers will be able to revise listings in three ways using eBay's tools:
Revise them individually (listing by listing) using Sell Your Item (SYI) or your favorite listing tool.
Revise them in bulk using our Bulk Edit tool, which is available in My eBay and Selling Manager. You can revise 10 listings at a time in My eBay or up to 200 at a time for Selling Manager.
Revise them in bulk using Turbo Lister.
What happens to my listings when the requirement for specifying a return policy goes into effect?
If you've already specified a Return Policy and handling time in your listings, those listings will meet the new requirement and nothing more needs to be done. However, when the requirement goes into effect, there will be a way for you to specify a more granular return policy, or you can keep you existing policy "as is."
What about existing Good 'Til Cancelled (GTC) and Selling Manager Pro templates?
We recommend that you revise your Good 'Til Cancelled (GTC) listings and Selling Manager Pro templates as soon as possible, so they are not blocked when the requirements go live. This can be done one listing at a time with Sell Your Item (SYI) or in bulk using the Bulk Edit tool or Turbo Lister as noted above. If you don't revise your items or templates and they are not compliant with our policies, they will either not renew on the next renewal cycle (for GTC items) or their automation rules will fail (for Selling Manager Pro templates) until you correct the issue.
What about revising Multi-Quantity Store Inventory Format items that have a sale?
At this time, you can add a shipping service or lower your shipping costs for multi-quantity Good 'Til Cancelled listings with a sale. We will be enabling sellers to add a return policy and handling time to these listings in early September, so sellers who have these items in their Stores should wait until early September to begin making updates (so they can do them all at once.)
What will happen if my listing is blocked?
You'll need to make changes if your listings can't be relisted or renewed. You have three ways to revise ended/blocked listings:
Revise them individually using SYI before re-listing.
Use Bulk Relist in Selling Manager: select more than one listing and click on the "Relist" button. You'll be able to modify your listings within in the Bulk Relist flow.
If you use Turbo Lister, you can import your ended items and do all your revisions in bulk or individually within Turbo Lister before relisting.
What happens if my listing is blocked for more than one reason—for example, shipping and handling charges are over the maximum and the listing doesn't specify a return policy?
After mid-October, you'll be able to use Bulk Relist in Selling Manager to correct multiple factors in your listings in one session. Before then, you have two options:
Revise listings individually via Sell Your Item (SYI)
Use Turbo Lister to revise ended items in bulk before relisting. TurboLister currently gives you the ability to correct multiple factors.
What are the new item conditions for Books, Music, DVDs & Movies, and Video Games?
The new item conditions are Brand New, Like New, Very Good, Good, and Acceptable
Why would I want to use the new item conditions?
The new conditions help you provide buyers with more accurate information on your item, which can help your detailed seller rating (DSR) for "item as described."
What if I don't use the new item conditions? Will my listings be blocked?
Your listings won't be blocked but will be mapped to new conditions when you list, revise, or renew. "New" items will map to "Brand New" and "Used." Unspecified items will be mapped to "Acceptable."
Which categories will use the new conditions?
Books: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Cookbooks, Children's Books, Textbooks and Audiobooks
DVD & Movies: DVD HD-DVD & Blu-ray, VHS, VHS Non-US (PAL), UMD and Other Formats
Music: CDs, Cassettes
Video Games: Games
How can I add shipping details (price and service) for multiple listings?
We recently improved our bulk editing tools to make it easier to update the shipping details on all of your listings at the same time. Functionality is now available in Selling Manager and Turbo Lister.
Selling Manager: To relist your items and add shipping details if you have Selling Manager:
Go to Selling Manager and select the listings that you want to relist.
Click the Relist button.
Select the check boxes for the listings that you want to relist. You'll be required to select a shipping service and enter a cost for any listings that don't have shipping details specified on the Relist Multiple Items: Review Alerts page.
Note: The listings that you select will have the same shipping services and costs. Any listings that are not selected will not be relisted.
Click the Continue button.
Review your listings with shipping services and costs that you selected on the Relist Multiple Items: Review & Submit page.
Click the Submit button to submit your changes. If you'd like to make more changes before submitting the new information, click the Back button.
Turbo Lister: Turbo Lister is a free listing tool that can help you edit your items in bulk. To relist ended listings with shipping details using Turbo Lister:
Click the Synchronize button at the top of Turbo Lister window.
Select sold or unsold listings and the date range for the listings that you want. Then, click the Synchronize Now button. Your listings will be copied into the Listing Activity area of Turbo Lister.
Select the listings that you need to add shipping details to.
Note: You can only make changes to listings with the same format. For example, you can't edit Fixed Price listings and auction listings at the same time.
Click the Relist button at the top of the application.
Click the Go Upload button in the new window.
In the Waiting to Upload area, click the Edit button at the top of the application.
In the Shipping Options section, specify your shipping details. Click the Save button.
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Other announcements
Closing eBay Express: best features now on eBay
Why is eBay closing eBay Express?
The best features of eBay Express for buyers and sellers are now being added to eBay including unlimited Buyer Protection from PayPal and faster, easier shopping and checkout. See PayPal Buyer Protection eligibility.
What will happen to my eBay Fixed Price and/or Store Inventory listings, which currently appear on both eBay and eBay Express?
These listings will be removed from eBay Express but remain active on eBay.com.
Will I still be able to access information about my buyers (e.g. their address) after eBay Express is retired?
Yes. You can access information about your eBay Express sales over the last 60 days in My eBay. Go to the Sold section of My eBay, find the order you want to know more about, and use the drop-down arrow next to the order to see details.
A more consistent buyer experience to drive more sales
Limits on shipping charges in some categories
Rewards for free shipping
Checks and money orders no longer allowed
New seller standards: minimum 4.3 on all DSRs
More relevant search results to drive more sales
Surfacing the best inventory in Best Match
Revising your listings
Tips, bulk editing tools, and more
New item conditions for Books, Movies & DVDs, Music, and Video Games
Adding shipping price and service to multiple listings
Other announcements
Closing eBay Express: The best features now on eBay
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A more consistent buyer experience to drive more sales
Limits on shipping and handling charges in some categories
What are maximum shipping and handling charges?
In Books, Movies & DVDs, Music, and Video Games eBay will be enforcing limits on what sellers can charge for shipping and handling. For specific information by category see Maximum Shipping Costs.
Why are you establishing maximum shipping and handling costs?
Buyers have told us that shipping costs on eBay are too high, and this is causing them to make their purchases elsewhere. This is hurting both our sellers and our buyers. Setting maximum shipping and handling costs based on historical date of what buyers have told us is reasonable will keep more buyers satisfied and drive more sales for sellers.
Why were these categories selected?
We are starting with categories where we believe buyer expectations are particularly heightened to free and reasonable shipping. Our goal over time is to bring reasonable shipping limits to more categories.
How did eBay determine the maximum shipping and handling costs for a category?
We based our maximum shipping & handling costs on recent transaction data of what sellers are charging and what buyers have told us is reasonable.
Do the maximum shipping costs include handling costs?
Yes. Handling costs are included in the maximum amounts.
Why are you setting limits on shipping charges lower than my actual costs to ship?
We based our maximum shipping & handling charges on recent transaction data of what sellers are charging and what buyers have told us is reasonable. We know that what buyers consider to be reasonable will be less than sellers' actual costs in some cases. We believe that by offering buyers at least one shipping option that they deem reasonable, sellers will increase their overall sales and conversion.
Are there shipping cost limits for international shipping services or expedited shipping?
No. Maximum shipping and handling costs apply only to the first flat rate shipping service to the U.S.
What can I do if the maximum shipping and handling costs do not cover my expenses for packaging and shipping?
The maximum shipping and handling cost may not cover sellers' shipping costs in some cases. In the event that it does not, you can do one of the following:
When selling a bundle or quantity of items, you can use the shipping calculator to charge actual shipping charges.
When selling via fixed price, include all or part of the shipping cost in the item price.
When selling via auction:
Continue to list your item with the same start price and a shipping price at or below the maximum shipping cost. Many of our sellers have success with auctions, even at free shipping, because their item looks more competitive to their buyers.
If your actual shipping costs are higher than the maximum shipping & handling cost, start the item price higher to cover your shipping cost. This technique will minimize risk that you will lose money on shipping.
Move your item to fixed price and include all or part of the shipping cost in the item price.
If you are selling a bundle or quantity of items, you can use the shipping calculator to charge actual shipping charges.
I'm an international seller. Do the shipping cost limits still apply?
Yes. If you are listing your item on the U.S. site, maximum shipping costs will apply for sales to the U.S. regardless of the location of your item.
How will limits on shipping charges affect my cross-border sales?
Maximum shipping and handling charges should not affect your cross border business. Sellers will be required to set at least one domestic shipping cost under limit, and can set alternative options for expedited and/or international shipping. International sellers listing directly on the U.S. site will be subject to shipping cost limits on their first domestic shipping cost.
In categories with maximum shipping costs, why is there a shipping cost DSR?
We are only setting a maximum shipping and handling cost for the first shipping option. Sellers can still set their price lower than the maximum shipping cost on that option as well as have alternative shipping options. Therefore, we will keep the shipping cost DSR in place.
How will the shipping calculator work with these shipping limits?
We recommend the shipping calculator to be used for items that are being sold in a bundle, quantity, or larger/heavier than the average item listed in the category you are listing in. We will monitor items using the shipping calculator to make sure that those that are over the limit differ from the assumptions that we used to establish the maximum shipping costs.
Will this apply to other categories in the future?
We currently do not have other categories scheduled. Consistent with any other major change we've made to our policies, we will let our sellers know well in advanced to adjust their listings.
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Rewards for free shipping
What specific benefits do I get when I offer free shipping this holiday season?
PowerSeller Final Value Fee Discounts - This holiday season, for items sold between October 1 and December 31, PowerSellers with high DSRs that qualify for Final Value Fee discounts will get double the discounts on their items sold with free shipping.
Free Subtitle Upgrade - In addition, all sellers get a free Subtitle upgrade on their listings with free shipping listed between October 1 and December 31. The Value Pack bundle will be 35¢ for qualified listings.
More Search Exposure - As always, all listings with free shipping get a boost in exposure.
How do I qualify for the double PowerSeller Final Value Fee discounts?
You qualify for doubling the PowerSeller fee discounts if you:
Are a member of the United States or Canadian PowerSeller program, and
Have maintained excellent detailed seller ratings (DSRs) over the last 30 days in all four areas - item description, communication, shipping time, and shipping and handling charges. All four of your DSRs must be equal to or greater than 4.6, 4.8 or 4.9 for increasingly deeper discounts, and
Sell items with free shipping between October 1 and December 31
If you are a PowerSeller, to see if you qualify based on your last 30 days of DSRs, check the PowerSeller fee discount section of the Seller Dashboard.
Find more information on the PowerSeller Final Value Fee Discounts.
When and how will I start seeing the double PowerSeller Final Value Fee discounts for free shipping?
If you qualify for the double PowerSeller Final Value Fee discounts, you will see them on your monthly invoice applied to the Final Value Fees for your previous month sales. The first time you receive your discounts, here's how it will work:
If you receive your invoice on the 1st of each month, you will see your first double discounts on your November 1, 2008 invoice applied to your items sold and sold on or after October 1, 2008.
If you receive your invoice on the 16th of each month, you will see your first double discounts on your October 16, 2008 invoice applied to your items sold on or after October 1, 2008.
If I change listings to offer free shipping, do I get the double PowerSeller fee discounts or is it just for new listings?
The double discounts are for new listings only.
How does free shipping improve my exposure?
Free shipping is one of the factors used in Best Match to help your listing appear higher in search results.
Will free shipping help my shipping cost DSRs?
Listings with free shipping average higher shipping cost DSR scores (4.8) than items without free shipping.
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Checks and money orders no longer allowed
What's changing with payments on eBay?
Beginning in late October 2008, checks and money orders will no longer be allowed as payment methods on eBay. All items appearing on eBay.com must be paid for using either:
PayPal (funded by PayPal account balance, credit card, debit card, bank account, PayPal Pay Later, PayPal Buyer Credit or eBay gift certificate)
Credit or debit card payment to a seller (through a seller's Internet merchant account)
ProPay
Payment upon pickup
In January 2009, all of the approved electronic payment methods will be integrated into eBay checkout. For example, if a seller offers credit or debit card as a payment option, buyers will be able to directly enter their credit card information securely in eBay checkout and their payment will be directly routed to the seller's Internet merchant account.
We are also working with other electronic payment providers currently included in our Accepted Payments Policy to integrate their services into eBay checkout in 2009.
Learn more at the Payments Overview Page.
Are there any categories excluded from these payment requirements?
Vehicles (Motors), capital equipment (Business & Industrial), Mature Audiences and Real Estate will be excluded from the new payment requirements. Specifically, the following categories will be excluded:
Motors > Cars & Trucks
Motors > Motorcycles
Motors > Powersports
Motors > Boats
Motors > Other Vehicles & Trailers
Business & Industrial > Agriculture & Forestry > Tractors & Farm Machinery
Business & Industrial > Construction > Heavy Equipment, Trailers
Business & Industrial > Food Service & Retail > Concession Trailers & Carts
Business & Industrial > Healthcare, Lab & Life Science > Imaging & Aesthetics Equipment
Business & Industrial > Industrial Supply, MRO > Fork Lifts & Other Lifts
Business & Industrial > Manufacturing & Metalworking > Manufacturing Equipment
Business & Industrial > Manufacturing & Metalworking > Metalworking Equipment
Business & Industrial > Office, Printing & Shipping > Commercial Printing Presses
Real Estate
Everything Else > Mature Audiences
How does this change benefit sellers?
We're making this change to better meet buyer expectations for a consistent, more secure checkout experience on eBay. This should increase buyer confidence in shopping on eBay, which should result in more buyers and increased sales for sellers.
The change will directly benefit sellers by making payments faster and more reliable, enabling sellers to ship more quickly and increase buyer satisfaction.
How does this change make payment to sellers faster?
Electronic payment methods give sellers more immediate access to funds. This allows for faster fulfillment and shipping, which should increase buyer satisfaction and the detailed seller ratings they leave for sellers. Of US transactions paid with PayPal, 25% were paid within 5 minutes and 73% within 24 hours.
How does this change make payment to sellers more reliable?
Using online payment methods lowers unpaid item rates. eBay listings that don't accept PayPal or credit cards are more than twice as likely to experience an unpaid item than listings that only accept these payment methods. PayPal will also be protecting all US sellers on eligible transactions through its improved seller protection at no additional cost, with no annual coverage limit.
How will the change increase buyer confidence?
Buyers will have a more consistent and secure payment experience on eBay. Right now, 1 out of 5 eBay transactions send buyers off eBay to complete their purchase. Buyers' experiences vary greatly depending on the seller and their payment provider. This lowers buyer confidence in eBay and leaves buyers more vulnerable to online fraud. By using only integrated electronic payment methods in eBay checkout, buyers will be able to stay on eBay to pay.
Buyers will also have fewer bad experiences, and if something does go wrong, they will have more recourse. Buyers who pay with a check or money order on eBay.com today are 80% more likely to file an "item not received" dispute, and 50% more likely to leave a negative feedback than buyers who pay with PayPal or a credit card. Starting in late October, eligible items paid with PayPal on eBay.com will be covered by PayPal Buyer Protection with no coverage limit and at no additional cost, and all other approved electronic payment methods' services will also include consumer protection.
Is eBay planning to eliminate third-party checkout?
Yes. We realize that checkout services offered by eBay Certified Solution Providers are valuable services to our sellers. Our plan is not to disrupt these services but to work closely with these providers to integrate them into eBay checkout in 2009. Ultimately, it's eBay's goal to have buyers always pay for their purchases within the secure confines of eBay.
What about Google Checkout, Checkout by Amazon or Amazon Flexible Payment Services? Will these payment methods be offered?
No. The electronic payment methods available on eBay already provide security and protections and are already used by the vast majority of our buyers and sellers. eBay will offer several other electronic payment options in addition to PayPal, namely ProPay to start, with more electronic payment providers to be added in coming months. Google's and Amazon's products and services compete with eBay on a number of levels, so we are not going to allow them on eBay.
Do these changes affect all eBay sites?
These changes only affect the U.S. eBay site. Check other countries' individual sites for more information and updates.
What is eBay doing to educate buyers about these changes and keep them shopping on eBay?
The vast majority of buyers already use the approved electronic payment methods to purchase items on eBay, and these changes won't affect their shopping experiences on eBay. eBay plans to educate and provide incentives to buyers who are heavy check or money order users to retain them. In addition, starting in late October, eligible items paid with PayPal on eBay.com will be covered by PayPal Buyer Protection with no coverage limit and at no additional cost. See eligibility.
If I already offer one or more of the approved payment methods, what do I have to do to comply and when will I need to make changes to my listings?
If you already offer only the approved electronic payment methods to your customers, you're already meeting the new requirements. If you offer one or more of the approved electronic payment methods and methods no longer allowed, you're fine. Starting in late October, your listings will only display the allowed methods. You will need to remove any reference to the prohibited payment methods from your item descriptions.
What if I only accept checks, money orders or other payment methods that will be prohibited?
By late October you'll need to do at least one of the following:
Add PayPal as a payment method to your listings. This can be done through your seller preferences page in My eBay.
Sign up with ProPay to offer this electronic payment option to your customers. We are also working closely with additional electronic payment providers to add them to our approved payment providers list. Learn more.
Accept credit or debit cards through your Internet merchant account.
What if I don't take at least one of these steps by late October, 2008?
You will not be able to list new items or relist using the same templates. Your current listings will remain on eBay.com until they end. Good 'til Canceled listings will be displayed on eBay until they come up for relisting at the end of 30 days.
Do I have to remove references to prohibited payment methods from my templates and item descriptions?
Yes, you must remove references to prohibited payment methods from your templates and item descriptions. This will not be done automatically. If prohibited payment methods are included in your item description, your listing will be in violation of the new Accepted Payments Policy.
What is the deadline for removing references to prohibited payment methods from my templates and item descriptions?
We encourage you to remove any references as you update your listings and listing templates between now and October 2008. We know that this is a busy time of year for sellers, so we will wait until January 15, 2009 before we begin insisting on the removal of prohibited payment methods from item descriptions.
What payment methods can a buyer choose when paying on pickup?
Buyers may choose whatever payment method seller and buyer agree to when they pay on pickup, including checks, money orders and cash. We encourage sellers to specify in their listing description what payment methods are acceptable if a buyer pays on pickup. Also note that sellers may not select "pay on pickup" as a sole payment option in their listing. At least one of the approved electronic payment methods must always be an option for buyers.
Is there an easy way to change my listings?
Yes. You can remove prohibited payment methods through your seller preferences page in My eBay.
What should I do if a buyer demands to pay with checks or money orders?
We know that some buyers will still want to pay with checks and money orders, even after this policy change goes into effect. When this happens, explain to your buyers the benefits that come with electronic payments:
More secure payments
Faster delivery of their purchases
More protection in case anything goes wrong.
Some buyers may be anxious about online payments or may not have a bank account. In these cases, suggest that they try using a prepaid debit card.
What should I do if I have long-standing, repeat customers who insist on paying with checks or money orders, even after I explain the benefits of electronic payments and offer suggestions?
We know this may happen occasionally, and if you accept checks or money orders from these customers a reasonably small percentage of the time, this will not be a violation of the new payments policy. However, we will not allow abuse of the new policy and will be watching for sellers who accept a significant amount of prohibited payments. Remember also, you can refuse to accept these payment methods. If the buyer doesn't pay, you can file an unpaid item (UPI) complaint. Buyers who insist on paying with these prohibited payment methods in a UPI claim will lose the claim and will not be allowed to leave negative feedback.
What happens to my feedback if a winning bidder refuses to pay using the payment methods specified in my listing?
If the buyer refuses to pay using the payment methods specified in your listing, file an Unpaid Item dispute (UPI). If the buyer fails to respond to eBay's requests for more information through the UPI process, provides an inadequate response such as nonsense words, or insists upon paying with an unapproved payment method, any negative or neutral Feedback left by the buyer will be removed.
What if a buyer threatens negative Feedback to demand payment by a method not specified in my listing?
You should immediately report the buyer to eBay. If there is clear evidence of undue pressure, eBay will take action. If a buyer shows a pattern of malicious behavior, eBay will most likely suspend the buyer and any negative or neutral Feedback the buyer left for any sellers will be removed.
What will happen if I ask a buyer to use a prohibited payment method?
Requesting prohibited payment methods from your customers either by email or in your item description is a violation of the new Accepted Payments Policy. Violations of this policy may result in:
Listing cancellation
Forfeit of eBay fees on cancelled listings
Limits on account privileges
Loss of PowerSeller status
Account suspension
If I don't already accept PayPal, how do I go about doing so?
Learn more about how to create a PayPal account and the many benefits of accepting PayPal as payment on eBay.
How can my buyers pay for items over $10,000?
In late October, 2008, PayPal will enable payments of more than $10,000. For a limited time starting in October, eCheck pricing for sellers will remain capped at $5 on transactions over $10,000. This will not apply to purchases of vehicles in eBay Motors, capital equipment in the Business and Industrial category, the Mature Audiences category or the Real Estate category.
What other improvement to PayPal are coming?
Concurrent with and prior to the changes in late October, PayPal will be making many improvements for eBay customers. In addition to making PayPal safer with expanded Buyer Protection and Seller Protection, PayPal will also be faster and easier to use on eBay.
Easier eChecks for buyers and sellers
Making it easier for buyers who do not have a PayPal account to pay directly with a credit card if a seller accepts PayPal
Simplifying checkout for buyers who forget their PayPal password
Simplifying PayPal registration for sellers
Making it easier for buyers to complete high-priced transactions.
What is an Internet merchant account? How do I get one?
An Internet merchant account is an account that allows sellers to receive credit card payments from online customers through a secure payment gateway to a credit card processor. You can start an Internet merchant account by contacting your bank, or by contacting a merchant credit card processing company. Transaction fees may vary, so compare several options before you open an account.
I have an Internet merchant account. How do I accept payments? Will this change in October?
To accept direct credit and debit card payments from your buyers to your Internet merchant account, simply add credit card as a payment option to your listings. You may also want to offer additional checkout instructions to let the buyer know how to send their credit or debit card information to you.
When will direct credit card payments to my Internet merchant account be integrated into eBay checkout?
Sellers with Internet merchant accounts will be able to accept credit card payments directly through eBay checkout in January 2009. This means that your buyers will be able to directly enter their credit card information securely in eBay checkout and their payment will be directly routed to your Internet merchant account. This option will offer a more convenient and secure option for your buyers and greater efficiency for sellers.
How will direct credit card payments to my Internet merchant account work and what do I need to do to use this option?
In checkout, buyers' credit card information will be sent securely to the seller's merchant credit card processor via the Payflow Payment Gateway. To take advantage of this option, sellers will need to have several things in place:
An existing Internet merchant account with their bank or credit card processing company.
Your processor account information from your Internet merchant service provider.
An account with Payflow Payment Gateway. This is a FREE service for eBay sellers, and can be established through a link displayed in your seller preferences page in My eBay starting late this year.
When are direct credit card payments a good option?
This option may work well for sellers who already accept credit cards in their online and offline stores, as this will allow them to use the same credit card processor. There are usually additional sign-up, monthly and transaction fees for Internet merchant account services. Consider these one-time and recurring expenses and compare rates and services from several providers before you sign up.
Are there extra fees if I accept credit cards through my Internet merchant account on eBay?
No. There are no additional charges by eBay if you accept credit card payments directly through your Internet merchant account on eBay. In fact, some sellers may save on gateway fees for eBay transactions by using Payflow Payment Gateway as their credit card payment gateway. Check with your Internet merchant account credit card processor for their schedule of transaction fees, as this will vary depending on your agreement with them.
I don't have an Internet merchant account. Can buyers still pay for my items with a credit card?
Yes. Your customers can also pay with their credit cards through PayPal, or if they are new to eBay or PayPal and do not yet have an eBay or PayPal account, they can pay with credit card as a guest member of eBay or PayPal.
How can I accept payments through ProPay and other electronic payment providers eBay will be adding?
You'll need to sign up with these payment providers first to accept payments through them. Starting in September, when you sign up with these payment providers, you'll be sent through eBay's authorization process for third-party service providers. You'll be asked to give permission to the provider so they can process your payments. After your account has been set up, you'll need to add these payment methods to your listing in Sell Your Item (SYI) or another listing tool. Fees and services may vary, so visit their websites for more information about these alternative payment options.
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New seller standards: minimum 4.3 on all DSRs
What are the minimum DSR requirements to list on eBay?
Starting November 1, 2008, in order to list, sellers must have a minimum of 4.3 over the past 30 days in all four detailed seller ratings (DSRs): item as described, communication, shipping time, and shipping and handling charges. Sellers with less than 10 DSRs over the past 30 days will be evaluated on their DSRs over the last 12 months.
Is this new Seller Standards policy likely to impact a large number of sellers?
No. The vast majority of sellers on eBay, about 96%, have DSRs at or above 4.3. The main purpose of this new policy is to protect the interests and reputation of that large majority from the impact of the few sellers whose customer satisfaction levels are below a reasonable standard.
What happens to sellers who do not meet the DSR requirements by November 1, 2008?
Sellers who do not meet the requirement will be blocked from listing on eBay.com, eBay Motors Parts & Accessories, and Half.com.
What does it mean to be "blocked" from selling? Is this the same as suspension? How long will a seller be blocked?
Sellers not meeting the standards will not be allowed to list, but will not be suspended. Sellers will continue to be blocked from listing as long as their DSRs do not meet the 4.3 minimum standard. Blocked sellers may list items again once their DSRs meet or exceed the threshold. Blocked sellers can accomplish this in the following ways:
Complete current transactions successfully and receive high DSRs
If 12-month DSRs are above the minimum standard, wait for low DSRs over the last 30 days to roll off until the 30-day DSRs are above the threshold or a full 30-days have passed
If 12-month DSRs are below the threshold, wait until low DSRs to roll off
Will existing listings of sellers falling below 4.3 DSRs be removed from the site?
No, existing listings will not be removed but sellers will be blocked from new listings and from relisting, and Good 'til Cancelled listings will not renew. Blocked sellers are encouraged to complete existing listings and earn high DSR scores to meet the minimum standards and regain listing privileges.
What happens to sellers who meet the thresholds by November 1st, 2008, but fall below the threshold in the future? Will I have an opportunity to improve or appeal?
Sellers will immediately be blocked from listing if they fall below the threshold after November 1st, 2008. Sellers will not be given warnings and opportunities to improve, but there will be an appeals process.
How are DSRs evaluated? Are DSRs rounded?
DSRs are based on the last 30 days of activity; sellers with less than 10 DSRs in 30 days will be evaluated on the last 12 months. DSRs are rounded, therefore a Shipping Time DSR of 4.25 meets the 4.3 standard but a Shipping Time DSR of 4.24 does not meet the standard.
What about new sellers or people who sell only occasionally with no DSRs?
Sellers with no track record will be allowed to sell and they will be evaluated using 12-month DSRs.
Will sellers from other countries be held to the Seller Standards?
Sellers from other countries listing directly on eBay.com, eBay Motors Parts & Accessories, and Half.com that do not meet our standards will be blocked.
Do my DSRs from outside the US count toward these requirement limits?
All DSRs are included in the computation of your scores. While international shipping and handling scores are on average lower than domestic, they impact typical US sellers by less than 0.02 points.
Will Seller Non-performance continue to be enforced?
Yes. Sellers are expected to maintain a Buyer Satisfaction rating of "Good" in their Seller Dashboard. Any rating below Good puts the seller at risk of violating the Seller Non-performance Policy, as well loss of PowerSeller status, demotion in search, selling restrictions, and other sanctions.
How will sellers be able to monitor their position in their Seller Dashboard?
Sellers will be able to monitor both their 30-day and 12-month DSR scores in their Seller Dashboard.
How can I improve my DSRs?
For tips for improving your DSRs, see the Seller Feedback best practices.
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More relevant search results to drive more sales
Surfacing the best inventory in Best Match
What's changing about how Best Match search results are sorted?
In Best Match results, the items within each listing format (e.g. Auction-style and Fixed Price) will be sorted based on different criteria—the most relevant criteria for the format—and then intermingled. Store inventory items will continue to be displayed at the bottom of search results.
Why are items of different formats sorted differently in Best Match?
The criteria to determine what is a relevant item is different for Fixed Price and Auction-style listings. For example, time remaining is not relevant for Fixed Price items but is important for Auction-style listings about to end. For these reasons and more, exposure for these two formats is based on different criteria.
What's most important in Best Match search results for Fixed Price?
For Fixed Price listings, item relevance and detailed seller ratings will continue to be important factors in Best Match, but instead of Time Ending Soonest, the focus will be more on total cost (price plus shipping) and recent sales history, favoring items that are selling the fastest. The best way to improve your recent sales history is to take advantage of the new 30-day duration and Good 'Til Canceled (GTC) automatic renewal option. See Best Practices for more tips on improving exposure for your Fixed Price listings.
How will the new "recent sales" factor in Best Match search results impact smaller sellers or sellers who list fewer items in many categories or unique items you can only find on eBay?
Relevancy, price, and seller ratings continue to be important in Best Match search results. Also, the weight given to recent sales as a factor in Fixed Price search results will vary from one category to another as appropriate. For more details and tips on how to take best advantage of these changes and optimize exposure for your listings, see Best Practices.
What's different about how Auction-style listings are sorted in Best Match?
For Auction-style listings, item relevance, detailed seller ratings and time ending soonest will continue to be the most important factors in Best Match search results.
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Revising your listings
How will sellers be able to revise their listings to meet the new requirements?
Sellers will be able to revise listings in three ways using eBay's tools:
Revise them individually (listing by listing) using Sell Your Item (SYI) or your favorite listing tool.
Revise them in bulk using our Bulk Edit tool, which is available in My eBay and Selling Manager. You can revise 10 listings at a time in My eBay or up to 200 at a time for Selling Manager.
Revise them in bulk using Turbo Lister.
What happens to my listings when the requirement for specifying a return policy goes into effect?
If you've already specified a Return Policy and handling time in your listings, those listings will meet the new requirement and nothing more needs to be done. However, when the requirement goes into effect, there will be a way for you to specify a more granular return policy, or you can keep you existing policy "as is."
What about existing Good 'Til Cancelled (GTC) and Selling Manager Pro templates?
We recommend that you revise your Good 'Til Cancelled (GTC) listings and Selling Manager Pro templates as soon as possible, so they are not blocked when the requirements go live. This can be done one listing at a time with Sell Your Item (SYI) or in bulk using the Bulk Edit tool or Turbo Lister as noted above. If you don't revise your items or templates and they are not compliant with our policies, they will either not renew on the next renewal cycle (for GTC items) or their automation rules will fail (for Selling Manager Pro templates) until you correct the issue.
What about revising Multi-Quantity Store Inventory Format items that have a sale?
At this time, you can add a shipping service or lower your shipping costs for multi-quantity Good 'Til Cancelled listings with a sale. We will be enabling sellers to add a return policy and handling time to these listings in early September, so sellers who have these items in their Stores should wait until early September to begin making updates (so they can do them all at once.)
What will happen if my listing is blocked?
You'll need to make changes if your listings can't be relisted or renewed. You have three ways to revise ended/blocked listings:
Revise them individually using SYI before re-listing.
Use Bulk Relist in Selling Manager: select more than one listing and click on the "Relist" button. You'll be able to modify your listings within in the Bulk Relist flow.
If you use Turbo Lister, you can import your ended items and do all your revisions in bulk or individually within Turbo Lister before relisting.
What happens if my listing is blocked for more than one reason—for example, shipping and handling charges are over the maximum and the listing doesn't specify a return policy?
After mid-October, you'll be able to use Bulk Relist in Selling Manager to correct multiple factors in your listings in one session. Before then, you have two options:
Revise listings individually via Sell Your Item (SYI)
Use Turbo Lister to revise ended items in bulk before relisting. TurboLister currently gives you the ability to correct multiple factors.
What are the new item conditions for Books, Music, DVDs & Movies, and Video Games?
The new item conditions are Brand New, Like New, Very Good, Good, and Acceptable
Why would I want to use the new item conditions?
The new conditions help you provide buyers with more accurate information on your item, which can help your detailed seller rating (DSR) for "item as described."
What if I don't use the new item conditions? Will my listings be blocked?
Your listings won't be blocked but will be mapped to new conditions when you list, revise, or renew. "New" items will map to "Brand New" and "Used." Unspecified items will be mapped to "Acceptable."
Which categories will use the new conditions?
Books: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Cookbooks, Children's Books, Textbooks and Audiobooks
DVD & Movies: DVD HD-DVD & Blu-ray, VHS, VHS Non-US (PAL), UMD and Other Formats
Music: CDs, Cassettes
Video Games: Games
How can I add shipping details (price and service) for multiple listings?
We recently improved our bulk editing tools to make it easier to update the shipping details on all of your listings at the same time. Functionality is now available in Selling Manager and Turbo Lister.
Selling Manager: To relist your items and add shipping details if you have Selling Manager:
Go to Selling Manager and select the listings that you want to relist.
Click the Relist button.
Select the check boxes for the listings that you want to relist. You'll be required to select a shipping service and enter a cost for any listings that don't have shipping details specified on the Relist Multiple Items: Review Alerts page.
Note: The listings that you select will have the same shipping services and costs. Any listings that are not selected will not be relisted.
Click the Continue button.
Review your listings with shipping services and costs that you selected on the Relist Multiple Items: Review & Submit page.
Click the Submit button to submit your changes. If you'd like to make more changes before submitting the new information, click the Back button.
Turbo Lister: Turbo Lister is a free listing tool that can help you edit your items in bulk. To relist ended listings with shipping details using Turbo Lister:
Click the Synchronize button at the top of Turbo Lister window.
Select sold or unsold listings and the date range for the listings that you want. Then, click the Synchronize Now button. Your listings will be copied into the Listing Activity area of Turbo Lister.
Select the listings that you need to add shipping details to.
Note: You can only make changes to listings with the same format. For example, you can't edit Fixed Price listings and auction listings at the same time.
Click the Relist button at the top of the application.
Click the Go Upload button in the new window.
In the Waiting to Upload area, click the Edit button at the top of the application.
In the Shipping Options section, specify your shipping details. Click the Save button.
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Other announcements
Closing eBay Express: best features now on eBay
Why is eBay closing eBay Express?
The best features of eBay Express for buyers and sellers are now being added to eBay including unlimited Buyer Protection from PayPal and faster, easier shopping and checkout. See PayPal Buyer Protection eligibility.
What will happen to my eBay Fixed Price and/or Store Inventory listings, which currently appear on both eBay and eBay Express?
These listings will be removed from eBay Express but remain active on eBay.com.
Will I still be able to access information about my buyers (e.g. their address) after eBay Express is retired?
Yes. You can access information about your eBay Express sales over the last 60 days in My eBay. Go to the Sold section of My eBay, find the order you want to know more about, and use the drop-down arrow next to the order to see details.
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Comments
1994 Pro Line Live
TheDallasCowboyBackfieldProject
Then later....
What should I do if I have long-standing, repeat customers who insist on paying with checks or money orders, even after I explain the benefits of electronic payments and offer suggestions?
"We know this may happen occasionally, and if you accept checks or money orders from these customers a reasonably small percentage of the time, this will not be a violation of the new payments policy."
Well, that doesn't mean it "will no longer be allowed" now does it?
by having to put a low shipping price on it...if the seller doesn't want to pay me on time I can do nothing...if the seller doesn't even
want to pay me I can do nothing, but get my fees back, the seller can take 10 days to pay and then bomb me on feedback if they
don't get their item in 2 days, which will get me banned from ebay. Man, rough
watch,theyll come out with a new scam to get rid of negatives like squaretrade did for years too
Reading some of this will help sellers and buyers.
The linked thread represents the largest gathering of Pinks
in the history of the EBAY boards.
They have now made two show-ups. Yesterday was the latest.
Pinks Answering Questions
<< <i>"Beginning in late October 2008, checks and money orders will no longer be allowed as payment methods on eBay."
Then later....
What should I do if I have long-standing, repeat customers who insist on paying with checks or money orders, even after I explain the benefits of electronic payments and offer suggestions?
"We know this may happen occasionally, and if you accept checks or money orders from these customers a reasonably small percentage of the time, this will not be a violation of the new payments policy."
Well, that doesn't mean it "will no longer be allowed" now does it? >>
wow then they will lose me as a customer...so sad..it is just a way for them to make more money through paypal....
looking for low grade t205's psa 1-2
looking for low grade t205's psa 1-2
<< <i>now please take me for real here..does anyone out there want to start an ebay like company without all there stupid new rules and see if it goes anywhere? i mean ebay used to make alot of sense but not it has just become a way for the company to find more ways to make a buck off there sales, because when you sell something they charge a fee..now they are forcing you to also take a hit on paypal...any takers? i know with all these knew rules there must be a market to make a more reasonable site. >>
A noble gesture for sure. But ebay has 15,000 employees. I have no idea how difficult it is to design and run these complex software programs, but it certainly has to be quite difficult to do or there would be hundreds of ebay clones out there. However your basic premise - it would be nice to see that come to fruition.
<< <i>Reading some of this will help sellers and buyers.
The linked thread represents the largest gathering of Pinks
in the history of the EBAY boards.
They have now made two show-ups. Yesterday was the latest.
Pinks Answering Questions >>
Thanks for the link Storm.
<< <i>i think they are nuts
Randy - I don't list even close to the amount you list and this has used (wasted) a lot of my time already. I can only imagine the pain in the neck it is to revise 1,000 listings. Good grief!
it just gets better every day
looking for low grade t205's psa 1-2
<< <i>i feel sorry for the guys that have 10,000 item and more on there
it just gets better every day >>
You have a nice website, so you could draw traffic from ebay to your website and just list certain types of products that will work in that regard. Of course ebay won't allow sellers to list their websites on the ebay sales, but using "key words' and other ways, most people know how to Google and using those key words, if they're interested in your products, they'll quickly find your website, and hopefully order from there.
should go to bed and stay there until the thought passes.
There are DOZENS of ghost town sites already out there.
How is sportswanted.com working, thus far?
<< <i>Folks thinking of starting a new site to "compete" with EBAY
should go to bed and stay there until the thought passes.
There are DOZENS of ghost town sites already out there.
How is sportswanted.com working, thus far? >>
Might be images on the website of sagebrush blowing in the wind.