24 August, 2010 | 04:31PM BST
Checkout is a crucial part of every eBay transaction. A consistent checkout experience helps buyers feel confident in their purchases. For sellers, checkout brings together critical business processes, including payments and shipping.
As of 30th June, 2011, eBay Checkout will be the only checkout process for buyers on eBay. ?The single eBay checkout experience will enable further innovation on the site in areas such as mobile commerce, which is becoming increasingly popular.
This change will only impact your selling process if you?re working with companies that act as service providers for eCommerce solutions and offer so called ?third party checkout? as one of their services to you. The change will not affect any of the inventory management and listing features that you currently use through that provider and we will continue to work closely with them to support these.
Your provider has been briefed on this change and will be able to work with you to move your listings onto eBay Checkout on time. You may want to contact your provider?s account representative to determine the next steps you need to take.
Over time, we will be enhancing eBay so we can offer you the key features and services you have enjoyed with 3rd party checkout to date. Starting in September 2010, you will be able to make listing more efficient and reduce questions from buyers with the new Delivery Rate tables. Additionally, industry standard descriptions for shipping services will more accurately manage buyers? expectations on delivery times. The new eBay Shopping Basket that is currently being tested on the UK site will be further enhanced to provide a single checkout experience. Please check for more announcements about upcoming features and enhancements to the checkout flow in 2011.
Regards,
The eBay Team
24 August, 2010 | 10:27AM BST
Items listed on eBay.co.uk posted from abroad will be required to specify P&P using either a branded courier service or one of the new generic ?...from outside United Kingdom? descriptions.
The standard descriptions are as follows:
Economy Delivery from outside UK.
Standard Delivery from outside UK
Express Delivery from outside UK
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From September some listings will have their P&P description automatically changed to Economy Delivery from outside the UK with an estimated delivery of 10 ? 22 working days. This will affect the following categories:? Sellers Standard rate, Other Courier 3 days, Other Courier 5 Days, and Other? Courier.
These changes will help set buyer expectations, reduce questions about P&P, and encourage them to leave better detailed seller ratings.
?Discover more about Standardised postage of delivery services and sending items from abroad.
Regards,
The eBay Team
23 June, 2010 | 08:59AM BST
Approximately 180 million shoppers in Russia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Denmark, Sweden and Norway are now able to use the eBay International Market, a website tailored to local needs and available in each native language.
Since its launch earlier in 2010, customers from these six countries have bought over five million items from overseas sellers and the number of eBay customers in these markets has increased by nearly 200,000.
Key benefits for sellers who offer international postage:Increase sales - buyers will be directed to listings on eBay.co.uk that offer international postage Buyers seeking items that are not easily available: typically buyers who shop on the eBay International Market are looking for products that cannot be found locally or are more expensive in their own country especially auto parts, fashion and consumer electronics Key benefits for buyers on eBay International Market:
Fully translated eBay site ? the only things not translated will be seller?s item titles and descriptions. The ability to search for items across eBay?s global inventory, but only see search results from sellers who will post to their location Prices converted into local currency Customer support in the native language Buyer & Seller Protection on the eBay International Market:
PayPal will be the only accepted form of payment on the eBay International Market sites.
If you want your items to be viewed by buyers from these markets, important things to know are:
Only fixed price items will be included You?ll need to offer worldwide postage and specify postage costs; You must be PayPal verified and of course offer PayPal as a payment option.See how you can benefit from the eBay International Marketplace in this short video
Regards,
The eBay Team
02 June, 2010 | 01:31PM BST
As announced below, we would like to remind private sellers that from June 2nd, any private seller listing directly on eBay.co.uk, with a starting price up to ?0.99, and eBay.ie, with a starting price up to ?1.49, will be entitled to list up to 100 auction-style listings per month at 0 insertion fee. The 101st listing will be charged the standard insertion fee.
We would also like to remind affected sellers that should you list an item in one category you will see the zero insertion fee ? but if you choose to list in a second category ? that second category is charged at standard insertion fees rates whether you?re listing on eBay.co.uk (?0.10, ?0.05 for media) or eBay.ie (?0.15, ?0.07 for media).
Regards,
The eBay Team
30 April, 2010 | 12:45PM BST
In March 2009 we introduced zero insertion fees for private sellers in the UK and Ireland who list items in Auction Style Format with a starting price of ?0.99/?1.49 or lower. Since this launch there has been a significant increase in both the number and variety of items listed for sale. This has been welcomed by buyers who are finding great deals and sellers who have seen an overall increase in the number of buyers .
However, a few sellers have been taking advantage of this pricing to list very large volumes of lower quality goods, creating a poor experience for buyers and other sellers. In order to keep the marketplace in balance, we are introducing a new limit on the number of auction-style listings that do not incur an insertion fee.
From 2 June 2010, all private sellers listing directly on eBay.co.uk and eBay.ie will be entitled to 100 free auction-style listings per month. Thereafter the listings will incur an insertion fee.
eBay.co.uk
Starting price or reserve price Insertion fee for the 1st 100 auction-style listingsInsertion fee from the 101st auction-style listing
eBay.ie
Starting price or reserve price Insertion fee for the 1st 100 auction-style listingsInsertion fee from the 101st auction-style listing
Insertion Fees of auction-style listings starting at more than ?0.99 on eBay.co.uk or ?1.49 on eBay.ie are not affected by this change. Final Value Fees are also unaffected.
Business sellers are unaffected by the changes in this announcement. If you normally list more than 100 items per month, registering as a business seller will allow you to benefit from business pricing. In addition, as PowerSeller eligibility thresholds have been lowered recently, you could qualify for Final Value Fees discounts.
Regards,
The eBay Team
23 April, 2010 | 04:37PM BST
Since April 2010, the minimum performance standard of selling has been raised to ensure the consistency of service on eBay and to ensure it is in line with our buyers? expectations.
The minimum performance standard now requires sellers to have a low number of 1 or 2 stars on the detailed seller ratings (DSR) score. To meet the minimum performance standard, sellers need only to satisfy:
1. the minimum DSR percentage rate or;
2. the minimum DSR count
If you have sold more than 400 items during the last three months, the calculation will be based on the percentage rate of your low DSRs. If you have sold less than 400 items in the past three months, the calculation will be based on the total number of low DSRs you have received during the last 12 months.
To achieve the minimum standards required of selling on eBay, the number of ?Item as described? DSRs rated as one or two has to be lower than 3 or 1% total of those transactions. Detailed seller ratings rated as one or two for ?Communication?, ?Dispatch time? and ?P&P charges? have to be lower than 3 or 2% total of those transactions.
Sellers who fall below the minimum standard may face a number of consequences including demotion in search and restrictions on selling activity.
What should you do now?
Ensure you deliver the very best service across all four criteria. Please use your seller dashboard to see if you meet the minimum standards. You can find your Seller Dashboard in ?My eBay? under ?Account?.
You can also look at our tips to improve your detailed seller ratings.
Regards,
The eBay Team
22 April, 2010 | 03:49PM BST
If you are using eBay picture hosting for your listing photos, a new version of the Standard uploader will be available in the next few days.
The Standard uploader will now be able to upload your pictures much faster. You?ll also be able to crop and rotate your photos in a new, larger picture preview area in the Add Pictures window. These features were previously only available in the Enhanced version. You can use the Standard uploader on all supported browsers and operating systems.
For those of you using the Standard picture uploader who have Flash 10 installed, you?ll be able to access the new features in the next few days. If you have Flash 9 installed, you?ll continue to see the current Standard version. If you?d like to install Flash 10, it can be downloaded for free from the Adobe website.
The Enhanced uploader will be removed after July 2010, as most of its features will now be available in the Standard version. At that time, if you have the Enhanced uploader as your default, you?ll be automatically switched to the Standard one. If you don?t have Flash 10 installed, you?ll be switched to the Basic uploader.
Learn more about how to upload your photos using the Standard uploader, as well as other features of eBay picture hosting.
Regards,
The eBay Team
13 April, 2010 | 11:47AM BST
eBay has always believed in providing its users with as much control as possible and making the user experience simple and easy. Goals such as these led to the introduction of the AdChoice Program in 2007.
eBay was the first company to place a clear link near an ad, informing you that the ad may be customized ?to your interests, and allowing you the opportunity to turn off that type of personalization.? We took this step because we believed it was the right thing to do.
I am pleased to inform you that many other companies have come together to adopt an approach based off eBay?s AdChoice program.
AdChoice is about to begin a new phase that will take a step forward by making this experience consistent and easier to manage. In the next few weeks, ads served by eBay and its advertising partners that used to have a text link such as ?AdChoice? or ?about? will now additionally have an advertising standard AdChoice icon: 
For those who turn off graphics, a text link will still be available.? The text link will read : AdChoice
Just as the text labels ?AdChoice? and ?about? linked to a location that enabled you to understand and set your advertising preferences, so will both the ?AdChoice? label and icon. The functionality is the same, the message is the same - it is your choice. All that is changing is the ease with which you can find and use the link.??
We?re proud to be a leader and see others joining in and making their advertising practices more transparent.??
More information about AdChoice for UK members.
More information about AdChoice for IE members.
Regards,
The eBay Team
12 April, 2010 | 10:06AM BST
eBay is one of the UK?s leading fashion websites, with around 2.5 million customers coming to the Clothes, Shoes and Accessories category every month*. Over the next year several improvements will be made in the way people shop for their clothing, shoes and accessories on eBay.
FASHION?S NEW LOOK
The new look and features will make it easier for buyers to find the deals, brands and styles they are looking for. Sellers are also going to benefit as the way they can sell their products will be improved. From mid April 2010, you?ll see the following changes:
Gallery View as the default in search: to make it easier to browse and buy, Gallery View will be set as the default for Fashion search results. The number of items appearing on each page will grow from 25 to 50, displaying the most relevant selection to buyers. Quick Look layer: the Quick Look display will be enhanced ensuring the most relevant information will be shown.More inspiration for buyers
Buyers want to be inspired as they shop for fashion and sellers want to reach-out to more potential customers. Therefore the following improvements are being made:
Fashion Outlet
The Fashion Outlet is also changing as we are working with our retail and brand partners to bring guaranteed discounts on branded fashion directly to eBay.
There will be a new landing page and the ?Outlet? tab will be replaced with ?Fashion Outlet? in the eBay header.? Also, as a test, the logos of our retail and brand partners? will feature on their listings and in search results.
More information can be found here.
* Nielsen NetRatings, November 2009
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BEST PRACTICE-TIPS FOR SELLERS
Include high quality photos showcasing your products
Having high quality pictures will help sellers take advantage of the more visual shopping experience.
Make it easy for buyers to find all the facts
Buyers typically consider brand, colour, style, size and condition when they are shopping. Help them get all of these details fast.
Hint: Bulk edit tools make it easy to optimise title, change the category, add details to the descriptions and add pictures to the live listings.
Use multi-variation listings
Multi-variation listing format allows sellers to include multiple variations of one product (such as colour and size) in just one listing and provides a better shopping experience. Each item variation can be priced and all the colours and sizes can be sold for a single listing fee.
Regards,
The eBay Team
06 April, 2010 | 04:20PM BST
We're making the process for handling unpaid items easier for both buyers and sellers.
Automate claims with the Unpaid Item Assistant
The Unpaid Item Assistant automatically opens a case if your buyer doesn't pay after a period of time that you specify - 4, 8, 16, 24, or 32 days after the listing closes. If four days pass without payment after the case is opened, the case will be closed, your Final Value Fee will be automatically refunded, the buyer won?t be able to leave Feedback, and you will be able to relist your item.
If you're using Unpaid Item Assistant, it automatically blocks Feedback from buyers who haven't paid. As soon as it opens a case, the buyer won't be able to leave Feedback on your transaction until the case is closed and you've received payment.
The Unpaid Item Assistant is available for all listing formats offering PayPal as the only payment method and buyers must have gone through eBay checkout or a third-party listing service that uses eBay checkout.
To take advantage of the Unpaid Item Assistant you must opt in by following these steps:
Go to "My eBay" at the top of any eBay page. Select the "Account" tab at the top of the page. Click "Site Preferences" on the left. Go to your "Unpaid Item Preferences." Select the option that says "Yes - I want Unpaid Item Assistant to open and close cases on my behalf" and set the day-4, 8, 16, 24, 32. Click "Save."Please ensure you remove local pick up, checks and postal orders as payment options from all your listings, since this automated process only works when you list PayPal as the only payment option.
Find out more about the Unpaid Item Assistant?
Improvements to the process when you open an unpaid item claim manually
If a buyer doesn?t pay and you cancel the transaction, the buyer will no longer be able to pay for the item. If you open an unpaid item case, it will be closed automatically when the buyer pays with PayPal.Regards,
The eBay Team
01 April, 2010 | 02:36PM BST
In March 2009 we introduced zero insertion fees for private sellers in the UK and Ireland who list items in Auction Style Format with a starting price of 99p/99c or lower. ?Since this launch there has been a significant increase in both the number and variety of items listed for sale. ?This has been welcomed by buyers who are finding great deals and sellers who have seen an overall increase in the number of buyers.
However, some sellers have been taking advantage of this pricing to list very large volumes of lower quality goods, creating a poor experience for buyers and other sellers. ?We have taken steps in recent months to keep the marketplace in balance, and today we are announcing further changes as detailed below:
1.) For private sellers registered on the eBay.co.uk and eBay.ie sites
From this week private sellers with a feedback score of less than 25, will be automatically limited to 100 live listings/total quantity at any point in time on ebay.co.uk and ebay.ie.Any private seller listing in high volumes will be reviewed by Customer Support , and potentially required to upgrade to business status or be blocked from listing on ebay.co.uk and ebay.ie.2.) For overseas private sellers listing directly on ebay.co.uk and ebay.ie.
Sellers registered on the ebay.com site are bound by the International Trading Policy, which now requires high volume sellers actively listing on European sites to be registered as business sellers.? Breaches of this policy may result in a range of actions, including demotion in search and being blocked from listing on ebay.co.uk and ebay.ie.Private sellers registered on all other international sites are now automatically limited to 100 live listings/total quantity at any point in time on ebay.co.uk and ebay.ie.3.) For all private sellers listing directly on ebay.co.uk and ebay.ie.
From June 2010 all private sellers will be limited to 100 free auction-style listings per month. Auction-style listings beyond 100 will be allowed, but will be charged an insertion fee.Business sellers are unaffected by the changes in this announcement.? To identify if you should be registering as a business seller please view this help page.
Regards,
The eBay Team
29 March, 2010 | 10:03AM BST
In February we notified you we would be making some important changes for sellers during March and April. Here you?ll find an update when we expect these changes to become available across the site.
Some additional information on the changes:
Good ?Til Cancelled listings to end if no sales after 16 months
We initially announced that Good ?Til Cancelled listings that have not had a sale for 16 months will automatically end. Since the announcement sellers have asked us not to end the listing but to instead notify them that the item has not been sold for 16 months and should be edited to attract buyers. We have now implemented this request.
Regards,
The eBay Team
01 February, 2010 | 09:28AM GMT
During 2010, the focus will be on making eBay a stronger and more profitable sales channel for sellers and an increasingly trusted online site for shoppers.? To help achieve this, there will be a series of 3 changes to the platform and selling policies in 2010.
The first of these changes focuses on exciting developments that ensure even more sellers who provide excellent service are rewarded with benefits and discounts.
From April, the sales level to enter the PowerSeller programme will be lowered enabling more sellers, who offer great service, to enjoy its associated discounts and benefits. This will also mean that more great sellers will qualify for the eBay Top-rated seller status. Find out more about the PowerSeller updateAt the same time, the minimum performance standard for selling on eBay will be raised to ensure a consistently high level of service across the marketplace.? Find out more about the new minimum performance standardIncluded in this update are also policy and listing process changes that make selling on eBay more efficient.?
A key policy change is the removal of the free postage & packaging requirement, introduced in 2009 in Accessories, Media and other selected categories, which will be replaced with maximum postage limits. Whilst many buyers responded positively to listings with free postage, many sellers asked for alternative options to prevent excessive postage charges ? especially for listings in the auction-style format with a low starting price.?
In response to sellers? feedback, the free P&P requirement for all affected categories will be removed and replaced by maximum limits to P&P charges from 8 February 2010.? Find out more about the new P&P limits and affected categories.
The rest of the changes will go online from the week commencing 23 March, giving sellers plenty of time to get their businesses ready.
Improved listing processes Policy updates & other changes Useful tipsA summary of important changes and key dates can also be found in the seller checklist.
Regards,
The eBay Team
06 March, 2010 | 11:30AM GMT
We would like to advise members that the issue with Global Shops have been resolved. We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. Regards, The eBay Team
We?d like to advise members of multiple issues with Shop Categories which they may be experiencing. Currently affected are multiple areas of a seller's shop, including their Shop front Navigation, Promotion Boxes displaying items, Shop Category search, and the Listing Frame on their View Item page.
This issue is currently affecting all sites. We will continue to provide updates where possible and thank you for your patience while we work to resolve this.Regards
The eBay Team
