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Seller Verify by SquareTrade Program
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Why are you implementing this new program?
The Seller Verify by SquareTrade Program combines upfront verification of travel sellers with ongoing monitoring to ensure that buyer and seller satisfaction remains high. This program reflects the highly regulated nature of the industry at both the state and federal level and is based on feedback from members and industry experts. The goal is to increase buyer comfort in purchasing travel on eBay Travel. By increasing the comfort level, we expect conversion rates, average selling prices, and overall results to improve for buyers and sellers of travel on eBay.

Which categories will require mandatory seller verification?
The Airline, Cruises, Lodging and Vacation Package categories on eBay Travel will require mandatory verification of all sellers. Only verified sellers may list in these categories. Non-verified sellers will still be able to list in the Other Travel and Luggage categories without undergoing this verification process. However, non-verified sellers will not be able to list airline tickets, cruises, lodging, or vacation packages in these categories -- or elsewhere on eBay. The ability to list these items will be limited to the appropriate restricted categories. These requirements do not affect your ability to list non travel-related items elsewhere on eBay.

Can I list these items in Other Travel?
No, you cannot list airline tickets, cruises, lodging or vacation packages in Other Travel. You can continue to list items that do not fall under these criteria in this category, without any special verification. The category will be actively reviewed and listings that should be in one of the restricted categories (Airline, Cruises, Lodging and Vacation Packages) will be ended.

Where should I sell my airline coupons, vouchers, or similar items?
Airline coupons, vouchers and similar items that are not actually airline tickets may be sold in "Other Travel" subject to the rules posted in the Travel category. eBay members selling in "Other Travel" are not required to participate in the Seller Verify by SquareTrade Program.
 
eBay does not permit listings of "choice" travel certificates by any user. Choice travel certificates are documents that are not issued directly by a single provider of travel, but by travel wholesalers, consolidators, or other middleman travel sellers. These certificates generally offer the holder free or low-cost travel services with a choice of multiple hotel chains, resorts or airlines, the exact location often being at the choice of the buyer or seller. Such certificates are highly regulated in many US states and in many cases require additional purchases that violate eBay's fee circumvention policies. They may not be listed on eBay by any user.

What are the verification requirements?
There are three types of verification:

Type I: Lodging, Vacation Packages without Air

To sell only Lodging and/or Vacation Packages without Air, sellers must be a duly authorized employee of a business in the lodging vacation package industry. Company information, including employment/affiliation and personal identity, will be verified. Alternatively, sellers of lodging must personally own the property or have ownership rights to the timeshare being listed. Your personal contact information and ownership rights will be verified.

Type II: Lodging, Vacation Packages without Air and Cruises

To sell all types of Cruises and Lodging and/or Vacation Packages without Air sellers must be a duly authorized employee of a business in the travel industry. Company information, including employment/affiliation and personal identity, will be verified. Possession of an CLIA accreditation will satisfy this requirement.

Type III: Lodging, Vacation Packages with Air, Cruises and Airline Tickets

To sell Airline tickets, in addition to Lodging, Vacation Packages and Cruises, sellers must be a duly authorized employee of a business in the travel industry. Company information, including employment/affiliation and personal identity, will be verified. Sellers businesses should be authorized to issue tickets, or should be a travel services intermediary. Possession of an ARC or IATAN accreditation will satisfy this requirement.

How long will it take to be verified?
It will take an average of two to five days for your application to be approved. The length of time usually depends on how quickly the applicant responds.

What is the verification process?
To start the verification process, a short online application form must be completed. You will then receive a confirmation email, which will require your reply. SquareTrade will evaluate your application information, and will verify that you and/or your business fulfill the verification requirements. During this process, SquareTrade may contact you for additional information.

Once the verification process is complete, you will receive an email from SquareTrade letting you know whether you have been approved for selling on eBay Travel.

What if I can't pass the verification criteria?
Non-verified sellers will not be allowed to sell Airline tickets, Cruises, Lodging or Vacation Packages.You may continue to list in the non-restricted eBay Travel categories: Luggage and Other Travel. However, you may not list airline travel, cruises, lodging, or vacation packages in these categories. These items must be listed in the restricted categories only.

These requirements do not affect your ability to list non travel-related items elsewhere on eBay.

Can I lose my authorization even if I have been approved initially?
While upfront verification is important, members must also maintain their good standing as approved eBay Travel sellers. This includes maintaining a good feedback rating and participating in dispute resolution. Members will be required to display the SquareTrade Seal in their listings in the restricted travel categories. Sellers who are suspended for violating the terms of the Seller Verify by SquareTrade Program will not be allowed to continue selling in the restricted categories on eBay Travel.

Who is SquareTrade and what is the SquareTrade Seal?

SquareTrade is a leader in online mediation and seller certification, and provides two key services to the eBay community:

The SquareTrade Seal Program enables online businesses to show that they are certified and willing to use mediation to solve disputes, promoting buyer confidence. The Seal is the most widely recognized mediation and certification symbol on eBay, and is shown on over 300,000 eBay listings today by tens of thousands of sellers.

SquareTrade's ODR service has a proven track record of resolving disputes, having resolved over thousands of disputes in areas ranging from auctions to real estate. SquareTrade uses a worldwide network of over 250 professional mediators and arbitrators, and is advised by experts in the fields of consumer protection, cyberlaw, and dispute resolution.

SquareTrade has acted as a key presenter to the Federal Trade Commission and the European Union on the issue of global online consumer protection, and also serves on the Advisory Board for The Institute for Transnational Arbitration. SquareTrade is a privately held company funded by top tier investors, including JP Morgan Partners and Weston Presidio Capital.

How much does it cost?
The fees for this program are charged by SquareTrade, and are as follows:

$10.00 for the initial verification. This fee is non-refundable and will be charged once you have applied to sell within the restricted eBay Travel categories.

Monthly Fees: All sellers receive the first month free! After that, it costs $7.50 per month to maintain membership.

Note: SquareTrade is a completely separate, distinct company from eBay. These are SquareTrade fees, and will be charged to you directly by SquareTrade.

What if I am only an occasional seller in eBay Travel?
Occasional sellers will be able to put their Seller Verify by SquareTrade Program membership on hold during those months that they are not selling. Occasional sellers still need to go through the upfront verification process to sign up initially. However, once that is complete, they can turn the program on or off through a simple form on the SquareTrade website.

How are buyers going to know about this?
Our goal is to increase buyer comfort when purchasing travel-related products on eBay Travel. Therefore, we will be adding language to the eBay Travel category page explaining the verification process and the benefits of buying on eBay Travel. In addition, we will launch a national advertising campaign to inform buyers about eBay Travel and the unique travel opportunities available from verified sellers.

What are the benefits of this new program for travel buyers?
The primary goal of this program is to increase buyer comfort while purchasing products in eBay Travel. Direct benefits for buyers include added purchase insurance, online mediation of disputes, and ongoing monitoring of travel sellers and their feedback ratings.

Through SquareTrade, members who make purchases in the restricted travel categories will automatically be protected against fraud for up to $500. Further, if a buyer does not feel he or she has been treated fairly, the buyer can request online mediation through SquareTrade to resolve the dispute with the seller. Sellers are required by SquareTrade to participate in online mediation. Lastly, SquareTrade will closely monitor all sellers in the restricted travel categories. If a seller's feedback begins to drop, SquareTrade will work with the seller to improve their score and address buyer concerns. If the seller in question continues to run afoul of the community, their certification can be cancelled.

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