| 1. |
What is the Choice Policy and why is it being removed? |
| 2. |
What choices are allowed in a listing? |
| 3. |
What happens if I don't have the size or color a buyer chooses? |
| 4. |
Are any choices still not allowed? If so, what eBay policy covers this? |
| 5. |
How can I make sure the choices I offer are in compliance with current eBay policies? |
Removal of the Multiple Listings Limit Policy and changes to Finding |
| 6. |
What is the Multiple Listings Limit Policy and why is it being removed? |
| 7. |
What are the improvements to Finding that address identical listings? |
| 8. |
What is considered an identical listing? How is it identified? |
| 9. |
If I have identical listings, which one will be displayed on a search or browse page? |
| 10. |
With this change in Finding, should I try to avoid identical listings? |
| 11. |
Can buyers turn off this new finding feature? |
| 12. |
What if I'm the only seller with a particular type of inventory? Will I still be limited to ten listings per page? |
New Search & Browse Manipulation Policy |
| 13. |
What is the Search and Browse Manipulation Policy? |
| 14. |
Will the replaced policies (Miscategorization, Keyword Spamming, Brand Name Misuse, and Misleading Title) still be enforced? |
| 15. |
How is the Search & Browse Manipulation policy different from the policies it replaces? |
| 16. |
How can I ensure I'm in compliance with eBay's new Search & Browse Manipulation policy? |
New Links Policy |
| 17. |
What is the new Links Policy? |
| 18. |
What types of links are allowed? |
| 19. |
If I'm an eBay Trading Assistant or Education specialist, under this new policy, how can I direct prospective clients to my services? |
| 20. |
What are the consequences of violating the Links Policy? |
| 21. |
When will enforcement of the Links Policy begin? |
| 22. |
How can I make sure I'm in compliance with the Links Policy? |
Removal of the Choice Policy |
| 1. |
What is the Choice Policy and why is it being removed? |
| The Choice Policy required that each listing offer only one type of item for sale. For example, a listing for shoes had to specify one size, and other sizes of the same style had to be offered in separate listings. Effective immediately, this policy is being removed. You may now give buyers choices in your listings, such as size, color, and configuration. |
| 2. |
What choices are allowed in a listing? |
| You may offer choices such as size, color, and configuration. For example, if you sell shoes, you can offer a particular style with a choice of colors or sizes. If you sell computers, you can offer a specific brand and model laptop with a choice in components such as hard-drive size, processor speed, etc. If you sell Apple iPods, you can offer a a choice of memory size and/or color. The removal of the Choice Policy is intended to give sellers more flexibility, streamline the listing process, and give buyers a more convenient and familiar shopping experience. |
| 3. |
What happens if I don't have the size or color a buyer chooses? |
| When you offer a choice, you are required to deliver the buyer's selection and you should only offer choices you have available for sale. Failure to fulfill a buyer's purchase is a violation of the Seller Non-performance Policy. |
| 4. |
Are some choices still not allowed? If so, what eBay policy covers this?
|
| You are not allowed to offer a choice of completely different items, such as a choice of a TV or a cell phone, in the same listing. Different brands of products are also considered different items requiring separate listings in the appropriate categories. Combining different products or brands in one listing is a violation of the Fee Circumvention Policy. |
| 5. |
How can I make sure the choices I offer are in compliance with current eBay policies? |
A good way to stay in compliance with the Fee Circumvention Policy is simply to consider the traditional online shopping experience: choices shoppers typically expect such as size, color, and configuration are now generally allowed in a single listing on eBay.
To avoid Seller Non-performance violations, keep your listing choices up to date with your available inventory. Be sure to revise your listing if a particular choice is no longer available for sale.
|
| |
| Removal of the Multiple Listings Limit Policy and changes to Finding |
| 6. |
What is the Multiple Listings Limit Policy and why is it being removed? |
| We know that seeing a variety of listings from different sellers in search results is a more satisfying experience for shoppers than seeing a large number of identical listing from one seller. To prevent the domination of search results by a single seller, the Multiple Listings Limit Policy placed a limit on the number of identical listings from one seller to 15.
With improvements in eBay's Finding technology, search and browse results will no longer display identical listings from the same seller, so the policy is no longer required and will be removed in early June. |
| 7. |
What are the improvements to Finding that address identical listings? |
When buyers search and browse, only one of identical listings from the same seller will be displayed per result set.
In addition to displaying only non-identical listings from one seller, a maximum of ten listings from one seller will be shown per results page unless the only available listings are from the same seller.
Together, these improvements ensure buyers will see a selection of the most relevant results from a variety of sellers.
|
| 8. |
What is considered an identical listing? How is it identified? |
Identical listings are identified by the listing title, listing format, and bidding activity.
Listings with identical titles but in different listing formats are not considered identical and will be shown separately.
Listing formats include:
- Auction-style (Auction, Auction with BIN, and Dutch Auction)
- Fixed Price (Single Quantity Fixed Price, Multiple-Quantity Fixed Price, Stores Fixed Price)
- Classified Ads
When one of your identical auction-style listing receives a bid, it will no longer be considered identical and will be shown separately. That means all your identical auction-style listings with bids will be shown separately, while identical auction-style listings without bids will be displayed one per result set.
Only one of your identical Fixed Price listings will be displayed per results set-including Multiple Quantity Fixed Price listings, regardless of whether there have been any purchases.
Your listings with identical titles but different prices or different listing features such as Bold, Highlight, or Category Featured will still be considered identical and only one will be displayed per results set.
|
| 9. |
If I have identical listings, which one will be displayed on a search or browse page? |
The listing displayed will be determined by which sort option the buyer uses: Best Match, Time Ending Soonest, Newly Listed, or Total Cost.
If a buyer is searching or browsing using Best Match, the best match listing will be displayed based on end time, relevance, and seller performance factors.
If a buyer is using Time Ending Soonest, the listing ending soonest will be displayed. With Newly Listed, the most recently listed item will be displayed and with Total Cost Sort: Lowest, the lowest price item.
|
| 10. |
With this change in Finding, should I try to avoid identical listings? |
| No. This change will create a better shopping experience for buyers and should not decrease the amount of completed sales on eBay. As always, you should continue to monitor your conversion rates and determine the optimal number of listings to achieve your sales goals. Removal of the Multiple Listing Limit Policy will allow you to list more than 15 identical items, which is a big benefit when this listing strategy is optimal for your business. |
| 11. |
Can buyers turn off this new Finding feature? |
| At the bottom of every search and browse page, buyers can choose the option to see all listings, including identical listings. However, buyers cannot make this a default search or browse option. |
| 12. |
What if I'm the only seller with a particular type of inventory? Will I still be limited to ten listings per page? |
| No. Search or browse results will display all remaining listings, even if they are from the same seller. |
| |
| New Search & Browse Manipulation Policy |
| 13. |
What is the Search & Browse Manipulation policy? |
| The Search & Browse Manipulation Policy, taking effect in early June, simplifies the guidelines prohibiting unfair methods of diverting members to a seller's listings. This policy covers any activity that harms the shopping experience by making it difficult for buyers to find the items they're looking for. The Search & Browse Manipulation policy will take the place of Keyword Spamming, Misleading Title, Miscategorization, and Brand Name Misuse policies. |
| 14. |
Will the replaced policies (Miscategorization, Keyword Spamming, Brand Name Misuse, and Misleading Title) still be enforced? |
| Yes! These are all considered forms of Search & Browse Manipulation harmful to the shopping experience. These activities will continue to be prohibited as part of the Search & Browse Manipulation policy. |
| 15. |
How is the Search & Browse Manipulation policy different from the replaced policies? |
| The new Search & Browse Manipulation policy extends beyond the replaced policies to include any type of activity that harms the shopping experience. This includes using terms, pictures, or links in a listing title, subtitle, item specifics, description, picture, or seller tags that don't pertain to the item being sold. Listing activities intended to thwart eBay policies or "game" Finding to gain unfair exposure in search and browse results are prohibited.
|
| 16. |
How can make sure I'm in compliance with eBay's new Search & Browse Manipulation policy? |
| You'll be in compliance if you include only information that accurately and directly pertains to the item you're listing. Leave out any information intended to manipulate or deceive search and browse results. |
| |
| New Links Policy |
| 17. |
What is the new Links Policy? |
The new Links Policy prohibits linking from a seller's listing or other content on eBay--including eBay Store pages, About Me pages, eBay Blogs, Reviews and Guides, and forums--to any site that offers a product or service for sale off eBay.
The policy is aimed at protecting eBay buyers from fraud or other bad experiences off eBay which are not covered by buyer protection programs.
The Links Policy also requires sellers to include all information relevant to the item or service being sold within the item description. Links to pages that further describe the item or include additional terms and conditions for the sale are not permitted. This is intended to protect buyers from making uninformed decisions based on information not provided in the listing.
|
| 18. |
What types of links are allowed? |
Sellers are permitted to include the following links:
- Links to any eBay property page including eBay, PayPal, Half.com, and StubHub, as long as no more than five links are included in any single listing or community post.
- Links to photos of the item for sale, as long as the page displaying the photos doesn't offer, or link to a site that offers, a product or service for sale off eBay.
- Links embedded within a listing to videos, as long as the video content and format complies with all eBay policies. You must also be the owner of the underlying rights to the video, including intellectual property rights, or be authorized to distribute the video by the rights owner.
- Links or credits to third party solutions and services directly related to the particular listing.
|
| 19. |
If I'm an eBay Trading Assistant or Education Specialist, under this new policy, how can I direct prospective clients to my services? |
| You can link to your profile page in the eBay Trading Assistant or Education Specialist directories. |
| 20. |
What are the consequences of violating the Links Policy? |
| Sellers who do not comply may be restricted, forfeit fee credits, or be suspended. |
| 21. |
When will enforcement of the Links policy begin? |
| Enforcement of the new policy will begin in July. |
| 22. |
How can I make sure I'm in compliance with the Links policy? |
| Review your listings, Stores pages, About Me pages, and all other eBay content for links that are in violation. |
