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2011 Spring Seller Update

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  New eBay Shopping Cart
 
   
Sell more with the new eBay Shopping Cart  
 
 
 
Online shoppers are accustomed to adding items to a shopping cart—and they're often motivated to buy more. That's why we've introduced the new eBay Shopping Cart that works with both Fixed Price and Auction-style items. Buyers can add items from multiple sellers and pay in one easy checkout, making it easier and more likely for them to buy more. Most buyers will be introduced to it by early November. With the addition of the familiar Buy It Now button, the eBay Shopping Cart is better than ever!
 
Highlights
Take Action
Best Practices
Frequently Asked Questions
 
 

Highlights

  • The eBay Shopping Cart now features the Buy It Now button! Shoppers can add items to their eBay Shopping Cart, then go back to browse for more. Or, they can hit the familiar Buy It Now button to make an immediate purchase.
  • Buyers can use the eBay Shopping Cart for both Auction-style and Fixed Price items. The eBay Shopping Cart currently supports PayPal only.
  • For sellers, the eBay Shopping Cart is a great way to up-sell and cross-sell. Buyers can easily add more of your items to their cart.
  • Unpaid items are significantly reduced when the buyer uses the eBay Shopping Cart. Fixed Price items added to a buyer's cart but not paid for remain available for other buyers to purchase—your listing stays active until payment is sent.
  • The eBay Shopping Cart will be introduced to most buyers by the beginning of November.
 

Take Action

  • As a seller, you don't need to do anything or alter your listings in any way—buyers simply add them to their cart.

 

Best Practices

  • Specifying shipping for key export countries is an even greater advantage in the eBay Shopping Cart. Buyers who have all the shipping information they need can check out faster. As always, offering a range of domestic shipping options also helps ensure faster checkout. Note: If you do not specify shipping, buyers will still be able to request their total from you via their cart.
  • Specify Immediate Pay on all your Fixed Price listings to avoid unpaid items.
  • Offer free shipping where it makes sense to do so.
  • Specify combined shipping rules in My eBay and not just in the item description text to make checkout more efficient for buyers. Properly specified combined shipping discounts will be prominently displayed in the eBay Shopping Cart.
  • To save on shipping fees, package multi-item orders for the same buyer together in one box wherever possible.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are you introducing the eBay Shopping Cart?
eBay has long offered buyers the Buy It Now option, which enables buyers to purchase an item immediately. With the launch of the eBay Shopping Cart, we’re giving buyers another purchase option - to add items for consideration and comparison to their eBay Shopping Cart before checking out.

Today's online buyers are accustomed to and expect to have a shopping cart to combine items in their shopping session and pay in one easy checkout. A shopping cart can actually encourage buyers to consider other items before checking out and buy more with each visit. The eBay Shopping Cart allows them to purchase both Auction-style and Fixed Price items.

For sellers, unpaid items are significantly reduced when the buyer uses the eBay Shopping Cart because items aren't removed from your inventory until the buyer pays.
What’s changed with the eBay Shopping Cart since it was first introduced in March?
The eBay Shopping Cart is better than ever. We’ve combined the eBay Shopping Cart with our powerful Buy It Now button to make the shopping experience the best it can be. Now shoppers can add items to their eBay Shopping Cart, then go back to browse for more. Or, they can hit the familiar Buy It Now button to make an immediate purchase. This new combination allows buyers the convenience of a shopping cart, while still ensuring fast checkout if the buyer is looking for just one item.


For Fixed Price items, buyers now see both an "Add to cart" and a Buy It Now button. They can choose Buy It Now to check out quickly with that one item, or Add to cart to continue shopping before checkout. Auction-style items are automatically added when the buyer places a bid. Buyers can access their eBay Shopping Cart from the top right corner of any page on eBay for quick checkout.

Additionally, buyer are now able to use Bill Me Later as a payment method when they are using the eBay Shopping Cart.
When will everyone start using the eBay Shopping Cart?
The eBay Shopping Cart is available now for buyers to try out. Throughout the fall, buyers will be transitioned to the eBay Shopping Cart. Most buyers should be able to use the eBay Shopping Cart by the beginning of November.
If my buyer uses the eBay Shopping Cart to make a purchase from me, will I see or experience anything different?
No, for you as a seller, the experience will be the same as it is today. In fact, many buyers may have already purchased from you using the eBay Shopping Cart.
What makes the new eBay Shopping Cart unique?
The eBay Shopping Cart has been uniquely designed to work with both Fixed Price and Auction-style listings. In addition to accommodating multiple formats, the eBay Shopping Cart is multi-seller. While it currently is only compatible with PayPal, our goal is to be able to handle multiple payment options in future. Next year, all sellers will be able to take advantage of a powerful new merchandising tool – the Sales Maximizer - to help sellers cross-promote additional products to increase order size.
How does eBay's Shopping Cart work for Fixed Price and Auction-style items?
On Fixed Price listings, your buyers will see both an "Add to cart" button and a "Buy It Now" button. Buyers click “Add to cart” to put a Fixed Price item into the eBay Shopping Cart, then can continue shopping. When they’re finished, they check out with the items they want. Note: While a Fixed Price item is in the eBay Shopping Cart, it is still available for purchase by other buyers.

Auction-style listings are automatically added to the bidder’s eBay Shopping Cart once they place a bid. Buyers can add items from the same or different sellers to their eBay Shopping Cart. They can check out and pay for all the items in their eBay Shopping Cart at once, or check out on selected items and save others for later—for example, an Auction-style listing that is not yet ended.


Clear messaging in the eBay Shopping Cart helps buyers understand the status of their Auction-style listings.

Can buyers pay for items from more than one seller or different types of transactions in one payment?
If items from different sellers in a buyer's eBay Shopping Cart all accept PayPal, the buyer can pay for all the items in the eBay Shopping Cart with a single payment. They can also pay for different types of transactions (won Auction-style listings, Fixed Price and Best Offer items) all at the same time.
How does the eBay Shopping Cart help reduce unpaid items for Fixed Price listings? What if a buyer adds an item to their cart and doesn't check it out?
Buyers can’t commit to purchase your Fixed Price listings without paying for them first if they add them to the eBay Shopping Cart. Fixed Price items added to a buyer's eBay Shopping Cart but not paid for remain available for other buyers to purchase—your listing stays active until payment is sent.

You may continue to experience unpaid items when buyers purchase their items using Buy It Now. We recommend that you use Immediate Pay for all Fixed Price items to avoid this situation.
How does combined shipping work in the eBay Shopping Cart?
Offering combined shipping is even more critical to your success in the eBay Shopping Cart. Properly specified combined shipping discounts are prominently displayed in the eBay Shopping Cart, making your item stand out from others who do not offer combined shipping deals.

The good news is that any combined shipping rules that you’ve already specified in My eBay are being shown to buyers in the eBay Shopping Cart – no need to make any changes to your listings. If you haven’t set up combined shipping rules in My eBay, now’s the time to do so. Learn more about setting up combined shipping offers.


Combined shipping savings are prominently displayed in the eBay Shopping Cart.

How can I try the eBay Shopping Cart?
You can opt in as a buyer for your own purchases right now. However, as a seller, you cannot opt in or out of having your items added to the eBay Shopping Cart.
Can sellers opt out of having their items be added to the eBay Shopping Cart?
No, there is no way for sellers to opt out of having their items added to the eBay Shopping Cart.
Can buyers add items from different sellers to their eBay Shopping Cart?
Yes, buyers can add items from more than one seller to their eBay Shopping Cart and pay for all the items in a single payment if all sellers accept the same payment method. Each item will show up as a separate purchase with its own item number and the seller's user ID associated with it, exactly as it does today in My eBay. If a buyer adds multiple items from the same seller, the seller's items are grouped together within the buyer's eBay Shopping Cart.
How do Auction-style listings work with the eBay Shopping Cart?
Auction-style listings are automatically added to a buyer's eBay Shopping Cart once they place a bid. The winning bidder pays for the item from their eBay Shopping Cart at the end of the Auction-style listing, just like a Fixed Price item.

Ended Auction-style listings that buyers have lost remain in their eBay Shopping Cart until they remove them. If they were the successful bidder, the item remains in their eBay Shopping Cart until they pay for it. Each type of listing is clearly labeled (outbid, unsuccessful Auction-style listing, etc.) so that they know what action is required.
Are there items that can't be added to the eBay Shopping Cart?
Yes. Items listed in the following categories can't be added to the eBay Shopping Cart:
  • All Motors listings (Vehicles and Parts & Accessories)
  • Real Estate listings
  • Classified Format Listings
  • International items listed in foreign currencies
Buyers also cannot add items that offer payment methods other than PayPal at this time.

Additionally, buyers will not be able to add an item to their eBay Shopping Cart if:
  • The seller has the country of the buyer’s primary shipping address on their shipping exclusion list.
  • The seller has turned on the buyer requirement – “Block buyers whose primary shipping address is in a location I don't ship to.” – and the seller has not specified shipping to the buyer’s primary shipping address.
When a buyer puts a Fixed Price item in their eBay Shopping Cart, are they committed to purchasing it?
No. The buyer is not committed until they pay. Fixed Price items that have been added to a buyer's eBay Shopping Cart but not paid for remain available for purchase to other buyers. The buyer who checks out and pays first gets the item. As always, if a buyer bids on an Auction-style item, they are committed to purchase if they win.
Are my specified shipping costs and taxes shown in the eBay Shopping Cart?
Any applicable shipping costs and taxes that would be shown to a buyer in eBay Checkout are also shown in the eBay Shopping Cart.
Can buyers remove my item from their eBay Shopping Cart?
Yes. There is a "Remove" link below each item in the eBay Shopping cart. Buyers can click this link to remove items. Any item can be removed except completed successful Auction-style listings and Best Offers that have been accepted. These can't be removed because buyers have already committed to pay for them. Fixed Price items automatically disappear once they are showing as paid within My eBay. They will still be available in My eBay for the same amount of time as they are today.

Buyers who are outbid on an Auction-style listing are free to remove the item from their eBay Shopping Cart or bid again.


A buyer can remove an item that they haven't committed to paying for by clicking the "Remove" button.


What does the buyer do if I haven't specified shipping on an item?
If you haven't specified shipping charges for an item and the buyer wants to check out with that item using the eBay Shopping Cart, they'll need to request an invoice from you with the shipping amount included. Buyers can do so by clicking the "Request total from seller" link next to the seller's ID in their eBay Shopping Cart.

As always, the best practice is to specify shipping for all your markets. eBay recently expanded the number of international shipping options from three to five, making it easier for you to specify shipping to multiple international markets. You’re also required to specify shipping cost and carrier for items offered to buyers in Australia, Canada and the UK in order to qualify for access to the main search results in these countries.
Does the eBay Shopping Cart only work with PayPal?
At this time, PayPal will be the only method of payment for use in the eBay Shopping Cart.

Any item that offers a non-PayPal method of payment (regardless of whether the item also offers PayPal) will have a Buy It Now button, but not an Add to cart button. The buyer will go through the current Buy It Now process. Once the buyer has committed to purchasing the item using the Buy It Now process, they will be able to pay for the item through their eBay Shopping Cart.
Can buyers use Bill Me Later with the eBay Shopping Cart?
Yes, buyer are able to use Bill Me Later as a payment method when they are using the eBay Shopping Cart.
Do I need to use Immediate Pay with the eBay Shopping Cart?
In the eBay Shopping Cart, all your Fixed Price listings act as Immediate Pay listings for buyers who are using the eBay Shopping Cart, regardless of whether you listed with Immediate Pay.

However, we recommend you still use Immediate Pay on all your Fixed Price and Buy It Now listings. Immediate Pay will still apply to buyers who are not yet using the eBay Shopping Cart and, if you sell internationally, on other eBay sites where the eBay Shopping Cart is not yet available. It will also help reduce your instances of Unpaid Items when a buyer purchases an item using the Buy It Now button.
What do I need to do to prepare my listings for the eBay Shopping Cart?
Nothing. There is no new action you need to take to prepare your listings for the eBay Shopping Cart. Just follow the best practices below to make it easy for buyers to check out.
How can I use the eBay Shopping Cart to increase my sales?
All of the same best practices for increasing sales still apply. Some best practices—especially especially those around shipping—are even more important. For example:
  • Specifying shipping for key export countries becomes an even greater advantage in the eBay Shopping Cart. (It’s also required if you want your listings to be eligible to appear in the main search results in Canada, the UK and Australia.) Buyers who have all the shipping information they need can check out faster and easier. As always, offering a range of domestic shipping options ensures quicker checkout as well. (If you do not specify shipping, buyers will still be able to request their total from you via the eBay Shopping Cart.)
  • Specify Immediate Pay on all your Fixed Price listings to avoid unpaid items.
  • Offer free shipping where it makes sense to do so.
  • Specify combined shipping rules in My eBay and not just in the item description text to make check-out more efficient for buyers. Properly specified combined shipping discounts will be prominently displayed in the eBay Shopping Cart.
  • To save on shipping fees, package multi-item orders for the same buyer together in one box wherever possible.
How will merchandising work in the eBay Shopping Cart?
The new eBay Shopping Cart provides a powerful platform for generating add-on purchases from buyers. Merchandising functionality is currently being tested and will be added to the eBay Shopping Cart in 2012.
I opted out of eBay's multi-seller checkout. What happens to my listings with the eBay Shopping Cart?
Because purchasing items from more than one seller in one shopping session is central to the eBay Shopping Cart, sellers can no longer opt out of multi-seller checkout. This preference will be removed from My eBay in the near future.
Does Best Offer work with the eBay Shopping Cart? Do items show up in the eBay Shopping Cart as soon as buyers make an offer, or do I have to accept the offer first?
Yes, items that feature Best Offer work in the eBay Shopping Cart. They will only show up in the eBay Shopping Cart once the seller has accepted the offer.
Is there a limit to how many items buyers can check out with using the eBay Shopping Cart?
Yes. The limits are as follows:
  • Buyers can add a maximum of 100 items to their Shopping Cart at a time.
  • You can have items from up to 10 different sellers, with a maximum of 40 items from each seller
If a buyer adds too many items to their eBay Shopping Cart, the items will automatically be organized in smaller groups to facilitate checkout. Once the buyer goes to checkout, they will shown a group of items for review, along with messaging letting them know that they have too many items in eBay Shopping Cart to check out at one time. Buyers can also use the “Pay only this seller” button to organize their items into manageable groups.