Product-based Shopping Experience

You will still be able to create and revise listings without the catalog, but we strongly encourage you to begin updating your listings to optimize their visibility when catalog adoption is required in mid-September 2018.

The Listings tab in Seller Hub and My eBay will show which of your existing listings need to be updated in order to comply with the new requirement.

Yes. In the first phase of the product-based shopping experience, we asked sellers to provide a valid GTIN (UPC, EAN, or ISBN) for each variation in multi-SKU listings within the initial product lines. In the new categories, each variation will require a valid eBay Product ID (ePID) in all product-based shopping experience-enabled categories. The products associated with variations in a listing must be unique and share the same category and brand. The variation-specific values that vary by products must also match the values in the eBay catalog product. Modified products, bundles, and lots will not be supported in multi-SKU listings. Offers for these types of products will require individual listings.

In order to effectively display a bundle offer to buyers, we need to know how it differs from the product it is associated with in the eBay catalog. By letting us know you are selling a bundle, we may be able to present your listing to buyers as a better value.

The same listing rules apply to bundle listings as regular listings, but you need to include a few more details for bundle listings. When you list a bundle (e.g., smart phone + case + screen protector), follow these simple rules:

1. Pick one of the products in the bundle as the "primary" product, then search for and select that product in the eBay catalog when you create your listing.
2. Select "Bundle Listing = Yes" in the "Listing Specifics" section.
3. Fill out the related "Listing Specific," called "Bundle Details," by describing what you're including in your bundle. There are no formatting restrictions, but we recommend you separate each product in the bundle with a comma.
4. Multi-SKU listings will not support bundles.

The same listing rules apply to lot listings as regular listings, but you need to include a few more details for lot listings. When you list a lot, follow these simple steps:

1. Adopt the appropriate product in the eBay catalog.
2. Check the "Sell as Lot" checkbox.
3. Fill out the "Lot Size" field to indicate how many quantities of the product are included in your offer.
4. Multi-SKU listings will not support lots.

Listings for items that have aftermarket modifications must conform to the same rules as regular listings, but the seller will have to include a few more details on the listing. Follow these three steps when listing modifications (e.g., gold-plated iPhone, laptop with upgraded processor, book that has been signed by the author, etc.):

1. Pick the appropriate "unmodified" version of the product from the eBay catalog and adopt it (e.g., the regular iPhone, regular laptop, regular unsigned book).
2. Select "Aftermarket modifications = Yes" in the Listing Specifics section.
3. Fill out the related Listing Specific called "Modification Details" by describing in your own words how the product has been modified. No strict formatting required, but we recommend that you keep it clear, accurate, and concise.
4. Multi-SKU listings will not support aftermarket modifications/customizations.

You must select the appropriate non-domestic product from the eBay catalog and adopt it. For example, if a US seller is listing a UK version of an iPhone 6 that is locked to the Vodafone network, the US seller must select the appropriate iPhone 6 product from the catalog, which says "Non-US Versions" in the title. Additionally, the US seller is advised to indicate that information in their listing title (e.g., UK Version/locked to Vodafone), and also share additional details, if any, in the listing description field. If the desired product is not found in the catalog, the US seller must first create it in the catalog, and then adopt it. While creating such a product, the US seller must fill out the product specific called "Non-domestic Product = Yes," and also fill out the related field called "Applicable Regions," which lists the regions in which the product is meant to function.

When multiple listings have been associated with the same product in the eBay catalog, your items will compete with other sellers' listings for opportunities to be featured in the top pick or the primary position on the product page. Your seller performance rating must be above standard, you must ensure your items will be in stock, and you should offer competitive pricing, shipping, and returns to improve your chances of winning the top pick.

We will continue to expand the product-based shopping experience in phases through 2018 and 2019. We will give you sufficient advance notice of changing listing requirements.

You will not be required to list using the eBay catalog for Fashion and Collectibles categories at this time.

Promoted listings will continue to be featured in search results and within seller offers on the product pages. As the buyer experience evolves, we will continue to enhance these placements to more intelligently drive traffic to your listings.

You can learn more about the product-based shopping experience and view all categories that are currently enabled.

We continue to receive feedback from sellers and have decided to move the requirement to associate listings with products in the eBay catalog to 2019. For the 55 categories we've already announced, you will still be able to create new products in the catalog or update existing products to improve the accuracy of the information.

Yes. When you list in the 55 product-based shopping categories that have already been enabled, you will improve the likelihood of your item being found by buyers in eBay search, as well as buying journeys that start elsewhere on the web, by selecting a product in the eBay catalog that exactly matches your item.

If you have more questions, or wish to report issues or provide feedback about the product-based shopping experience, please visit the eBay Community.

Yes. Products within the eBay catalog are available to all sellers.

If the product hasn't been approved yet, you can resubmit the same product with all the product information. You'll need to fill in the Product creation form in full again, including all the necessary information.

If the product has been approved and added to the eBay catalog, go to the "Manage Product Submissions" page, where you can submit product updates.

It is important that the product information is accurate. Updating a product helps you fix bad or incomplete product information so that "item not as described" claims won't occur and buyers can correctly find and identify the items they are looking for.

Add a product name that is concise, well written, and easy to read. Examples:

Putting the product in the correct category increases search visibility. Your listings will get visibility based on the product categories that they are listed under.

Upload your own high-quality image. If you did not take the photo yourself, make sure you have permission to use the photo in the eBay catalog. Learn more about photo best practices.

Add product details that will be used by all sellers who are selling the same product. You can add details specific to your item in the listing description later. Learn more about good product descriptions.

If your product update submission isn't approved yet, you can resubmit the same product with all the product information. You'll need to fill in the "Update product" form in full again, including all the necessary information.

If the product has been approved, go to the "Manage Product Submissions" page, where you can submit additional product updates.

If you think your listing will still be accurate without the updated information (e.g., you're just adding an extra photo) then you can choose to list your item straight away.

However, if you think your listing would be misleading or inaccurate without the changes being implemented, such as a product color or size, then you should wait until the updates are approved.

Inaccurate product information can lead to buyer returns for which you may be held responsible. Always make sure your product information is accurate.

Product information updates typically become visible in the catalog within 24 hours. Not all submissions will be published. You can check the status on the "Manage Product Submissions" page in Seller Hub or My eBay.

You can view and manage your current product creation and update submissions on the "Manage Product Submissions" page. You can create a product submission, view your current and past submissions, update products, or revise a product submission.

If you want to update a product in the eBay catalog, you can use the "Update product" link in the Action column to submit a "Product update."

If your product submission was declined, you can use the "Revise submission" link in the Action column to submit another product.

Yes. Select "View all submissions" in the Action column. You can view all the submissions you've made during the last 120 days.

There are a number of reasons that your submission request was not added to the catalog. You'll find details on why was not added in the Reason column next to your product.

Once you've submitted a new product, you'll be able to check its status on the "Manage Product Submissions" page. Here are the definitions of the different statuses:

• Submitted: We've received the new product you submitted.
• Pending: The new product you submitted is pending.
• Pending - Extended: The new product you submitted is pending.
• Added: The new product you submitted has been added. You can now list your item.
• Added with changes: The new product you submitted has been added with changes.
• Not added: The new product you submitted was not added. You can find details in the Reasons column. You can use the Revise submission link in the Action column to resubmit the product.

Based on feedback we received from sellers, we no longer plan to support non-standard product identifiers. Instead, we are focused on expanding the availability of the eBay catalog, which makes it easy to attach optimized identifiers to listings matched to products in the catalog.