Marketplace Updates
Answer your buyers' questions before the sale, managed payments, reminder to list using secure HTTPS content, and fee updates.
What you need to know
- Provide your customer service phone number to answer buyers' questions
- Managed payments for simplified buying and selling
- Use secure HTTPS content when you list your items
- Reserve price, Subtitle, and media fee updates
Provide your customer support phone number to answer buyers' questions before the sale
Sometimes buyers have questions about items they would like to purchase on eBay. While buyers and sellers aren't allowed to share or request direct contact information prior to completing a sale for the purpose of making offers to buy or sell items outside of eBay, a new pilot program allows you to help buyers make purchase decisions. With the new pilot program, your customer service phone number will be visible to buyers on desktop before the sale. You can opt into the feature within "Manage communication with buyers" in your account settings.
Customer support phone number FAQs
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Why is eBay making this change?
By providing answers to buyers' questions when they are trying to decide whether or not to purchase an item on eBay, you may improve your chances that the buyer will purchase your item.
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How do I opt into the "contact seller" feature?
Go to your Manage your Q&A for buyers page and opt into sharing your phone number for pre-transaction purposes.
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If I don't opt into the "contact seller" feature, what will happen to my business?
If you don't opt in, your business will continue to operate as it currently does. It is not necessary for you to opt in.
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Where on eBay will the buyer see my phone number on desktops?
On desktop devices, your phone number will be available on the FAQ page, the Ask Seller Question page, and the Reply To Question page.
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When will this feature be available on the mobile app?
Soon. When we activate the customer support feature on the mobile app, buyers will be able to see your phone number in the Seller Profile on Android devices. For iOS, your phone number will be visible in the Contact Seller area.
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By adding my phone number am I still covered by eBay Money Back Guarantee?
You are still covered by the eBay Money Back Guarantee in our new pilot program, but you must comply with the offers to buy or sell outside of eBay policy.
Managed payments for simplified buying and selling
As announced in January 2018, we are committed to creating the world's most powerful selling platform, and building out our payments capabilities is the next step in that strategy. By managing payments all in one place, we will be simplifying the buying and selling experience on eBay. You will benefit from consolidated pricing, simpler invoicing of your fees, and daily payouts direct to your bank account. Buyers will have more payment choices and better checkout experiences.
Managed payments will be phased in gradually. When you receive your invitation to participate, we strongly encourage you to join. eBay expects to transition the majority of sellers to the new payment experience by 2021. We want you to be part of this journey and welcome your feedback.
Take our survey to express your interest.
Managed payments for simplified buying and selling FAQs
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Why is eBay making this change?
We are dedicated to continuously improving the buying and selling experience on eBay. By managing the end-to-end payments experience, we will be able to create a modern marketplace where buying and selling on eBay is simple.
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How did you determine which sellers will be able to participate first?
We selected sellers based on a variety of criteria including sales volume, seller location, percentage of business conducted domestically versus internationally, seasonality of sales, and categories.
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When will managed payments start?
Managed payments will be a multi-year effort. eBay will begin enabling payments on a small scale starting in fall 2018, expanding in 2019.
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Is there anything I need to do right now?
No, you do not need to take any action at this time, but we value your feedback and encourage you to take our survey.
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Will this affect my seller fees?
Most sellers can expect lower overall selling costs. All sellers will also benefit from a simplified pricing structure and more visibility to sales and payouts.
Use secure HTTPS for enhanced browser security
As we previously announced, the Google Chrome browser now displays the message "Not secure" in its address bar when users visit HTTP pages or HTTPS pages that include non-secure HTTP content. Starting September 15, 2018, you will be required to use secure HTTPS content when you list items on eBay based on Google's HTTPS mandate. "New," "relist," "sell similar," and "sell one like this" listings created with non-secure HTTP content will not successfully submit.
Current and revised listings with non-secure HTTP content will be displayed as "Not secure" to buyers in the Google Chrome address bar. To ensure the most secure shopping experience for your buyers, we recommend that you update your listings now. Check here to see if you have any noncompliant existing listings that need to be updated.
Learn more about HTTPS security.
Use secure HTTPS for enhanced browser security FAQs
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Why is eBay making this change?
We are making this change to ensure the most secure shopping experience for your buyers. Starting September 15, 2018, you will be required to use secure HTTPS, based on Google's HTTPS mandate.
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Where do I need to make these changes?
Check here to see if you have any noncompliant existing listings that need to be updated. We recommend you review your listing descriptions.
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I self-host photos in my descriptions. Will my photos be compliant if the host site is secure (i.e., HTTPS-compliant)?
Yes. Your self-hosted images will be compliant if your host site is secure (i.e., has SSL and is HTTPS-compliant).
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Will I need to change the prefix of each image URL from HTTP to HTTPS?
Yes. You will need to change the prefix for each of the self-hosted image URLs from HTTP to HTTPS. Learn how to convert your HTTP content to HTTPS.
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Do I only need to ensure that my description area is free of non-secure content?
No, you must ensure that your image uploads, such as eBay gallery images and multi-SKU item images, are HTTPS-compliant.
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Where can I find more information for making this change?
Please see steps for updating your content and for third-party providers who can help here.
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Which listings will not be impacted?
Existing, revised, and Good 'Til Cancelled listings will not be blocked at this time, but a "Not secure" message will be displayed to buyers in the Google Chrome address bar. We recommend that you update any HTTP content now.
Fee updates
Reserve price, Subtitle, and Value Pack feature fee increase
Starting September 15, 2018, the feature fee for Reserve price will increase to either $5 or 7.5%, whichever is greater and the Reserve fee cap will increase from $100 to $250. In some Business & Industrial categories, the feature fee will remain at a flat fee of $5.
The feature fee for Subtitle will increase from $0.50 to $1 for listings with 1-, 3-, 5-, 7- and 10-day listing durations and an item price of up to $150, and from $1 to $3 for listings with an item price of more than $150. For 30-day duration and Good 'Til Cancelled listings with an item price up to $150, the feature fee will remain unchanged at $1.50. For 30-day duration and Good 'Til Cancelled listings with an item price of more than $150, the feature fee will increase to $6.
The feature fee for Value Pack will increase from $0.65 to $1.15 for listings with 1-, 3-, 5-, 7- and 10-day listing durations and an item price of up to $150, and from $1.30 to $3.15 for listings with an item price of more than $150. For 30-day duration and Good 'Til Cancelled listings with an item price up to $150, the feature fee will remain unchanged at $2. For 30-day duration and Good 'Til Cancelled listings with an item price of more than $150, the feature fee will increase to $6.50.
Changes to Insertion fee credits for auction-style listings that sell
Starting October 4, 2018, unlimited insertion fee credits for auction-style listings that end in a sale will be available exclusively to US and Canadian Store subscribers with Basic, Premium, Anchor, and Enterprise Store subscriptions. Starter Store subscribers and non-Store sellers will no longer receive these insertion fee credits. Only listings created after you sign up for a Store subscription will be eligible for a credit.
Media price increase
Starting September 15, 2018, the final value fees for Books, and DVDs & Movies categories will increase from 9.15% to 12% for Store subscribers and from 10% to 12% for non-Store sellers.
Starting September 15, 2018, the final value fees for the Music category will also increase from 9.15% to 12% for both Store subscribers and non-Store sellers, with the exception of the Records category, which will remain at 9.15% for Store subscribers and 10% for non-Store sellers.
Fee updates FAQs
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Why is eBay making this change?
We periodically evaluate fees, credits, and benefits. We are increasing our investment in our platform, marketing efforts, and tools to enhance both the seller and buyer experience.
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What changes can I make to my listings to benefit from these updates?
Review the fees in detail and update your listings to optimize for visibility and sales. We recommend that you do the following:
- Review your listings and ensure that they are priced right and include relevant product data.
- Determine the right listing format for your items, including fixed price, auction, and duration. Note that the longer a listing appears on the site, the more opportunities it will have to be found by buyers.
- Consider if an eBay Store subscription could save you money on fees. Sellers can still receive insertion credits for auction-style listings if the auction-style listing sells by subscribing to either Basic, Premium, Anchor, or Enterprise Store levels.
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What is a reserve price?
A reserve price is the minimum price that must be met for your item to sell. The reserve fee cap will increase from $100 to $250.
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How do the insertion fee credits for auction-style listings work?
US and Canadian Store subscribers with Basic, Premium, Anchor, and Enterprise Store subscriptions will receive an insertion fee credit if the auction-style listing sells. There is currently no limit on the number of insertion fee credits available for eBay Store subscribers. Learn more.