Product Based Shopping Experience

In order to move toward a product-based shopping experience, sellers need to tell us exactly what items they are offering so that buyers can have a more streamlined online shopping experience. The best way to achieve this is to select the appropriate product in the eBay catalog during the listing process.

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.

Promoting your listings helps your items stand out among billions of listings across eBay and reach more buyers to drive more sales. 

You can drive sales and increase the visibility of your listings with access to ad placements.

The two campaign strategies available are the priority strategy and the general strategy.

The priority strategy helps you reach highly motivated buyers with priority access to ad placements and advanced controls — like keyword targeting — to help you drive sales.

The general strategy provides you with increased visibility of your listings with general access to ad placements with standard controls to help you reach more buyers.

Yes. You can promote the same listings through general and priority campaigns. Listings can simultaneously be in multiple priority campaigns but can only ever be in one general campaign at a time.

While Promoted Listings help buyers discover your listings, Promoted Stores drives traffic to your eBay store and helps buyers discover your brand with ads that can feature multiple listings.

Promote your listings externally through Promoted Offsite. Attract new buyers off eBay and increase your listings’ visibility. With the ability to further promote your listings on popular external channels, you can capture a wider audience of interested buyers and drive more traffic to your listings.

eBay Advertising can help sellers increase their visibility, reach more potential buyers, and ultimately drive more sales and grow their businesses on the platform by leveraging either a category or coupon strategy.

When you create a product in the eBay catalog, the information you provide, such as product name, photos, and description, can be used by all sellers.

When you create a listing, the details you provide are specific to your item. For example, you set your own return policy, whether you create an auction-style or fixed price listing, and set the price for your item.

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

If the product hasn't been approved yet, you can submit another request for 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 request page, where you can suggest updates to the product.

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 stock photos or manufacturer product images that will be used by all sellers selling the same product on eBay. You can upload your own photos for your listing later.

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.

If your product update request isn't approved yet, you can submit another request for 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 Requests" page, where you can suggest updates to the product.

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.

We may still be reviewing the updates you submitted for the product. You can check the status on the "Manage Product Requests" page in Seller Hub or My eBay. Once your product update has been approved, the product displayed in your listing will be updated.

eBay will review your suggestion within the next 24 hours. You can check the status on the "Manage Product Requests" page in Seller Hub or My eBay.

You can view and manage your current product creation and update requests on the "Manage Product Requests" page. You can create a listing from an approved product, view your current and past requests, update products, or revise a product request after it's been declined.

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" request.

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

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

There are a number of reasons that your request may have been declined. You'll find details on why it's been declined in the Reason column next to your product.

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

• Submitted: We've received your product request and it's currently undergoing an automated review.
• Under review: Your product request is being manually assessed.
• Extended review: Your product request is under additional review.
• Approved: Your product request has been approved. You can now list your item.
• Approved with modifications: Your product request has been approved. However, eBay has either added, removed or edited some product details that you submitted. You can find details in the Reasons column.
• Declined: Your product request has been declined. You can find details in the Reasons column. You can use the Revise request link in the Action column to submit another request.