Seller Protections
New measures to identify and take action against abusive buyers and protect eBay sellers.
Where? Global
When? June 2019
What’s changing?
We're implementing stronger measures to proactively find abusive buyers, prevent them from filing return requests, and in some cases suspend them. When we find that a buyer violated the policy, we will remove any feedback and defects, including opened cases in service metrics.
We've also made it easier for you to report buyers who violate eBay policies. Now when you report a buyer, you can more clearly describe what the buyer is doing to help us investigate potential policy violations and take actions to protect you.
What you need to know:
To determine if a buyer is violating eBay policy, we evaluate the severity, frequency, and intent of their actions. If the buyer does not appear to be acting in good faith, we’ll remove their feedback and defects, stop them from opening return requests, and in serious cases suspend them.
Additional protections include:
- removal of negative feedback and defects when you've done your part (e.g., tracking shows on-time delivery) or when things happen that are beyond your control, such as weather or carrier delays;
- partial refunds in the returns flow for items returned opened or used when you offer free returns.
How to use:
Please report buyers if they do the following:
- buyer demanded something that was not offered in your listing;
- buyer made a false claim;
- buyer misused returns;
- buyer repeatedly makes and then retracts bids.
We’ll let you know when the actions we take affect you, such as removing their feedback. Because of privacy constraints, we can’t always tell you about actions we take on a buyer’s account.
We will remove negative or neutral feedback, defects, and impacts to your service metrics resulting from transactions involving an abusive buyer.
Easy Relisting of Returned and Cancelled Items
When a seller successfully completes a return or cancellation, eBay will offer to relist the item.
Where? Global
When? Second quarter of 2019
What’s changing?
Starting in May 2019, when you successfully complete a cancelled item or remorse return for a single-quantity listing we'll provide you with a more convenient way to relist the item, which will help you resell the item and manage your business more efficiently. Upon completing a return or cancellation, a checkbox will be preselected for you that defaults to an automatic relisting of your item.
What you need to know:
This default setting will be available for items which are expected to be in stock and in the same condition after the return or cancellation is complete.
The “relist option” is offered to the seller, but it doesn't happen unless the seller confirms it. They also have the option to de-select the new checkbox if they don’t wish to relist the item.
How to use:
Cancelled item eligibility
The easy-relist default setting will be displayed and preselected for cancelled items that:
- the buyer initiated and you approved;
- you cancelled due to an issue with the buyer’s address;
- is for a single-quantity listing.
Remorse return eligibility
The easy-relist default setting will be displayed and preselected for remorse returns if:
- tracking shows the item was returned to you;
- you provided a full refund;
- the remorse return is for a single-quantity listing.
You will be able to deselect the preselected check mark in the default checkbox if you don't wish to relist the returned item.
Category and Item Specifics Changes
Where? Global
When? June 2019
What’s changing?
Starting on June 10, 2019, category changes including additions, removals, and renames, and new and recommended item specifics in some categories will go into effect.
What you need to know:
Category and item specifics updates will create more intuitive buying, selling, and search experiences and bring eBay into closer alignment with industry-standard classifications. The updates will also help international buyers find your items.
Starting on June 10, 2019, we’ll no longer accept new or revised listings in the Other Books category. The majority of books listed in Other Books would be better placed in a more relevant category, such as fiction or nonfiction. By choosing the “best fit” category for your books, your listings will be more visible and relevant to buyers.
How to use:
If you listed an item on eBay.com in any of the below categories, you may be impacted by changes, in which case eBay will automatically move your listing to the most relevant category.
- Books
- Business & Industrial
- Cell Phones & Accessories
- Collectibles
- Computers/Tablets & Networking
- Consumer Electronics
- Everything Else
- Home & Garden
- Pet Supplies
- Sporting Goods
- Video Games & Consoles
List your items in "best fit" categories
Review your listings to make sure that they are located in "best fit" categories. If they are not in the "best fit" categories, use these eBay tools to revise your items:
- listings tab in Seller Hub;
- bulk edit functionality in My eBay;
- selling Manager/Selling Manager Pro;
- file exchange;
- use your existing eBay integration tool (3rd party tools, API, feeds, etc.).
Check Selling Reminders on your My eBay All Selling page or the new Listing Improvement section of the Selling Manager summary page to identify listings that lack item specifics. You can easily edit those listings in bulk.
To edit a single listing:
- select the listing you want to revise in My eBay;
- click the "Edit" button;
- from the "Actions" menu, select "Edit listings".
To edit multiple listings:
- select the listings you want to revise;
- click the "Edit" button;
- from the "Edit" dropdown menu at the top of the page, select "Item specifics";
- from the dropdown menu at the top of the next screen, select "Edit listings in bulk";
- make the changes you want in the grid, then click the "Save and Close" button.
If you are using an off-eBay listing tool, be sure to use the new category tree to select the best category for your item so that revisions or relists done through the application result in the item moving to the desired location.
Structured Data Attributes Mandate
Optimize your listings for product-based shopping by providing complete and accurate item specifics and product identifiers when you list.
Where? Global
When? June 2019
What’s changing?
Starting in June 2019, we strongly encourage you to include key item specifics when you create new listings in the Home & Garden category. Over time, we may require that you use recommended item specifics that are critical to the buyer experience when you list.
In addition to key item specifics recommendations in the Home & Garden category, we have expanded item specifics options in Antiques, Coins & Paper Money, Collectibles, Sporting Goods, and Toys & Hobbies categories. In combination with key item specifics recommendations in the Home & Garden category, you will be able to optimize your listings in more places on eBay and help buyers find items they're looking for.
What you need to know:
Item specifics include brand and physical details about the item you are selling, such as make, model, size, color, and style. Complete and accurate item specifics help buyers find your listings quickly and easily.
Product identifiers give your listings:
- more detailed listing info that helps buyers find your items;
- more accurate pricing guidance as you create your listings;
- a trending price alert when similar items are selling for higher prices than your items.
How to use:
We continue to monitor which elements matter most to buyers. As we identify those item specifics, we will highlight them in My eBay and Seller Hub. Over time, we may require you to include key item specifics when you list.
Look for key Home & Garden category item specifics and learn about key item specifics in other categories in My eBay and Seller Hub.
Volume Pricing Update
Where? Global
When? May 2019
What’s changing?
An updated user interface makes it easier for you to create Volume Pricing promotions — even in the listing flow. Now you can add or remove inventory, and select your standard inventory from a convenient dropdown menu.
What you need to know:
With Volume Pricing, you can incentivize buyers to purchase two or more identical items at once by setting meaningful discounts for multi-quantity purchases (e.g., save 5% when you buy 2, 10% when you buy 3, etc.). We’re continuously enhancing Volume Pricing because it improves both seller and buyer experiences on eBay by driving multi-quantity purchases for sellers while helping buyers save money.
In addition, you can now create Volume Pricing promotions for similar items with multiple variations (e.g., color or size) in a single listing, and set discounts for minimum quantity purchases, even if the purchases are not for identical items.
How to use:
If a Volume Pricing promotion contains Item A and Item B, but not Item C:
- the discount is applied when a buyer purchases multiple quantities of any item in your promotion — e.g., buying 2 x Item A, in a single transaction, will trigger the discount;
- the discount is also applied when a buyer purchases single quantities of multiple items in the same promotion — e.g., buying 1 x Item A and 1 x Item B, in a single transaction, will trigger the discount;
- the discount will not be applied when a buyer purchases single quantities of multiple items that aren’t in the same promotion — e.g., buying 1 x Item A and 1 x Item C, in a single transaction, will not trigger the discount.
If you selected the Apply discount for a single item-only feature for a campaign that contains Items A, B, and C:
- the discount is applied when a buyer purchases multiple quantities of Item A, B, or C only;
- the discount will not be applied if the buyer adds Item A and Items B or C to the cart;
- the discount is applied if Item A has multiple variations (e.g., colors) and the buyer adds variations of Item A to their cart.
To set up Volume Pricing discounts on listings with variations, select the Marketing tab in Seller Hub and follow these steps:
- select Manage Promotions in the Merchandising dropdown menu;
- on the Manage Promotions page, click the Create Promotion button and select Volume Pricing in the dropdown menu;
- on the Create Volume Pricing page, you will be able to set volume-based percentage discounts for items you want to promote;
- click on Launch to apply the Volume Pricing promotion to your listings.
Volume Pricing can be applied to 500 SKUs, or item IDs, per promotion. If you create rules by selecting categories or select the All Inventory option, Volume Pricing is applied to all qualifying inventory.
Find the Active promotion you want to end on the Promotions dashboard and select Pause in the Action dropdown. After you pause the promotion, select Delete from the Action dropdown to permanently end it.
If your item is in multiple promotions, this is the order of visibility:
- Volume Pricing;
- codeless coupons;
- order discounts;
- sale event + markdown;
- shipping discounts.
If you run a Volume Pricing promotion along with Codeless coupons and Order discounts, regardless of which one is shown to buyers, the single best discount will be applied based on the items in a buyer’s cart at checkout.
If you run a Volume Pricing promotion along with a markdown sale event, Volume Pricing will be applied on top of your discounted price.
If you are using shipping discounts, Volume Pricing may also be applied.
Enhancements to Promoted Listings
Promoted Listings is now available to non-Store subscribers.
Where? Global
When? Live
What’s changing?
Promoted Listings is now available to all sellers in good standing, even if you don't have an eBay Store subscription.
And you can now create Promoted Listings campaigns quickly and easily on the Active listings page in Seller Hub, and monitor which items have sold via Promoted Listings on your Orders page.
What you need to know:
Promoted Listings can help boost your listings visibility on eBay and may help improve chances of conversion.
In addition, it's faster and easier to promote listings when you "sell similar" or relist items that you previously promoted. Now your previous Promoted Listings settings will automatically apply when you “sell similar” or relist items, reducing steps and saving time.
How to use:
A Promoted Listings fee is charged based on the ad rate you choose, which is a percentage of your item's final sale price (excluding shipping and taxes). The fee is only charged when a buyer clicks on a promoted listing and purchases the item within 30 days of that click. Our guidance tools remove the guesswork by suggesting items to promote and at what cost. Detailed campaign metrics and sales reports are available to help you monitor and fine tune your Promoted Listings campaigns.
You can access Promoted Listings in several ways:
- when you list, you will see a "Sell it Faster" option in the listing flow that allows you to promote your items;
- on the Active Listings page in Seller Hub, you can see which of your listings are already promoted or eligible for Promoted Listings;
- you can also go to the Promoted Listings campaign manager and set up a campaign in 3 easy steps.
New calendar-month renewal schedule for Good 'Til Cancelled listings
Good 'Til Cancelled listing, which currently renews every 30 days, will now be renewed once per calendar month.
When? July 1, 2019
Where? Global
What’s changing?
Starting July 1, 2019, we will change the Good 'Til Cancelled renewal schedule from every 30 days to once per calendar month. The new monthly renewal date for a Good ‘Til Cancelled listing will be based on the listing start date.
In addition to the new calendar-month renewal for Good ‘Til Cancelled listings, the "Start date" column on the Seller Hub Active Listings page now includes not only the date you listed the item, but also the length of time the listing has been active.
What you need to know:
The updated renewal schedule should make it easier for you to manage your business by aligning with monthly billing cycles and promotions.
How to use:
Starting July 1, 2019, Good 'Til Cancelled listings will renew once per calendar month. When listings renew in July, subsequent renewal dates will be based on the listing start date. For example, if the listing was originally created on the 1st of the month, from August onward, it will always renew on the 1st of each month.
Examples of Good 'Til Cancelled calendar-month renewals effective July 1, 2019
EXAMPLE: Listing created on the 5th of the month
If you create a Good 'Til Cancelled listing on July 5, it will be renewed on August 5, September 5, October 5, and so on.
EXAMPLE: Listing created on the 31st of the month
If you create a Good 'Til Cancelled listing on July 31, your listing will renew on the 31st or the last day of the month — August 31, September 30, October 31, and so on.
EXAMPLE: Listing created prior to July 1, 2019
A Good 'Til Cancelled listing that was created on January 30, 2019 and has renewed every 30 days (i.e., March 1, March 31, April 30, May 30, and June 29), will renew on July 29. When it renews on July 29, subsequent renewal dates will be set based on the day the listing was created (January 30), using the new monthly calendar schedule. Thus, the next renewal dates will be August 30, September 30, October 30, and so on.
How to manage your Good 'Til Cancelled listings in Seller Hub
Most sellers cannot see the "Start date" column because it’s not visible by default. To make the column visible, you must customize your Active Listings page. Another column that may not be visible by default but which you can also customize is an "End date" column, which, for Good ‘Til Cancelled listings, means the auto-renewal date.
To display "Start date" and "End date" columns on your Active Listings page in Seller Hub:
- сlick the "Customize" link near "Print" on your Active Listings page in Seller Hub;
- select "Start date" and "End date", change your column order if desired. You can also remove any columns that you don’t want to display;
- click "Save". Your Active Listings page will display the "Start date" column, how long the listing has been active, and "End date" (the auto-renewal date for Good ‘Til Cancelled listings) for each of your listings. You can also adjust the width of the column by hovering your cursor over the vertical dividing line, selecting the line, and dragging it left or right.