We’ll be updating the look and feel, introducing some new features, consolidating boards, increasing some access requirements and revising the discussion board policy.

The discussion boards have been an important part of the eBay experience for many years. We believe the changes being introduced will not only ensure they continue to be a great spot for members to seek advice, share passions and tips for trading on eBay but also allow for more focused, constructive discussion among members and with eBay.

Here’s a snapshot of some of the new features being introduced:

• Greater personalisation and layout options. In addition to showing My World profile images, you’ll find tools that will allow you to quickly access those discussion topics that are most important to you.
• Time-saving features. Hover over a discussion thread title and catch a glimpse of the conversation that’s taking place before you decide to click into the thread.
• Enhanced control over your experience. You can sort discussions from newest to oldest or vice versa plus you’ll be able to automatically “quote” an earlier post.

Take a look at the recently upgraded discussion boards on the eBay.com site to get an idea of how things will look.

In order for the boards to get their makeover, they’ll need to be offline for a little while. We anticipate the boards will be unavailable for about 6-8 hours and we’ll provide exact times as we get closer.

Thanks to everyone who contributed feedback, suggestions and ideas, your input has helped finalise the new structure. Keep an eye on your favourite discussion board for more details.