We’re shortly going to be testing a new look and some features on the item details page (sometimes referred to as the ‘View Item Page’), and we wanted to let you know about the changes you can expect to see if you’re part of the test group.

We’ve had lots of requests for bigger pictures and a more structured layout, and the new design directly meets those requests.

New look

The new page is cleaner and easier to read. There's a bigger picture at the top of the page, with quick and easy access to the other pictures. The new layout also makes it easier to find payment and postage information.

Easier bidding & buying
The essential information needed before bidding and buying can be read at a glance. There’s also a real-time countdown clock.

We’ll be following the results and feedback closely to make sure the changes are improving the eBay experience.

Information for sellers:

Preview your item in the new item page. Although only a very small fraction of buyers will see the new design, all sellers, as of today, will be able to see how their items will appear in the new design. As a seller, if you have an item listed, simply sign in and click the new preview link at the top of your listing to view the item as it would appear in the new design. Our test will last for at least 4 weeks to allow you to adjust your listings as necessary.

The redesigned item page description section will be flexible in width, not fixed width. 3rd-party developers and sellers told us that our original plan to require a fixed width for the description area of the item page would cause too much disruption to listing templates. We’ve modified our design, so now the top section will be fixed width, but the lower description section will be flexible in width (as it is today) to accommodate the various types of listing templates our sellers use.

More details and FAQs for buyers, sellers and Shop owners are available at: http://pages.ebay.co.uk/newlook08/viewitem/.

New My eBay beta
We’re starting to introduce the new look My eBay to more users now, following our initial testing.  If you’ve been transferred to the new My eBay beta, you can still opt out of the test, if you’d prefer.  If you can’t see the new My eBay but would like to, you’ll be pleased to know that all users can now opt-in to view and use the new My eBay beta.  The new My eBay makes it easier for you to personalise the information you want to see.  Click the ‘Try out the beta’ link at the top right hand of the My eBay page.

As always, we’ll be happy to hear your feedback. More details are available at: http://pages.ebay.co.uk/newlook08/myebay/  (eBay.co.uk) or http://pages.ebay.ie/newlook08/myebay/ (eBay.ie)

Regards,

The eBay team

Link to this announcement | Back to top
	***Original: Changes to item details page and an update on My eBay ***
	15 August, 2008 | 01:32PM BST We’re shortly going to be testing a new look and some features on the item details page (sometimes referred to as the ‘View Item Page’), and we wanted to let you know about the changes you can expect to see if you’re part of the test group. We’ve had lots of requests for bigger pictures and a more structured layout, and the new design directly meets those requests. New look The new page is cleaner and easier to read. There's a bigger picture at the top of the page, with quick and easy access to the other pictures. The new layout also makes it easier to find payment and postage information. Easier bidding & buying The essential information needed before bidding and buying can be read at a glance. There’s also a real-time countdown clock. We’ll be following the results and feedback closely to make sure the changes are improving the eBay experience. Information for sellers: Preview your item in the new item page. Although only a very small fraction of buyers will see the new design, all sellers, as of today, will be able to see how their items will appear in the new design. As a seller, if you have an item listed, simply sign in and click the new preview link at the top of your listing to view the item as it would appear in the new design. Our test will last for at least 4 weeks to allow you to adjust your listings as necessary. The redesigned item page description section will be flexible in width, not fixed width. 3rd-party developers and sellers told us that our original plan to require a fixed width for the description area of the item page would cause too much disruption to listing templates. We’ve modified our design, so now the top section will be fixed width, but the lower description section will be flexible in width (as it is today) to accommodate the various types of listing templates our sellers use. New My eBay beta We’re starting to introduce the new look My eBay to more users now, following our initial testing.  If you’ve been transferred to the new My eBay beta, you can still opt out of the test, if you’d prefer.  If you can’t see the new My eBay but would like to, you’ll be pleased to know that all users can now opt-in to view and use the new My eBay beta.  The new My eBay makes it easier for you to personalise the information you want to see.  Click the ‘Try out the beta’ link at the top right hand of the My eBay page. As always, we’ll be happy to hear your feedback. More details are available at: http://pages.ebay.co.uk/newlook08/myebay/  (eBay.co.uk) or http://pages.ebay.ie/newlook08/myebay/ (eBay.ie) Regards, The eBay team
	Link to this announcement | Back to top

We'd like to let you know about some changes to our policies on buying and selling knives on eBay. These will come into effect from September this year.

Extra verification when buying

From September, buyers must have a credit card on file with us in order to purchase a knife on eBay.co.uk. If you don't, we'll ask you to enter your card details when you place your bid or use Buy It Now. This is for verification only; you won't be charged.

Rules for sellers

1) It is an offence in the UK to sell knives to a person who is under the age of 18.

2) It is an offence to market a knife in a way which indicates or suggests that it is suitable for combat, or is likely to encourage violent behaviour involving the use of the knife as a weapon.

3) The following knives are not permitted on eBay. Please check our policy for full details and examples.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Regards,

The eBay Team

Link to this announcement | Back to top

Updated to add link to further details: http://pages.ebay.co.uk/newlook08/newsearch/index.html

Two new features are coming to search on eBay.co.uk: search suggestions and a new Refine Your Search.

Search suggestions means that the search box will offer suggestions to help you complete your query as you type. The search suggestions feature will make searching faster and easier than ever. If you don’t like it, though, don’t worry, you can always turn suggestions off.

The changes to Refine Your Search will make it easier to find and select options like 'Search including Title & Item Description' and show only 'Auctions'.

More details on the changes are available at: http://pages.ebay.co.uk/newlook08/newsearch/index.html.

Everyone searching on eBay.co.uk will see the features during the next 7 days.

Regards,

The eBay Team

Link to this announcement | Back to top
	***Original: New Features in Search***
	12 August, 2008 | 11:38AM BST Two new features are coming to search: search suggestions and a new Refine Your Search. Search suggestions means that the search box will offer suggestions to help you complete your query as you type. The search suggestions feature will make searching faster and easier than ever. If you don’t like it, though, don’t worry, you can always turn suggestions off. The changes to Refine Your Search will make it easier to find and select options like 'Search including Title & Item Description' and show only 'Auctions'. More detail on the changes will be available soon. Everyone searching on eBay.co.uk will see the features during the next 7 days. Regards, The eBay Team
	Link to this announcement | Back to top

We’re making major improvements to the way Buy It Now and Shops work on eBay.ie. These changes will come into effect from September 24th 2008.

If you already own a Shop, list lots of Buy It Now items or want to grow your business, we strongly advise you find out more about these improvements and what you can do to make the most of them for your business.

Find out more about the changes: http://pages.ebay.ie/buyitnow08

What’s changing?

Buy It Now
Buy It Now listings will last up to 30 days, giving your listing more chance of selling by trebling the maximum exposure time from 10 days.

The insertion fee for Buy It Now listings will cost a flat 50c (25c in media category, different pricing applies to the Vehicles category), whatever the price of the item. Insertion fees as low as 2c will be available to Shop owners.

Shops
If you have lots of items you want to list using Buy It Now, open one of our improved Shops to get much lower insertion fees.

Our new Shops are designed to give sellers more opportunities to offer more stock on eBay, and to enjoy a lower upfront cost - as low as 2c depending on what level Shop subscription you choose.

All items listed through a Shop will appear in main search results. This means Shop Inventory Format will no longer be available as a listing format.

What do I do now?
If you list lots of Buy It Now items, own a Shop, want to grow your business or offer your entire inventory on eBay.ie at lower cost, follow our ‘four essential steps’ to understand how these improvements will affect you and how you can make the most of them.

1. Sign up for the right Shop and get even lower insertion fees
2. Take advantage of cheaper multiple-item and Good ‘Til Cancelled listings
3. Get the best placement in search results with good products, great prices and Featured First
4. Keep delivering great service to buyers

Read more about four essential steps to making the most of improved Buy It Now and Shops: http://pages.ebay.ie/buyitnow08

Why are we making these improvements?
Buyers and sellers have been telling us they want more choice in how they shop and how they sell. As well as the magic of auctions, many buyers increasingly want the convenience of being able to buy a great item, at a great cost, instantly. These improvements now mean sellers have the opportunity to meet this demand and grow their businesses.

Thanks for your continued support in making eBay such a vibrant marketplace to buy and sell.

Regards,

The eBay Team

Link to this announcement | Back to top

We’re making major improvements to the way Buy It Now and Shops work on eBay.co.uk. These changes will come into effect from September 24th 2008.

If you already own a Shop, list lots of Buy It Now items or want to grow your business, we strongly advise you find out more about these improvements and what you can do to make the most of them for your business.

Find out more about the changes: http://pages.ebay.co.uk/buyitnow08

What’s changing?

Buy It Now
Buy It Now listings will last up to 30 days, giving your listing more chance of selling by trebling the maximum exposure time from 10 days.

The insertion fee for Buy It Now listings will be the same fee, whatever the price of the item:

40p (20p in media category, different pricing applies to the Vehicles category)

Insertion fees as low as 1p will be available to Shop owners.

Shops
If you have lots of items you want to list using Buy It Now, open one of our improved Shops to get much lower insertion fees.

Our new Shops are designed to give sellers more opportunities to offer more stock on eBay, and to enjoy a lower upfront cost - as low as 1p depending on what level Shop subscription you choose.

All items listed through a Shop will appear in main search results. This means Shop Inventory Format will no longer be available as a listing format.

What do I do now?
If you list lots of Buy It Now items, own a Shop, want to grow your business or offer your entire inventory on eBay.co.uk at lower cost, follow our ‘four essential steps’ to understand how these improvements will affect you and how you can make the most of them.

1. Sign up for the right Shop and get even lower insertion fees
2. Take advantage of cheaper multiple-item and Good ‘Til Cancelled listings
3. Get the best placement in search results with good products, great prices and Featured First
4. Keep delivering great service to buyers

Read more about four essential steps to making the most of improved Buy It Now and Shops: http://pages.ebay.co.uk/buyitnow08

Why are we making these improvements?
Buyers and sellers have been telling us they want more choice in how they shop and how they sell. As well as the magic of auctions, many buyers increasingly want the convenience of being able to buy a great item, at a great cost, instantly. These improvements now mean sellers have the opportunity to meet this demand and grow their businesses.

Thanks for your continued support in making eBay such a vibrant marketplace to buy and sell.

Regards,

The eBay Team

Link to this announcement | Back to top

From 24th September, we’re revising fees for Auction and Buy It Now listings, Shop subscriptions and for Gallery.

Free Gallery
We’re happy to confirm that we’re removing the fee for the Gallery listing upgrade (was 15p on eBay.co.uk and 20c on eBay.ie). This makes permanent the promotion that was due to end on 30th September 2008.

Success-based fees
Overall, we are continuing our commitment to moving the cost of selling an item on eBay.co.uk and eBay.ie away from the front-end insertion fee and increasing the final value fees, so that the majority of fees are paid only when you successfully sell an item.

Sellers can continue to enjoy large discounts on final value fees based on volume of sales and good service.

Fees to fit your business
We are also providing more tailored pricing options to fit the different sizes and business models of Shop owners and Buy It Now format sellers. This will help provide a more vibrant market place with even greater choice for buyers and greater opportunities for all sellers.

Find out more about the fees changes:
eBay.co.uk: http://pages.ebay.co.uk/pricechange08/
eBay.ie: http://pages.ebay.ie/pricechange08/

Regards,

The eBay Team

Link to this announcement | Back to top

From the beginning of October we’ll start to give buyers more detail about the items they want to buy, based on information given to us by sellers.

What do I need to do? 
Sellers should update listing templates now and make sure new listings include postage options, dispatch times and return policies.

Postage options and dispatch time
From the beginning of October, when sellers put in a dispatch time for an item, we’ll start to display the estimated delivery time for that item at checkout.

This will be calculated by combining information about the ‘Dispatch Time’ and ‘Postage Option’ the seller specifies when creating their listing, and is a great way to help set realistic buyer expectations on delivery times.

Early next year all sellers will be required to enter a dispatch time on all their listings.  If there’s no information regarding normal delivery times for the postage option chosen, we’ll just show the dispatch time.

Return policy
From the beginning of October, every seller will need to specify whether they do or don't accept returns. We’ll remove the pre-selected dropdown menu that allows sellers to choose the length of time during which returns will be accepted.

This means business sellers should adapt their return policy in line with their legal obligations, and specify the number of days during which returns will be accepted by them.  We advise all sellers to update this at the earliest opportunity.

Regards,

The eBay Team

Link to this announcement | Back to top

From 12th August until 23rd September you can list multiple numbers of identical items within the same listing on eBay.co.uk using the Buy It Now only or Shop Inventory Format and pay only one Insertion Fee for each category that you list in.

Terms and conditions apply

Regards

The eBay Team

Link to this announcement | Back to top

Last month we announced that we’ll be recalculating Feedback percentages to exclude neutral Feedback from the calculation.

Neutrals, whether left in the past, or those you might receive in the future, will no longer be counted as part of the Feedback percentage.

The recalculation is scheduled to take effect next week (week commencing 19th August), before the next PowerSeller eligibility deadline. This means neutral feedback will not affect PowerSeller eligibility for August.

Regards,

The eBay Team

Link to this announcement | Back to top

All Insertion fees are half price for any listing using the Auction-style, Auction-with-Buy It Now or Buy It Now Only (Fixed Price) formats in eligible categories on eBay.co.uk.

Get ready to save more!

Final value and feature fees are not included in this promotion.

*Terms and conditions apply

Regards,

The eBay Team

Link to this announcement | Back to top

We're delighted to announce a significant expansion of the protection offered to buyers and sellers when they use PayPal on eBay. These improvements will come into effect from October this year.

Buyers
Starting in October, eBay buyers will receive protection for the full value of their purchases (including postage) when they pay with PayPal.  Currently, buyers are protected up to a maximum amount of £500. Find out more about buyer protection

Sellers
Also from October, all sellers will qualify for expanded seller protection against certain claims for fraudulent payments and item not received, regardless of whether they are a PowerSeller or not.

Improvements include:

• No more confirmed address. eBay Sellers can post to whichever address the buyer provides them for the eBay sale through PayPal, whether it is confirmed or not.
• No more coverage limit. Currently sellers have a coverage payout limit under the Seller Protection Policy of £3,250 per year. We are removing this limit to cover all eligible claims.
• Coverage in more places around the world. Coverage is now extended to the 190 countries supported by PayPal for sales made via eBay, so sellers can post to customers wherever they are and feel safe.

Find out more about expanded seller protection (currently only available for PowerSellers).

These improvements continue our efforts to make eBay a safer, more vibrant marketplace, where buyers can shop and sellers can sell with even greater confidence that they’ll be protected in the unlikely event that things go wrong. 

We look forward to updating you with further details nearer the time.

Regards,

The eBay Team

Link to this announcement | Back to top