eBay UK Seller Release Summer 2018

eBay’s Seller Release Summer 2018, gives further details on a number of changes, updates and new policies that were announced in the Spring Seller Release earlier this year.

Shop by Product development

eBay has already started to group together similar listings for items that are matched with its catalogue. From June, Shop by Product will be tested as the default shopping experience for certain product lines, and any listings for these products that aren’t matched up with eBay’s catalogue may have minimal or no visibility to buyers.

What you need to know:

eBay’s now looking to extend the categories that require listings to match the eBay catalogue.  The next categories to be affected will be:

• Cardio Equipment
  
• Cell Phones & Smartphones
  
• Computer/Tablets, Networking Tablets & eBook Readers
  
• Humidifiers
  
• Major Appliances
  
• Portable Fans
  
• Programmable Thermostats
  
• Small Kitchen Appliances
  
• Space Heaters
  
• TV, Video & Home Audio: Internet & Media Streamers
  
• TVs
  
• Voice-Enabled Smart Assistants
  
  
• From August 2018, sellers in these categories will be able to suggest new product entries and improvements to existing ones so that the catalogue accurately reflects the products being sold. You’ll also need to start matching your Good ‘Til Cancelled listings with the catalogue.  
  
• From September listings in these categories will have to match the eBay catalogue - you won’t be able to revise an existing listing or complete a new listing if you don’t use the catalogue. 
  
• You’ll receive email notifications about which listings need revising, and Seller Hub will show recommendations on product matches for your listings that aren’t already matched up. 
  

With the Shop by Product feature, the product page will include all sellers’ listings for that product - your listing will compete with others to be featured in the top pick or the primary position. Your seller performance has to be Above Standard, and your items in stock to compete, and eBay also recommends you offer fast postage options.

Find out more about the development of Shop by Product here. 

eBay Shop and tools improvements

eBay Shops are being updated to provide a better shopping experience, and to align with the HTTPS security standard.

What you need to know

• By end of May 2018, Shopfronts without custom content will be moved to new, secure and mobile-enabled templates. They will be HTTPS compliant, with more merchandising opportunities such as featured items for your Shopfront, and the ability to personalise your Shop by adding a logo, description, billboard images and custom categories. It will also ensure improved search engine optimisation and a better mobile experience. 
  
• During June, Shops with custom content will be redirected to a new, dedicated URL. 

Most eBay Shop functionality is being moved into the Seller Hub, and some tools are being removed or repurposed:

Find out more about changes to eBay Shopfronts and Seller Hub here. 

After-sales requests and peer comparisons

eBay is offering more visibility of buyers’ after-sale requests in Seller Hub, and the opportunity for sellers to compare their performance with other sellers on eBay.

What you need to know

• From July 2018 a new seller metrics and benchmarks tool will be available in the Seller Hub’s performance tab - you’ll be able to see how often you receive ‘item not as described’ and ‘item not received’ after-sale requests. 
  
• Peer comparisons will be available - these take into consideration site, category, sales volume, average selling price, returns policies, item condition, postage services and estimated delivery date, to show you how you’re performing compared to similar sellers. 
  
• Later in 2018, sellers with a high number of ‘item not as described’ or ‘item not received’, compared with others, may have to pay an additional 4% surcharge on final value fees in the relevant categories, or have their estimated delivery dates extended. 
  

Learn more about eBay’s peer comparisons here.

Extended returns

eBay has previously announced that they would be extending the returns period from 14-days to 30-days in certain categories; those changes have come into effect in May.

What you need to know

• New listings in
  - Fashion
  - Health & Beauty
  - Home & Garden
  - Sports, Hobbies & Leisure
  - Media
  - Vehicle Parts & Accessories
  now have to offer a minimum 30-day returns period. 
• There’ll be four returns policy options: 30-day buyer pays return postage, 30-day free returns, 60-day buyer pays return postage, 60-day free returns. 
  
• If you haven’t updated your returns period for existing listings to 30-days by August, eBay will automatically update them. 
  

Automatic refunds

What you need to know

• From July 2018, sellers will have two business days to issue a refund once you’ve received a returned item. 
  
• From August, eBay will automatically issue refunds on behalf of the seller, if a tracked return has been delivered and two business days have passed. 
  
• eBay has also updated their Partial Refunds Guidance.   
  

Read more about changes to eBay returns and refunds here. 

Other updates

Category changes: Details about changes to the category structure that come into effect on 1 August 2018 will be available on this page from 29 June.

Tyre categories: From 31 July 2018, tyre sellers will need to provide certain item specifics for new, revised and relisted tyre listings. This is to align tyre categories on eBay with industry standards, find out more here. 

Change on other eBay sites

Read the full eBay Seller Release Summer 2018 here, and read about eBay's Spring 2018 Seller Release here.