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Seller News August 2011

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Vehicle Parts & Accessories – 1 listing for all compatible cars

9 August 2011 update:

  1. Changed launch date from late-September to mid-October 2011
  2. Added link to help page which contains downloadable Master Vehicle List (MVL)

From mid-October 2011, you'll be able to show all the cars that are compatible with your part or accessory in 1 listing, helping to save you time and money and helping buyers find parts that fit their car. This will be available for most car categories within Vehicle Parts & Accessories.

A large number of buyers on eBay Motors are unsure whether the item they buy will fit their car when they make their purchase. When you assign compatible cars from a Master Vehicle List (MVL) of more than 16,000 models to your listing, buyers will find the parts they're looking for more quickly and have the reassurance that they're buying the right part that fits.

This should help result in fewer queries and returns, and help to increase your sales. Plus, you save time and money because there's no need to create a separate listing for each car model. The MVL will be available before the change comes into effect.

The benefits

From mid-October 2011, you will be able to assign all the compatible cars from the MVL in 1 listing.

More efficient

  • One listing covers up to 1,000 compatible models
  • Only pay 1 listing fee
  • Clearly showing the compatible vehicles can reduce the number of questions and returns
  • Fewer listings for you to keep track of

More sales potential

  • The buyer is more confident that the item will fit, increasing their willingness to buy
  • Buyers can find your items more easily

More visibility with relevant buyers

  • By listing with the MVL, your listings will only be shown to buyers whose make and model of car your part will fit, increasing the relevant visibility of your listings
  • By using the item title to describe the part or accessory more accurately, your listing is more likely to be returned in more relevant search results

Adding compatible car details to your items

From October 2011, assigning compatible cars from the MVL to new or existing listings will help your buyers to find the right spare part or accessory more quickly. The table you create in your listing is searchable which helps to ensure that your listing will appear in the most relevant searches.

The MVL will be available before the change comes into effect.

  1. Creating new listings using the Master Vehicle List

    The following listing tools can be used to assign compatible cars from the MVL:

    From mid-October:

    • Sell Your Item
    • API
    • Selling Manager / Selling Manager Pro
    • CSV Manager / File Exchange
    • Turbolister
    • Assign up to 1,000 models from the MVL per listing
    • Add your own title, features and item description
    • There's no need to include the car in the title as the table of compatible cars that you create is searchable

    An MVL will be available before the change comes into effect.

  2. Assigning compatible cars to existing listings

    To save time and money, and help buyers find your items more easily, delete duplicate listings (listings that are the same and only differ in their title) and create 1 listing for all compatible cars.

    1. Use the free eBay Listing Analytics tool in the My eBay application tab to identify which of your duplicate listings is the most successful
    2. End all listings
    3. Add the compatible cars from the MVL to the most successful listing and relist it

    For example:

    If you currently have 2 listings entitled 'Brake Pads for BMW 316' and 'Brake Pads for BMW 318' and the item is identical, you should relist the most successful listing as 'Brake Pads', adding the compatible car models (BMW316 and BMW 318) from the MVL to your listing.

Note: If you want to change the title or category of your listing, you must end the listing and relist it. If you do this, you will also keep your sales rank history.

Duplicate listings

You can create up to 15 listings for each part or accessory using the MVL, provided there is no duplication of any models assigned to each listing.

We'll be updating the duplicate listings policy to reflect this information.

Available categories

Based on the recent category changes the following categories will be enabled. Please refer to the update on category and item specifics changes for more details.

Date Category Category / subcategory number
Mid-October Car Tuning and Styling 14761
Only subcategories:
Headlight Assemblies 44240
Performance Brake Parts 23013
Performance Suspension Parts 40192
End October Car Parts 14239
excluding subcategories:  
Servis Kits 174087
Number Plates and Surrounds 52638
Car Tuning and Styling 14761
excluding subcategories:
Decals, Graphics and Adhesives 36677
Window Shades and Tints 72232
Other Interior Styling 40199
Interior Lighting 72236
Car Wheels, Tyres and Trims 14770
excluding subcategories:
Nuts 72257
Tyres 9891
Valve Cap 52639

Listing tool availability

From mid-October
  • 'Sell your item' form
  • API
  • Selling Manager / Selling Manager Pro
  • CSV Manager / File Exchange
  • Turbo Lister
Take action
By when Action
Now Download the Master Vehicle List and familiarise yourself with it.
Mid- October Use the MVL to assign compatible car models to new parts listings in Headlamps, Brake Components and Suspension Components
Mid- October Remove duplicate listings and relist your most successful listings using the MVL to assign compatible car models in Headlamps, Brake Components and Suspension Components
End October Use the MVL to assign compatible car models to new parts listings in all other car categories (see exclusions)
End October Remove duplicate parts listings and relist your most successful listings using the MVL to assign compatible car models in all other car categories (see exclusions)
Now Review the Seller Checklist for an overview of the changes