eBay Glossary of eBay's Terms & Definitions
eBay Glossary
eBay Glossary
Wondering what a particular eBay term or icon means? Find out here. The links below will take you back to eBay's website.
A
About Me
A page you can create on eBay that tells other members about you
and your eBay business. Click the
icon next to the User ID of anyone who has an About Me page to
view that person's page or to create your own
About Me page.
Ad Format
Now known as
Classified Ads.
Administrative Cancellation
The cancellation of a bid by eBay due to administrative
circumstances, such as when a bidder becomes unregistered.
Account Guard
The security feature of the eBay Toolbar. The Account Guard
feature identifies when toolbar users are on an eBay or PayPal
Web site, and warns them when they are on a potentially
fraudulent (spoof) Web site. The Account Guard feature also
warns users when they are about to send their eBay password to a
non-eBay site and enables users to report suspicious-looking Web
sites.
Announcement Boards
Special pages where eBay posts current news and information.
You'll find announcements about new features and promotions,
policy changes, special event information, and notices about
system issues. Go to eBay's
general
announcements or
system status
announcements board.
Answer Center
Special pages where you can ask questions and get help about
using eBay from other members of the eBay Community. Go to the
Answer Center.
Auction-Style Listing (Online Auction Format)
The basic, most common way to sell an item on eBay. This format
lets sellers list an item for sale, collect bids for a fixed
length of time, and sell the item to the highest bidder. For
more information on buying formats, see
Guide
to Buying Formats.
B
Best Offer
A listing feature that lets a buyer make an offer to a seller.
Sellers can use the Best Offer feature in
Online Auction,
Fixed Price and
Store Inventory listings.
Best Match
When you run a search, you can select the Best Match option in
the "Sort by" menu. Selecting Best Match will display items that
are the most relevant to your search, based on factors such as
the shopping activity of other eBay buyers.
Bid Assistant
A bidding feature that allows a buyer to create a group of items
and have Bid Assistant bid until the buyer wins one item from
that group. After a buyer creates a group of items and enters
maximum bids, Bid Assistant will move through the group
(starting with the item that ends first), and bid on the buyer’s
behalf until one item is won.
Bid Cancellation
The cancellation of a bid by a seller during an auction-style
listing. Once a bid is cancelled, it cannot be reinstated by the
seller. However, the bidder may bid again. The seller can use
the
Block Bidders/Buyers feature to prevent a particular user
from bidding again on a listing.
In general, sellers should not cancel bids in listings. However,
they might experience a situation in which they decide it is
necessary. For example, sellers might cancel bids if they are
unable to verify the identity of the bidder, even after they try
all reasonable means of contact. Make sure you're aware of other
rules and restrictions surrounding the cancellation of bids.
Bid Increment
The amount by which a bid must be raised in order for it to be
accepted in an auction-style listing. The bid increment is
automatically determined based on the current high bid. For
example, if the current bid for an item is $5.00 and the bid
increment is $0.50, the next bid must be at least $5.50.
Bid Retraction
The cancellation of a bid by a buyer during an auction-style
listing. In general, a buyer cannot retract a bid once it is
placed during an auction-style listing, so please bid carefully.
A retraction may be allowed under special circumstances. For
example, if buyers accidentally enter the wrong bid amount
(entering $99.50 rather than $9.95), they may retract it and
enter the right bid amount as long as they do so immediately.
Make sure you're aware of other rules and restrictions
surrounding the retraction of bids. For more information, see
Bid
Retractions.
Bidder
A member who bids on an item on eBay. Remember each bid placed
enters a buyer into a binding contract. For more information,
see
Rules for Buyers.
Bidder Search
A search for all the items that a member of eBay has placed bids
on. This feature lets you see what items you've bid on during
the last 30 days. Although you can use search by bidder to view
your own current auctions or history, eBay recommends you use
My eBay instead. My eBay has many more functions to manage
your bidding and buying activities.You can also use this feature
to see what another member has bid on during the last 30 days.
All you need is the member's
User ID. To protect bidder privacy, not all items that this
member has bid on may be displayed.
To keep eBay a safe place for buyers and sellers, eBay limits how bid history information is displayed. When the highest bid, reserve or Buy It Now price on an item reaches or exceeds a certain level, members cannot view or search for member-specific information—such as User IDs—on the Bid History page. The Bidding Details page contains detailed information on bidders; however, all bidders are assigned anonymous names—such as Bidder 1. Only the seller of the item can see a bidder’s User ID. See Managing Buyers and Bidders for more information on managing bidders.
Regardless of the current high bid, when the reserve or Buy It Now price is initially set at a certain level, User IDs will appear as anonymous names throughout the duration of the auction, even if the seller lowers the price. Anonymous names may also appear more than once in the bid history and may represent different bidders from different auctions.
Note: The price or bid amount at which User IDs are no longer viewable is determined by eBay and varies by country.
Blackthorne
An advanced eBay selling tool that can help sellers save hours
of work and get paid faster. Blackthorne helps frequent sellers
create professional listings in bulk, track them at eBay, and
manage customer correspondence. Blackthorne Pro helps
high-volume sellers and small businesses automate processes
throughout the sales cycle. It offers everything Blackthorne has
and more. You can subscribe now for a free 30-day trial or just
download them to see how they work.
Block Bidders/Buyers
A list of specific eBay members that you create, who are not
allowed to bid on or buy items you list for sale. Users on the
list will be blocked until you take them off the list. You may
want to do this if you've had a negative experience with a buyer
in the past. Go to your
Blocked Bidder/Buyer List.
Buyer
member who buys an item from a seller on eBay. Remember each bid
a buyer places enters them into a binding contract. For more
information, see
Rules for Buyers.
Buy It Now
A listing feature that lets a buyer purchase an item immediately
for a price the seller has set. Items with this feature will
display the
icon
and the Buy It Now price in their listings. Sellers can use the
Buy It Now feature in
Online Auction,
Fixed Price, and
Store Inventory formats.
C
Category Listings
The set of categories by which items are organized on eBay, such
as Antiques, Books, Computers, Sporting Goods, etc. Anyone can
browse the categories and look at lists of items until they find
something they're interested in, (as opposed to doing a keyword
search). Sellers can choose which category best fits an item to
ensure maximum exposure for the listing. Browse eBay's
category listings.
Changed User ID Icon
Indicates that the member has chosen a new
User ID within the past 30 days. Changing User IDs is not
recommended because a User ID plays an important role in a
member's reputation. A member who has changed User IDs keeps the
same
Feedback Profile. Be sure to examine it as you would with
any other trading partner. However, members change their User
IDs for various reasons. For example, a seller might update it
to reflect a new line of business.
Classified Ads
A type of listing a seller can use to list items, services, or
properties for sale in order to generate multiple leads.
Interested buyers fill out a contact form and their information
is sent to the seller. For more information on buying formats,
see
Guide to Buying Formats.
Completed Listings (Search)
A search for items that have ended over the last 15 days. This
can be useful to help sellers determine how to sell an item. For
example, a seller can view completed listings to decide what
starting price to use in an auction-style listing.
D
Detailed Seller Ratings
Detailed seller ratings provide a more complete picture of the
member’s performance as a seller. When buyers leave an overall
Feedback rating for a seller, they can also leave detailed
seller ratings in four areas: accuracy of item description,
communication, shipping time, and shipping and handling charges.
The rating system is based on a one- to five-star scale. Five
stars is the highest rating, and one star is the lowest rating.
Detailed seller ratings do not count toward the overall
Feedback Score.
Discussion Boards
Special pages where members can post messages to the eBay
Community about various topics. Anyone can ask questions, learn
valuable tips, share experiences, and connect with other eBay
users. There's a discussion board for just about any eBay topic
you can think of.
Dispute Console
The Dispute Console helps buyers and sellers manage, track and
take action on disputes related to their transactions.
Accessible through My eBay, the Dispute Console is used for the
Unpaid Item Process and the Item Not Received Process.
Dutch Auction (Multiple Item
Auction)
A listing in which a seller offers multiple identical items for
sale. Unlike a regular listing, Multiple Item Auctions can have
many winners. Buyers can specify the number of items they're
interested in and the price they're willing pay. Winning bids
are determined by their overall value (bid price times the
number of items bid on). For more information, see
Multiple Item Auction.
E
eBay Community
A group of buyers and sellers who are the members of the eBay
community. Members can see announcements and calendar events, as
well as use discussion boards, groups, and find quick help from
other members. Go to the
eBay Community.
eBay Groups
A group of buyers and sellers who share a common interest. You
can create your own community or participate in discussions,
newsletters, polls and calendars of an existing group. For more
information on group guidelines, see
eBay Groups Guidelines.
eBay Shop
A Web site offering officially licensed quality merchandise with
the eBay logo - from apparel to office accessories to cool
collectibles. Go to the eBay
Shop.
eBay Stores
Special pages on eBay featuring all the items offered by an
individual Store seller. Buyers can shop at eBay Stores to find
unique items they can buy right away. Sellers can use eBay
Stores to maximize their business through customizable displays,
categories, promotions, and access to an additional listing
format (Store
Inventory format). Go to
eBay Stores.
eBay Time
The official time of day at eBay headquarters in San Jose,
California in the United States. This location is in the Pacific
Time zone. See the
current
eBay Time.
eBay Toolbar
A free eBay tool that you add to your Web browser that enables
you access to your favorite eBay and Yahoo! features. eBay
Toolbar Featuring Yahoo! includes Account Guard and My eBay
buttons as well as easy access to Half.com, eBay Express, eBay
Motors and more. Yahoo! features include Web search and
one-click access to Yahoo! Mail and My Yahoo!. eBay Alerts track
items you're bidding on or watching and notify you when you've
been outbid or when an item is ending. Because eBay Toolbar is
added to your browser, it's easy to search for an item on eBay,
even when you're on a non-eBay site. Download the
eBay
Toolbar.
Escrow
A procedure in which a third party holds a buyer's payment in
trust until the buyer receives and approves the item from the
seller. Escrow gives buyers and sellers extra peace of mind when
they exchange payments and items. Escrow is recommended for
purchases of $500 or more. eBay recommends that buyers and
sellers use
Escrow.com as the escrow company. If a seller suggests a
different company, please use caution. Buyers should
independently check on any escrow company by ensuring it is
bonded and licensed.
F
Feedback
A system that eBay members use to rate their buying or selling
experience with another eBay member. After a listing is
completed, the buyer and seller can leave a rating (positive,
neutral, or negative) and a comment about each other. These
become a permanent part of a Feedback Profile and can be viewed
by the rest of the eBay Community. To see a member's full
Feedback Profile, click the number in parentheses next to their
User ID. The Feedback system helps members build a reputation on
eBay and helps check the reputation of other members of the
community. For more information, see
What is Feedback.
Feedback Profile
A page showing all of a member's
Feedback information, including ratings and comments from
others who have bought or sold with that person before. To see a
member's Feedback Profile, click the
Feedback Score in parentheses next to their
User ID.
Feedback Score
A number used to measure a member's reputation on eBay. Members
receive points for ratings as follows: +1 (positive), 0
(neutral), or -1 (negative). The Feedback Score is the sum of
all the ratings a member has received from unique users. A high
Feedback Score means that the member has received a high number
of positive ratings from other members. A high Feedback Score is
usually a good sign, but buyers and sellers should also check
the
Feedback Profile to read comments from other members. Every
member of eBay has a Feedback Score. You'll find it in
parentheses next to their User ID. Click the Feedback Score to
see that member's entire Feedback Profile. For more information,
see
What is Feedback.
Feedback Star
The color of the star Indicates that an eBay member has achieved
a certain Feedback Score. For example, a yellow star means a
member has achieved 10 – 49 Feedback points. In most cases, a
high Feedback Score is a good sign, but buyers and sellers
should also check the Feedback Profile to read comments from
other members. For more information, see
Feedback Star Glossary.
Final Value Fee
A fee eBay charges to a seller when a listing ends. This fee is
based on the "final value" of the item, which is the closing bid
or sale price. The Final Value Fee is not charged if there are
no bids on an item or the high bid did not meet the
reserve price the seller set. See the
Fees
page to learn more about how the Final Value Fee is determined
in different types of listings.
Fixed Price
A Format selling format that lets sellers list an item for an
unchanging, set price, with no auction-style bidding. This is a
common alternative to using
Online Auction format, where people bid for an item. For
more information on buying formats, see
Guide
to Buying Formats. Please note that sellers must have a
minimum
feedback score of 10 or be
ID Verified to use Fixed Price format.
G
Gift Services
A listing option that lets sellers promote the item they're
selling as something that would make a great gift. When sellers
use this feature, a gift box icon appears next to the listing on
search and browse result lists. Sellers can also promote
gift-related services, such as gift wrapping and shipping to the
gift recipient.
Groups
A group of eBay members who share common interests. As a group
member, you can participate in discussions, newsletters, polls,
calendars and photo albums. Also, you can create and grow your
own community. Go to the
Group Center.
Guides
eBay or eBay members write and share their expertise on a topic
or category. Readers can research and learn about all kinds of
information. Anyone can research or write a guide. For more
information, see Reviews &
Guides.
H - I
Help Boards
eBay members and staff moderators answer questions and solve
problems together. Anyone can ask a question, add a topic for
discussion, or browse for an answer. Go to the
Community Help boards.
ID Verified
The
icon indicates that the identity of a seller has been confirmed,
giving buyers an extra measure of security. To ID Verify a
seller, a third-party company works with eBay to cross-check the
seller's contact information across consumer and business
databases.
Become ID Verified.
Insertion Fee
The fee eBay charges to a seller for listing an item. This fee
varies by the type of listing and is non-refundable. See the
Fees page
to learn more about how the Insertion Fee is determined in
different types of listings.
J - K
L - M
Member
A buyer or seller who has created a profile with eBay. A member
has a User ID and password for accessing features, such as My
eBay. As a member, you can track items you are buying or
selling, review or leave feedback, or update and change your
personal information and notifications.
Merge Accounts
To combine two eBay accounts into one account. If you've created
two eBay accounts (with two
User IDs) during the time you've used eBay, merging them can
simplify your buying and selling activities. You'll have just
one account to manage, with one User ID. The feedback scores and
comments from the two accounts will be combined into one
Feedback Profile.
Multiple Item Auction (Dutch
Auction)
A listing in which a seller offers multiple identical items for
sale. Unlike a regular listing, Multiple Item Auctions can have
many winners. Buyers can specify the number of items they're
interested in and the price they're willing pay. Winning bids
are determined by their overall value (bid price times the
number of items bid on). For more information, see
Multiple Item Auction.
My eBay
A central place on eBay where you can manage all of your
activities including buying, selling, feedback and general
account preferences. To get to My eBay, sign in and click the
"My eBay" link at the top of any eBay page. Go to
My eBay
to see your page.
N - O
New Listing Icon
Indicates that the item has been listed within the last 24
hours. If you search or browse for the same kind of items
repeatedly, this
icon
helps you spot items you may not have seen before.
New Member/User Icon
Indicates that the buyer or seller has been a
registered member of eBay for 30 days or less. New members
join the eBay Community everyday. Knowing that a person has
recently joined can be helpful in various situations. For
example, when dealing with a new member, an experienced seller
will know to be more patient as the new member learns how eBay
works.
Online Auction Format
(Auction-Style Listing)
The basic, most common way to sell an item on eBay. This format
lets sellers list an item for sale, collect bids for a fixed
length of time, and sell the item to the highest bidder. For
more information on buying formats, see
Guide
to Buying Formats.
P - Q
PayPal
A fast, easy, secure payment method offered by most eBay sellers
for purchasing items. When buyers use PayPal, payment is sent
from their credit card or bank account without giving any
account information directly to the seller. All the buyer need
is the seller's email address. With PayPal, credit card or bank
account information is kept private and safe on eBay's
secure servers.
Sign up for PayPal.
PayPal Buyer Protection
A buyer protection program that offers up to $1,000 of free
coverage for buyers who pay with PayPal on qualified listings.
Listings are qualified if the seller has a feedback score of 50
(98% positive) and meet other transaction-related requirements.
Items that qualify for PayPal Buyer Protection are denoted by
the PayPal Buyer Protection shield on the View Item page.
Picture Icon
Indicates that the listing has a picture of the item in its
description. This icon appears in browse and search result
lists.
PowerSeller
A seller on eBay who has maintained a 98% positive
feedback score and provided a high level of service to
buyers. When buyers see the icon next to a seller's User ID,
they know they're working with an experienced eBay seller.
Pre-Approve Bidders/Buyers
Lets a seller create a list of specific eBay members who are
allowed to bid on or buy an item they are listing for sale. Each
pre-approved list applies to only one item, so sellers can
restrict bidding or buying on one listing without changing the
other listings. Members not on the pre-approved list must email
the seller for approval before they can bid on or buy an item.
Privacy Policy
eBay's policy on how we use and protect your personal
information. For more information, see
eBay Privacy Policy. To see a summary of this policy, go to
eBay's
Privacy Central page.
Private Auction Listing
A listing in which the
User IDs of bidders are not displayed to others. When a
private auction listing ends, the seller and high bidder are
notified through email. Sellers may want to use this option when
they believe that potential bidders for an item may not want
their User IDs disclosed to others.
Proxy Bidding
The feature of an auction-style listing in which eBay
automatically bids on the buyer's behalf, up to the maximum
amount they set. Enter the maximum amount you're willing to
spend on an item, and eBay will continue to bid incrementally
for you until either you're the high bidder or your maximum is
reached. This means you don't have to keep coming back to bid
every time someone else places a bid.
R
Real Estate Ads Listing
A listing format that lets sellers advertise real estate to
eBay's audience without having to hold an auction-style listing
or conduct the sale on eBay. With this format, there is no
bidding. Interested buyers provide their contact information to
the seller through the listing. This listing type is also known
as Classified Ads.Â
Registered Member/User
A person who has registered with eBay by providing basic contact
information. This contact information is kept private on eBay's
secure servers. Once you register and choose a
User ID and password, you can begin bidding on and buying
items on eBay.
Register now.
Relisting
Listing an item for sale again after it did not sell the first
time. If a seller relists an item and it sells the second time,
eBay automatically refunds the relisting fee (some restrictions
apply).
Reserve Price
The lowest price at which a seller is willing to sell an item in
an
auction-style listing. When sellers list an item, they can
set a secret reserve price. If the highest bid does not meet the
reserve price, then they're under no obligation to sell the item
to the bidder. This feature lets sellers set a low
starting price to stimulate bidding among buyers, yet
ensures that the item will not be sold below a price they're
willing to settle for. eBay charges an additional fee for
setting a reserve price, but it is fully refunded if an item
sells. For more information, see the
Fees
page.
Reviews
eBay members write and share their experience with products.
Readers can research and learn about all kinds of information.
Anyone can research or write a review. For more information, see
Reviews & Guides.
S
Second Chance Offer
A seller can make an offer to a non-winning bidder when either
the winning bidder has failed to pay for an item or the seller
has a duplicate of the item. A seller can create a Second Chance
Offer immediately after a listing ends and up to 60 days after
the end of the listing. eBay does not charge an
Insertion Fee, but if the bidder accepts the offer, the
regular
Final Value Fee is charged. In the case of an Unpaid Item,
the seller should ensure that everything has been done to
resolve the issue with the winning bidder before sending a
Second Chance Offer to another bidder. See the
Unpaid Items Process for details. Make sure you're aware of
other rules and restrictions surrounding Second Chance Offers.
Secure Server
A special server used for processing credit card and other
sensitive information. This server uses
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption to keep your
information private and safe.
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
An industry-standard encryption protocol that is used to
transmit users' personal or credit card information securely and
privately over the internet. eBay uses this technology to keep
your information safe. By convention, Web pages that require an
SSL connection start with https: instead of http:. When you see
https: in the address box in your Web browser, you know you're
using an SSL connection.
Security and Resolution
The Center central location on the eBay site for members to
report problems as well as for members to learn how to stay safe
on eBay and online. Go to the
Security and
Resolution Center.
Sell Similar Item
A feature that lets sellers list new items based on the
information they've previously entered for another item. When a
seller chooses this option, eBay automatically transfers
information from the old listing into the new one for easy
editing. Sellers save time by not having to enter the same
information again.
Seller
A member who sells an item on eBay. Remember eBay has rules to
help ensure that transactions are safe and hassle-free for the
seller and the buyer. For more information, see
Rules for Sellers.
Seller's Return Policy
A feature in the Sell Your Item form that enables sellers to
specify their product's return policy. This feature includes a
set of pre-formatted policy from which the seller can choose.
Once the seller chooses a Return Policy, it appears in a
corresponding section of the View Item page.
Seller Search
A search for a specific seller on eBay. Enter a seller's
User ID, and you'll see all the items the seller is
currently listing.
Search for a seller.
Selling Manager
An advanced eBay selling tool that lets sellers perform all of
their listing and sales-related activities from one location in
My eBay. With Selling Manager, sellers can perform a variety of
selling activities, such as tracking listings and managing
post-sales activities (feedback, email, payments, etc.).
Learn
more about Selling Manager.
Selling Manager Pro
An eBay selling tool that has the features of Selling Manager,
plus additional capabilities to track inventory, list items in
bulk, send feedback and emails in bulk, and generate profit and
loss reports.
Learn more
about Selling Manager Pro.
Shill Bidding
The deliberate placing of bids to artificially raise the price
of an item. This practice undermines trust in the eBay Community
and is not permitted. To avoid the appearance of involvement in
this activity, family members, friends, and individuals living
together, working together, or sharing a computer should not bid
on each other's items.
Skype
A free application you install on your computer to communicate
with other eBay members. Skype is a fast and easy communication
method offered by some eBay sellers, so buyers can ask
questions. Skype lets you make free calls over the Internet from
your computer. You can use the Chat feature or the Call feature
to communicate with other eBay members. If you use the Call
feature, you will need speakers and microphone or a headset with
a microphone.
Sniping
Placing a bid in the closing minutes or seconds of an
auction-style listing. Any bid, placed before the listing ends,
is allowed on eBay. To protect yourself from being outbid at the
last moment, enter the maximum amount you're willing to pay for
an item up front, and eBay will bid automatically for you,
making sure you're the high bidder until your maximum is
reached. This system is sometimes called
proxy bidding.
Starting Price
The price at which a seller wants bidding for an item to begin
in an auction-style listing. The starting price may not
necessarily be the lowest price they're willing to sell their
item for. Sellers can also set a secret
reserve price that represents the true minimum. If the high
bid does not meet the reserve price, then the seller is under no
obligation to sell the item to the bidder. This feature enables
sellers to set a lower starting price to stimulate bidding among
buyers.
Store Inventory Format
A selling format that eBay Store sellers can use to list items
in their Store for a fixed price. Store Inventory items do not
appear in regular browse and search item lists on eBay. However,
they have a lower
Insertion Fee and longer listing durations. Sellers can draw
buyers to their Store and Store Inventory items by promoting
them in auction-style listings and outside of eBay. This format
is available only if the seller has an
eBay Store.
T
Title Search
A method of finding items on eBay by entering keywords that
match the title of the items. You enter keywords that you think
will appear in the title of the item you're looking for. The
Search function will return with a list of items that match your
keywords.
Search by title.
Turbo Lister
An advanced eBay selling tool that helps sellers create multiple
listings quickly and easily on their computer. Turbo Lister is a
desktop-based application. You use it on your computer to create
your listings, and then upload the listings to eBay. Turbo
Lister's features helps sellers save time if they list many
items. Download
Turbo Lister.
U - Z
Unpaid Item Process
The dispute resolution process used by sellers when they have
not been paid for their item. Sellers who are not satisfied with
the resolution can file for a Final Value Fee credit from eBay.
User Agreement
The terms under which eBay offers
registered members access to eBay services. All registered
members must agree to these terms before they can bid on or list
items, or use any other eBay service. Read the
eBay User Agreement.
User ID
The unique name you use to identify yourself on eBay. You choose
a User ID when you register on eBay. As you buy and sell on
eBay, your User ID may become an important part of your
reputation on eBay. You'll want other members to associate your
User ID with a reliable, positive buying or selling experience.
Want It Now
eBay's place where buyers can tell sellers exactly what they
want. Buyers post a message to Want It Now with a description of
what they'd like to buy. Sellers can review these posts and
respond to buyers with items they are selling on eBay. Go to
Want It Now.