Detailed Item Conditions to be Mandatory by July 27

One change announced in Ebay’s 2010 Summer Seller Update was increased specificity with regards to item condition. This will be useful for buyers trying to determine whether “new” means “newish” or ”refurbished” or “still in the package” et cetera. As of May 10, this new system should be in full effect.

The descriptors will vary from category to category, but the Announcement on eBay’s Seller Information page states that up to six item conditions will be available. This is another response from eBay that was developed in close cooperation with buyer and seller feedback.

This is not just to improve buyer satisfaction, but also to drive more traffic to eBay from other sites that help consumers comparison shop online. The new conditions were developed with the idea of keeping things simple for buyers while still adding detail to item listings. It is interesting to note that not all categories will be affected. This is a good thing. Not everyone is a jeweler or collectible expert; short of waiting until PBS’s Antique’s Roadshow comes to town, your best guess will do for antiques where the “condition varies so dramatically.” Also exempt are event tickets, real estate, or gift certificates among others.

Those who list their own items for sale on eBay should be advised that this is not simply a usability upgrade. Using the new informative terms will be mandatory by July 27 but users are encouraged to begin compliance immediately. Check out the item condition lookup table to see if these details apply to your items for sale.

In some cases, items will be “automatically mapped” based on the previous descriptors, but users are encouraged to double check to ensure that their listings are accurate. Well-intentioned sellers will likely not be given the benefit of the doubt for too long if they fail to accurately use this new system.

This is just another reason why you should trust the qualified staff at Easysale to list your items for you. In addition to being up to date on all of eBay’s published changes, they’re also knowledgeable about “trade secrets” that lead to higher sales and more money for you! From pricing to item descriptions, the dedicated professionals at Easysale will do their very best to maximize the selling power of your items.  For those who want to do it on their own, eBay recommends the following “best practices”:

Best Practices

• Start using the new item condition values as soon as they are available.
• Ensure that your item description aligns with the item condition you specify—you cannot have contradictions between the two.
• Continue to fully describe the condition of your item in the body of your listing and make sure this description is consistent withthe new item condition value you choose.
• Continue to identify in your listing any defects or other information a buyer should know in order to make an informed decision.
• Provide plenty of photos that complement the item condition and description.

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