When eBay announced its Spring Seller Update, it said sellers who list branded items in new or refurbished condition would soon be required to include the item’s brand, manufacturer part number (MPN), and a global trade item number (GTIN) in a number of categories.
The deadline to have this information included in listings is June 29, which is approaching.
Categories in which sellers must comply include: Baby, Books, Business & Industrial (Test, Lab, and Office Equipment), Camera & Photos, Cell Phones & Accessories, Clothing, Shoes & Accessories (Shoes Only), Computers/Tablets & Networking, Consumer Electronics, DVDs & Movies, eBay Motors, Health & Beauty, Home & Garden (Tools and Appliances only), Music, Musical Instruments & Gear, Pet Supplies, Sporting Goods, Toys & Hobbies, and Video Games & Consoles.
In other words, the policy covers a lot of the goods sold on eBay.
Beginning on the 29th, product identifiers will be required on new listings. eBay will prevent listing completion if the information is not included. The policy will be added on a category-by-category basis over the coming weeks. The company says to add the information to your listings to make sure you’re ready.
If this seems like a hassle to you as a seller, consider how including this information can help users find the items they’re looking for. In fact, eBay provides some tips for maximizing item views with identifiers:
– Be sure to include your item’s unique product identifiers any time you list branded items in new condition—particularly in the categories listed here.
– Use eBay’s bulk listing and editing tool to update your existing listings with the required product identifiers now to take advantage of increased search visibility.
– To save time—and to make sure your listing is as accurate as possible—match your item with a product from the eBay catalog every time you list. When you do, the unique product identifiers for your item are included automatically in your listing.
– Review eBay’s best practices for maximizing your position in Best Match search results. And remember, creating great collections can also help attract more buyers to your listings.
The company provides a helpful FAQ section about product identifiers here, which will hopefully answer any questions you may have about implementing this.
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