New Release: The Feedback API

Use the new Feedback API to develop DSR-based reports and tools that offer insight into how specific business practices contribute to a seller’s DSR scores. DSR data can help sellers understand particular strengths and weaknesses in their business model as well as possible areas for improvement. For example, a particular shipping service may consistently deliver high DSRs, while a items listed in a particular category contribute to most of the lower ratings.

The eBay Feedback Service currently supports the following APIs:

Detailed Seller Ratings (DSRs)

The Feedback Service uses an asynchronous programming model. There are "create" calls for specifying the criteria for generating the reports and a single "get" call, getDSRSummary, to retrieve the generated reports. The response for the create calls contains a job ID, which is used as input for the get call to check completion status and/or to retrieve the DSR summary report. Reports typically take less than an hour to generate.

Note: Currently, APIs are provided for managing DSR data only. For other Feedback related operations, such as leaving and retrieving Feedback, please refer to the Trading API.

• createDSRSummaryByCategory: Creates a seller's DSR summary report for sold items based on the categories they were listed in and a date range.
• createDSRSummaryByPeriod: Creates a seller's DSR summary report for sold items based on a date range.
• createDSRSummaryByShippingDetail: Creates a seller's DSR summary report for sold items based on shipping details for the items and a date range.
• createDSRSummaryByTransaction: Creates a seller's DSR summary report for sold items specified with transaction information.
• getDSRSummary: Retrieves a DSR report which had previously been created for specific criteria, such as a list of transactions, period of time, listing category, or shipping details.

Access to eBay Feedback APIs is over HTTP protocol, and requires a User Token for user-level authentication. eBay Feedback API requests to create DSR summary reports are limited to 10 requests per user per day.

Amended API License Agreement for eBay Developers Program

eBay Developers Program Members:

eBay has made some important changes to the eBay API License Agreement—now called the eBay Developers Program & API License Agreement ("Amended Agreement"). In addition to reorganizing and simplifying the content of the agreement, we have clarified permitted uses and privacy requirements, and changed a number of terms.

To more efficiently manage the Developers Program worldwide, we've revised local terms to create a single global contract in U.S. English that will govern our relationship with developers in all countries.

Please make sure you read through and understand the Amended Agreement because it affects your rights and obligations. You can find the Amended Agreement here: Amended Agreement. You can find the current, unamended Agreement here: Current Agreement. In addition, we have also emailed all of our members about these important changes.

The Amended Agreement becomes effective thirty days from today on March 28, 2009. If any term in the Agreement is unacceptable to you, you must terminate this Agreement and your access to the developer program tools and the API by sending a termination notice to developer-relations@ebay.com before March 28, 2009.

For developers in France, Germany or the UK, please follow the termination directions provided in the email sent to you regarding your localized API agreements.

By using any of the developer program tools or the API after March 28, 2009, you are representing and warranting that you understand and agree to the Amended Agreement.

Thank you,

eBay Developer Relations

Reminder: Breaking Changes to Golf Club Item Specifics

As previously mentioned, we will be making some important changes to Golf Clubs Item Specifics. Two of the changes may break listings in the Golf Club category:

• Existing Model values will be deleted, and Model will become a free text field
• The Condition value "Vintage" is being deleted

These Item Specifics changes will start rolling late on March 2 and should complete the morning of March 3.

For more details, and for additional, non-breaking Item Specifics changes in Golf Clubs, see the previous post.

Reminder: DevCon 2009 Call for Papers Closes Friday

Just a friendly reminder. The Call for Papers for the eBay and PayPal Developers Conference 2009 closes this Friday, February 27.

Don't miss the chance to share your knowledge with your fellow developers, and establish yourself as an expert at the same time. Our developer community has experience and deep knowledge about building applications on the eBay and PayPal API platforms. Selected speakers will get complimentary access to the conference, plus one night hotel stay on us.

To look at last year's presentations, see the DevCon 2008 Presentations page.

And don't worry, only the topic is due Friday, not the whole talk. Get all the details.

605 Shopping, Trading and Client Alerts API Documentation - Now Available

Shopping

The 605 version of the API documentation is now available. Please note that updates to applications using new schema versions should always be done in a test environment.

Release Highlights

Announcements

• Retirement of Now & New

Change Requests

• See the Shopping API System Announcements for bug fixes included in this release.

eBay Shopping API Documentation

• All Tutorials: Start working with the Shopping API.
• Getting Started Guide: A quick overview of the eBay Shopping API and what you can do with it.
• Call Reference: Browse all calls and the fields they use.

Please refer to table at the top of the Release Notes for when each version of the API will be available.

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Trading

The 605 version of the API documentation is now available. Please note that updates to applications using new schema versions should always be done in a test environment.

Release Highlights

Announcements

• Live Auction APIs Deprecated
• Retirement of Now & New

New Features

• Ability to Retrieve Checkout Messages from Buyers
• Your Email Bills Available via API

Changed Functionality

• Increased Selection for GetFeedback
• ItemID Restriction Removed

Documentation Changes and Errata

• TransactionType.PaidTime

Change Requests

• See the Trading API System Announcements for bug fixes included in this release.

eBay Trading API Documentation

• Release Notes
• eBay Web Services Guide (HTML) or (PDF)
• Call Reference

Please refer to table at the top of the Release Notes for when each version of the API will be available.

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Client Alerts

The 605 version of the API documentation is now available. Please note that updates to applications using new schema versions should always be done in a test environment.

Release Highlights

Changed Functionality

• Two New Transaction Types
• New Event Types for BidPlaced Buyer Alert

Change Requests

eBay ClientAlerts API Documentation

Please refer to table at the top of the Release Notes for when each version of the API will be available.

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Keep up to date with the latest API documentation at the eBay Developer Documentation Center.

John Darrow
API Tech Docs and Tools

Important Update to Golf Club Item Specifics

On March 2nd, we plan to implement significant changes in Golf Clubs. We're removing the Club Type>Brand>Model dependency structure currently in place, and offering sellers more attributes and updated attribute values.

There are a number of issues we're trying to solve with this update:

1. Simplify the structure and remove restrictions on the Brand list by making it no longer dependent upon Club Type selection
2. Replace an outdated and limited Model list by allowing sellers to enter any model. (certain Brand selections do not offer any Model values at all)
3. Certain Club Type values are inaccurate: "Fairway Wood, Hybrid" is actually two separate types

Developer Impact

In order to remove the dependency structure described above, we will be removing or reassigning a considerable number Brand and Model value IDs on March 2nd. For example, instead of 30+ value IDs for the brand Ben Hogan, we will be reducing Ben Hogan to a single value in a new Brand list.

All Model values will be deleted. Model will become a free text field. eBay will not be replacing a seller's model selection into the text field, although developers may choose to provide this service.

Some renames will result in a listing being inaccurately described. A seller who selected the "Fairway Woods, Hybrid" value to describe their Hybrid will see the value is now named "Fairway Woods" The new value "Hybrid" should be selected instead.

The Condition value "Vintage" is being deleted. eBay will not map listings with "Vintage" to the Used value.

Summary of attribute changes:

• Brand attribute will no longer be dependent upon Club Type
• Model attribute will no longer be dependent upon Brand
• Model becomes a free text field
• Adding Loft
• Adding Flex

Summary of attribute value changes:

• Updating Brand values
• Separating Woods and Hybrids into two values
• Adding Club Type values for  'Woods Sets', 'Wedge Sets', 'Chippers' and 'Mixed Clubs'
• Adding Gender value 'Unisex'
• Adding Shaft Materials
• Removing Condition value 'Vintage'. Sellers of vintage clubs are encouraged to move their item to the separate Vintage Club category.

Once again, all dependencies are being removed. Most Brand value IDs and all Model value IDs will be deleted so it is important that sellers are able to access the new schema. Developers should note that in most cases, sellers who are relisting items will have to revise their listings.

Developers may also want to use this opportunity to encourage their sellers to adopt Item Specifics in Golf Clubs, if they have not already done so, and to take advantage of the new values. Item specifics are the primary means for buyers to narrow their search for clubs.

A detailed list of new attributes, new values, and their corresponding IDs is available for download, in order to accommodate these changes before the March 2nd release date.

Save The Date & Call For Papers: DevCon 2009 is Coming!

Save The Date! The eBay and PayPal Developers Conference 2009 is being held June 16-18. This year, we are opening our doors and inviting developers to our campus in beautiful, sunny San Jose. Silicon Valley is a natural choice for this unique eBay and PayPal developer event -- where technical vision hits the road and becomes business reality every day. Industry speakers, code labs and sessions will enable developers to get hand-on with the next generation of our open e-commerce platforms.

We'd also like to announce that our Call for Papers is now open! Lead a conference session at DevCon this year -- submit your topic no later than February 27, 2009 to be eligible.

Our developer community has experience and deep knowledge about building applications on the eBay and PayPal API platforms. Selected speakers will get complimentary access to the conference, plus one night hotel stay on us. Get all the details.

Start making your travel plans early, and we look forward to your DevCon 2009 Call for Papers submissions!

-Delyn

New ProStores Release

eBay is pleased to announce the latest release of ProStores. If you’re an eBay seller, this enhanced version makes it easy for you to open your own web store. If you’re already a ProStores merchant, this upgrade means you can convert even more shoppers to buyers.

A few new features include:

• Smoother import of eBay listings into ProStores: eBay sellers who open a ProStores web store can import all eBay fixed price listings into ProStores and open a store for business in just minutes!
• Optimized product detail and product list layouts: A new tabbed design shows only the most important information up front. The product image, price and attributes, and a more prominent "Add to Cart" button are more visible.
• Improved Shopping Cart: A cleaner design leads shoppers on a clear path to the secure checkout.
• Better "No Search Results" Page: Keep shoppers on your site with a Featured Products display and an Advanced Search box that includes search tips.
• Check out the ProStores New Features page for more details!

To learn more about how ProStores can help you enhance your business with your own web store at your own web address, visit http://www.prostores.com. For API support, see the ProStores Developer Network.

603 Shopping API Documentation Now Available

The 603 version of the API documentation is now available. Please note that updates to applications using new schema versions should always be done in a test environment.

Release Highlights

New Features

• Paymate, Moneybookers Payment Methods Can Be Returned
• Determining If Payment Gateway Account Applies

Change Requests

• See the Shopping API System Announcements for bug fixes included in this release.

eBay Shopping API Documentation

• All Tutorials: Start working with the Shopping API.
• Getting Started Guide: A quick overview of the eBay Shopping API and what you can do with it.
• Call Reference: Browse all calls and the fields they use.

Please refer to table at the top of the Release Notes for when each version of the API will be available.

Keep up to date with the latest API documentation at the eBay Developer Documentation Center.

John Darrow
API Tech Docs and Tools

603 Trading API Documentation Now Available

Trading

The 603 version of the API documentation is now available. Please note that updates to applications using new schema versions should always be done in a test environment.

Release Highlights

New Features

• Integrated Merchant Credit Card
• Paymate, Moneybookers Payment Methods Available
• New Motors Vehicle Pricing Implemented

Changed Functionality

• Sorting Items by Price Plus Shipping Cost Supported for eBay Stores (International Sites)

Documentation Changes and Errata

• CompleteSale Supports Orders

Change Requests

• See the Trading API System Announcements for bug fixes included in this release.

eBay Trading API Documentation

• Release Notes
• eBay Web Services Guide (HTML) or (PDF)
• Call Reference

Please refer to table at the top of the Release Notes for when each version of the API will be available.

Keep up to date with the latest API documentation at the eBay Developer Documentation Center.

John Darrow
API Tech Docs and Tools