Domain Split Rolling to Motors Starting Monday (9/29)

Update (8 Oct, 2008): The domain split is now at 100% on the Motors site.

The domain split will be rolling to the Motors site starting Monday (9/29). It will start out at 50% on the site (50% of listings will have the domain split applied) and—if results are positive—will go to 100% on the following Monday (10/6)

This is an improved version of the domain split that rolled out to Motors earlier this year.

This does NOT mean that the domain split will be rolling to ALL eBay sites on Monday. The timing for other eBay sites is still being driven by the new View Item page, and that is incrementally rolling out. And being tested and verified at each stage.

If you haven't had a chance to test your listing under the domain split, you can test it in the Sandbox. Both the domain split and the right rail are working in the Sandbox now. Unfortunately, the Sandbox has the old version of Motors, so you can't test that specifically.

Here is an example of a listing with a wide template and a right rail:
http://cgi.sandbox.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110035258105&ih=001&category=73839&ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1

Here is a post with screenshots at different resolutions:
http://developer.ebay.com/community/blog/article/?category=Blog.Developer&name=http://ebaydeveloper.typepad.com/dev/2008/09/how-the-right-r.html

Here's how to get your listing into the sandbox for testing:
  http://developer.ebay.com/community/blog/article/?category=Blog.Developer&name=http://ebaydeveloper.typepad.com/dev/2008/09/how-to-get-your.html

Upcoming changes to Tickets and Motors Item Specifics

The following Item Specifics changes will be made in mid-April:

• Tickets: Adding new cities and venues
• Motors: Changes to Default Item Specifics for Cars & Trucks
  • Fuel Type - now default to "Gasoline"
  • Condition - now default to "Used"

If you have any comments or feedback about item specifics, please email them to DL-eBay-Taxonomy AT ebay.com and they will be considered for future enhancements.

Mid-March category changes

Updated March 13, 2007: March category changes are now live to site.

As of mid-March, the category structure will be updated based on feedback received from the eBay Community and from experts in the affected fields. A complete list of the new category structure can be found on Seller Central here.

Updated categories:

COINS & PAPER MONEY
We’re adding categories for the new Presidential dollars and the 2007 state quarters.

COLLECTIBLES
Look for updates in the Cultures & Ethnicities area. We’re also expanding the Pinbacks and Nodders sections.

COMPUTERS & NETWORKING
We’re adding a category for the Windows Vista operating system.

DOLLS & BEARS
Check out the new Tin & Metal Doll category under the Antique (pre-1930) section.

MOTORS
Look for new models under Audi, Dodge, Mazda and more.

Mid-January category changes

Updated January 18th, 2007: January category changes are now live to site.

As of mid-January, the category structure will be updated based on feedback received from the eBay Community and from experts in the affected fields. A complete list of the new category structure can be found on Seller Central here.

Updated categories:

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
We've increased visibility for iPod/MP3 Players and MP3 Accessories by moving their sections higher up the category tree. Look for the latest Tivo Series3 category under Digital Video Recorders as well.

MOTORS
We've expanded our Custom Built Motorcycles section, and added new models to other Motorcycle makes.

TOYS & HOBBIES
Check out the new Marvel Legends categories in Action Figures, and a section just for Elmo under TV, Movie, and Character Toys.

eBay Motors Item Specifics updates

Updated 11/27/2006: Changes will go live in late November/early December. Check this Knowledge Base article and Release Notes for more information.

As of early November, eBay will be making the following additions and changes to the Car & Truck categories on eBay Motors.

New Categories:

• Audi: A3
• Buick: Lucerne
• Volkswagen: Phaeton

Updated Category: Cadillac: Deville / DTS renamed to Cadillac: Deville & DTS

Item Specific changes:

1) The Number of Doors attribute will be removed and replaced with "Body Type." This attribute will be optional and will include the choice of the following values:

• -
• Convertible
• Coupe
• Hatchback
• Minivan/Van
• Pickup Truck
• Sedan
• SUV
• Wagon
• Other

2) If "Pickup Truck" is chosen from the "Body Type" list, a "Cab Type" attribute will be available with the following choices:

• -
• Crew Cab
• Extended Cab
• Regular Cab
• Other

eBay Motors: New Item Specifics

As of late September, eBay will be introducing the item specifics feature in the following categories within Car & Truck Parts:

• Wheels
• Tires
• Wheel & Tire Packages

The new item specifics will allow seller to specify item characteristics (e.g. Rim Material, Rim Width, Rim Diameter, Offset, Number of Bolts, Bolt Pattern, Rim Brand, Tire Type, Tire Width, Tire Brand, Car Type, and Condition).

A complete list of the included categories and item specifics can be found on the eBay Motors Discussion Board.

More changes to Categories & Item Specifics

Developers building applications using eBay Web Services should be aware of the following changes in our Category and Item Specifics structure:

• Car Audio In-Dash Units
• Cell Phones
• Digital Cameras

Developer Forums Thread of Every Other Week

Recently in the Tech Soup forum, developers jilu_ jilu and lonestarmktg were looking for assistance with Item Specifics for eBay Motors using the AddItem call, including tips on migrating to the unified schema XML API.

Active forums poster cosmik-kidd posted a great response, detailing helpful links to documentation, as well as a previous thread with a complete example of handling Item Specifics in eBay Motors in the unified schema XML API.

When developers help answer basic questions in the forums, you can often respond more quickly and free up eBay resources to research more complex issues, verify and resolve bugs, complete certification requests and update System Announcements. Everyone wins.

Learn the latest information and share your knowledge of eBay Web Services in the Developer Forums.

Motor Item Specifics Modifications in Passenger Vehicles Category

As of late March, eBay Motors will introduce modifications to the Item Specifics within the Passenger Vehicles category:

Number of Doors - will no longer be required

Interior Color - will no longer be required

Number of Cylinders - one of the acceptable choices currently called "don't know" will be renamed to "unspecified

Transmission - "unspecified" will be added as an acceptable choice

Warranty - "unspecified" will be added as an acceptable choice

Vehicle Title - one of the acceptable choices currently called "other" will be renamed to "unspecified"

Condition - "Certified Pre-Owned (CPO)" will be added as an acceptable choice

Fuel Type  - will be added as a new item specific with the following acceptable choices: Biodiesel, CNG, Diesel, Electric, Ethanol - FFV, Gasoline, Hybrid-Electric, Steam, Other.

We have also posted an announcement on the Motors discussion board with details about these changes.

If you have any comments or feedback about Item Specifics in these categories, please email them and they will be considered for future enhancements.

Enhancements to Best Offer

As of late December and running through the end of January, we will be releasing a series of new Best Offer features, including:

• Making counter offers
• Improved offer management
• Letting sellers specify an autodecline amount on a per listing basis
• Placing a Best Offer icon in Search and Browse results
• The ability to request contact info for a member making an offer

Developer Impact: within the next few weeks, the GetCategories call will indicate which categories support the counter offer feature, and the GetBestOffers and RespondToOffers API calls will be updated accordingly.

Then, in late January, we will also let you indicate an item's autodecline amount in the AddItem family of calls, and return the value in GetItem and GetSellerList.

Earlier this year, eBay launched Best Offer. Similar to the way dealers currently sell off their lot, Best Offer allows sellers to:

• Set an asking price for a car, truck, or motorcycle
• Get qualified offers from buyers or just a single buyer
• Negotiate and accept a price with a buyer chosen by the dealer to deal with
• Reduce dealer selling costs
• No reserve or Buy It Now fees

Best Offer has proven itself successful for vehicle sellers, leading to higher prices, faster time-to-sell, and better conversion rate than other formats, especially for late model vehicles.