Skip to main content
My eBaySellCommunityCustomer Support
Français
Popular products
No suggestions.
Hide eBay suggestions
Advanced
Home > Sell > Seller Information Centre > Selling Resources > Policies & Your Reputation >

Duplicate Fixed Price Listing

Spotlights

Policies & Your Reputation

New policy improves search for buyers, boosts exposure for sellers

This year eBay will help drive a more successful holiday selling season for all sellers by ensuring buyers have a quick, inspiring view of the great selection available for their holiday purchases. Effective October 26, the new Duplicate Fixed Price Listing policy will help prevent search results from being dominated by multiple duplicate listings of the same item from the same seller, and improve exposure for great listings from many more sellers.

Highlights
Take Action
Best Practices
Frequently Asked Questions


HIGHLIGHTS

Starting October 26, when the new Duplicate Fixed Price Listing policy takes effect:
  • For any Fixed Price listing, the item offered must be significantly different from the item offered in any of your other Fixed Price listings. The difference must address a clear buyer benefit or need and must be clearly reflected in at least two of these areas: listing title, price, photo, subtitle, Item Specifics, Item Condition, location, product ID or description. See examples to better understand the spirit and intent of the new policy and what qualifies as a significant difference.

  • In the Fixed Price format, you can have only one listing per item. Multiples of an item can be sold in a multi-quantity Fixed Price listing.

  • If you have more than one user ID, you are limited to one listing per item across all your selling accounts.

  • For items that are made to fit specific products, models, or brands—for example a connector cable, phone charger or auto part—you can have up to five Fixed Price listings per item. The specific products or brands the item is made to fit should be specified in at least two of these areas: listing title, Item Specifics, description, or in the compatibility section of compatibility listings in eBay Motors Parts & Accessories. This exception is not available for generic or universal items such as AA batteries, generic lens caps, generic cases, cables, etc. See examples.

  • The new Duplicate Fixed Price Listing policy does not apply to Auction-style listings. Note that listings are still subject to the Search & Browse Manipulation policy.

  • New Fixed Price listings no longer receive an automatic allotment of impressions on page one of Best Match search results. The performance of new listings is predicted based on how similar listings perform and their ranking is quickly adjusted based on actual performance. That means there's no point in creating multiple listings of the same item to boost your position for that item in search. The clear advantage for all sellers will be to list Fixed Price items in low-cost, long-duration, multi-quantity listings and follow the established best practices for maximizing your position in Best Match search.

  • Starting October 26, eBay will automatically end duplicate Fixed Price listings and for this group of listings, credit your Insertion Fees and any listing upgrade fees. The first credits will appear on the Nov. 15 invoice for sellers in that billing cycle and on the Dec. 1 invoice for sellers who are billed at the first of the month. Sellers who continue to have duplicate listings for identical items may be subject to a range of additional actions including listing cancellation, loss of fees, limits on account privileges, loss of seller status, and account suspension. Refer to the Duplicate Fixed Price Listing policy for more details.

TAKE ACTION

No action is required for compliance with the new policy—starting October 26, eBay will automatically end duplicate Fixed Price listings for you and credit any remaining listing fees. Take these steps to ensure your listings comply with the requirements of this new policy:

  • If you have items that are made to fit specific products, brands or models, such as auto parts and phone chargers, consolidate them in a maximum of 5 listings, and specify the product compatibility in the listing as described in the Duplicate Fixed Price Listing policy. For eBay Motors Parts & Accessory listings, fill all 300 spaces available with different compatible vehicles before creating a separate listing.

  • If you have items that are significantly different—reflect them in a more than one area of your listing to clarify the differences, so the listings won't be ended by eBay. Note that changing your title or price does not automatically reset your listing performance score (the listing's ratio of sales to impressions) or necessarily impact your position in search. Of course, title can affect relevance and raising the price may make your listing less competitive—both are factors in how well a listing performs in Best Match search. Follow all the usual best practices for maximizing your position in search.

  • Note that spaces within units of measure in your title are now ignored when matching to a buyer's search. For example if the buyer uses 5 MB in the search, your listing title will be recognized as relevant whether your title has 5MB or 5 MB (with a space). Use all 55 characters to help differentiate your listing.

  • If you create separate listings for identical items in two or more categories, the listings will be seen as duplicates. To list in two categories, list the item once in the primary category and if it's available, use the second category listing upgrade.

  • While not recommended, if you prefer to wait for eBay to end your duplicate listings, make sure to remove any auto-relist functionality on your duplicate listings to avoid accidentally relisting duplicate listings, which may result in further action including listing cancellation, loss of fees, limits on account privileges, loss of seller status, and account suspensions.

  • Learn more about the 10 best practices for managing your listings under this new policy.

  • Get more information on managing your duplicate listings with tools from eBay Certified Providers:
    Auctiva
    Channel Advisor
    Infopia: Login to the Transact system and check Announcements for more information and instructions.
    inkFrog
    Kyozou (Login required to access page.)

BEST PRACTICES

  • Follow all the usual best practices for maximizing your position in Best Match search, including choosing the right format - Fixed Price or Auction-style.

  • Whenever possible, if you sell items where the differences are variations like color and size, list all the variations in one low-cost, multi-quantity Fixed Price listing with variations. You not only save on listing fees, you can price each variation separately and manage your inventory right from your listing. Best Match looks at the variation information in these listings to determine relevance to a buyer's search - so use all 55 characters of your title for other differentiating information. Use the category look-up tool to find out if multi-variation listings are available in your category.

  • If you sell in eBay Motors Parts & Accessories, whenever it's available use a parts compatibility listing. Choose a part from the eBay catalog and all compatible vehicles will automatically be included in your listing. You can also manually include your own list of compatible models - up to 300 in one listing. With parts compatibility listings, Best Match looks at compatibility information in the listing to determine relevance to a buyer's search. With these listings, use all 55 characters of your title for other differentiating information. Note for these listings you have to fill all 300 spaces available with different compatible vehicles before creating a separate listing. See examples.

  • Make sure you're paying the lowest possible fees for your listings. If you sell more than 50 items per month, you can get significant savings with the right eBay Stores subscription.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

General questions about the policy
How duplicates are defined
Selling scenarios
How to revise, consolidate, and end duplicates
Other questions


GENERAL POLICY QUESTIONS:
What is the new Duplicate Fixed Price Listing policy?
The new Duplicate Fixed Price Listing policy specifies that for any Fixed Price listing, the item offered by a seller must be significantly different from the item offered in any of the seller's other Fixed Price listings. Multiples of Fixed Price items that are not significantly different must be offered in one multi-quantity Fixed Price listing. If the item is made to fit specific products, brands or models, the seller can have up to 5 listings.
What is the purpose, spirit, and intent of the new policy?
The purpose of the policy is to maximize sales for all sellers on eBay by ensuring that buyers consistently see the widest, most inspiring selection of items relevant to their search. The policy is specifically intended to prevent situations where search results are dominated by multiple duplicate listings from the same seller - one of the most common complaints from sellers and buyers.
 Does the new policy apply to Auction-style listings or Auction-style listings with Buy It Now?
The new Duplicate Fixed Price Listing policy does not apply to Auction-style listings or Auction-style listings with Buy It Now. Note that Auction-style listings are still subject to the Search and Browse Manipulation policy.
 Does this policy change affect all categories?
Yes, this policy affects all categories on eBay and eBay Motors.
When does this new policy take effect?
The new policy takes effect on Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 12:01am Pacific Time.
 What will happen when the new policy takes effect?
Starting October 26, eBay will begin automatically ending duplicate Fixed Price listings from the same seller. The first time a seller's duplicate listings are ended, the best performing listing will be retained and eBay will credit your Insertion Fees and listing upgrade fees for the ended listings. After this occurs, if subsequent duplicate listings are identified, eBay will retain the best performing listing, end all other duplicates, and retain all Insertion Fees and listing upgrade fees.
 When eBay ends my duplicate listings, will my listing fees be refunded?
Sellers are credited for Insertion Fees and listing upgrade fees the first time duplicate listings are ended. The first credits will appear on the November 15 invoice for sellers on that billing cycle and on the December 1 invoice for sellers who are billed at the first of the month. After this occurs, sellers who continue to have duplicate Fixed Price listings for identical items will be subject to having those duplicate listings ended and will not have their fees refunded.
What happens if sellers continue to list duplicate items after the first time eBay ends my duplicate listings?
After eBay ends a seller's duplicate listing the first time, sellers who continue to have duplicate listings for identical items won't receive credit of their fees when subsequent duplicate listings are ended. They may also be subject to a range of additional actions including listing cancellation, loss of fees, limits on account privileges, loss of seller status, and account suspension.
If eBay ends a listing in error, who is responsible for relisting my item and will I be credited for my insertion and listing upgrade fees?
If eBay determines a listing has been ended in error, you will receive a credit of your Insertion Fees and listing upgrade fees, but you will be responsible for relisting the item. It is recommended that you first make changes to your listing to clearly reflect item differences in at least two areas of your listing including, title, price, photos, subtitle, location, product ID, Item Specifics, Item Condition and/or description, to ensure it is not mistakenly identified as a duplicate listing again.
Will eBay combine all my available inventory into a single listing before ending a duplicate listing?
No. eBay can end your listing but not revise or alter your listing quantity. If you have duplicate listings you should take action now to consolidate your inventory and cancel any duplicate listings.
 If I wait for eBay to automatically end my duplicate listings on October 26, will I receive credit for all of my Insertion Fees and listing upgrade fees?
For the first group of listings automatically ended by eBay, we will credit your Insertion Fees and listing upgrade fees. The first credits will appear on Nov. 15 for sellers in that billing cycle and on Dec. 1 for sellers who are billed at the first of the month. After this first group of duplicates has been automatically ended by eBay, sellers who continue to have duplicate listings for identical items may be subject to a range of additional action including listing cancellation, loss of fees, limits on account privileges, loss of seller status, and account suspension. We recommend you take action prior to October 26 to avoid this possibility and your remaining listings accurately reflect the quantity of items you have available for sale.
I have more than one seller ID. Can I list identical items under different seller IDs?
No. The policy permits one Fixed Price listing per identical item per seller across all your selling accounts. Sellers who create duplicate Fixed Price listings for identical items under different seller IDs may be subject to a range of actions including listing cancellation, loss of fees, limits on account privileges, loss of seller status, and account suspension.
 How will I know if eBay has ended one or more of my duplicate listings?
When a listing is ended by eBay, you will receive an email notification. You can also refer to your Unsold container in My eBay.
 What happens if eBay ends a duplicate listing that is being watched or has been purchased?
When a listing is ended by eBay, it will show up as being "Ended" to buyers who have the listing on their Watch list. For listings where the buyer committed to buy before the listing was ended by eBay, you and the buyer are responsible for completing the transaction. The usual protections for both buyer and seller continue to apply.
 Can I relist any listings eBay has ended?
You can relist Fixed Price listings ended by eBay if you change the listing to reflect significant differences in the item. Otherwise they will be ended again.
 Is there anything I need to do before October 26 to comply with the new policy?
If you don't have duplicate listings, you don't need to do anything. If you do have duplicate listings, you're not required to take any action - eBay will begin removing duplicates automatically starting October 26 and credit your Insertion Fees and any listing upgrade fees for those listings. If you have a significant amount of inventory in duplicate listings, we recommend you consolidate your inventory into the best performing multi-quantity listing or differentiate your listings before October 26.
Where can I read this new policy?
Refer to the Duplicate Fixed Price Listing policy page to read the policy in full.
Where can I learn more about how to manage my listings under this new policy?
View the webinar to learn the 10 best practices for managing your listings under the Duplicate Fixed Price Listing policy.


UNDERSTANDING HOW DUPLICATES ARE DEFINED
What is considered a duplicate listing?
Any listing for an item that is not significantly different from the item in another one of your listings will be considered a duplicate.
How does eBay determine if an item or listing is a duplicate?
Here is a sample list of some of the attributes considered collectively to determine if items and listings are significantly different from one another:

  1. Price
  2. Color
  3. Size
  4. Compatibility
  5. Use or purpose
  6. Quantity (selling a set verses an individual)
  7. Item Specifics
  8. Title
  9. Description
  10. Item Condition
  11. Photos
  12. Subtitle
  13. Location
  14. Product ID
What is considered a significant difference?
A difference is considered significant when it addresses a significantly different user need or offers a significantly different value to buyer. The difference must be reflected in the listing, for example in the title, subtitle, price, product ID, or photo. For example, the following items would be considered significantly different:

  • Box of 10 envelopes vs. box of 100 envelopes
  • Set of 2 tires vs. set of 4 tires
  • New iPod vs. refurbished iPod
What is not considered a significant difference?
Items that would not be considered significantly different include situations where a) the item is identical, b) the item is identical but the listing is changed to appear different, or c) the items are nearly identical and do not serve sufficiently different buyer needs. For example:

  • Listings in which an item of insignificant value was added
    • New Dell Latitude laptop with a pen vs. New Dell Latitude laptop with a mouse pad
    • Box of 10 envelopes vs. box of 11 of the same envelopes
  • Separate listings of generic or universal items that fit most products versus items that are made to fit only a few specific brands or models:
    • HDMI cable for Blu-ray vs. HDMI cable for Dell monitor
    • Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA batteries for wireless mouse vs. Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA batteries for TV remote control
See the Duplicate Fixed Price Listing policy for more examples.
How does eBay determine whether to end or retain a duplicate listing?
We determine which listings to end by reviewing a variety of listing attributes such as title, seller, start price, format, category, condition, photos, VIN#, compatible vehicles, descriptions, and product IDs. Whenever possible, we retain the best performing listing. If you want to control which listings are ended and which ones retained yourself, be sure to take action now, before October 26.


SELLING SCENARIOS
I sell sets (or lots) of items. If I have more than one listing for sets of items, will they be considered duplicate listings?
If you are selling identical sets (or lots) of items and creating a single Fixed Price listing for each set, then they will be identified as duplicate listings. Consider listing multiple quantities of identical sets in a multi-quantity Fixed Price listing. If there are significant differences between the sets of items you are listing, then they will not be identified as duplicate listings as long as you clearly reflect set differences in at least two of these areas in you listing: title, subtitle, photos, price, location, product ID, Item Condition, Item Specifics, and/or description.
Does the Duplicate Fixed Price Listing policy also apply to the sale of coupons that are limited to 20 identical coupons per multi-quantity Fixed Price listing?
Yes. Both the Manufacturer's coupon listing and the Duplicate Fixed Price Listing policy will apply in the sale of coupons. Sellers with more than 20 identical coupons for sale should consider listing coupons in a multi-quantity Fixed Price listing and use eBay Selling Manager Pro to automatically add quantity to the listing as the items sell. Follow these steps in Selling Manager Pro to set-up the automation rules for any existing listings:

  1. Go to the Active view and click Assign Automation Rule for the template you want to automate.
  2. On the Assign Automation Rules page, select an option from the Rule drop-down menu, and define the Rule settings.
  3. Click Assign. Your automation rules now appear in the listing template information in the Inventory view.
  4. For two or more listings, select multiple check boxes and click on Select to open the Assign Automation Rules page. To change the rules, click Edit automation rule beside individual listings. To remove rules, select one or more listings, select Remove automation rule from the drop down menu, then click Select.
If I'm selling an item that comes in different variations like color, size, etc., do I have to list my items in a Fixed Price multi-quantity listing with variations, when available?
No. We do not require you to list your items in a multi-quantity Fixed Price listing with variations. As long as your listings clearly reflect significant differences between similar items, they will not be identified as duplicate listings. We recommend you indicate item differences in at least two areas of the following areas: title, subtitle, price, photos, product ID, location, Item Condition, Item Specifics, and/or description.
I sell multiple used items that are very similar but have varying levels of use (e.g. cutlery, coins, stamps, magazines, etc.). Will my listings be considered duplicates?
While we recommend you list using multi-quantity Fixed Price listing with variations, if the level of wear creates a significant differences to buyers as reflected in price, title or appearance, the items can be listed separately. Clearly reflect item differences-like scratches, chips, or wear-by including them in as many of these areas in your listing as possible: title, photos, and price, etc. Buyers will appreciate the additional detail you provide to help them make an informed decision. If a buyer cares enough about the item differences that it will impact their buying decision then it makes sense to create a listing that includes information about those differences. If the differences are not significant and the buyer will view all the items as equivalent, create a multi-quantity Fixed Price listing and include the range of variation between items. The additional detail will help set clear buyer expectations and reduce chance of buyer disappointment.
 I sometimes create two listings for identical items one listing offers free shipping for the item and the other does not. Will these be considered duplicate listings?
Yes. Separate listings for identical items—one offering free shipping and one charging for shipping with the same or very similar total cost to the buyer—will be considered duplicate listings.
 I sometimes create two listing for identical items but one of the listing offers expedited shipping for an additional cost. Will these be considered duplicates?
Yes. These listings will be considered duplicates. Include all shipping options in your listing and highlight them in your listing in your listing title.
How do I list items that only work with specific brands or models, for example an auto part, phone charger or connector cable?
The only exception to the "one Fixed Price listing per item" is for items that are made to fit specific products, models, or brands, for example an auto part, connector cable, or phone charger. For these items you can have up to five Fixed Price listings. The listing should clearly specify the products or brands the item fits. The brands or products specified must be unique to each listing.

For example, when selling a phone charger that fits only Motorola RAZR, BlackBerry Curve, NOKIA 5310, you could create the following three separate listings:

  • NEW CELL PHONE CAR CHARGER FOR MOTOROLA RAZR V3 V3C
  • Car Charger for BlackBerry New Curve Pearl v3 Mini USB
  • NEW Cell phone Car Charger for Nokia n900 6205 6350
This gives a total of three listings for an identical item but they are not identical listings because each specifies unique products or models. Note you cannot apply this practice to universal items such as AA batteries that fit virtually all makes and models.
 How do I handle vehicle parts that fit multiple makes and models?
If you sell in eBay Motors Parts & Accessories, whenever it's available use a parts compatibility listing.

  • Choose a part from the eBay catalog and all compatible vehicles will be automatically included in your listing.
  • Or you can manually include your own list of up to 300 compatible models.
  • If your part fits more than 300 vehicles, you can create up to four additional listings but the compatible vehicles must be unique for each listing and you must use all 300 slots in the listing compatibility table before creating an additional listing. For example:

    Listing a fuel pump that fits 1252 vehicles will result in 5 listings for the item. Each listing may use the same title, but must display unique item and vehicle pairs in the parts compatibility table:

    • One (1) separate Fixed Price listing with the first 300 compatible vehicles shown in the parts compatibility table
    • One (1) separate Fixed Price listing with vehicles 301 - 600 listed in the parts compatibility table
    • One (1) separate Fixed Price listing with vehicles 601 - 900 listed in the parts compatibility table
    • One (1) separate Fixed Price listing with vehicles 901 - 1200 listed in the parts compatibility table
    • One (1) separate Fixed Price listing with vehicles 1200 - 1252 listed in the parts compatibility table
    • This results in a total of five (5) listings, varying only in the contents of the parts compatibility table, with a maximum of one Fixed Price listing for each unique item and vehicle pair.

  • You don't need to repeat compatibility information in your listing title. Instead, to help buyers find your specific products, use all 55 characters in your title for popular search elements like brand, part type, MPN part number, equivalent OEM part number, part name, significant, and any other part numbers (e.g., Platinum number). Some examples:
          Old title: Ford Ranger 88/07 Short Bed New Tonneau Bed Cover 6ft.
          New title: Freedom 9630 Black Tonneau Bed Cover 6 ft

          Old title: 1992-1994 1995 Honda Civic EG6 Headlights+Vision
          New title: JDM Blk Crystal Headlights w/Vision Amber Corner Lights
How do I list items that are made to fit with a large number of different brands and models which will exceed the character limit for the titles and result in me needing more than five Fixed Price listings?
When listing items that are made to fit a large number of different brands and models, consider ways to divide the brands and model numbers in such a way so that more of them may be captured under a single search term in your title. Take a closer look at how your listing title can be compelling and address what your buyers are seeking.
 How do I list universal items or generic items that fit most products, for example AA batteries or extension cords?
Multiple generic or universal items such as batteries and extension cords must be listed in one multi-quantity Fixed Price listing.
 Will listings of the same items with different variations such as color and size be considered duplicates?
Variations such as color and size are considered significant differences and will not be considered identical items. However, to save on listing and listing upgrade fees and to maximize your exposure in Best Match search results, the best practice is to list these items in multi-quantity Fixed Price listings with variations whenever possible. You can set different prices for each variation and manage your inventory right from the listing. Listing with variations is also a great way to cross-sell your inventory. Best Match looks at the variation information in these listings to determine relevance to a buyer's search. So you can use all 55 characters of your title for other differentiating information. Use the category look-up tool to find out if multi-variation listings are available in your category.
If I list an item in a multi-quantity Fixed Price listing with variations can I list the same variations in individual listings?
No. If you list a variation of an item in a separate listing and that variation is also include in your multi-quantity listing with variations, these will be considered duplicate listings.
 If eBay ends a duplicate listing that is set-up with auto-relist functionality, will eBay block the new listings created by auto-relist?
No, if eBay ends a duplicate listing that was set-up with auto-relist functionality and the listing reappears on the site, it will be identified as a new duplicate listing. This is one of the reasons it's important to take action to end duplicate listings before the policy goes into effect on October 26. Sellers who continue to have duplicate listings may be subject to a range of actions including listing cancellation, loss of fees, limits on account privileges, loss of seller status, and account suspension.
If an item is listed in a second category, is it considered a duplicate listing?
No. A single listing where a second category is specified will not be considered a duplicate listing. If you create separate listings in multiple categories for the item, the listings will be considered duplicate. The listings with lowest ranking in search will be removed.
I ship items from more than one location. Can I list the same item from both locations or will they be considered duplicate listings?
If your locations are in different countries resulting in differences in ship time and total cost, you can create one listing for the same item for each location. The listings will not be considered duplicate listings. Listing items from more than one location within the same country will be considered duplicates.
 Are listings in a second language considered duplicates?
No, a listing for an identical item in another language is not considered a duplicate listing.
 What about adding Best Offer?
Best Offer is not considered a significant difference. Two listings of the same item, one with Best Offer and one without Best Offer, will be considered duplicate listings.


HOW TO REVISE, CONSOLIDATE AND END DUPLICATES
How do I consolidate duplicate listings?
For duplicate Fixed Price listings for identical items, identify your best performing listing, end the others, and revise the listing you keep to add quantity.
How do I add quantity to single quantity Fixed Price listing?
You can increase the quantity of a single quantity Fixed Price listing by following these steps:

  1. Go to My eBay.
  2. Open up the listing you want to add more quantity to.
  3. Click "Revise your item" at the top of the page.
  4. Scroll down to the "Choose how you'd like to sell your item" section. The Fixed Price tab will be selected.
  5. Change the Quantity box to the number of items you want to add to the listing. (If you have 100 of the same item to sell, put 100 in this box.)
  6. Click Continue. If you have no other changes, click "Submit your revisions."
Or use free eBay Selling Manager to revise your listing:

  1. Go to My eBay.
  2. Go to Active Listings.
  3. Check the box beside the item you want to add more quantity to and click Edit.
  4. Check off the Quantity field (this is located in the Details section, right at the top of the page).
  5. Choose the "Edit listings individually" radio button and click Continue.
  6. Edit the Quantity field and click Continue.
  7. Once the edit is verified, review the results and select either Back to make additional changes or Submit if you are happy with the results.
How do I end a duplicate listing?
You can end a duplicate listing by following these steps:

  1. Type the item number into the End My Listing Early form. You can find the item number in your listing, confirmation email, and My eBay page.
  2. Select the reason you're ending your listing early.
  3. Your listing will end and will no longer be active on eBay.
Will I get my Insertion Fees and listing upgrade fees credited if I end my listing early?
No. As always, fees are not refunded when you end a listing early.
 Can I convert a single or multi-quantity Fixed Price item in multi-quantity Fixed Price listing with variations?
No. If you wish to create a multi-quantity Fixed Price listing with variations, you will have to create a new listing. Use this table to find out if your category supports multi-quantity Fixed Price listings with variations.
How do I differentiate listings that are significantly different?
If you have duplicate listings for items that are significantly different, revise those listings so that the difference is appropriately reflected in at least two of the following areas: the listing title, subtitle, price, photo, location, product ID, Item Condition, Item Specifics, and/or description.
Why do I have to reflect item differences in more than one area of my listing?
Helping buyers to make informed purchase decisions and clearly setting their expectations are two of the keys to providing great service. By clearly reflecting significant item differences in multiple areas of a listing—including title, subtitle, price, photo, description, product ID, location, Item Condition, and/or Item Specifics—you not only help to ensure your listings won't be identified as duplicates, but you also help ensure your buyers won't miss these differences.


OTHER QUESTIONS
Why is eBay making this change now?
New technology for identifying and ending duplicate listings is available to eBay now. Although eBay's general practice is to avoid changes that involve additional work for sellers in the busy holiday season, the potential for increased holiday sales across the board for all sellers compels us to act now.
By including multiple brand names in my listing, won't I be in violation of the Search and Browse Manipulation policy?
It is important to ensure you do not violate the Search and Browse Manipulation policy. You can describe an item by its brand, designer, model, product, style name, or its celebrity endorsement in a listing, as long as the information directly matches what you're selling. Be careful not to make comparisons or say that it's like a certain product because this can be misleading (see keyword spamming). This kind of activity could also lead to trademark infringement.
What should I do if I don't agree with eBay about a listing eBay ended?
If a listing was ended by eBay because it was identified as a duplicate listing and you don't agree with the action, first make sure the listing clearly reflected item differences that substantially affect a buyer's use of the product or experience. If you still don't agree with the action you can contact us.
 What can I do if I see duplicate Fixed Price listings on eBay after the policy has gone into effect?
If you find a duplicate Fixed Price listing on eBay or eBay Motors after October 26, we encourage you to report the listing to eBay by clicking on the "Report item" link under "Other item info" in the listing. Details like the item number are automatically included in your report.
Why will new Fixed Price listings no longer receive an upfront allotment of impressions in Best Match search results?
The original reason for giving new listings an allotment of impressions was to jump start a listing performance score - the ratio of a listing's sales to the number of impressions it receives - in crowded search results. With duplicate listings from the same seller removed from search results, new relevant listings from all sellers providing great service will have increased visibility in search. The upfront allotment of impressions is no longer needed.
When does the change in Best Match that no longer provides and allotment of impression but assigns new listings a predictive score go into effect?
This is in effect now.
 Won't this change to Best Match and the requirement that I consolidate duplicate listings reduce the exposure I currently have for my items?
For the vast majority of sellers, ensuring that search result pages are not dominated by multiple duplicate listings from a handful of eBay sellers will significantly improve their position in search results. Most sellers who use duplicate listings today will also benefit from consolidating those listings into one, high-performing multi-quantity Fixed Price listing.