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Find answers to commonly asked questions about the eBay Developer Program.

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Membership, Joining, Fees, Certification, Getting Started, Technical, API Functionality, Solutions Directory, Affiliate Program

Developers Program Membership

  1. What is the eBay Developers Program?
    The eBay Developers Program is a program dedicated to helping 3rd parties integrate their businesses with the eBay Platform. As a member of the Developers Program, you can create custom applications that effectively and efficiently handle almost all types of business transactions on eBay.
  2. What is the difference between the Individual API License and Commercial API License?

    Developer Membership

    Developer Membership is designed for people who want to develop applications on the eBay Platform. These applications can be used for selling, buying, searching, managing processes and creating cool ways to do just about anything on the eBay Platform using eBay Web Services.

    Affiliate Membership

    Affiliate Membership is designed for people who have joined eBay's Affiliate Program. This is different from the eBay Developers Program Affiliate (developer) Membership itself.

    eBay Affiliates drive traffic to eBay and receive payment from eBay based on the new users and winning bids they deliver. eBay provides text links, banners, and an Editor Kit for affiliates to add to their websites.

    eBay Affiliates who also join the eBay Developers Program are called Affiliate Developers. Affiliate Developers can present the same links, banners, and Editor Kit. In addition, Affiliate Developers can use the eBay API to show live items from eBay to end users. We have found that this is a more compelling experience for users, which leads to higher rates of bidding, and thus to higher commissions for eBay Affiliates.

    Learn more about becoming an eBay Affiliate and an Affiliate Developer here.

    From an eBay Developers Program privileges-and-benefits perspective, there are two differences between these memberships:

    • Affiliate Members don't have to certify to get access to production (although Standard Application Certification is required to get more than 10,000 calls a month).
    • Developer Members can list one application in the eBay Solutions Directory after completing Standard Application Certification, while Affiliate Members cannot list in the eBay Solutions Directory.

    Please see Memberships and Benefits for details.

  3. Can you help me estimate my API call volume?
    Typically, we find that seller management tools use approximately three or four API calls for every item listed (over the duration of the item listing). Merchants using the API for their own selling typically use one to two API calls per item listing. These numbers are given as examples and actual usage may vary.
  4. What is included with eBay Developers Program membership?
    The eBay Developers Program provides a full suite of technical resources on our website, the Developer Zone. It contains:
    • Technical documentation, sample code, our Software Development Kits (SDKs)
    • Tools and starter guides for building and certifying your application
    • Community resources such as online forums, newsletters, and training events
    • Access to our fee-based Live Chat service
  5. How do I get aggregated data on closed auctions?
    You cannot use the API to search closed listings. You need to join the eBay Market Data Program to access historical transaction data on eBay.
  6. What is the significance of "Developer - Self Certified"?
    This title refers to an individual who has joined the eBay Developers Program under Developer Membership and has self-certified his or her application.
  7. What is the significance of "Developer - Standard App Certified"?
    This title refers to an individual who has joined the eBay Developers Program under the Developer Membership and has completed Standard Application Certification for his or her application(s).
  8. What is Affiliate - Pre-certification?
    This title refers to a person who has joined the eBay Developers Program under the Affiliate Membership and has not completed Standard Application Certification .
  9. What is Affiliate- Standard Application Certified?
    This title refers to a person who has joined the eBay Developers Program under the Affiliate Membership and has completed Standard Application Certification for his or her applications.

Joining the Developers Program

  1. I'm ready to join the Developers Program, how do I begin the process?
    Just Join!
  2. Is it possible for non-US based entities to take part in the Developers Program?
    Yes. Any company interacting with the US Site, www.eBay.com, may join using the online clickthru API license. If you wish to interact with one of the non-US sites, your membership may be coordinated through the local eBay office. Please post a message in our International Development Forum if you will list on a non-US eBay site.
  3. What do I have to do to sign up for the program?

    To get started, sign up for an eBay (production) account at http://www.ebay.com. Make sure that it is valid and you are able to log in to the eBay website.

    Next, sign up with the eBay Developers Program.

    When you successfuly register for the eBay Developers Program, you will receive three Developer keys by email (DevId, AppId, CertId) along with instructions about how to retrieve your keys. If you have misplaced this email, you will need to email keysadmin@ebay.com to get them resent. We are trying to answer your request as fast as possible, but as this is a manual process it might take up to two working days.

    Next, sign up with the eBay Sandbox site or use the Sandbox Registration Tool. This is the site where you will do all your testing.

    So now you have three accounts: a real eBay account, a eBay sandbox account, and a developer's account. Set the real eBay account aside as you won't need it to do any testing.

    Next, use the Tokentool to generate your Auth&Auth token.

    This token, along with your keys is used to authenticate you against the eBay Web services. Once you've generated your token, save it somewhere so that you can use it later.

    Finally, you must validate your test user. This will allow you to do listings in the eBay Sandbox. If you used the Sandbox Registration Tool you don't have to do the following step:

    Go to the Testtool and do the following:

    1. Choose "Sandbox" as the host.
    2. Enter your 3 keys
    3. Paste in your token
    4. Choose "ValidateTestUserRegistration" as the test template
    5. Click on "Submit"

    That should do it!

  4. Do you have a list of Developers Program members that I can contract to build my application?
    Check out our Solutions Directory for a list of companies. Besides a variety of pre-written solutions that may solve your problem, be sure to check out the "Custom Software Development Services" and "Integration Adapters" categories if you require custom work.
  5. I joined at the Individual or one of the Commercial Tier membership levels; what are my membership benefits now?
    On November 14, 2005 eBay announced changes to the membership tiers and benefits. Please see the Benefits and Fees Chart for details.

Developers Program Fees

  1. How can I distribute a desktop application without my customers exceeding my 10,000 calls per month limit?
    After you self-certify your application you are allowed to make 10,000 Production API calls in a month. This is enough for most personal use; however, if you want to redistribute your program to many users please go through the Standard Application Certification process. After you sucessfully complete this review, your keys will be modified to limit API calls on a per user basis, so your users will not run into the 10,000 call cap.
  2. What are the fees and when do I have to pay them?

    As of November 14, 2005, the eBay Developers Program has made many of the services free of charge: membership, self-certification, certification and unified schema API calls. However, we will continue to have a fee for Developer Technical Support.

    • Developer Technical Support is offered for $75 per hour or in a Jump Start package at $250 for 4 hours.

    For members who had Developer Technical Support hours prior to the November 14, 2005 pricing changes, these hours are still on balance for your accounts.

    For members who joined the Program at one of the Commercial tiers or upgraded their membership to a Commercial tier prior to the November 14, 2005 pricing changes, you will be charged API fees for legacy schema API calls based on your membership level on November 13, 2005.

    The API Fee structure for legacy schema calls is as follows:

    • Basic Tier: 30,000 API calls/month are free; any legacy schema API calls greater than 30,000 will be charged at $2.90/1000 API Calls
    • Professional Tier: any legacy schema API calls will be charged at $1.60/1000 API calls
    • Enterprise Tier: any legacy schema API calls will be charged at $1.25/1000 API calls

    All API calls made using the unified schema are free of charge, effective November 14, 2005. All API calls made using the Legacy Schema will cease to function on June, 1 2006.

    All API Fees charged prior to this pricing change are still valid and are required to be paid in full as invoiced.

    For people who paid a membership fee and have not received a full year of service for that annual fee, we will provide a refund of the unused portion of the membership. Since membership is seen as a month-to-month cost for service, we will be refunding based on the amount of membership funds that have not been used as of Dec 1, 2005.

    For example, if a person signed up for or upgraded to the Basic tier membership on June 10, 2005 and paid their membership or upgrade fee, they will be refunded half of the $500 they paid for that Basic tier membership. This same process will be applied to membership and upgrades to the Professional and Enterprise tiers as well.

    Note: For Enterprise tier customers who use Third Party Checkout, the annual membership will be applied to the cost of that service, which is $5,000 annually. There will be no interruption in the Third Party Checkout service.

    These refunds will be sent out in the form of a check from eBay are scheduled to be sent within the first quarter of 2006.

  3. I received an invoice. Where do I send my payment?

    Even though we have made many services in the eBay Developers Program free as of Nov 14, 2005, some developers will still receive invoices for:

    • 1. invoices which have not been paid prior to making the service free and/or
    • 2. invoices for API calls made using the legacy schema
    • 3. invoices for 3rd Party Checkout annual fee

    Payment Options are as follows:

    Check or Money Order can be sent to:

    eBay API Accounting
    eBay, Inc.
    P.O. Box 5819
    San Jose, CA 95150

    You can also pay with PayPal or via Electronic Funds Transfer.

    PayPal Payment

    If you do not have a PayPal account, sign up now.

    • Log in to your PayPal account and click the 'Send Money' tab.
    • Recipient's Email = eBayAPI-Invoice@ebay.com
    • Amount = amount on your invoice
    • Currency = currency indicated on your invoice
    • Type = Service
    • Subject = your INVOICE NUMBER

    IMPORTANT: your INVOICE NUMBER in the Subject ensures your account will be appropriately credited with your payment

    Pay with Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)

    Use the following account information:
    eBay API Accounting eBay, Inc. P.O. Box 5819 San Jose, CA 95150
    Tel: 408-376-7400 / Fax: 408-376-7401
    Taxpayer ID: 77-0430924
    SWIFT code: WFBIUS6S
    Bank name: Wells Fargo Bank
    Bank location: 101 N. Philips Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57104-0000
    Bank account name: eBay Inc.
    Bank account number / IBAN: 4375-655628
    Routing/ABA number: 121000248

    Originators, please add "API Payment" and any other specific description or details so that we are able to identify the wire. The additional information will be available to us on our notice of accounting credit.

  4. Am I charged for API calls made to the Sandbox, the testing environment?
    API calls are free in the Sandbox. Additionally, you are not charged any other eBay fees, including listing fees and final value fees when testing your work flows in the Sandbox.
  5. What is the cost to take my application live?
    You can find the certification fee required to get your application certified here.
  6. What do I get billed for and why?

    Only members who joined or upgraded their membership to one of the Commercial Tiers prior to Nov 14, 2005 will get billed for services incurred prior to that date or be expected to pay previously unpaid invoices. All members who joined at the Individual Tier prior to Nov 14, 2005 have the same privileges and obligations as Developer Members. Please see Membership Benefits for details.

    Information below pertains to members who joined or upgraded their membership to one of the Commercial Tiers prior to Nov 14, 2005.

    There are several fees which may appear on your invoice (aka bill) if it was for services prior to November 14, 2005 pricing changes: (Note: Only legacy schema API call fees will appear on invoices for services received after Nov 14, 2005.)

    • DEF REV - Annual License Fee
      Cust. Material No.: MONTH 2005 - MONTH 2006
    • LIC - API Usage Fees - Month 2005
      Cust.Material No.: BILLABLE CALLS
    • LIC - Certification Fee
    • LIC - Re-Certification Fee
    • LIC - Technical Support Fee

    The Annual License Fee is your Annual Membership fee and is determined by your company's Membership Tier. Please contact us at API-Billing@ebay.com and request that your membership be terminated, if you no longer want this membership.

    For all API calls made prior to the Nov 14, 2005 pricing changes, The API Usage Fee is for the billable API calls made with your Developer ID for the month. Note: ALL API calls are billable (excludin AddItem and RelistItem calls). This includes calls which error out as well.

    For API calls made after November 14, 2005, Only API calls made using the legacy schema will be billable (excluding AddItem and RelistItem). API usage fees are determined by your Membership Tier.

    The Certification fee is for Commercial tier application certification. As of November 14, 2005 there are no longer any fees for new certifications.

    The Re-Certification Fee is for the re-certification of a Commercial tier application. As of November 14, 2005 there are no longer any fees for re-certifications.

    The Technical Support Fee is for Developer Technical Support prior to the Live Help support offered on a pre-pay basis today.

    You will only receive an invoice if you incur one or more of the fees listed above.

    The API Billing is separate from the eBay Seller account billing. API Billing sends out paper (hard copy) invoices (bills) once per month within the first 10 working days of the month. The fees which appear on the invoice were incurred in the prior month. For example, if you receive your API invoice on June 10, 2005, the line items on that invoice are for services provided in May 2005. The invoice is mailed to the address we have in our Developers Program database for your company. This is why it is important to keep your address and contact information up to date using the My Account area of the Developers Program website. The invoice is due within 30 days of the invoice date. We do not have the My Accounts area of the Developers Program website and our billing system integrated so you will not be able to do auto bill pay or view your invoices on line at this time.

    In order to avoid unplanned expenses it is very important that you keep and review your call logs regularly for API call volume as well as any failed calls. You can determine what your API Usage Fee will be for the month by taking the total billable API calls (including any billable calls which failed) and dividing by 1,000. Then multiply that figure by your Membership Tier Metered Monthly API Usage found on the Benefits and Fees page.

    For example, if you are a Basic Tier member and you make 100,000 billable API calls in a month, you would calculate your API fee as follows: 100,000 - 30,000 free calls for Basic Tier = 70,000; divide 70,000/1000 = 70 and multiply 70 by your $2.90 rate = $203 API Usage Fee. Note: please check your membership tier and then use the rate for your tier; Professional and Enterprise Tier members do not get any free billable calls as their rates are substantially less than Basic Tier member rate.

    If you want to know where to send in your payment, please go to FAQ , Where Do I Send Payment?

    If you have questions about your invoice, please send an email to API-Billing@ebay.com

  7. How can I monitor my monthly API Call Usage?

    Developers can use the API Usage Report or the GetApiAccessRules (API call) to find out their usage.

    The monthly API call limit is for one calendar month. For example, if a developer joins the eBay Developers Program and completes Self Certification to get 10,000 API calls (excluding AddItem and RelistItem) in the middle of a calendar month, this developer will still get 10,000 API calls for that calendar month.

Certification

  1. What is Standard Application Certification?

    Standard Application Certification is a process in which you submit to eBay a form describing your application and its usage of eBay Web services. This form is then reviewed by eBay's Developer Technical Support engineers. After the process is complete, your application may be granted a higher call limit than the standard 10,000 calls per month. The Standard Application Certification process exists to ensure the highest standards for API-enabled applications, including:

    • Compliance with API License Agreement. All API applications must adhere to certain restrictions with regard to the usage, look and feel of the application.
    • Efficient use of the API calls. Unlike desktop operating systems, the API environment is shared with other applications and to some extent, eBay's users as well. As such, we need to ensure no application acts in a manner that is detrimental to eBay.

    Certification is not used to qualify the functionality of your application. Instead, certification is focused solely on the parts of the application that call the API and/or displays eBay content.

  2. What is the difference between Self-Certification and Certification?

    Self-Certification is an option for members to gain access to the API Production servers in a restricted capacity. Self-Certified applications are required to adhere to the same published Certification requirements as applications that go through Standard Application Certification. However, because the process is highly simplified, Self-Certified applications have limited API calls and are actively monitored for compliance once they're live.

    Standard Application Certification requires a Developer Technical Support (DTS) engineer to review documented explanations of your application's interaction with the eBay servers to ensure you meet all certification requirements and make efficient use of the API calls.

  3. How long does it usually take to become certified?

    In the Self-Certification process, you progress at your own pace.

    Typically, the Standard Application Certification process takes between 5-7 business days. Additional time may be required for complex or lengthy applications.

    Read more about Certification here.
  4. What are the certification requirements?
    Read all about the requirements on the Certification Requirements homepage.
  5. Self Certification
    As an eBay Developers Program member you can self certify one (1) application. Please be sure to review the Certification Requirements. After you have reviewed this information, click here and fill out the self-certification form. Once the form is successfully submitted, a production key retrieval code will be emailed to the primary developer and primary business contacts on your account. By completing the self-certification process, you will be granted 10,000 production calls a month. To get a higher call limit, you must use the Standard Application Certification process.
  6. How do I make calls against live eBay data?
    There is no monetary cost to taking your application live; however, you will need to Self Certify or complete Standard Application Certification to do business in the production environment. Find out more about application certification.
  7. What are my API call limits? Can they be altered?

    You have essentially unlimited calls available to you in the Sandbox.

    In Production, you are given a limit of 10,000 API calls per month upon self-certification. This is an application limit and does not vary based on the number of users you have. We believe this amount of calls is sufficient for most individuals using a single application.

    However, we recognize that many developers will either need a higher API call limit and/or want to distribute their applications, or otherwise share them with many eBay users. These people should go through our Standard Application Certification process.

    After successfully completing this free-of-charge certification, your application will be rate-limited on an application basis or a per-user basis depending on your customer base and distribution format. Application-based call limits mean that your application will have a maximum API call cap on a daily and monthly basis. The user-based call limits mean that each user of your application gets their own pool of API calls. One person's usage does not affect another's, so as many people can use your program as you'd like. When you go through Standard Application Certification your call limits will be determined and communicated to you by the Developer Technical Support staff.

    Learn more about Certification options .

Getting Started

  1. I'm having difficulties getting the token. What did I do wrong?
    You are probably trying to create a token for the Sandbox, our testing environment. To be able to do that you will need a Sandbox user ID (like your real eBay ID but for the Sandbox). You can sign up here or use the Sandbox User Creation Tool. The flow is the same as on the production site. If you use that ID you will be able to create your token.
  2. Where can I find sample code?
    Sample code is available in our Community Codebase. If you want to contribute new samples, you can do so through the code samples project.
  3. Can I suggest FAQ's?
    Sure. We are happy to create new FAQ's with helpful answers. The best way to start is to post your solution to Forums on this site. We Forums on a consistent basis and will post helpful answers to FAQs.
  4. Contact Market Data
    The contact information as well as all the questions you should answer in your email are written on the following page http://developer.ebay.com/programs/marketdata/contact/.
  5. Which User ID Do I Use Where?

    Developers Program User ID: Get one now.

    eBay User ID: Get one now.

    Sandbox User ID: Get one now. You may want to create multiple Sandbox User IDs if you are if you are testing for buyers and sellers.

  6. Are you having problems accessing Developer Live Chat support?

    Are you having problems accessing Developer Live Chat support?

    Except for certain holidays and outage periods, Developer Live Chat is available during the business hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. To find out the current Live Chat schedule:

    1. Go to Developer Support.
    2. Select your name from the drop-down menu and enter Live Chat.
    3. Live Chat hours are published on the Live Chat tab.

    No email addresses appear in the drop-down list for support access or Can not find valid contact for your account.

    Our support system requires uniqueness for email addresses. If you do not see any email addresses in the drop-down menu, the primary email address for your company most likely already exists in our system. You may have previously registered for a developer account using the same email address. You have two options:

    Use a new email address:

    1. Edit Membership Info for your current Developers Program account and set the email address in your contact info to the new value you would like to use.
    2. Now go back to Developer Live Chat support and see if your email address appears in the drop-down.

    Use a previously used email address:

    1. Edit Membership Info for your old Developers Program account and change the email address in your contact info to a different value.
    2. Edit Membership Info for your current Developers Program account and set the primary email address in your contact info to the value you would like to use.
    3. Now go back to Developer Live Chat support and see if your email address appears in the drop down.

    I see other email addresses, but my specific email address does not appear in the drop-down list for support access.

    Make sure that a contact exists for you in your company account with the email address you would like to use. Our support system requires uniqueness for email addresses. Therefore, if you have previously registered for an eBay Developers Program account using the same email address, please do not use the same address again. If you would like to use the same address, follow the steps above entitled "No email addresses appear in the drop-down list for support access" to remedy the situation.

    To create a new contact:

    1. Edit Membership Info for your Developers Program account and click on "Add New Contact."
    2. Now go back to Developer Live Chat support and see if your email address appears in the drop-down.

    To update an existing contact:

    1. Edit Membership Info for your Developers Program account and click on your contact record.
    2. Check the email address and set to the value you would like to use. (The email address must not be previously used)
    3. Now go back to Developer Live Chat support and see if your email address appears in the drop-down.

    I am still having problems

    If you are still having problems, please email developer-support@ebay.com with details including your company name, contact name, and email address and we will work with you to remedy the situation.

  7. What are API Rate Limits and why do we have them?

    What is an API call limit?

    eBay sets the number of API calls an application or eBay user can make. Once the API call limit is reached, all subsequent API calls are blocked and will result in an error.

    Why does eBay have API Call Limits?

    eBay sets API call rate limits for various reasons; however, the primary reason are:

    • To protect our systems so the platform is available to all users 24/7 365 days a year.
    • To encourage efficient use of API calls.

    Want more details?

    There are two events which set your production API call limits:

    • When a developer completes Self Certification and retrieves production keys, the keys are set to a maximum of 10,000 API calls per month in the production environment.
    • When a developer completes Standard Application Certification, the rate limit for the production keys is increased significantly.

    Depending on the type of application you are certifying, you may be rate limited by application or by User ID.

    For web-based applications, an application based rate limit may be most appropriate. In this case, you may receive up to 1,500,000 API calls per day

    For applications that are client based (i.e. given to users and run on the desktop) or have large distributions, it is likely that a User ID base rate limit will drive the optimal efficiency. In this case, every eBay User ID can make up to 20,000 calls per day. Note: this limit actually applies on a per-User ID basis, not on a per application basis. So, a person will be able to make up to 20,000 calls in aggregate from all the applications they are using that are User ID limited.

    The type of rate limit assigned to an application is determined based on application type during Standard Application Certification.

    All API calls that exceed the assigned application or User ID call limits will be blocked. Note: eBay may increase or decrease the number of API calls you may make at eBay's sole discretion. Will generally occur to ensure platform stability.

    These limits apply to all developers, whether or not you are an eBay affiliate.

    API calls that are made on or after November 14, 2005 using the unified schema will be free. If you joined the Program prior to November 14, 2005, please see enhanced benefits for your API fee information. After June 1, 2006, all API calls must be made using unified schema, all other API calls will be blocked.

Technical

  1. Is there a development and/or test environment included with membership in the Developers Program?
    Yes. We offer a development Sandbox, a duplicate of eBay that uses test data so Developer Program members can build and test new applications. It behaves like the eBay API production servers but does not in any way impact the production data or community.
  2. Will the API allow me to push data to my application based on predetermined events?
    The API does not push data to an application. It is a pull-only interface. However, the Developers Program also offers Platform Notifications. Platform Notifications make an HTTP or SMTP request to a URL that you specify when certain events, such as an auction ending or a buyer leaving feedback, occur.
  3. What kind of technical support does eBay provide?

    eBay offers a suite of free resources including Developer Forums, technical documentation, SDKs for Windows and Java, and more. In addition, Developer Technical Support (DTS) is available on a fee-basis for all members.

    Developer Technical Support is offered at $75 per hour. A Jumpstart package can be purchased for $250 for 4 hours of support.

  4. Where can I find more information about Auth&Auth?

    Here is a good link.

    If you have any further questions, please follow up in our member Forums where we offer a special Tech Soup board for members to discuss issues like Auth & Auth.

  5. What is eBay Web Services?

    The eBay Web Services Application Programming Interface (API) is the means through which third-party developers can create web-based applications to conduct business with the eBay Platform.

    Our API is a set of functions called through the HTTP transport protocol. Information is sent and received using a standard XML data format. A member of the Developers Program designs an application at their local site that uses the API. This local application can be in any programming language capable of issuing data requests via the Internet. eBay users run the local application to conduct auctions, leave feedback, manage their eBay stores, etc.

    The local application calls the API functions to send information to and request information from the eBay Platform. In sending and getting this information, the end-user is able to conduct business in essentially the same way as through the eBay interface.

  6. Is an API call a request for a single piece of data or can a single call retrieve multiple pieces of information?

    There are three different types of API function calls, they are:

    1. A single API call can return a single piece of data, such as the eBay Official Time.
    2. A single API call can return set of data associated with an object, such as the User object. This type of call could obtain multiple pieces of information about a single user, such as eBay User ID, email address and payment address.
    3. A single API call can return a set of data associated with a collection of objects. This type of call could obtain information about multiple auctions and all the data associated with each auction.
  7. Will the API work in conjunction with my third party payment processor?

    A certain level of integration between the eBay platform and your application for "checkout" can be achieved. The API can be used to retrieve transaction information and then provide that information to pre-populate your checkout or payment processing service. Your users would simply need to be directed to the appropriate checkout or payment services via email at the end of auction.

    We also offer an "integrated checkout" solution known as "Third Party Checkout" where your payment service would display to the user at the end of auction. This is only available to developers who pay an additional fee.

  8. Are there any regular eBay functions not available through the API?

    Some features exist on the eBay.com website that are not available through the API. Your users must perform these functions directly on the eBay site instead of through your application:

    • Bidding or buying
    • Creating an eBay User ID
    • Final value fee refunds
    • Non-paying bidder processing; however, we do provide API support for Unpaid Item (UPI)disputes.
  9. Does access to the API include access to Half.com data?

    Yes. For more details, see the "Working with Half.com Listings" section of our XML or SOAP API documentation.

  10. Why would I use an SDK?

    There are four main reasons to use an eBay SDK:

    1. Simplify the development process by supplying "out-of-the-box" functionality for features and processes that otherwise you would have to build.
    2. Enhance existing applications with additional functionality such as payment processing, fulfillment and inventory management.
    3. Integrate with the latest eBay features and services through regularly updated components and free upgrades.
    4. Cut time to market for new applications by using components developed and tested by eBay.

    We have two SDKs: one for Windows and another for Java. Both are free to all members of the Developers Program. Developers on other platforms can use our SOAP or XML API directly.

  11. How do I get support?
    Our support hub is http://developer.ebay.com/support. There you'll find documentation, access to Forums, the Knowledgebase, our developer tools, as well as Live Help.
  12. Website problems
    If you encounter any problems with the site, feel free to contact us at developer-webmaster@ebay.com.
  13. Forum login issues
    To sign-in to Forums, make sure to use your eBay user ID and password.

API Functionality

  1. What is the eBay API

    Normally, users buy and sell items using the eBay online interface, interacting with eBay directly. But with the eBay API, you communicate directly with the eBay database in XML format. By using the API, your application can provide a custom interface, functionality and specialized operations not otherwise afforded by the eBay interface.

    Using the API, you can create programs that:

    • Submit items for listing on eBay
    • Get the current list of eBay categories
    • View information about items listed on eBay
    • Get high bidder information for items you are selling
    • Retrieve lists of items a particular user is currently selling through eBay
    • Retrieve lists of items a particular user has bid on
    • Display eBay listings on other sites
    • Leave feedback about other users at the conclusion of a commerce transaction

    Because the API is not dependent on the eBay user interface, it allows you to create stable, custom functionality and interfaces that best meet your business needs.

    For instance, you can:

    • Automate the process of listing and monitoring auctions. There is no need to parse eBay pages that change frequently, breaking applications. A seller has access to more tools they can use to sell better and faster.
    • Extract user information from eBay and automate the end auction management process and delivery to eBay sellers and buyers.

    After joining the Developers Program, you will have access to the Developer Zone, a password-protected Web site for members only. The Developer Zone is the primary source for technical documentation and specifications, DTD files that define the XML input and output for the API, tools for creating and certifying your application and a full suite of additional technical resources.

  2. Bidding API
    We currently don't allow bidding through the general API. Although it is possible to look into that on a case by case approach. If you are interested contact developer-relations@ebay.com with some background information on your company and what you want to build.
  3. Authentication Without Web Access?
    If you are developing on a platform that does not have Web access, such as a mobile phone, you can't use the FetchToken approach to get the Auth and Auth token. We can provide you with access to the GetToken call on a case-by-case basis to make this authentication possible.

Solutions Directory

  1. What is the Solutions Directory?
    The new eBay Solutions Directory is a one-stop online shop for eBay tools and services developed by eBay and eBay developers. It's a valuable marketing tool for those offering solutions, and an even more valuable resource for those who are looking for software solutions and services.
  2. Why should I list my solutions in the eBay Solution Directory
    The Solutions Directory is an excellent opportunity to give the eBay trading community information about your products and services, and enable them to make a purchasing decision that meets their specific business needs. There’s simply no better place to go to find all eBay solutions in one place, so the Directory is a very important tool for eBay developers and customers who need their tools.
  3. How will people hear about the eBay Solutions Directory?
    The eBay Solutions Directory is found on the homepage navigation of eBay.com, as well as in featured links throughout the site. We also conduct a number of different promotions to eBay sellers, including workshops, newsletter articles, public relations, appearances on eBay Radio, blurbs in community emails, and promotions at events.
  4. How does the eBay Solutions Directory work?

    The eBay community will be able to search and browse the eBay Solutions Directory in a number of ways to find the right solution for their needs. They’ll be able to:

    • Find solutions by features and functionality
    • Search and browse for solutions that support specific eBay categories
    • Compare multiple solutions by price

    Each listing will include a searchable individual page describing special features and availability of your solutions.

  5. How do I get a listing in the eBay Solutions Directory?
    Every member of the eBay Developers Program receives one free listing in the eBay Solutions Directory after their application has been approved through the Standard Application Certification process and they have received their production keys. To list your solution, go to My Account on the eBay Developers Program website, sign-in to the Developer Zone and click on "Manage My Account." From there, click on "Listings" and you can get started listing your solution.

Affiliate Program

  1. What is the Affiliate API Tier and how does it relate to the Developers Program?

    The Affiliate tier is a unique membership in the eBay Developers Program. This means that you are a member of both the eBay Affiliate Program and the eBay Developers Program. The Affiliate tier enables eBay Affiliate developers to drive traffic to eBay via applications built using the eBay API. And, as members of the eBay Affiliate Program, you are paid for those leads and sales.

    This tier is managed via a distinct set of API production keys and there are additional terms and conditions unique from those of the standard Developers Program.

  2. How do I join the Developers Program at the Affiliate Tier?
    By agreeing to the online API License at the Affiliate tier, you become a member of the eBay Developers Program. All terms and conditions of your membership are explained during the sign-up process.
  3. What if I am already a member of the eBay Developers Program at a different membership tier?
    Existing Developers Program members who also join at the Affiliate API Tier have two separate memberships. Each membership has different terms and conditions which govern your use of the eBay API. You are provided separate API security keys in order to comply with the terms of each membership.
  4. Do I have to be a member of the eBay Affiliate Program first?
    Yes, you must be an approved eBay Affiliate in order to qualify for the Affiliate API Tier in the Developers Program. To sign up for the Affiliate Program, review the 5-step sign up process at affiliates.ebay.com and then sign up for the eBay program through Commission Junction.
  5. What if I am an eBay Affiliate in a country that doesn’t use Commission Junction?
    Some eBay sites do not currently use Commission Junction to track traffic. If you want to join the Affiliate Tier, just enter your existing Affiliate tracking ID, from the affiliate network used by eBay in your country, in the appropriate field during sign-up for the Affiliate Tier.
  6. Will I be held to the same guidelines if I am an international eBay Affiliate?
    Some eBay sites do not currently use Commission Junction to track traffic. If you want to join the Affiliate Tier, just enter your existing Affiliate tracking ID, from the affiliate network used by eBay in your country, in the appropriate field during sign-up for the Affiliate Tier.
  7. How am I compensated for Affiliate traffic?
    You will be compensated via the eBay Affiliate Program pricing schedule
  8. How will you know the traffic is from me?
    As you do with your other means of driving traffic, we recommend that you tag all your API applications with a Commission Junction affiliate tracking tag (the PID provided by Commission Junction, if you are in the U.S. program), so that you can be paid for all new buyers and bids you send to eBay. Remember to tag all links to eBay with the appropriate tags so that active registrations driven through your Affiliate tier membership are appropriately compensated. We also recommend that you use AID #10357573 for leads sent to www.ebay.com.
  9. Can I get paid for applications that I build in the Affiliate API Tier?
    You may be paid for the new buyers and winning bids that you drive to eBay using your application. However, we do not currently have a program in place to pay third-party developers for applications they may build for the eBay community. If you know of other ways to monetize your application in addition to payments for new buyers, please send your unique ideas to affiliateAPI@ebay.com.
  10. What if I need help with this program?
    After you join the program, you will have a full range of self-help resources including technical documentation, developer forums, and sample code. You will also have access to Developer Technical Support (DTS), a team dedicated to answering questions relating to the API. You can access all resources from the Support section of the Developer Zone website after you join. For questions about our programs, terms, and guidelines, please email our Affiliate API team.
Last modified March 22, 2006 01:22 PM