Wondering what a particular eBay term or icon means? Find out here. For a definition of an abbreviation you've seen in an item listings or on a Community discussion board, see eBay Acronyms.

A

About Me
A page you can create on eBay that tells other members about you and your eBay business. Click the icon next to the User ID of anyone who has an About Me page to view that person's page or to create your own About Me page.

Ad Format
Now known as Classified Ads.

Administrative Cancellation
The cancellation of a bid by eBay due to administrative circumstances, such as when a bidder becomes unregistered.

Announcement Boards
Special pages where eBay posts current news and information. You'll find announcements about new features and promotions, policy changes, special event information, and notices about system issues. Go to eBay's general announcements or system status announcements board.

Answer Centre
Special pages where you can ask questions and get help about using eBay from other members of the eBay Community. Go to the Answer Centre.

Auction-Style Listing (Online Auction Format)
The basic, most common way to sell an item on eBay. This format lets sellers list an item for sale, collect bids for a fixed length of time, and sell the item to the highest bidder. For more information on buying formats, see Guide to Buying Formats.

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B

Best Offer
A listing feature that lets a buyer make an offer to a seller. Sellers can use the Best Offer feature in Online Auction, Fixed Price and Store Inventory listings.

Bid Cancellation
The cancellation of a bid by a seller during an auction-style listing. Once a bid is cancelled, it cannot be reinstated by the seller. However, the bidder may bid again. The seller can use the Block Bidders/Buyers feature to prevent a particular user from bidding again on a listing.
In general, sellers should not cancel bids in listings. However, they might experience a situation in which they decide it is necessary. For example, sellers might cancel bids if they are unable to verify the identity of the bidder, even after they try all reasonable means of contact. Make sure you're aware of other rules and restrictions surrounding the cancellation of bids.

Bid Increment
The amount by which a bid must be raised in order for it to be accepted in an auction-style listing. The bid increment is automatically determined based on the current winning bid. For example, if the current bid for an item is $5.00 and the bid increment is $0.50, the next bid must be at least $5.50.

Bid Retraction
The cancellation of a bid by a buyer during an auction-style listing. In general, a buyer cannot retract a bid once it is placed during an auction-style listing, so please bid carefully. A retraction may be allowed under special circumstances. For example, if buyers accidentally enter the wrong bid amount (entering $99.50 rather than $9.95), they may retract it and enter the right bid amount as long as they do so immediately. Make sure you're aware of other rules and restrictions surrounding the retraction of bids. For more information, see Bid Retractions.

Bidder
A member who bids on an item on eBay. Remember each bid placed enters a buyer into a binding contract. For more information, see Rules for Buyers.

Bidder Search
A search for all the items that a member of eBay has placed bids on. This feature lets you see what items you've bid on during the last 30 days. Although you can use search by bidder to view your own current auction listings or history, we recommend that you use My eBay instead. My eBay has many more functions to manage your bidding and buying activities.You can also use Bidder Search to see what another member has bid on during the last 30 days. All you need is the member's User ID. To protect bidder privacy, not all items that this member has bid on may be displayed.

To keep eBay a safe place for buyers and sellers, eBay limits the display of bid history information. Members can't see or search for member-specific information—such as user IDs—on the Bid History page. The Bid History: Details page contains detailed information on bidders; however, all bidders are given anonymous names. Only the seller of the item can see a bidder’s user ID. See Managing Buyers and Bidders.

Regardless of the current high bid, user IDs will appear as anonymous names throughout the duration of the auction, even if the seller lowers the price. Anonymous names may also appear more than once in the bid history and may represent different bidders from different auctions.

Block Bidders/Buyers
A list of specific eBay members that you create, who are not allowed to bid on or buy items you list for sale. Users on the list will be blocked until you take them off the list. You may want to do this if you've had a negative experience with a buyer in the past. Go to your Blocked Bidder/Buyer List.

Buyer
A member who buys an item from a seller on eBay. Remember each bid a buyer places enters them into a binding contract. For more information, see Rules for Buyers.

Buy It Now
A listing feature that lets a buyer purchase an item immediately for a price the seller has set. Items with this feature will display the icon and the Buy It Now price in their listings. Sellers can use the Buy It Now feature in Online Auction, Fixed Price, and Store Inventory formats.

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C

Category Listings
The set of categories by which items are organised on eBay, such as Antiques, Books, Computers, Sporting Goods, and so on. Anyone can browse the categories and look at lists of items until they find something they're interested in, (as opposed to doing a keyword search). Sellers can choose which category best fits an item to ensure maximum exposure for the listing. Browse the eBay category listings.

Changed User ID Icon
Indicates that the member has chosen a new User ID within the past 30 days. Changing User IDs is not recommended because a User ID plays an important role in a member's reputation. A member who has changed User IDs keeps the same Feedback Profile. Be sure to examine it as you would with any other trading partner. However, members change their User IDs for various reasons. For example, a seller might update it to reflect a new line of business.

Classified Ads
A type of listing a seller can use to list items, services, or properties for sale in order to generate multiple leads. Interested buyers fill out a contact form and their information is sent to the seller. For more information on buying formats, see Guide to Buying Formats.

Completed Listings (Search)
A search for items that have ended over the last 15 days. This can be useful to help sellers determine how to sell an item. For example, a seller can view completed listings to decide what starting price to use in an auction-style listing.

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D

Detailed Seller Ratings
Detailed seller ratings provide a more complete picture of the member’s performance as a seller. When buyers leave an overall Feedback rating for a seller, they can also leave detailed seller ratings in four areas: accuracy of item description, communication, shipping time, and shipping and handling charges. The rating system is based on a one- to five-star scale. Five stars is the highest rating, and one star is the lowest rating. Detailed seller ratings do not count toward the overall Feedback Score.

Discussion Boards
Special pages where members can post messages to the eBay Community about various topics. Anyone can ask questions, learn valuable tips, share experiences, and connect with other eBay users.

Dispute Console
See Resolution Centre.

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E

eBay Community
A group of buyers and sellers who are the members of the eBay community. Members can see announcements and calendar events, as well as use discussion boards, groups, and find quick help from other members. Go to the eBay Community.

eBay Stores
Special pages on eBay featuring all the items offered by an individual Store seller. Buyers can shop at eBay Stores to find unique items they can buy right away. Sellers can use eBay Stores to maximise their business through customisable displays, categories and promotions. Go to eBay Stores.

eBay Time
The official time of day at eBay headquarters in San Jose, California in the United States. This location is in the Pacific Time zone. See the current eBay Time.

eBay Toolbar
A free eBay tool you can add to your Web browser. eBay Toolbar tracks items you're bidding on or watching, alerts you when listings are about to end, and offers simple yet powerful ways to search for items. Because eBay Toolbar is added to your browser, it's easy to search for an item on eBay, even when you're on a non-eBay site. Download the eBay Toolbar.

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F

Feedback
For each transaction, buyers and sellers can choose rate each other by leaving Feedback. Feedback from buyers can consist of a positive, negative or neutral rating, and a short comment. Feedback from sellers can consist of a positive rating and a short comment. These ratings are used to determine Feedback Scores. See What is Feedback.

Feedback Profile
A page showing all of a member's Feedback information, including ratings and comments from others who have bought or sold with that person before. To see a member's Feedback Profile, click the Feedback Score in parentheses next to their User ID.

Feedback Score
A number used to measure a member's reputation on eBay. In most cases, members receive points for ratings as follows: +1 (positive), 0 (neutral), or -1 (negative). Find out more about how we calculate Feedback Scores. A high Feedback Score means that the member has received a high number of positive ratings from other members. A high Feedback Score is usually a good sign, but buyers and sellers should also check the Feedback Profile to read comments from other members. Every member of eBay has a Feedback Score. You'll find it in parentheses next to their User ID. Click the Feedback Score to see that member's entire Feedback Profile. See What is Feedback.

Feedback Star
The colour of the star Indicates that an eBay member has achieved a certain Feedback Score. For example, a yellow star means a member has achieved 10 – 49 Feedback points. In most cases, a high Feedback Score is a good sign, but buyers and sellers should also check the Feedback Profile to read comments from other members. For more information, see Feedback Star Glossary.

Final Value Fee
A fee eBay charges to a seller when a listing ends. This fee is based on the "final value" of the item, which is the closing bid or sale price. The Final Value Fee is not charged if there are no bids on an item or the winning bid did not meet the reserve price the seller set. Note: It is currently free to list on eBay Singapore, and Final Value Fees are therefore not being charged.

Fixed Price
A selling format that lets sellers list an item for an unchanging, set price, with no auction-style bidding. This is a common alternative to using Online Auction format, where people bid for an item. For more information on buying formats, see Guide to Buying Formats.

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G

Guides
eBay or eBay members write and share their expertise on a topic or category. Readers can research and learn about all kinds of information. Anyone can research or write a guide. For more information, see Guides.

Guest Buying
A guest buyer can pay for up to two items with a credit card before being required to register on eBay. For more information on guest buying, see Buying as a Guest.

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H - I

Help Boards
eBay members and staff moderators answer questions and solve problems together. Anyone can ask a question, add a topic for discussion, or browse for an answer. Go to the Community Help boards.

Insertion Fee
The fee eBay charges to a seller for listing an item. This fee varies by the type of listing and is non-refundable. Note: It is currently free to list on eBay Singapore, Malaysia, and Philippines, and Insertion Fees are therefore not being charged.

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J - K

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L - M

Member
A buyer or seller who has created a profile with eBay. A member has a User ID and password for accessing features, such as My eBay. As a member, you can track items you are buying or selling, review or leave feedback, or update and change your personal information and notifications.

My eBay
A central place on eBay where you can manage all of your activities including buying, selling, feedback and general account preferences. To get to My eBay, sign in and click the "My eBay" link at the top of any eBay page. Go to My eBay to see your page.

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N - O

New Listing Icon
Indicates that the item has been listed within the last 24 hours. If you search or browse for the same kind of items repeatedly, this icon helps you spot items you may not have seen before.

New Member/User Icon
Indicates that the buyer or seller has been a registered member of eBay for 30 days or less. New members join the eBay Community everyday. Knowing that a person has recently joined can be helpful in various situations. For example, when dealing with a new member, an experienced seller will know to be more patient as the new member learns how eBay works.

Online Auction Format (Auction-Style Listing)
The basic, most common way to sell an item on eBay. This format lets sellers list an item for sale, collect bids for a fixed length of time, and sell the item to the highest bidder. For more information, see the Guide to Buying Formats.

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P - Q

PayPal
A fast, easy, secure payment method offered by most eBay sellers for purchasing items. PayPal, an eBay company, is the global leader of online payment solutions, and the preferred payment method on eBay. Buyers and sellers prefer using PayPal payments, especially internationally, because anyone with an email address can send or receive money instantly and securely online without sharing their financial information. Learn more.

Note: PayPal is fully integrated on eBay.com.sg. For country sites like eBay.com.my and eBay.ph where PayPal has not been completely integrated, PayPal is still available as a payment method for local transactions. If you wish to offer PayPal for local transactions on eBay.com.my and eBay.ph, please select "Other / See item description" in the "Payment methods you accept" section of the Seller Your Item form. Be sure you specify PayPal as an accepted form of payment in the payment instructions of your item description.

PayPal Buyer Protection
PayPal offers Buyer Protection Programme that covers eligible eBay items paid with PayPal for its full purchase price plus its original shipping costs in the event of non-delivery or misrepresentation. Find out more and see eligibility.

PayPal Seller Protection

PayPal offers Seller Protection that can help reduce sellers’ losses due to buyer chargebacks, claims, or reversals for unauthorised payments and items not received – at no additional cost. With Seller Protection, the full value of qualified eBay items are covered when the transaction meets the eligibility requirements. Learn more to make sure you are covered.

Picture Icon
Indicates that the listing has a picture of the item in its description. This icon appears in browse and search result lists.

PowerSeller
A seller on eBay who has maintained a 98% positive Feedback Score and provided a high level of service to buyers. When buyers see the icon next to a seller's User ID, they know they're working with an experienced eBay seller.

Pre-Approve Bidders/Buyers
Lets a seller create a list of specific eBay members who are allowed to bid on or buy an item they are listing for sale. Each pre-approved list applies to only one item, so sellers can restrict bidding or buying on one listing without changing the other listings. Members not on the pre-approved list must email the seller for approval before they can bid on or buy an item. Start or edit a pre-approved list.

Privacy Policy
eBay's policy on how we use and protect your personal information. For more information, see eBay Privacy Policy. To see a summary of this policy, go to our Privacy Central page.

Proxy Bidding
The feature of an auction-style listing in which eBay automatically bids on the buyer's behalf, up to the maximum amount they set. Enter the maximum amount you're willing to spend on an item, and eBay will continue to bid incrementally for you until either you're the high bidder or your maximum is reached. This means you don't have to keep coming back to bid every time someone else places a bid.

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R

Registered Member/User
A person who has registered with eBay by providing basic contact information. This contact information is kept private on our secure servers. Once you register and choose a User ID and password, you can begin bidding on and buying items on eBay. Register now.

Relisting
Listing an item for sale again after it did not sell the first time. If a seller relists an item and it sells the second time, we automatically refund the relisting fee (some restrictions apply).

Reserve Price
The lowest price at which a seller is willing to sell an item in an auction-style listing. When sellers list an item, they can set a secret reserve price. If the highest bid does not meet the reserve price, then they're under no obligation to sell the item to the bidder. This feature lets sellers set a low starting price to stimulate bidding among buyers, yet ensures that the item will not be sold below a price they're willing to settle for. eBay charges an additional fee for setting a reserve price, but it is fully refunded if an item sells. For more information, see the Fees page.

Resolution Centre

The Resolution Centre helps buyers and sellers resolve problems related to their transactions. Accessible from My eBay and from the “Resolution Centre” link at the bottom of most pages, the Resolution Centre is used when a buyer doesn’t receive an item or the item differs from its description, when a seller doesn’t receive payment for an item, or when a seller wants to cancel a transaction. Learn more about resolving transaction problems in the Resolution Centre.

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S

Second Chance Offer
A seller can make an offer to a non-winning bidder when either the winning bidder has failed to pay for an item or the seller has a duplicate of the item. A seller can create a Second Chance Offer immediately after a listing ends and up to 60 days after the end of the listing.  If you’re making a Second Chance Offer because you didn’t receive payment from the winning bidder, first try to resolve the problem with the winning bidder. Learn more about what to do when a buyer doesn’t pay.

Secure Server
A special server used for processing credit card and other sensitive information. This server uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption to keep your information private and safe.

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
An industry-standard encryption protocol that is used to transmit users' personal or credit card information securely and privately over the internet. eBay uses this technology to keep your information safe. By convention, web pages that require an SSL connection start with https: instead of http:. When you see https: in the address box in your web browser, you know you're using an SSL connection.

Security Centre
The Security Centre provides resources and tips that help members learn how to stay safe on eBay and online. Go to the Security Centre.

Sell Similar Item
A feature that lets sellers list new items based on the information they've previously entered for another item. When a seller chooses this option, eBay automatically transfers information from the old listing into the new one for easy editing. Sellers save time by not having to enter the same information again.

Seller
A member who sells an item on eBay. Remember eBay has rules to help ensure that transactions are safe and hassle-free for the seller and the buyer. For more information, see Rules for Sellers.

Seller's Return Policy
A feature in the Sell Your Item form that enables sellers to specify their product's return policy. This feature includes a set of pre-formatted policy from which the seller can choose. Once the seller chooses a Return Policy, it appears in a corresponding section of the View Item page.

Seller Search
A search for a specific seller on eBay. Enter a seller's User ID, and you'll see all the items the seller is currently listing. Search for a seller.

Selling Manager
An advanced eBay selling tool that lets sellers perform all of their listing and sales-related activities from one location in My eBay. With Selling Manager, sellers can perform a variety of selling activities, such as tracking listings and managing post-sales activities (Feedback, email, payments, etc.). Learn more about Selling Manager.

Selling Manager Pro
An eBay selling tool that has the features of Selling Manager, plus additional capabilities to track inventory, list items in bulk, send feedback and emails in bulk, and generate profit and loss reports. Learn more about Selling Manager Pro.

Shill Bidding
Bidding that artificially increases an item’s price or apparent desirability, or bidding by individuals with a level of access to the seller’s item information not available to the general Community. Shill bidding is not allowed on eBay.

Skype
A free application you install on your computer to communicate with other eBay members. Skype is a fast, easy communication method offered by some eBay sellers, so buyers can ask questions. Skype lets you make free calls over the Internet from your computer. You can use the Chat feature or the Call feature to communicate with other eBay members. If you use the Call feature, you'll need speakers and microphone or a headset with a microphone.

Sniping
Placing a bid in the closing minutes or seconds of an auction-style listing. Any bid placed before the listing ends is allowed on eBay. To protect yourself from being outbid at the last moment, enter the maximum amount you're willing to pay for an item up front, and eBay will bid automatically for you, making sure you're the winning bidder until your maximum is reached. This system is sometimes called proxy bidding.

Starting Price
The price at which a seller wants bidding for an item to begin in an auction-style listing. The starting price may not necessarily be the lowest price they're willing to sell their item for. Sellers can also set a reserve price that represents the true minimum and is not shown to bidders. If the winning bid does not meet the reserve price, then the seller is under no obligation to sell the item to the bidder. This feature lets sellers to set a lower starting price to stimulate bidding.

Store Inventory Format
A selling format that eBay Store sellers can use to list items in their store for a fixed price. Store Inventory items do not appear in regular browse and search item lists on eBay. However, they have longer listing durations. Sellers can draw buyers to their store and Store Inventory items by promoting them in auction-style listings and outside of eBay. This format is available only if the seller has an eBay Store.

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T

Title Search
A method of finding items on eBay by entering keywords that match the title of the items. You enter keywords that you think will appear in the title of the item you're looking for. The Search function will return with a list of items that match your keywords. Search by title.

Turbo Lister
An advanced eBay selling tool that helps sellers create multiple listings quickly and easily on their computer. Turbo Lister is a desktop application. You use it on your computer to create your listings, and then upload the listings to eBay. Turbo Lister's features helps sellers save time if they list many items. Download Turbo Lister.

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U - Z

Unpaid Item Process
The process used by sellers when they haven't received payment for an item. The seller opens a case for the unpaid item in the Resolution Centre and the buyer is given an opportunity to respond. If the buyer doesn’t respond to the case or the seller isn’t satisfied with the resolution, the seller may qualify for a Final Value Fee Credit.

User Agreement
The terms under which eBay offers registered members access to eBay services. All registered members must agree to these terms before they can bid on or list items, or use any other eBay service. Read the eBay User Agreement.

User ID
The unique name you use to identify yourself on eBay. You choose a User ID when you register on eBay. As you buy and sell on eBay, your User ID may become an important part of your reputation on eBay. You'll want other members to associate your User ID with a reliable, positive buying or selling experience.

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