eBay Community Glossary

[community_team]

Please see below an eBay Community Glossary that was kindly created by @copper.boom. If you have suggestions for additions or edits to the glossary, please Private Message copper.boom.

@ Tag / @ Mention = Tagging another member using the discussion board’s @ feature which sends a notification to the tagged member

3P = Third Party service. Services offered by third parties can vary from photo hosting to listing tools to shipping and more.

AAMOF = As a matter of fact

Active Content = Active content is a broad term which covers any type of non-standard text that can be included in item descriptions to provide additional functionality. Such applications can negatively affect the user experience by inhibiting purchasing on mobile devices, increasing page load times, and raising security vulnerabilities.

AFAIC = As far as I'm concerned

AFAIK = As far as I know

AKA = Also known as

APV = USPS Automatic Postage Verification System. A system that automatically checks packages in the mailstream for weight, dimensions, mail class, packaging, origin zip code, destination zip code, postage paid. If it determines that an incorrect amount of postage was paid the USPS will automatically charge or refund the difference through your online point of purchase (eBay, PayPal, Stamps.com, etc). Formerly known as RAP (Revenue Assurance Program)

ASP = Average Selling Price

ASQ = Ask Seller a Question, referring to the contact link on an eBay listing page

ATM = At the moment

B&M = Brick & Mortar, refers to a physical retail store

B2B / B2C = Business to Business / Business to Consumer

BB = Big Box, referring to large retailers

BBL = Blocked Bidder/Buyer List

BEAR = eBay’s Bulk Edit and Replace tool for sellers

BIN = Buy It Now

Blues = Term commonly used for the Community Team and other eBay employees who assist on the boards, named because their posts used to be outlined in blue. Sometimes referred to as Pinks, which dates to an older version of the boards.

BO / OBO = Best Offer / or best offer

Boardie = Regular poster on the discussion boards

Bot = a software application that runs automated tasks (scripts) including reading websites in order to create entries for a search engine index, sometimes referred to as a spider, web crawler, or web robot. Typically, bots perform tasks that are both simple and structurally repetitive, at a much higher rate than would be possible for a human alone.

BP = Buying Privileges

BST = Buy, Sell, Trade

BTDT = Been there, done that

BTW = By the way

CC = Credit Card

Chat = See “Weekly Chat” below

COA = Certificate of Authenticity. Depending on context can also refer to Change of Address, a form filed with USPS for mail forwarding.

COGS = Cost of goods sold

ComBase / ComPlus = Refers to USPS pricing rates, Commercial Base Pricing and Commercial Plus Pricing

Community =

• eBay Community including the discussion boards
• eBay for Business FaceBook page
• Twitter page
• Blog
• Announcements page
• Selling on eBay Podcast

Consumer Seller Listing Tool = Refers to all forms of eBay’s listing tool for sellers.

CRM = Customer Relationship Management

CRO = Conversion Rate Optimization

CS = Customer Service

CSA = Clothing, Shoes & Accessories eBay Category

CSV = Comma Separated Value

CT = Community Team, see also: Blues. Meet the team

CUB = eBay's 'Advanced Listing Tool'

CPF = Community Platform Feedback board for discussions and questions about the eBay Community

Dash = eBay Seller Dashboard, used to keep track of seller metrics

DC = Delivery Confirmation

DIM = Dimensional Weight (Volumetric Weight) calculation by shipping carriers

DMM = USPS Domestic Mail Manual

DSR = Detailed Seller Rating, the star rating system included with Feedback

eBay Open = Annual eBay Seller convention that began in 2016. Former versions of the event were eBay Live!, eBay Radio Party & Conference, Kansas Jubilee: eBay to eCommerce, and eBay: On Location.

eDELCON = USPS delivery confirmation service for International First Class shipments

EDD / ETD / EDT = Estimated Delivery Date / Estimated Time of Delivery / Estimated Delivery Timeframe

EOD = End of day

EPC = eBay Product Catalog

EPID = eBay Product Identification Number

ETA = Depending on context: Edit to Add, when a comment is added to a post using the edit feature. Can also refer to Estimated Time of Arrival if used in the context of shipping.

ETF = Early Termination Fee, applies to yearly eBay store subscriptions

EUC = Excellent Used Condition

FB = Depending on the context: Feedback or Facebook

FCM / FCMI = USPS First Class Mail / USPS First Class Mail International

FDM = FedEx Delivery Manager

FFE = Fulfillment for eBay. eBay's end to end fulfillment pilot program. 

FE = eBay File Exchange, an end-to-end selling tool that enables high-volume sellers to list multiple items on eBay in a single file

FGS = For Goodness Sake

FNF = Fast 'n Free, a shipping designation on eBay

FOMO = In the context of shipping, freely overcoming mug obstacles, a method of securely and safely shipping a mug in a padded envelope to save on shipping costs. Referring to and/or used by the millennial generation, fear of missing out.

FP = Fixed Price listing format

FRB = USPS Priority Flat Rate Box

FRE = USPS Priority Flat Rate Envelope

FTFY = Fixed that for you, refers to one poster correcting an above poster’s post in a friendly manner

FTR = For the record

FVF = Final Value Fee, seller fee charged by eBay after a sale

FWIW = For what it's worth

FYI = For your information

GC = Gift Card

GD = Guaranteed Delivery

GIGO = Garbage In, Garbage Out. Refers to the quality of the output being determined by the quality of the input. For example, if a user enters incorrect data into the eBay shipping calculator, the shipping rate shown is unlikely to be correct. Similar "user error" terms include PEBKAC (Problem Exists Between Keyboard and Chair) and PICNIC (Problem in Chair, Not in Computer)

GMV = Gross Merchandise Volume

GSP = Global Shipping Program

GST = Goods & Services Tax

GPS = Global Positioning System. The term is most often used on these discussion boards when referring to a USPS delivery and determining with the local Post Office if the package received a GPS scan upon delivery. This can help a buyer or seller find out the address where a package was delivered. More specifically, to find out if it was delivered to the recipient's neighbor in error

GTC = Good ‘til Canceled listing format

GTIN = Global Trade Item Number

GUC = Good Used Condition

HFR = Hassle Free Returns

HTH = Hope that helps

HTML = HyperText Markup Language, code that turns plain text into web layout

HTS = Harmonized Tariff System, provides duty rates for importing through US Custom

IC3 = Internet Crime Complaint Center ( http://www.ic3.gov/ )

IDK = I Don’t Know

IIRC = If I recall correctly

IME = In my experience

IMO / IMHO / JMO = In my opinion / In my humble opinion / Just my opinion

INAD = See “NAD” below.

INR = Item Not Received

IOW = In other words

IPR = Immediate Payment Required

IS = Item Specifics (aka attributes or Item Details)

ISBN = International Standard Book Number

ITA = I totally agree

JMTC / JM2C = Just my two cents

Khoros = Company that runs the Community discussion board platform, formerly Lithium

Kudo = Giving a virtual “thumbs up” to a post, aka marking a post as Helpful.

KWIM = Know What I Mean, sometimes prefaced with IY for If You

KWS = Key Word Spamming

LFRB = USPS Priority Large Flat Rate Box

Lithium = See Khoros

LPO / LPU = Local Pickup Only / Local Pick Up

LSS = Long Story Short

M2M = Member to Member references the style of the eBay discussion forums. Can also be used in reference to the member-to-member Knowledge Base board.

MAP = Minimum Advertised Price, a minimum amount that resellers agree not to advertise below. For example, if a company sets a MAP of $50 for its best selling item then all resellers are obligated to advertise the product at $50 or higher. This is why you will sometimes see the phrase "see low price in cart" if a retailer has discounted below the MAP.

MBG = Money Back Guarantee

Mentor = Refers to members of the Community's Mentor program. 

MFRB = USPS Priority Medium Flat Rate Box

MM = USPS Media Mail

MM / MDM = Markdown Manager, selling tool for eBay Store owners

Mod = Moderator, Lithium employee that moderates the discussion boards

MOR = Merchant of Record

MOS = Multi Order Shipping

MP = Managed Payments, referring to eBay's new intermediated payments process

MPN = Manufacturer Part Number

MQ = Multi Quantity Listing

MUAA = Multi-User Account Access, a system that allows sellers to give their employees task specific access for selling activities (such as creating or publishing listings)

MV = Multi Variation Listing

NAD / INAD / SNAD = Not as described / Item not as described / Significantly not as described

NARU = Not a Registered User

Neg = Negative Feedback comment, sometimes referred to as a "red doughnut"

Neut= Neutral Feedback comment

NOS = New Old Stock

NWOT = New Without Tags

NPB = Non-paying buyer

NWT = New With Tags

OALT = Old Advanced Listing Tool, aka SYI Form for sellers

OOAK = One Of A Kind

OOS = Out Of Stock, commonly used when referencing defects on a seller’s account

OP = Used interchangeably between Original Poster & Original Post, referring to the poster or the post that started a discussion thread

OQLT = Old Quick Listing Tool for sellers

OSFA = One size fits all

OT = On Topic or Off Topic, depending on context

OTC = Over the Counter, refers to postage rates paid at retail (vs rates paid with online commercial discounts)

OTOH = On the other hand

OTS = On Time Shipping, refers to one of the metrics eBay uses to rate sellers

PB = Pitney Bowes, a shipping partner that handles the international leg of shipments using eBay's Global Shipping Program

P&A = Parts & Accessories, one of the eBay Motors categories

P&G = Pottery & Glass categories

PG&P = Pottery, Glass & Porcelain eBay category

P&P = Package & Postage, term commonly used in the UK for S&H

PDQ = Pretty darn quick

PFRE = USPS Priority Padded Flat Rate Envelope

PI = Product Identifier (see also: UPC, ISBN, GTIN)

PL = Promoted Listing, also seen as a Sponsored Listing

PM = In the context of communication, Private Message sent using the discussion board’s member-to-member messaging system. In the context of selling, Promotions Manager, a selling tool for eBay Store owners. In the context of shipping, Priority Mail service from USPS.

PMG = eBay’s Price Match Guarantee

PMI = USPS Priority Mail International

PO = Private Offer or Post Office, depending on context. Private Offer refers to using the 'Send Offer' feature in eBay Messages

Pos = Positive feedback comment, sometimes referred to as a “green doughnut”

PP = PayPal, sometimes referred to as “the Pal”. Depending on context, PP can also refer to the “previous poster” in a discussion.

PPF = Payments processing fee

PS = PowerSeller

PWE = Plain White Envelope (non-tracked shipment)

Q&A = eBay "Questions and Answers" featured on product pages

Qty = Quantity

Rich Text = Rich Text refers to text edit boxes on the eBay discussion boards or within an eBay listing form where text can be displayed in bold, colors, large, small, etc. The rich text is displayed while the HTML formatted code is hidden from view.

RMA = Return Merchandise Authorization. A return merchandise authorization (RMA), return authorization (RA) or return goods authorization (RGA) can be part of the process of returning a product to receive a refund, replacement, or repair during the product's warranty period. Large-volume sellers sometimes require an RMA to process a return; the seller will provide the RMA when a return request is opened and the buyer should include the number with the package they are returning

ROI = Return on Investment

RRA / RRB = USPS Regional Rate A or B box

RSS = RSS (aka Rich Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication) is a type of web feed which allows users to access updates to online content in a standardized, computer-readable format. These feeds can allow a user to keep track of many different websites in a single aggregator. Websites usually use RSS feeds to publish frequently updated information such as blog entries, news headlines, audio, video, or your eBay listings and followed searches.

S&H = Shipping & Handling

SC = Signature Confirmation

SFRB = USPS Priority Small Flat Rate Box

SH = Seller Hub

Sig = Signature line added to the bottom of posts

SIO = Seller-initiated offer, a feature that allows sellers to send offers to watchers

SM / SMP = Selling Manager or Selling Manager Pro

SmartPost = Shipping method offered by FedEx. FedEx handles the first leg of the shipment then USPS handles the final leg and delivery.

SMH = Shaking My Head

SMM = Social Media Marketing

SNAD = See “NAD” above

SOP = Standard Operating Procedure

SSOATA = So Sick Of All The Acronyms 

STR = Sell Through Rate, a calculation comparing the amount of inventory a seller lists against the amount of inventory sold

SU = Seller Update, typically released every Spring and Fall, sometimes known as SSU & FSU

SurePost = Shipping method offered by UPS. UPS handles the first leg of the shipment then USPS handles the final leg and delivery.

SYI = Sell Your Item form, refers to a retired eBay listing tool

T&S = Trust & Safety Department within eBay Customer Service

TANSTAAFL = There ain't no such thing as a free lunch

TBH = To be honest

TCB = Taking Care of Business

TGTBT = Too good to be true

TIA = Thanks in advance

TL = TurboLister listing tool

TLDR = Too long; didn't read

TOS = Depending on context: Terms of Sale in a seller’s listing, or Terms of Service for using eBay (aka User Agreement)

TPTB = The powers that be (referring to upper management, executives, or designated "decision makers")

TRS = Top Rated Seller

TRS+ / TRSP = Listing status that meets the requirements for a Top Rated Seller Plus discount

TY = Thank You

UA = Unauthorized Use Claim, ties into a credit card chargeback. Can also refer to the User Agreement terms of service, depending on context.

UPC = Universal Product Code

UPI / UPID / UID = Unpaid Item / Unpaid Item Dispute

USPS = United States Postal Service

VAT = Value Added Tax

VeRO = Verified Rights & Ownership program, often referred to when a listing is removed based on a company's report of intellectual property infringement ( http://pages.ebay.com/seller-center/listing/create-effective-listings/vero-program.html )

Vertical = eBay main listing & search categories that all sub-categories are nested under (ex: Electronics, Fashion, Home & Garden, Collectibles & Art, etc.)

VPD = Volume Price Discount, an eBay promotional tool that discounts based on number of items purchased

VPP = Vehicle Purchase Protection, applies to some eBay Motors categories

Weekly Chat = Weekly Chat with eBay employees ( https://community.ebay.com/t5/Weekly-Chat-with-eBay-Staff/bd-p/weekly-chat )

WYSIWYG = What You See is What You Get, refers to editing boxes where the HTML formatting code is hidden from view and the formatted text and photos are displayed. See also “Rich Text”.

YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary

YoY = Year-over-Year, refers to changes in sales levels from the previous year

Thank you!