Heads up: changes to Seller Initiated Offers (SIO)

[wastingtime101]

Recent & upcoming changes to SIO.

eBay recently launched an offers management page. Currently only automated offers are included. Find it by navigating to:

Seller Hub > Marketing > Offers

Here's a screenshot from last week's Seller Check In showing the new options to manage automated offers in bulk.

The expansion to include all seller initiated offers on offers management, not just automated, is currently anticipated for June. There will also be some visibility to performance stats. Another screenshot from the Seller Check In.

There will eventually be more controls for automated offers including the ability to set duration for automation: 1 week to 1 year or custom duration. Another screenshot from the Seller Check In.

Watch the video (link) from last week's Seller Check In, cued up to the right spot to hear the product team talk about the new and upcoming changes.

I asked the moderator to lock the thread I created last week since it was long and taken over by a temporary tech issue. This way we have a fresh space to discuss the new SIO features.

[gurlcat]

Thank you.  I have my doubts about how useful the "understand performance" part will be, just based on eBay's track record with that kind of thing (like what they did to the Impressions/Views chart a while back).  But maybe they'll surprise me.

[wastingtime101]

---

@gurlcat wrote:

I have my doubts about how useful the "understand performance" part will be, just based on eBay's track record with that kind of thing (like what they did to the Impressions/Views chart a while back). 

---

They're not going to provide stats like whether offer conversion is from watchers, viewers, or buyers with item in cart. But they will show conversion rates which will be good. For every 100 offers sent, how many convert to sales? I believe that first stat box says "acceptance rate."

Not to get too off topic, but eBay kinda destroyed the performance data on Discounts Manager. We used to see the % boost in sales so we could compare effectiveness of sales vs coupons vs order discounts. Not any more - now they just show # of sales and $ of sales.

In addition, the data expires after 90 days. Previously the info stuck forever so I could compare the performance of discounts last 2 holidays when setting up discounts for upcoming holiday. Not any more. We get so much less performance data than we used to with Discounts manager, and what we do get isn't really useful.

[adamcartwright]

@wastingtime101 

Thank you for always taking the time to keep us updated.

[wirkaholic]

Thank you @wastingtime101 !  Your time was not wasted on this one. 

I'll take what I can get. At least we will be able to sort offers much easier.  It's a win just knowing we will be able to end them also. 

 I've been using what they put up now, but I still keep forgetting to check the buttons when I send an offer out.  At least I'm not getting tons of super low ball offers.  Maybe one a week when I forget to check the buttons. 

Thank you for updating us.  Ebay should hire you or at least  give you something for your time keeping sellers informed.

[wastingtime101]

---

@wirkaholic wrote:

It's a win just knowing we will be able to end them also. 

---

Not sure what you mean by that @wirkaholic .

Automation can be ended, yes. You could do that even before the change except now sellers can finally do it in bulk instead of going in to each listing one at a time.

SIO cannot be retracted though. Once an offer is sent you have to wait out the 4 days (or end the listing).

[wirkaholic]

@wastingtime101  Yes, I meant ending in bulk but glad you cleared up the fact that an SIO can't be ended on this

. 

I already use the bulk edit now for ending automated offers.  I was hoping to be able to adjust SIO's.  As it stands now, if you forget and send one before a vaccation setting, health emergency, or weather related store closing, It still leaves those out there to come in during down time.  

I would like to see them add Sio ending to those times.  I hope they put a sort catagory for Sio's so you know what offers you have floating out there.  Worst case senario you could at least end those listing if need be in an emergency. 

It just looks like there will be more functionality to it.  I guess well wait and see.

[wastingtime101]

All SIO will be added to that management page so you will have more visibility to open offers, but bulk end is only for automation.

My preference for SIO is for eBay to extend handling time if seller enables Time Away, just like they do for fixed price listings, not to end the offers. I hope one day they will improve the Time Away exceptions.