Product Identifiers for the Seller Refurbished Condition

[long_live_the_seller]

As of October 19th, 2017, we have expanded the existing Structured Data mandate to require product identifiers on newly created listings using the 'Seller Refurbished' condition.  As per usual, if the item you are selling is custom made, or if a Global Trade Item Number (UPC, EAN, ISBN) was not issued by the manufacturer, Does Not Apply is an acceptable alternative to use in the drop-down field.

To learn more about product identification requirements, please visit ebay.com/requiredidentifiers.

If you have questions about this policy change, please ask them below.  Additionally, feel free to share any product identification best practices you have come across as you have listed Seller Refurbished items on the site.

[readabouthorses]

I was looking at some Product Pages today for some books I was interested in and I'm seeing the line indicating a quantity of New and Refurbished available.

I've gotta ask .. what exactly is a Refurbished book? That seems a bit of a silly condition to be used on a book. What item Condition in the book category triggers a book to be "Refurbished" ???

[lolkthxbai]

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@readabouthorses wrote:

I was looking at some Product Pages today for some books I was interested in and I'm seeing the line indicating a quantity of New and Refurbished available.

I've gotta ask .. what exactly is a Refurbished book? That seems a bit of a silly condition to be used on a book. What item Condition in the book category triggers a book to be "Refurbished" ???

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Hi readabouthorses,

Thank you for the inquiry.  We recognize the following item conditions for books as brand new, like good, very good, good, acceptable, and not specified for the majority Books sub-categories - refurbished isn't an option. Can you share the link to the product page you're referring to so we can review?

Thanks!

[readabouthorses]

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@lolkthxbai wrote:

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@readabouthorses wrote:

I was looking at some Product Pages today for some books I was interested in and I'm seeing the line indicating a quantity of New and Refurbished available.

I've gotta ask .. what exactly is a Refurbished book? That seems a bit of a silly condition to be used on a book. What item Condition in the book category triggers a book to be "Refurbished" ???

---

Hi readabouthorses,

Thank you for the inquiry.  We recognize the following item conditions for books as brand new, like good, very good, good, acceptable, and not specified for the majority Books sub-categories - refurbished isn't an option. Can you share the link to the product page you're referring to so we can review?

Thanks!

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Just do a search for Quarter Horse Book and you will see  several different lisings in the search with the comment under the listing title that there are x number of new and refurbished items.

[lookng2015]

Books aren't the only category where "new & refurbished" is a ridiculous phrase.

Look under disposable diapers for example lol

[omgitlightsup]

"Seller refurbished" is a very irresponsible feature for eBay to offer.

When a product's original manufacturer or licensed service provider takes a defective or used unit in, replaces damaged parts, tests the product's components to make sure they meet spec, and re-issues the product with a warranty, it's called a refurbished product. 

When I take a laptop I found at Goodwill, vacuum the hair out of the vent holes, windex the fingerprints off, and make sure that it plays DOOM, should I choose to sell it, it will be a used laptop, not a refurbished one.

There should not even be a "seller refurbished" option. It gives the impression that it's better than "used," which it is not. The term has different meanings in different industries, ranging from "just as good as new" to meaning nothing at all.

[ittybitnot]

I've gotta ask .. what exactly is a Refurbished book? 

Likely it has gone through the same procedure as a "refurbished" diaper?   

They don't get it....sorry, but it is funny considering their new requirements for listing.   LOL  Vintage seller, gone someplace else. 

[dande2016]

When searching for a shirt today I noticed under some listings it states for example 2 new and refurbished found for a much cheaper price. Example of  what I seen $19.99 with Free shipping New with tag shirt below:

1. The blue link stated 2 new and refurbished starting at $14.99.  When I clicked on that link it showed one that  was new for $14.99 but it had a shipping price of $6.00 therefore it is not cheaper it is actually more expensive. Therefore punishing the free shipper saying that one that is actually more expensive is cheaper.

2.  The other was a "refurbished" USED shirt for $14.99 plus $3.00 shipping.  How do you compare a NWT shirt for $19.99 with free shipping to a used shirt that is only $2 less?

3.  How can used clothing be considered refurbished?????

[ittybitnot]

3.  How can used clothing be considered refurbished?????

Same as I posted above ^^^^^  refurbished diapers.  LOL

[dande2016]

OOPS double post for some reason

[dande2016]

Okay, first it was a double post then it disappearred so here it is again:

When searching for a shirt today I noticed under some listings it states for example 2 new and refurbished found for a much cheaper price.  Example of  what I seen $19.99 with Free shipping New with tag shirt below:

1. The blue link stated 2 new and refurbished starting at $14.99.  When I clicked on that link it showed one that was new for $14.99 but it had a shipping price of $6.00 therefore it is not cheaper it is actually more expensive. Therefore punishing the free shipper saying that one that is actually more expensive is cheaper.

2.  The other was a "refurbished" USED shirt for $14.99 plus $3.00 shipping.  How do you compare a NWT shirt for $19.99 with free shipping to a used shirt that is only $2 less?

3.  How can used clothing be considered refurbished?????

[omgitlightsup]

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@dande2016 wrote:

3.  How can used clothing be considered refurbished?????

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Maybe they washed it. Which is what you'd expect as a minimum from anyone selling a used garment, which is further argument that "seller refurbished" should be abolished.

[dhbookds]

Certainly glad you posted this, since I have had a week of messages to one of the Structured Data offices about it.

This search:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=Kiwi+Cleaner&_sacat=0

is a seach on a shoe cleaner which, on some listings, as you can see, shows New & refurbished.....which is totally ridiculous........how can you refurbish a bottle of shoe cleaner? The replies from the SD team have been such that it's pretty obvious they don't comphrehend the meaning of refurbished.....as they keep telling me the terms are new and used......despite the fact I've sent the search 3 times.  I finally sent definitions of refurbished and used, and now supposedly they are referring it somewhere, perhaps the trash can. 

I cannot imagine a seller choosing "refurbished" for these items......and think the search may be equating refurbished for new...other.... 

It flat makes ebay look stupid..........

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@dhbookds wrote:

It flat makes ebay look stupid..........

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Yes.

Yes, it does.

[dhbookds]

Here's the Quarter horse books search with it;

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=Quarter+horse+book&LH_BIN=1&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l...

Here's Corelle plates

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=Corelle+plate&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=Core...

Here's Garden Gloves

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=garden+gloves&rt=nc&LH_BIN=1

Pillowcases

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_armrs=1&_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=pillowcases

those are random searches......"refurbished" show up in all......... Only one search I did, did not have it in the first half page.........

I point out that many of those items in those searches are labeled NEW......which in my world does not mean refurbished, even IF they could be refurbished.   Looks like another ebay "enhancement" gone bad........

This is really getting ridiculous

@syedmhaq