Acquisition cost. The all-in cost of purchasing inventory.
AdChoice. eBay’s advertising methodology that uses your tidbits of activity data curated from eBay to tailor-make ads.
Analytics. The performance metrics of your listing(s).
API (application programming interface). A means for third-party developers to access a computer system using a protocol to build apps.
Arbitration. A legally binding means of settling disputes without the involvement of a court (including class action lawsuits which you are also agreeing never to file).
Aspect ratio. The relationship between an image’s width and height.
Auction-style listings. Listings that allow you to receive competitive bids from multiple people and sell to the highest bidder.
AuctionWeb. The first iteration of what is now known as eBay, coded in 1995 by Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay.
Best match. eBay’s search algorithm based on listing quality, price, popularity, etc.
Boolean search. Keywords with operators/modifiers to give more relevant search results.
Classified ad format. A way to advertise where the seller and buyer complete the transaction off eBay.
COGS (cost of goods sold). The cost of the product, freight, storage, labor, and overhead. Consignment. An agreement to pay for goods after they sell.
Copyright. Protection for works of authorship including photos, video, songs, written works, software, and more.
Corporations. Legal entities that are separate from their owners. Most corporations issue stock, are taxed separately, and can be held legally liable for the corporation’s actions while shielding the stockholders and management from lawsuits, in most situations.
CSV (comma separated values file). A popular file format for sharing data.
De minimis. Low value.
Detailed seller ratings. Known as DSRs for short, these are anonymous and optional ways to leave detailed ratings for sellers on four aspects of the transaction.
Drop-shipping. A supply method in which you don’t hold physical inventory, but transmit orders to the wholesaler or supplier who then ships the products directly to the customer.
EAN (European article number). Same as a UPC, except it has a country code prefixed to it.
eBay arbitrage. A technique used by eBay sellers to cash in on others’ listing mistakes.
eBay for Charity. A program that allows users to support their favorite eBay-registered nonprofit causes.
Fast ’n Free. Listings that meet certain criteria and are likely to arrive in 4 business days.
Feedback. eBay’s rating system for sold items.
Final value fee. Fee that are only assessed when an item sells.
Fixed-price listings. Listings that satisfy a buyer’s urge for immediate gratification. There is no bidding, and the buyer doesn’t have to wait until the end of an auction.
Good ’til Cancelled. A duration that keeps renewing every 30 days.
GTIN (global trade item number). An identifier use for trade items and are used to look up product information in a database.
Hallmark. Marks certifying the standard of purity of the precious metal in an item.
Incognito window. A private browser window.
Insertion fee. eBay’s fee for starting a listing.
Item specifics. Descriptive keywords that tell a buyer about your item. They may include brand, size, length, width, height, type, color or style, and many more, and vary depending on what you’re selling.
Limited liability company (LLC). An entity that protects you from liability in most situations in the event of lawsuits or business failures.
International Standard Book Number (ISBN). Every published book is assigned an ISBN. The ISBN identifies a book’s edition and publisher.
Maker’s mark. A mark that tracks back to the manufacturer.
Manufacturer’s part number (MPN). An identifier of a specific part design used to provide a pinpoint reference to that part that is unique to the manufacturer.
MIND patterns. Ecommerce web components. MIND stands for Messaging, Input, Navigation, and Design.
Notice fee. Fee paid once the sale occurs in eBay’s Real Estate/Timeshares category.
OATMEAL. Accessibility testing methods. OATMEAL refers to Open Accessibility Testing Methods for Experts and Layfolk.
P&L (profit and loss statement). Income and expenses for a particular period.
Partnership. The simplest way for two or more people to own a business together. Partnerships are a good way to manage a business when you aren’t the only owner and you’d like to test things out before advancing to a more formal business structure.
Patent. A license that gives an inventor the sole right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention.
Philately. The study and collection of postage stamps.
Promoted listings. An eBay service providing favorable search placement.
Purity mark. Denotes precious metal purity, e.g. 14K, 18K, 800, 925, etc.
QR code. A barcode that stores URLs, addresses, or just about anything.
Retail arbitrage. A technique used by eBay sellers who buy high-demand, sale, and clearance merchandise from local retail stores or their online sites (where purchases can be delivered to the local store) and then sell those products on eBay for a profit.
Seller Hub. A dashboard for managing listings and linking to resources.
Shrinkage. Occurs when items are lost due to damage, loss, or theft.
SKU (stock keeping unit). A value used to identify an inventory item.
Sole proprietorship. The most common business structure for someone just getting started in business. You’ll be considered a sole proprietorship if you don’t register any other form of business entity.
Successful listing fee. Fee paid when you sell vehicles on eBay Motors.
Top-rated seller. A seller with great shipping statistics, low order defects, 100+ transactions, $1,000 sold within a year to US buyers, and on eBay for at least 90 days.
Trademark. Protection for a symbol, slogan, or word(s) registered or established by use as representing a company or product.
Turnkey. Ready for immediate use.
Universal Product Code (UPC). A barcode system used in the US and Canada, as well as some other countries, for tracking merchandise in stores.
VeRO (Verified Rights Owner program). eBay’s team that allows owners of intellectual property rights to report eBay listings that may infringe on those rights.