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How to integrate BigCommerce with eBay?

Last updated: October 01, 2024
Written and researched by experts at AvadaLearn more about our methodology

By Sam Nguyen

CEO Avada Commerce

eBay is one of the world’s leading online marketplaces, with over 160 million active customers. Only Amazon makes more revenue in the United States. For your BigCommerce shop, this marketplace undoubtedly represents a massive opportunity.

Having your goods available on eBay would help you attract a much wider audience and produce considerably more sales. According to one case study, adding eBay as a sales channel will boost your revenue by as much as 96 percent.

However, manually re-uploading the catalog and switching between two interfaces will, of course, require an excessive deal of time and effort. You will need a solution that lets you control both platforms from one location, allowing you to free yourself of the hassle.

BigCommerce suggests that you use the eBay Channel Cloud by Codistoapp for BigCommerce eBay integration. You can import your BigCommerce inventory directly into eBay and merge your product and order statistics between the two sites with Channel Cloud by Codistoapp. This app is free for the first 14 days, and users have to pay $29 per month after that.

But first, let’s get to know what eBay is and the benefits of integrating eBay with BigCommerce.

An introduction to eBay

eBay is a popular online shopping site renowned for its auctions and direct-to-consumer purchases. This site also very popular with online retailers as a sales channel. eBay is available in a lot of different countries. If you want to find a product available in your city, you can easily enter your region’s zip code. You can also look at items that are available both domestically and globally.

Anyone can open a free eBay account. You have the choice of both selling and buying goods. There are costs involved with having a seller account, for example, listing fees. The prices vary depending on the price you market the products at and how long you list them for.

See more at: eBay fees in 2021

What is an eBay shop?

An eCommerce eBay shop allows sellers to display all their merchandise in one location. They look slightly more like the typical, traditional online stores compared to single eBay listings. With eBay shops, businesses can communicate their brand better via the web pages they have designed themselves.

If you wish to start an eCommerce company on eBay, the easiest way to do so is to open an eBay Shop. Vendors can make the most out of eBay’s easy-to-use tools to design a storefront just how they want.

eBay has expanded from its modest beginnings in 1995 to becoming a household name. Even if you’ve never used it, you’ve certainly heard about it from someone or seen it on TV, in the movies, or on the internet.

This is because you can purchase and sell almost everything here, and millions of purchases take place every day. The site’s completely capitalistic nature is the main attraction for eBay buyers and sellers. On eBay, an object is only worth what people are willing to pay for it.

This ensures that sellers will charge exorbitant prices for heavily sought-after products such as collectibles, discontinued pieces, antique objects, novelty merchandise, or something in limited supply. As a result, eBay has been the go-to site for collectors looking for items that are not available locally.

The impressive range of products, automated filtering capabilities, notification services, user-friendliness of the web, and ability to prevent fraudulent purchases owing to their anti-fraud systems have all drawn collectors to eBay. A lot of people earn a living by purchasing and selling collectibles on eBay for hours per day.

Benefits of integrating eBay with BigCommerce stores

eBay is an online marketplace where you can buy from a variety of retailers from around the world and pay in only one checkout. Cross-border shopping is made much easier with eBay because you can buy in your own language, with your own currency, and with payment methods that are approved in your country.

Sports & Leisure, Health & Beauty, Clothing, Home & Garden, Kids & Toys, among other categories are listed on the eCommerce website. Furthermore, eBay appeals to online sellers who have wonderful products and a desire to deliver excellent after-sales support to their customers. Sellers of clothing, electronics, fitness, children’s items, and a various other goods will list their catalogs on eBay.

Here are some benefits of integrating eBay with BigCommerce stores.

1. Archived and Unarchived Products

Using the Archive and Unarchive functionality, merchants can archive and unarchive products on eBay.com. Unarchive unlocks the archived item while Archive disables it on eBay.com.

2. Product Category Mapping:

Following the philosophy of many-to-one category mapping, users can map multiple BigCommerce store categories to a single eBay category.

3. Profile based product upload:

Users can make a profile and map the eBay category and attributes to the BigCommerce category and attributes. After allocating products to the profile, users can easily upload their product lines to eBay.

4. Synchronized Inventory

BigCommerce and eBay.com have established an automatic synchronization of inventory at regular intervals and listing items and their information.

5. System for Bulk Uploads:

Using the bulk product upload feature, the merchant will upload an infinite number of items to eBay.com.

6. Notifications of New Orders

The admin is notified if a new order is received from eBay.com.

7. Notifications of Low Stock:

When the stock falls below the limit, a notification will be sent to the users, reminding them of the situation.

8. Pricing based on your profile:

Price increase or decrease depending on profile.

9. Notifications of Rejected Products

Suppose eBay.com rejects a product because it contains any invalid data. In that case, the information about products and errors that caused them to be rejected will be retrieved from the automated synchronized requests.

How to connect BigCommerce with eBay?

Manually re-uploading the catalog and flipping between two interfaces will, of course, require an excessive deal of time and effort. You need a solution that lets you control both platforms from one location.

Install Codisto Channel Cloud

BigCommerce suggests that you use the eBay Channel Cloud by Codistoapp for BigCommerce eBay integration. You can import your BigCommerce inventory directly into eBay and merge your product and order statistics between the two sites with Channel Cloud by Codistoapp. This app is free for the first 14 days, and users have to pay $29 per month after that.

The BigCommerce marketplace does not have the eBay by inkFrog app. This app is not the same as the paid inkFrog version, which has more options and is available in the marketplace.

To use Codisto Channel Cloud, you will need to go through the BigCommerce interface:

  1. Click “Channel Manager” from your dashboard after logging in with your BigCommerce account

connect BigCommerce with eBay

  1. Click “Add new” in the Marketplaces section

connect BigCommerce with eBay

  1. Click “Connect” next to eBay logo

connect BigCommerce with eBay

  1. Choose an app to connect BigCommerce to eBay (We choose Codisto Channel Cloud)

connect BigCommerce with eBay

  1. Click “Install”

Codisto Channel Cloud features

  • Fully Automated Listing Sync & Creation: Auto-categorization places items in the most appropriate category, allowing you to list the entire inventory on eBay in just a few clicks. Already have an eBay store? In minutes, Codisto can instantly connect current listings, securing the search ranking and sales history.

  • 100% Real-time eBay Synchronization: Inventory, prices, and product specifics are synchronized with your store catalog, and eBay orders are sent straight into your current order flow for fast fulfillment alongside orders from your online store.

  • Completely Optimized Listings with Versatile Control: Build great-looking eBay listings that are 100% mobile optimized and fully HTML and CSS design customizable using a basic price and inventory rules based on your store catalog.

  • Create a Global Presence on eBay: Codisto Channel Cloud makes it easier than ever to go global on eBay by supporting all store currencies, all 23 international eBay pages, full international & domestic shipping services, eBay Global Shipping, and intuitive currency translation.

Codisto Channel pricing

Codisto Channel pricing:

How to import products from BigCommerce store to eBay?

If you already have active products on eBay and want to synchronize them with their corresponding products in your store catalog on BigCommerce, you will need to click on the “Link Existing Listings View.”

You can find the Link Existing Listings View mode from the home screen, or from the settings view at any time, and select the eBay sales channel that you want to link your listings from.

import products from BigCommerce store to eBay

If you are a newbie to selling on eBay and have not already listed anything in your catalog on eBay, you will have to create new listings for all of your items that you want to sell.

When you link your eBay selling account, Cadisto will obtain the information saved in your online store catalog to instantly match products in your store catalog with their corresponding products in your eBay account.

Cadisto will instantly match products in your store catalog with their corresponding products in your eBay account.

import products from BigCommerce store to eBay

However, prior to syncing your products, you will be required to re-check and confirm the automatic matches that Codisto Channel Cloud has made.

There are three types of matches that you may see in this view.

import products from BigCommerce store to eBay

  • High confidence matches: These matches refer to those where Codisto Channel Cloud has been able to locate a precise match for your eBay products with their corresponding products in your store catalog, using the SKU codes or other product identifiers. If you have been using the same SKUs or product identifiers when listing your products on eBay, these matches should be correct. All you need to do is review these matches and approve and go on to the next match type.

  • Medium confidence match: These matches refer to those where Codisto Channel Cloud was unable to locate an exact match using SKUs or product identifiers, but the app has been able to find a relatively close match for your items, based on the titles and SKUs in your store catalog and eBay account.

  • Match & Approve Remaining lists: Once you have checked and approved or corrected your matches, you can recheck all those remaining products that do not have an active match that you have listed on eBay before, but which Cadisto has not been able to match either by SKU code product identifiers or product name.

import products from BigCommerce store to eBay

You need to choose the matching products in your store catalog for these items and confirm. Having confirmed or updated your matches. You will need to determine your listing rules before you can link any products in your store catalog to your eBay products. It is because the listing details may be different between your online store and your eBay listings.

You will need to determine whether you want Codisto Channel Cloud to keep those existing values on your eBay listings or change them with new values depending on the settings chosen in the listings view.

Determine whether Codisto Channel Cloud keeps existing values on your eBay listings, or change them with new values

import products from BigCommerce store to eBay

For instance, if the pricing values on your existing eBay listings are different from those in your online store catalog, and you select “use eBay settings,” the prices on your existing eBay listings will remain the same.

On the contrary, if you select to use “Cadisto settings,” your pricing will be changed to new values, depending on those in your store catalog and the settings you have chosen for that field.

Once the listings have been linked, your catalog’s pricing and product data will be synced in real-time and automatically based on the settings you have determined before.

import products from BigCommerce store to eBay

Once the listings have been linked, your catalog’s pricing, and product data will be synced in real time and automatically based on the settings you have determined before.

If you want to make new changes to your listings in the future, you can do so right from the listings view, using the modes in the listing view.

import products from BigCommerce store to eBay

How to create new eBay listings?

Making new listings for your items on eBay is simple with Channel Cloud. All you need to do is go to the Listings View, then choose the Connected eBay Sales channel you want to make listings for, and scroll to your preferred listing mode from the drop-down listing mode selector.

Making new listings for your items on eBay is simple with Channel Cloud.

create new eBay listings

The Single Edit Mode enables you to create listings for products one-by-one. This mode is a simple way to get start listing products on a new eBay Sales Channel, in case you are not confident enough to start bulk listing in multi-edit mode using the Cadisto express grid.

The Single Edit Mode enables you to create listings for products one-by-one.

create new eBay listings

In Single Listing Mode, if you want to create new listings, simply search for the item you want to create a new listing for and select it.

Simply search for the item you want to create a new listing for and select it.

create new eBay listings

All the fields for eBay listings for that item are displayed, and you can scroll down, change your settings before making the listing status, and publish the product onto eBay

All the fields for eBay listings for that item are displayed.

create new eBay listings

Having been published, your listing will be active on eBay and available for visitors to find and buy your product. You can change your listing or terminate it at any time. To do that, simply make the needed changes, then save and publish to eBay.

While Single Edit Mode is an excellent way to get used to the requirements and options for listing on eBay, if you have a large catalog with various types of products, and want to free some time by making listings in bulk, then you can turn to multi-edit mode and use the Cadisto Express Grid.

Single Edit Mode is an excellent way to get used to the requirements and options for listing on eBay.

create new eBay listings

Using Multi-edit mode, you can see all of the products in your online BigCommerce store catalog and their field values listed on the left-hand side, and the fields and settings that will be used to make your eBay listing values in the columns on the right.

Prior to enabling and publishing, creating your new eBay listings, you can change the settings and rules for your eBay fields in bulk, either to your entire product catalog or a filtered group of products using the green multi-edit row.

You can change the settings and rules for your eBay fields in bulk

create new eBay listings

At the top of the express grid, you can see how to update marketplace values in the express grid, including how to best use the search and filter functionality to make changes to custom groups of products.

Once you have reviewed your marketplace values and want to list your products for sale on eBay, just select the products you want to list or use this checkbox to select all of your products in bulk, making enabling your offer status and publishing very easy.

Use this checkbox to select all of your products in bulk.

create new eBay listings

However, keep in mind that if you have already linked some of the products in your online store catalog to your existing listings on eBay (via the link eBay listings view), Cadisto will already show these as enabled and only create new listings for those remaining products that do not already have matching listings for.

Once Cadisto has successfully created your listings, you can see this icon next to your products in the offer status column. If there has been an error, you will see a red error icon, meaning further steps may be required to list your products. All you need to do is click on the icon to reveal error specifics and guidance on the required steps to fix it.

You can view your new eBay listings directly from the cadisto express grid by clicking the blue link icon to make changes to your live eBay listings. Simply update the eBay fields with your new rules and settings and hit publish to set your changes live on eBay.

You can view your new eBay listings directly from the cadisto express grid by clicking the blue link icon.

create new eBay listings

eBay fees in 2021

When selling on eBay, you must care for eBay fees, which we’ve discussed many times.

When you use eBay, you will be paying two different forms of fees:

1. Insertion Fee

You will have to an insertion fee for each month that an item is listed on eBay. For the first 50 items, this fee is 0. By default, items purchased from BigCommerce are set to “Fixed Price” and “Good ‘Til Cancelled,” which ensures that they will be re-listed and a new, if they do not sell within 30 days insertion fee, will be charged again.

Not only that, but you also need to take into consideration these facts. Insertion fees are:

  • Non-refundable even if the item is not sold
  • Charged according to listing and type. If listing in two categories, you will also have to pay an insertion fee for both categories.
  • Charged for the original listing and any time you select your item to be relisted
  • Charged per listing if you make multiple listings for similar products in the auction format.
  • Charged only once per listing for listings with different items.

2. Final Value Fee

When you sell an item an eBay, you have to pay a final value fee.

This fee is calculated as a percentage of the sale’s total cost. The overall cost of the sale, plus all storage and delivery costs, is the cost the buyer has to pay. Sales tax is not a part of the equation.

If the buyer does not pay for the order they made for any reason, you need to either cancle the sale immediately or report it as an unpaid item to be qualified for a final value fee refund from eBay

The typical final value fee for most categories is 10% (up to $750), with the exception of these categories.

  • Books, DVDs, Movies, and Music (except Records): 12%, up to $750
  • Musical Instruments & Gear > Guitars & Basses: 3.5% up to $350
  • Men > Men’s Shoes > Athletic Shoes: 0% for selling prices of more than $100
  • Women > Women’s Shoes > Athletic Shoes: 0% for selling prices of more than $100
  • Heavy Equipment Parts & Attachments > Heavy Equipment: 2%, up to $300
  • Printing & Graphic Arts > Commercial Printing Presses: 2%, up to $300
  • Restaurant & Food Service > Food Trucks, Trailers & Carts: 2%, up to $300.

eBay plan:

Starter Basic Premium Anchor Enterprise
Discounts and tools for occasional sellers Tools and lower fees for growing businesses Bigger discounts designed for larger businesses Lower fees and dedicated support for volume sellers The lowest fees and dedicated support for the largest retailers
$4.95/ mo with annual subscription $21.95/mo with annual subscription $59.95/ mo with annual subscription $399/ mo with annual subscription $2.999.95/ mo with annual subscription

The precise insertion and final value fees you’ll be paying are determined by the eBay plan you’ve chosen.

  • Starter: $4.95 a month for an annual membership, including 100 fixed price listings, a $0.30 fixed price insertion fee, and a 10% final value fee on most categories ($750 maximum).
  • Basic: $21.95 a month for an annual membership, 250 fixed price listings, $0.25 fixed price insertion fee, and 4% to 9.15% final value fee on most categories ($350 cap).
  • Premium: $59.95 a month for an annual membership, 1,000 fixed price listings, $0.10 fixed price insertion fee, and 4% to 9.15% final value fee on most categories ($250 cap).
  • Anchor: $399 a month for an annual membership, 10,000 fixed price listings, $0.05 fixed price insertion fee, and a final value fee of 4% to 9.15 % on most categories ($250 cap).
  • Enterprise: $2,999.95 a month for an annual membership, 100,000 fixed price listings, $0.05 fixed price insertion fee, and a final value fee ranging from 4% to 9.15 % on most categories ($250 cap).

You will be able to lower your net costs by changing your eBay plan according to this fee structure. Additional features are available at each plan level.

Optional features such as listing updates and sponsored listings, which you can use to draw more views to your eBay items, have fees as well.

Finally, keep in mind that eBay orders processed by BigCommerce would be included in your store’s gross product value, which might require an upgrade to a higher BigCommerce pricing plan.

Final thoughts

For entrepreneurs who want to try their hand at e-commerce, eBay is a fantastic place to launch your first projects. However, as time goes by, you’ll want to take the plunge and start your own online shop.

The benefits of growing your company by cultivating a loyal audience and getting full control over your online store will gradually worth the money you pay for using eBay.

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Sam Nguyen is the CEO and founder of Avada Commerce, an e-commerce solution provider headquartered in Singapore. He is an expert on the Shopify e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. Sam loves talking about e-commerce and he aims to help over a million online businesses grow and thrive.

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