Optiseller Offers 4 Suggestions to Raise Sales in eBay Parts & Accessories Categories

eCommerce expert Optiseller has provided eBay Parts & Accessories (P&A) sellers with four recommendations on how to sell more online.

This information is timely as eBay CEO Jamie Iannone said in the latest earnings call with investors Parts & Accessories is the next big focus for the marketplace.

According to eBay data, there are around 90 million Parts & Accessories listings live at any one time on the marketplace.

Every day, thousands of people are searching for these parts, so it is vital that listings are accurate, stand out from competitors, and are easy to find. This makes store optimization a key component to achieving more sales.

Optiseller has provided Parts & Accessories sellers with five key recommendations on how they can sell more:   

1 – Comply With Latest eBay Mandate   

eBay mandates change the number of Item Specifics sellers need to include in their Parts & Accessories listings. The latest deadline has now passed, which included some changes for Parts & Accessories sellers.

By missing the deadline, sellers run the risk of dropping from search and will be unable to list new items without including the required Item Specifics.

The good news is that by completing these changes, sellers will increase their visibility and rankings both on internal and external search. So, it’s best to make the changes now to avoid a negative impact on sales performance.  

A few examples of products affected by the latest mandate:  

• Exhaustion & Emission Systems > Particulate Filters   
• Brakes & Brake Parts > Calipers & Brackets   
• Engine Cooling Components > Fan Clutches   
• Interior Parts & Accessories > Handbrake Levers   
• Ignition Systems & Components > Distributors  

Complying with eBay mandates is by far the most important of all the recommendations. By completing these required changes, sellers will now be in line with eBay’s policy on Item Specifics.   

However, there is plenty more to do that can boost a seller’s eBay sales performance.

2 – Parts Compatibility Matters  

To make sure that shoppers have the information they need to navigate the many items on offer in the vehicle Parts and Accessories category, eBay advises sellers to include parts compatibility information in their listings.

But adding this information isn’t just for the benefit of the buyer.  

For P&A sellers on eBay, providing as much parts compatibility information as possible to their listings will also benefit their business. For instance, including information on which parts are compatible with which vehicles will leave less room for confusion and reduce the risk of negative reviews being left after the sale. Also, it saves sellers time answering questions that will come up if a buyer is unsure about an item.   

Often, if the necessary information is missing, the buyer will decide to shop elsewhere.

3 – Key Fitment Data on Listings  

When adding fitment data, sellers need to include make, model, year, and variant Manufacturer Part Number (MPN). Adding fitment cover to listings means listings will be visible on the “My garage” section on eBay.

Buyers can use “My Garage” to find parts suitable for the vehicle simply by adding their registration number. By having this additional data, sellers will increase visibility.

eBay says that listings with fitment cover see their conversion rate increase by 27% on average. So, it is worth spending your time getting it right.  

4 – Vary Shipping Options  

By giving customers a wider variety of shipping options, sellers open up their eBay store to a wider audience.

Some buyers may value speedy delivery over free and vice versa. Providing shipping options prevents buyers from going to a competitor who could potentially get the product to them in a shorter time frame. Particularly in P&A, buyers will often need the vehicle parts as soon as possible and if their business relies on it, they may not be willing or able to wait longer than a day or two.   

However, not everyone is willing to pay for fast delivery. Having a free (slower) option will keep customers happy along with ensuring shipments are tracked. Furthermore, on more expensive or hard-to-find parts, offering to request a signature on delivery may help buyers feel more confident to make the purchase.

Covering all bases will ensure that all expectations are managed and met.

“While these mandated changes may seem like a pain, in actual fact, they are good news for your store. We advise you take advantage of the increase in traffic, not only by populating these Item Specifics, but also by ensuring you have the right fitment data too. We know that mandate changes can be time-consuming, but by using our Aspect Finder+ tool you can be certain your data is accurate and eBay compliant.”

Richard Falconer, Optiseller’s COO

Optiseller’s Parts Compatibility Finder  

To help P&A sellers reach even more success on eBay, Optiseller has its own Parts Compatibility Finder tool designed for Motor Parts & Accessories sellers.

The tool enables the completion of vehicle parts compatibility data, for both cars and motorcycles. It sorts a seller’s compatibility data using either vehicle information in their listing titles, or Product identifiers such as UPC, EAN or Brand & MPN in Item Specifics.