eBay Seller Programs

eBay offers various seller programs that provide benefits like reduced fees, increased visibility, and access to premium features. The Account API allows you to programmatically manage your program enrollments.

Available Programs

Top Rated Seller

Elite seller status with fee discounts and visibility boost

eBay Guaranteed Delivery

Promise delivery by specific dates for faster sales

Promoted Listings

Advertising program to boost listing visibility

Global Shipping Program

Simplified international shipping management

Managing Programs

Get All Programs

Retrieve all available programs and your enrollment status:

const programs = await mcp.useTool('account_getPrograms', {
  marketplace_id: 'EBAY_US'
});

console.log('Available Programs:');
programs.programs.forEach(program => {
  console.log(`${program.programType}: ${program.programStatus}`);
});

Opt In to a Program

Enroll in an eBay seller program:

// Opt in to Out of Stock Control
const response = await mcp.useTool('account_optInToProgram', {
  marketplace_id: 'EBAY_US',
  program_type: 'OUT_OF_STOCK_CONTROL'
});

if (response.programStatus === 'OPTED_IN') {
  console.log('✅ Successfully enrolled in Out of Stock Control');
}

Opt Out of a Program

Leave a seller program:

await mcp.useTool('account_optOutOfProgram', {
  marketplace_id: 'EBAY_US',
  program_type: 'OUT_OF_STOCK_CONTROL'
});

console.log('Opted out of program');

Program Types

1. Out of Stock Control

Program Type: OUT_OF_STOCK_CONTROL Description: Hide out-of-stock listings instead of ending them. Preserves search ranking and item specifics. Benefits:

Maintain listing search ranking
Preserve item history and reviews
Automatically republish when back in stock
Save time recreating listings

Eligibility:

All sellers
No minimum requirements

Example:

// Enable out of stock control
await mcp.useTool('account_optInToProgram', {
  marketplace_id: 'EBAY_US',
  program_type: 'OUT_OF_STOCK_CONTROL'
});

// When item is out of stock, set quantity to 0
// Listing will be hidden automatically
await mcp.useTool('inventory_updateInventoryItem', {
  sku: 'ITEM-001',
  availability: {
    shipToLocationAvailability: {
      quantity: 0
    }
  }
});

2. Top Rated Seller Program

Program Type: TOP_RATED_SELLER Description: Elite seller status with benefits for maintaining high performance standards. Benefits:

10% final value fee discount on eligible items
“Top Rated Plus” badge on listings
Higher search ranking
Increased buyer confidence

Requirements:

At least 100 transactions and $1,000 in sales in past 12 months (US)
Transaction defect rate < 0.5%
Late shipment rate < 3%
Cases closed without seller resolution < 0.3%
Tracking uploaded on time > 95%

Example:

// Check Top Rated Seller status
const programs = await mcp.useTool('account_getPrograms', {
  marketplace_id: 'EBAY_US'
});

const trsProgram = programs.programs.find(
  p => p.programType === 'TOP_RATED_SELLER'
);

console.log(`Top Rated Status: ${trsProgram.programStatus}`);
console.log(`Eligible: ${trsProgram.waiveOverride ? 'Yes' : 'No'}`);

3. eBay Guaranteed Delivery

Program Type: EBAY_GUARANTEED_DELIVERY Description: Promise delivery by a specific date for faster conversions. Benefits:

“Guaranteed Delivery” badge on listings
Higher conversion rates
Improved search visibility
Competitive advantage

Requirements:

Top Rated Seller status
1-day handling time
Same-day or next-day shipping
Use of specific shipping services (USPS Priority, FedEx, UPS)

Example:

// Check eligibility
const programs = await mcp.useTool('account_getPrograms', {
  marketplace_id: 'EBAY_US'
});

const egdProgram = programs.programs.find(
  p => p.programType === 'EBAY_GUARANTEED_DELIVERY'
);

if (egdProgram.programStatus === 'ELIGIBLE') {
  // Opt in
  await mcp.useTool('account_optInToProgram', {
    marketplace_id: 'EBAY_US',
    program_type: 'EBAY_GUARANTEED_DELIVERY'
  });
}

4. Global Shipping Program

Program Type: GLOBAL_SHIPPING_PROGRAM Description: eBay manages international shipping for you. You ship domestically to eBay’s shipping center, and eBay handles the rest. Benefits:

Simplified international selling
eBay handles customs and import charges
Protection from international shipping issues
Expand to 100+ countries easily

How It Works:

You ship item to eBay’s US shipping center
eBay handles international shipping, customs, taxes
You’re protected from international claims/returns

Example:

// Opt in to Global Shipping Program
await mcp.useTool('account_optInToProgram', {
  marketplace_id: 'EBAY_US',
  program_type: 'GLOBAL_SHIPPING_PROGRAM'
});

// Your fulfillment policy automatically applies to international buyers
// You only ship domestically to eBay's shipping center

5. Promoted Listings Standard

Program Type: PROMOTED_LISTINGS_STANDARD Description: Pay-per-sale advertising to boost listing visibility in search results. Benefits:

Appear higher in search results
Pay only when item sells
Set your own ad rate (1-20%)
Increase visibility without upfront cost

Example:

// Check program status
const programs = await mcp.useTool('account_getPrograms', {
  marketplace_id: 'EBAY_US'
});

const plProgram = programs.programs.find(
  p => p.programType === 'PROMOTED_LISTINGS_STANDARD'
);

console.log(`Promoted Listings: ${plProgram.programStatus}`);

// Opt in if not already
if (plProgram.programStatus !== 'OPTED_IN') {
  await mcp.useTool('account_optInToProgram', {
    marketplace_id: 'EBAY_US',
    program_type: 'PROMOTED_LISTINGS_STANDARD'
  });
}

Program Status Values

Status	Description
`OPTED_IN`	Currently enrolled in the program
`OPTED_OUT`	Not enrolled, but eligible
`ELIGIBLE`	Eligible but haven’t opted in yet
`NOT_ELIGIBLE`	Don’t meet program requirements

Complete Program Management Example

async function manageSellerPrograms() {
  const marketplace = 'EBAY_US';

  // Get all programs
  const { programs } = await mcp.useTool('account_getPrograms', {
    marketplace_id: marketplace
  });

  console.log('📊 Program Status Report:\n');

  // Analyze each program
  for (const program of programs) {
    console.log(`Program: ${program.programType}`);
    console.log(`Status: ${program.programStatus}`);

    // Auto opt-in to beneficial programs if eligible
    if (program.programStatus === 'ELIGIBLE') {
      const beneficialPrograms = [
        'OUT_OF_STOCK_CONTROL',
        'PROMOTED_LISTINGS_STANDARD'
      ];

      if (beneficialPrograms.includes(program.programType)) {
        console.log(`✅ Auto-enrolling in ${program.programType}...`);

        await mcp.useTool('account_optInToProgram', {
          marketplace_id: marketplace,
          program_type: program.programType
        });

        console.log(`Enrolled successfully!`);
      }
    }

    console.log('---\n');
  }

  // Check Top Rated Seller status specifically
  const trsProgram = programs.find(p => p.programType === 'TOP_RATED_SELLER');

  if (trsProgram?.programStatus === 'OPTED_IN') {
    console.log('🌟 You are a Top Rated Seller!');
    console.log('Benefits: 10% FVF discount, Top Rated badge, higher ranking');
  } else if (trsProgram?.programStatus === 'ELIGIBLE') {
    console.log('⭐ You are eligible for Top Rated Seller!');
    console.log('Program is automatic - maintain your metrics to keep this status.');
  } else {
    console.log('📈 Work towards Top Rated Seller status:');
    console.log('- Maintain <0.5% transaction defect rate');
    console.log('- Achieve <3% late shipment rate');
    console.log('- Upload tracking on time >95%');
  }
}

await manageSellerPrograms();

Program Optimization Tips

Achieving Top Rated Seller

Key Metrics to Monitor:

// Monitor your seller metrics
const sellerStandards = await mcp.useTool('account_getSellerStandards', {
  marketplace_id: 'EBAY_US'
});

console.log('Performance Metrics:');
console.log(`Transaction Defect Rate: ${sellerStandards.defectRate}%`);
console.log(`Late Shipment Rate: ${sellerStandards.lateShipmentRate}%`);

Best Practices:

Ship within 1 business day
Always upload tracking numbers
Respond to messages within 24 hours
Resolve issues before buyers open cases
Describe items accurately to reduce returns

Maximizing Promoted Listings ROI

Ad Rate Strategy:

Start with 5% ad rate
Increase to 8-10% for high-profit items
Monitor conversion rates weekly
Pause ads on slow-moving items

Best Items to Promote:

New listings (first 30 days)
High-margin products
Competitive categories
Seasonal items during peak periods

// Example: Promote high-value items automatically
const items = await mcp.useTool('inventory_getInventoryItems', {
  limit: 100
});

for (const item of items.inventoryItems) {
  // Promote items with price > $50
  if (parseFloat(item.offers[0]?.pricingSummary?.price?.value) > 50) {
    await mcp.useTool('marketing_createCampaign', {
      campaign_name: `Promoted - ${item.sku}`,
      ad_rate: 8, // 8% ad rate for high-value items
      marketplace_id: 'EBAY_US',
      funding_strategy: 'COST_PER_SALE',
      inventory_reference_id: item.sku
    });
  }
}

Global Shipping Best Practices

When to Use GSP:

You want to sell internationally without hassle
Items under 5 lbs and under $2,500 value
You don’t want to handle customs paperwork

When NOT to Use GSP:

Very large or heavy items (freight shipping)
High-value items >$2,500
You offer better international shipping rates

Setup:

// Opt in to Global Shipping Program
await mcp.useTool('account_optInToProgram', {
  marketplace_id: 'EBAY_US',
  program_type: 'GLOBAL_SHIPPING_PROGRAM'
});

// Fulfillment policy automatically enables international shipping
// You only ship to eBay's US shipping center

Troubleshooting

Program Not Available

const programs = await mcp.useTool('account_getPrograms', {
  marketplace_id: 'EBAY_US'
});

const program = programs.programs.find(
  p => p.programType === 'DESIRED_PROGRAM_TYPE'
);

if (!program) {
  console.error('Program not available in your marketplace');
} else if (program.programStatus === 'NOT_ELIGIBLE') {
  console.error('You do not meet the requirements for this program');
  console.error('Reason:', program.ineligibilityReasons);
}

Opt-In Failed

try {
  await mcp.useTool('account_optInToProgram', {
    marketplace_id: 'EBAY_US',
    program_type: 'TOP_RATED_SELLER'
  });
} catch (error) {
  if (error.code === 'NOT_ELIGIBLE') {
    console.error('You do not meet the program requirements');
  } else if (error.code === 'ALREADY_OPTED_IN') {
    console.log('Already enrolled in this program');
  }
}

Next Steps

Account Policies

Manage return, payment, and shipping policies

Marketing API

Create promoted listings campaigns

Best Practices

Optimize your seller performance

Account Overview

Back to Account API overview

Overview

Account API

Inventory API

Fulfillment API

Marketing API

Analytics API

eBay Seller Programs

eBay Seller Programs

Available Programs

Top Rated Seller

eBay Guaranteed Delivery

Promoted Listings

Global Shipping Program

Managing Programs

Get All Programs

Opt In to a Program

Opt Out of a Program

Program Types

1. Out of Stock Control

2. Top Rated Seller Program

3. eBay Guaranteed Delivery

4. Global Shipping Program

5. Promoted Listings Standard

Program Status Values

Complete Program Management Example

Program Optimization Tips

Troubleshooting

Program Not Available

Opt-In Failed

Next Steps

Account Policies

Marketing API

Best Practices

Account Overview

​eBay Seller Programs

​Available Programs

Top Rated Seller

eBay Guaranteed Delivery

Promoted Listings

Global Shipping Program

​Managing Programs

​Get All Programs

​Opt In to a Program

​Opt Out of a Program

​Program Types

​1. Out of Stock Control

​2. Top Rated Seller Program

​3. eBay Guaranteed Delivery

​4. Global Shipping Program

​5. Promoted Listings Standard

​Program Status Values

​Complete Program Management Example

​Program Optimization Tips

​Troubleshooting

​Program Not Available

​Opt-In Failed

​Next Steps

Account Policies

Marketing API

Best Practices

Account Overview

eBay Seller Programs

Available Programs

Managing Programs

Get All Programs

Opt In to a Program

Opt Out of a Program

Program Types

1. Out of Stock Control

2. Top Rated Seller Program

3. eBay Guaranteed Delivery

4. Global Shipping Program

5. Promoted Listings Standard

Program Status Values

Complete Program Management Example

Program Optimization Tips

Troubleshooting

Program Not Available

Opt-In Failed

Next Steps