eBay Active Content
Active content is used by many sellers today to provide interactivity, animation or video via JavaScript, Flash, plug-ins, and form actions which sellers usually use to enhance their listings and to power widgets, but it also comes with some security issues.
eBay to Ban Active Content in 2017 – What Does it Mean For You?
Many tools and services include active content in features added to an item description or your eBay Store, such as scrolling galleries, cross-merchandising widgets, drop-down menus and search-box functionality.
In 2017, eBay will limit use of active content in sellers’ listings and will provide more information about 2017 plans to limit active content later this year.
What exactly is “Active Content”?
eBay Active content includes – JavaScript, Flash, plug-ins and form actions, which sellers usually use to enhance their listings and to power widgets, but it also comes with some security issues.
Common examples for active content are – “Scrolling galleries” of the sellers’ other items, live chat widgets, feedback widgets, search boxes, drop-down menus and many more.
How can you tell if you have active content in your eBay listings?
eBay refers sellers to this checking tool – make sure you select the correct eBay site. It will also check your listing for mobile friendliness.
If you have hyperlinks in your description, the checking tool will show you a warning, which is ok. Hyperlinks are allowed by eBay but are restricted to certain policies, for example you cannot link to an external payment service.
eBay also offer a preview mode, where you can see how your listings will look & fill without active content – “To use the tool, view your item page and click the preview option in the item description tab. This preview link is only visible to you, the seller. Buyers cannot see this option and previewing the item does not alter the description in any way.”
What are alternatives to active content?
eBay will not ban the features and widgets themselves, rather it will only ban certain technologies. Scrolling galleries, feedback widgets, tabs etc.. are allowed for use, they will just have to use a non “active content” technology. Most features can be created using CSS and HTML – which are not “active content”.
What do you need to do?
eBay has given sellers till June 2017 to adjust to the new changes, make sure that all active content removed till then. If you are using third party listing solutions (Auctiva, CrazyLister, Inkfrog etc..), make sure your solution is to comply with the new policies in time.