This module builds a bridge between drupal ecommerce module and ebay. It allows you to create a special type of product, which will be listed on ebay automatically.

The module makes use of ebatns, a php interface to ebays API. For legal reasons, ebatns is not distributed together with the module source code; instead, you can download it on http://www.intradesys.de ... please put the ebatns files into a 'ebatns' subfolder within the ebay module.

This module is not a full-blown ebay agent software, since this would exceed requirements. Ebay API supports a huge range of tweaks, whistles and bells. I want it to be the basis for ebay integration, to support the most important features. Should someone require more functionality, it's easy to implement.

Installation

  • Download Ebatns and put the .php files into modules/ebay/ebatns
  • Install the ebay module like a normal drupal module

    http://drupal.org/project/ebay

  • Go to developer.ebay.com and register for a developer account. You get 3 keys and a token. Then register a user on sandbox.ebay.com and link this user with your development account. This process may be a bit complicated; please see ebay's documentation for help.
    It's recommendable to first register for the sandbox and test.
  • Go to ecommerce configuration and then to ebay. change your settings and save.
  • Go to create content -> product -> ebay and go ahead!

    Features

  • Create product: create ebay-type product. Auction price is the start price on ebay. If you attach pictures, they will be shown on ebay as well.
    If you click on misc ebay options, you can edit some more often used options.
  • Categories: are automatically downloaded from ebay and cached. The category field is javascript autocomplete, so you should know the name of your desired category. Take care, not all categories are eligible for listings (for example because they aren't a leaf or because they don't support some payment options)
  • Product display: ebay products can't be bought on drupal. Instead, a link to ebay is shown.
  • Fees: every listing on ebay will be charged with a fee. If you add additional options (border around item, show picture in search listing, etc.) the fee will increase. Fees are shown on the product display page, but are visible to admins only.
  • If someone buys your product on ebay, he/she will automatically get a message with a link to drupal checkout cart, so the buyer can complete the checkout on drupal. At the same time, the product will be hidden (not published) and the product's price will be set to the winning price (highest bid from ebay). Subject and body of the notification message can be configured from drupal (ecommerce administration -> ebay)
  • if someone posts a question about one of your items on ebay, you will see the open question in drupal. You may answer the question directly from within drupal. Additionally, you can opt to display the question+answer in your item description on ebay.
  • if one of your buyers leaves a positive feedback for you on ebay, it will show up on the ebay administration page. you can then also leave feedback for the buyer.

    Caveats

  • pictures can be included in your items listing in 2 ways: either vendor-hosted (which means the picture remains on your webserver, just the link is posted to ebay) or EPS (ebay picture service; the images are uploaded to ebay and hosted there). currently only vendor-hosted works, because ebatns makes use of the SOAP api. EPS however is only supported in the XML api. In a few months, EPS will probably be available with the SOAP api too.
  • items take some time to be found in ebays search. if you list a new item, it usually takes about 3 - 5 minutes to show up in a search, at least that's the behaviour on the sandbox.ebay.com page.
  • if you change from sandbox mode to production mode, you need to enter new keys - keys and token are associated with either sandbox site or production.
  • Comments

    abacusmedia’s picture

    I have installed the module and entered the keys, i am struggling here
    "Then register a user on sandbox.ebay.com and link this user with your development account"
    Do you have a link where you found this information from Ebay?

    Thanks in Advance

    John

    engineerkdcs’s picture

    Hello abacusmedia ,
    Did you get the ebay product to appear? I tried the instructions on drupal 6 install and installed drupal ecommerce along with ebay and ebatns modules and still I cannot seem to see the ebay Product under products.

    I would really appreciate if you can give some detailed instructions on how to get this setup.