2 min article

Duplicate listings policy

The duplicate listings policy is designed to help you list in a way that makes it easy for buyers to find and compare items that interest them.

You can't have more than one fixed price listing of an identical item at the same time.

You can have more than one auction-style listing for identical items. However, only one duplicate auction-style listing without bids appears on eBay at a time. Separate listings may be created for the same item on different eBay sites, as long as the international shipping options don't result in the listings cluttering the search results of any individual site.

These restrictions on duplicate listings include listing an identical item in different categories or listing an identical item using different user IDs.

What are duplicate listings?

Listings are considered duplicates if they are for items that have no significant difference between them, or if the listings appear to be for the same item in search results. To prevent your listings from being treated as duplicates, make sure you clearly show the differences in the title, price, condition, photo, subtitle, item specifics, or in the parts compatibility areas of a listing. Make sure you use relevant item specifics, and include product identifiers - opens in new window or tab like UPCs and MPNs when applicable, to differentiate your items and boost visibility. We may also look at other parts of the listing, such as the description, to determine whether it's a duplicate.

The following types of listings, if they are for identical items, are considered duplicate listings even if the listing format or details vary:

  • An auction-style listing with the Buy It Now option and an auction-style listing without the Buy It Now option for an identical item.
  • A fixed price listing and an auction-style listing with the Buy It Now option for an identical item.

Activity on eBay is required to follow this policy, the eBay User Agreement and all applicable laws, as well as respect the rights of third parties. If it doesn’t, eBay may take action consistent with applicable laws and the eBay User Agreement, and may even be legally required to do so. Such actions may include, as an example only: Removing the listing or other content, issuing a warning, restricting activity or account suspension.

What are the guidelines?

Why does eBay have this policy?

We want buyers to see a wide range of options and make sure that no one seller can dominate search results.

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