eBay, America-based multinational e-commerce company, has abandoned Shopify app store 5 years after the launch. eBay had launched its app for Shopify merchants to ease the process of listing items on its marketplace. As per a report published by ecommercebytes.com, the app failed to synchronize listing between both the platforms for many months.
News of eBay’s app removal appeared on ZenDesk’s backend page on October 4. However, it is not confirmed that Shopify or eBay proactively informed sellers about the app’s demise. Merchants visiting Shopify app store might be unaware that if they start using eBay app, it would be available only for two months. They will only come to know about the same if they go through recent reviews.
“On January 1, 2023, the eBay app on Shopify is scheduled to be discontinued,” Connect eBay Support titled the announcement on ZenDesk. eBay asked business owners to use another app is they want to continue posting their Shopify-hosted items on eBay.
What does this mean for sellers?
eBay app won’t be accessible after December 31, 2022. One needs to migrate to a third-part app to manage eBay listings through Shopify. “Of course you can always manage your listings on the eBay website directly at any time,” it added.
What are available third-party app options?
Third party apps that connect eBay and Shopify are CedCommerce, Omnivore, Sellbrite, Inkfrog and the top-rated Codisto. One can also get custom apps from solution providers.
What if merchants do nothing?
The eBay will remain functional as usual even after December 31, 2022. Listings on eBay by merchants will remain live and sales will go on. Listings and orders can be managed directly through eBay website.
Responding to queries on eBay discussion boards about the recent move, Brian Burke, eBay manager cited seller experience as the main reason behind pulling the app. “The top third-party provider apps are rated higher than the EBSH (eBay Shopify app),” he said. eBay’s Shopify app has 2.8 rating out of 5, and some of the low ratings came also after the announcement.
If one goes through the older reviews, it seems that eBay app failed to sync inventory for quite some time – which is one of the main reasons behind using an integration app. Some sellers on Shopify discussion boards were uncertain of their next move while some believed that it is Shopify’s responsibility to offer a free solution.
Disheartening News
One of the merchants’ review dropped in June said in part, “the main problem is the lack of sync with eBay – when items are sold and paid on eBay they are not appearing as orders in Shopify – which means we are offering items for sale on Shopify and other channels (Facebook/Instagram etc) that have already been sold.”
A seller with username CouchFrancois wrote, “Very disheartened to hear that eBay is dropping the eBay Shopify app. It puts my shop in a conundrum. I sell trading cards, so a lot of small transactions and many listings. By far the majority of sales are on eBay, not in my Shopify storefront. Solutions like Codisto would be cost prohibitive since I have a large amount of small (> $10) orders. I guess I could write some code on my own to do the work, but not sure I’ll have enough time between my real job and this side gig to write it in less than 3 months”.
When eBay announced its app in 2017, eBay’s then Vice President of Global Trust & Seller Experience Bob Kupbens had stated: “eBay is focused on delivering the best choice and selection of inventory to buyers across the globe. This new integration with Shopify will bring even more great products to eBay buyers, while offering Shopify merchants the ability to seamlessly drive their business and brand at scale by tapping into our vibrant marketplace.”
