Hi All,

I'd like to post this information and then start a discussion and get your feedback on the following:

****New Features for Car Electronics****
In late April 2004, eBay will be implementing functionality called Item Specifics in several Car Electronics categories. This feature is designed to help buyers find what they're looking for more quickly and easily.

Item Specifics Background:

With Item Specifics, eBay collects a few key pieces of information about a seller's listing and then enables buyers to use a "Product Finder" to search for the item via several different paths.

To see how the Product Finder works on the site today, please look at the Digital Cameras Category. For example, in the Digital Cameras category, buyers can search using the Product Finder by attributes such as Brand, Resolution, or Condition.

Product Finder --Amplifiers

Within Amplifiers, buyers will be able to search by Brand, Number of Channels, and Condition.
Product Finder—In-Dash Receivers

Within In-Dash Receivers, buyers will be able to search by Format, Brand and Condition

Product Finder –Speakers and Speaker Systems
Within Speakers, buyers will be able to search by type (i.e. component, system or stand-alone) Brand, and Condition.

Product Finder --Subwoofers
Within Subwoofers, buyers will be able to search by Brand, Size (8 inch, 10 inch, etc), Voice Coil (Dual, Quad, etc) and Condition.

How will this work?

Subwoofer: NIB Kicker Dual Voice Coil 12 inch Subwoofer
The seller would use the "Kicker" brand descriptor, "12 inch" size descriptor, "Dual" voice coil descriptor and the "New" condition descriptor when listing their item.
If a buyer enters the Subwoofer category looking for Kicker subwoofers, a buyer could select "Kicker" and look at all Kicker items listed with Item Specifics. Another buyer looking for 12 inch Dual Voice Coil Subwoofers, could select "12 inch" and "Dual Voice Coil", and see all of those listings listed with Item Specifics.

What will I need to do?

You'll want to begin preparing for Item Specifics now. In the Digital Cameras category, items listed with Item Specifics experience significantly higher sell-through rates and prices than items without… so you won't want to miss a day of Item Specifics when they launch in Car Electronics.

Start by carefully thinking about how you will use these descriptors for the items you sell. If you list items manually through the Sell Your Item form or Turbo Lister, you will see the new options as soon as they launch. If you utilize a listing service (e.g., Andale or Auctionworks), you may want to check if your provider offers Item Specifics functionality in the Car electronics category… and remind them that this will be important in Car Electronics.

Look for the changes and more information this month! If you have any comments or feedback about Item Specifics, please email them to caraudio@ebay.com.

I will also be checking these boards every few days for the next month or so to answer your questions!

Warm regards, and thank you for your business!

Melinda
Category Manager, Car Electronics