eBay said it will begin testing a new Checkout feature and hopes to have it rolled out across all its global sites by the end of the year. The new Checkout is more streamlined ("3 easy steps") and allows buyers to make changes - such as editing shipping information - and log in to PayPal, without leaving the Checkout process. The ability to pay for all PayPal items from multiple sellers with one payment is also integrated into the new Checkout feature, but like the eBay Express checkout, is limited to a set number of sellers within a single session.

The new-generation Checkout allows shoppers to apply eBay coupons, gift certificates and gift cards, and it will display discounts to show shoppers how much they have saved and how much more they could save by purchasing multiple items from the same seller. For example, it might prompt the buyer, "Buy just 1 more item from this seller and qualify for $2 discount." The system determines the discount based on eBay's "Combined Shipping Discounts" feature that lets sellers set rules for shipping discounts.

Vamsee Nalamothu, Senior Product Manager of eBay's Buyer Experience team, announced some of the features on a video on eBay's Chatter blog (http://www.ebaychatter.com/the_chatter/2007/09/fewer-steps-mea.html), and AuctionBytes obtained a graphic showing screenshots of the new Checkout. The graphic shows that once the shopper has completed the payment, a page displays additional items the user may be interested in based on their profile.

Checkout will continue to support the payment methods sellers currently offer, although multi-seller Checkout requires PayPal as the payment method. When buyers click on the "Pay Now" button on any particular listing, Checkout will combine all PayPal-eligible items that are ready for payment (up to 10 different sellers in one session). Buyers will also have the option to pay for items individually.

Buyers can choose to edit ship-to information during the Checkout process. If a seller requires a confirmed address for delivery, it will only allow the buyer to select a confirmed address.

Checkout will remain optional for sellers. eBay is already testing the new feature in the UK.

Edited for clarity on 10/4/07.