eBay will announce changes later today in its third roll-out of seller updates for 2010, calling it "Seller Release 3." Most changes will launch between September 7 and September 13, and eBay said it was the final seller update of the year. eBay will make certain media and electronics categories free for sellers to list in during the holiday selling season, but is requiring that they use its product catalog to list. The three categories are iPod & MP3 Players, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and DVDs, HD DVDs & Blu-ray.

eBay is making changes to its Unpaid Item process and will allow sellers to create lists of preferred customers who will be excluded from Unpaid Item Assistant. Sellers will be able to exclude specific transactions from Unpaid Item Assistant.

eBay is running a test in which it has moved the "Ask a question" link further down the item page for about one quarter of buyers, and expects to launch it to all buyers by the end of the year. eBay will also allow sellers to prevent blocked buyers from contacting them. "If you've already blocked certain buyers from purchasing your items, with a new option coming in early August, you can also prevent them from contacting you from the Automated Answers page."

eBay will make shipping options and delivery estimates more prominent throughout the buying process using four terms: Economy, Standard, Expedited and One-day, and estimated delivery displayed to buyers will be the shipping time plus handling time.

eBay is adding functionality to its bulk-edit feature, allowing sellers to edit up to 500 listings at once, as they are relisting or selling similar items.

eBay will also offer its own shipping insurance to sellers through Parcel Insurance Plan that sellers can purchase when using eBay label printing. Insurance from ShipCover costs $1.23 per $100 of coverage, up to an insured value of $5,000 (see rates on this page). Filing an insurance claim with ShipCover is not a factor in evaluating a seller's performance, but if a buyer opens a case through the eBay Resolutions or PayPal Buyer Protection the case will be considered along with DSRs in evaluating seller performance.

Sellers will be able to exclude domestic locations outside the continental US - Alaska and Hawaii, US Protectorates, and APO/FPO addresses by adding them to their exclusion list, or will be able to display special shipping rates for those locations.

Look for details from eBay on the Announcement Board later today. It is scheduled to hold a Town Hall meeting on Wednesday and a webinar on Thursday, July 15, at 10:30 am Pacfici.

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