Make money with the Ebay API to show current auctions

[Greg]

There is an API for eBay (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-1751-2978-71/1?AID=5463217&PID=2115927&loc=http://developer.ebay.com/). It's a way to use eBay and make some change if someone purchases under your eBay affiliate ID (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-1751-2978-71/1?AID=5463217&PID=2115927&loc=http://affiliates.ebay.com/).

I think it's the same thing auction ads does for you, but with the API, you can skip the middle man and collect more directly from eBay.

I have looked at it, but I didn't get excited. But now that I see the hoopla about auction ads, good and bad, I'm thinking it's a great idea. Without the middle man of course.

Has anyone else looked at this eBay API or perhaps implemented it?

I think it could be a good app to release as a hack. But I'm looking for interest in it first.

<a href="http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-1751-2978-3/1?aid=5902069&pid=2115927" target="_blank" onmouseover="window.status='http://affiliates.ebay.com';return true;" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" rel="nofollow">www.ebay.com</a>
<img src="http://www.ftjcfx.com/image-2115927-5902069" width="1" height="1" border="0"/>

Become an eBay Affiliate and make money from your website.

[jiffy]

If you made a hack to display auctions that fit a certain search criteria in a VB module I would pay for such a hack for one of my motorcycle sites. How much do you think it would run though?

[lem]

Not a bad Idea. However, I would be more interested in having a full page that looked like my site where members could search for ebay auctions that relate to my sites topic.

Becoming an ebay affiliate is a great way to make money if you have traffic, that is for sure. However, I think I would rather show Google Ads on my site still. Not quite sure if ebay would do as good as my google ads for showing on every page.

Andy

[Greg]

To address both of you, This is about more ideas. I have some too. But, with more feedback from folks like you, we could come up with a good plan in advance of me writing the first line of code.

The API, as I understand it will allow specific keyword searching for one or more items. Once they are delivered to you, you can display them as you wish on your site.

So, yes, both ideas will fit and are doable as I understand it.

Cost, well, I'm not greedy. It'll be cheap enough.

[Zero Tolerance]

if you do this...do you plan on it being a stand alone app like the bookstore (so users other than VB can have benefit of it) or will it be a vb plugin only?

[Big Dan]

Personally, I like the idea and I've always wanted to harness the power of eBay to make some extra money. Auction Ads appeared be an answer but they have way too many technical problems in their relatively short lifespan for me to jump on board.

I don't know if it's possible code wise, but it would be awesome if other system's API could be plugged into a system like this say Amazon for instance. For more coverage from one modification. That's probably just a dream from a code standpoint though.

Ideally, a hack like this would pretty point and click simple. Plug in your API code, automatically rewrite eBay URLs to include your API (ala AA). Possibly having the ability to generate a web page wrapped in vBulletin headers & footers with choice key words, price limits and some sort of rotation.

I'm not sure if you're familar with Web Templates from the .org. You could possibly plug into that system to generate the pages.

Just some ideas.

[Greg]

The idea is to be stand alone. Meaning, it would be able to be used in vB or a plain old website.

It would look local to you and it would be keyword targeted.

Please keep the feedback coming.

[Freebird]

Probably a good idea depending on how well is done. I'm already running Ebay adds on my home page and they do make a bit of money even though Commission Junction is probably getting most of it.

[Greg]

hehe, "how well it is done". I like that.

I consider "well" to mean it displays ads and you make money you don't have to share with anyone else.

If the API is even half as good as Amazon's, and from what I read, it appears to be, there is a lot of money on the table. Amazon, through the api on my sites, has been very good to me.

[Mike54]

But I'm looking for interest in it first.
If someone can come up with something that would work pretty much the way AA is intended to work, then I think you would have a winner.

I think most people using AA will agree that their system is not right and has not been right from the inception. Yet it seems that someone is earning enough to keep it alive. Rather odd, that.

[Greg]

Most are making money off referrals I would say.

I don't see AA as better than doing it yourself. CJ pays, that much we know. CJ's code works, that we know. With this proposed app, you will run local code, not code from my server.

It will work or not. I will not be in the middle.

Remember, I come up with these ideas to benefit me. I'm not going to waste my time doing it half assed. Point is, if it sucks, I fail first or we all win.

[mac27]

I like the idea you have. I think AA could use some MAJOR overhauling. I stopped using it about a month after I signed up.

I like the ideas given so far for it also. A stand alone and a VB product would be great.

[jugo]

I am definitely interested. this sounds like a perfect way to get back some of the money we've given ebay for selling our stuff.

Can't wait.

[Greg]

Hey jugo, did you miss the vBSEO rewrites for vBPicGallery? They are in there.

Thanks for the feedback. AA seems like a good program at face value. But I have not read anything good lately, so I dunno.

This is about options and I thing we have some available to do this a different way with the same outcome.

Maybe I don't understand AA completely, but in business, eliminating the middle man usually means more profit, not less.

[ab7fh]

What timing... I just joined auction ads today. Looking forward to dumping the middle man:cool:

[Greg]

I didn't expect so many responses or even so many visits about the idea.

In any event, I'll see what I can outline and see about setting up a tentative time line.

And then hopefully I don't come out looking like I talk out my ass.

This is an ambitious thought, but at this point all it is is a thought.

Thanks

[lem]

If you are talking about a "Stand Alone" thing that would not JUST be for vB but would work on any site and looked similar to Auction ads, I would be game! As long as it could be somewhat keyword targeted since my sites are more in the automotive industry.

I support it!

Andy

[coach]

Not sure if I am misisng something here?

I got an Ebay affiliate ID via CJ, from there I am able to make my own links, or searches and display these on my VB site. I run a Western Force (A rugby union team) supporters site and on my main VBAdvanced page I have a block which shows current "Western Force" items on Ebay - check 3/4 down on http://thewholeforce.com.

The code to do this came from ebays affiliate tools. In the past I've also had targeted ebay auctions appear in a forum using enays RSS Feed Generator. They're pretty flexible and easy to integrate - check here: http://affiliates.ebay.com/ns/Tools.htm

[Cyclops]

I think this is a great idea, there's a lot of money that can be made from ebay ads if it's done right.I think most people using AA will agree that their system is not right and has not been right from the inception.
Actually it was pretty good for the first couple of months (my partner and I went from making XXXX.XX per month to $2.98) then they started to have problems and it's never functioned properly since.

I'm not going to waste my time doing it half assed. Point is, if it sucks, I fail first or we all win.

And then hopefully I don't come out looking like I talk out my ass.
Mate, I have been using your Amazon bookstore app from day one .... I don't mean to come across sounding like an arse licker, but I know when you put your mind to something, it gets done, and done right.

I'm totally behind you on this ..... the money I was making from Auction Ads wasn't just from referrals, in fact that was just a small percentage of it.

I don't understand why AA are having problems, it was running fine .... the only reason I can come up with is that ebay for some reason are not passing on the stats.

[Greg]

I looked at the hoops needed to jump through yesterday and most everything that has been requested here seems exactly on target.

In fact, it seemed too easy. Easier than the registration process.

I'll dive in this week, but I will have in huge interruption over the next two weeks, so I won't be going as fast as I want.

But I will be on it.

I don't intent to make this like the book store at this time. The Ebay inventory is not static like amazon.

This is going to be a simple add on to a site as I see it so far, be it vB or html.

Oh yeah, and the bookstore may resurface. I know people made money on that one and liked it. But, it's my turn too. Baby needs a new pair of shoes. :)