Parts and accessories

Parts and accessories compatibility is an eBay feature that uses structured data to associate compatible assemblies with parts listed on eBay. For example, parts compatibility enables sellers to specify accurately and comprehensively the vehicles on which a side mirror or a rim will fit. Parts compatibility improves search relevancy and frees up listing titles and descriptions for more useful descriptions of the part.

Search for compatible parts

Parts buyers often think of parts in relation to the vehicle they fit (i.e., "I need a new brake disc for my BMW,") and they can search on eBay in the same way.

Items listed with parts compatibility information help connect buyers with parts and accessories for their assembly, such as a car or truck. Parts compatibility lets sellers enter compatible vehicles in a structured place outside the title. This parts compatibility information is indexed for keyword searches, so buyers can find the part by its compatible vehicles, not just the part description.

Search by application

When a buyer is looking for a part or accessory for their car, they can specify the year, make, and model of the car (sometimes referred to as compatibility search names) along with any details about the part they are trying to find (e.g., new headlight 2008 bmw m3). Listings with parts compatibility information get a best match boost in search results. Items in the search results with parts compatibility information that matches terms in the buyer's search query display the compatibility match (e.g., Fits: 2008 BMW M3).

Figure: Search by Application

The Finding API supports compatibility in the same way as the marketplace. The keywords field can include vehicle details, such as year, make, and model (e.g., 2008 bmw m3), in addition to terms for the part or accessory. When there are matches, and the item was listed with compatibility information, the compatibility field in the response returns terms from the query that match the values in one of the item's compatible applications (vehicles). If the query matches more than one compatible application for an item, the compatibility field returns "Two or more of your vehicles" to indicate multiple matches.

Parts compatibility (by application) in search results

<findItemsByKeywordsResponse xmlns="https://www.ebay.com/marketplace/search/v1/services">
<ack>Success</ack>
<version>1.3.0</version>
<timestamp>2018-04-27T23:54:06.800Z</timestamp>
<searchResult count="100">
  <item>
    ...
    <compatibility>2008 BMW M3</compatibility>
    <condition>
      <conditionDisplayName>New</conditionDisplayName>
    </condition>
  </item>
  ...
</searchResult>
<paginationOutput>
  <pageNumber>1</pageNumber>
  <entriesPerPage>100</entriesPerPage>
  <totalPages>2</totalPages>
  <totalEntries>130</totalEntries>
</paginationOutput>
</findItemsByKeywordsResponse>

Search by specification

Some items, such as tires or rims, are listed with parts compatibility by specification. If a buyer is searching for a new tire, they may read the specifications off their existing tire (e.g., section width, aspect ratio of the sidewall, and rim diameter,) and use these specifications to search for a compatible replacement. For example, they may search for "michelin exalto 195 65 15," where:

• 195 is the section width
• 65 is the aspect ratio of the sidewall
• 15 is the rim diameter

Items in the search results with parts compatibility information that matches terms in the buyer's search query display the specification match (e.g., Specification: 195/65R15).

Figure: Search by Specification

To search for items listed with compatibility information by specification, include the part specifications, such as a tire's section width, aspect ratio of the sidewall, and rim diameter (e.g., 225 45 15,) in the keywords in addition to other terms for the part or accessory (e.g., <keywords>michelin exalto 195 65 15</keywords>). When there are matches and the item was listed with compatibility information by specification, the compatibility field in the response returns terms from the query that matches the items compatibility specifications.

Parts compatibility (by specification) in search results

<findItemsByKeywordsResponse xmlns="https://www.ebay.com/marketplace/search/v1/services">
<ack>Success</ack>
<version>1.3.0</version>
<timestamp>2018-04-28T00:33:52.106Z</timestamp>
<searchResult count="1">
  <item>
    <itemId>110045053160</itemId>
    <title>Michelin Pilot Exalto</title>
    ...
    <compatibility>195/65R15</compatibility>
  </item>
  ...
</searchResult>
<paginationOutput>
  <pageNumber>1</pageNumber>
  <entriesPerPage>100</entriesPerPage>
  <totalPages>1</totalPages>
  <totalEntries>1</totalEntries>
</paginationOutput>
</findItemsByKeywordsResponse>

This search behavior is supported by the Finding API.