eBay Open 2025, Decoded: What’s New, What Matters, and How to Get Ahead

eBay Open 2025 celebrated eBay’s 30th anniversary and marked its return as the first live seller conference in five years. CEO Jamie Iannone and company leadership emphasized innovation, AI adoption, and recommitting to the seller community. The energy was high as sellers gathered to hear announcements on AI messaging, cost-tracking tools, buyer protections, and more.

MyListerHub hosted a raffle; congrats to Melissa Magneson for winning the $1,000 cash prize, and Kay Allen, who walked away with the iPad! We conducted interviews with nearly 1,000 sellers, ranging from side hustlers to veterans, to ask what they sell, how long they’ve been on eBay, and what keeps them up at night.

Alongside eBay’s keynotes and the reveal of our powerful Cavio AI, MyListerHub joined the celebration with our own presence on the floor. We hosted a raffle; congrats to Melissa Magneson for winning the $1,000 cash prize, and Kay Allen, who won a brand-new iPad! 

Beyond the giveaways, we also took the opportunity to connect with sellers directly, conducting nearly 1,000 interviews (also posted on our YouTube livestream) with attendees ranging from side hustlers to seasoned professionals, asking what they sell, how long they’ve been on eBay, what keeps them up at night, and these were the most common seller challenges we heard; 

• Too time-consuming to create or update listings
• Photos, descriptions, and item specifics take too long
• Need a faster bulk listing tool
• Organizing and tracking inventory
• Relisting or refreshing old items
• Managing multiple accounts efficiently

In this article, we’ll review all the features and special announcements during eBay Open 2025, what challenges eBay addressed, and the benefits of using MyListerHub.

To see the complete list of sellers' challenges we gathered during the event, and how MyListerHub provides solutions for all of them, check this article: “Challenges eBay Sellers Still Face in 2025 (and Smarter Ways to Solve Them).”

Breaking Down the New eBay Features and How MyListerHub Does It Better:

1. AI Assistant for Messaging

eBay introduced an AI tool inside Messages that drafts suggested replies based on your listing details and order info. The idea is to help you respond faster to common buyer questions, things like size, shipping times, or whether an accessory is included. It does save time when buyers ask about details already spelled out in the description, and it keeps your response times sharp, which is good for metrics. 

But the tool is still limited: if your listing isn’t detailed enough, the AI might draft something off-base, and the tone can feel stiff if you don’t edit it. You also need to double-check every suggestion; a wrong answer can cost you sales or spark returns. In practice, it’s a handy helper but not something you can rely on blindly. 

By comparison, MyListerHub lets you set reusable message templates and manage communication across multiple eBay accounts from a single dashboard without waiting for AI guesses. That means you can handle repetitive questions with your own trusted voice, while still cutting down response time.

How to enable it:
Go to your Messages on app or desktop. eBay will pop up a prompt for “eBay.ai.” If not seen, toggle “eBay.ai” in Settings (mobile) or bottom left in Messages (desktop) to opt in. You remain in control; you can edit or ignore every suggestion. 

2. Offers in Messaging

Another update was the ability to send and receive offers directly within the message thread. Buyers can now say, “Would you take $50?” and you can respond in the same conversation, with the full offer history visible right alongside your chat. It’s more natural than the old “Make Offer” button and helps keep negotiations clear. Deals can close faster since you’re not jumping between tabs.

Still, there are some catches. It’s U.S. only for now, and while the setup is convenient, it might blur the line between casual chat and binding agreement. Once you send an offer in chat and the buyer accepts, that’s a done deal; you can’t walk it back. If you handle a lot of offers, they can also get buried in long message threads, making it harder to track everything.

Where eBay’s solution makes negotiation smoother on a single account, MyListerHub takes a broader approach. You can automate offers to watchers, schedule bulk offers, reply to lowball offers with a message, and view all your active offers across multiple stores in one dashboard. That means you’re not waiting for buyers to ask, you’re proactively converting watchers into buyers, while still being able to handle one-on-one deals inside eBay when needed.

3. “Your Cost” Field (Cost of Goods Tracking)

eBay finally added a dedicated field in the listing flow to record your cost of goods sold (COGS). Enter what you paid for the item, and it will feed into your reports to show profit estimates alongside your sales. For smaller sellers, this is a welcome way to keep better tabs on margins without juggling spreadsheets. You can also edit or add costs later, which is convenient.

But the feature comes with caveats. It only supports single-SKU listings (no variations), uses a simple weighted average method, and doesn’t replace full accounting. Many sellers are also hesitant to share their cost data with eBay, unsure how that information might eventually be used. And this isn’t the first attempt; eBay launched a cost field last year, but it had so many bugs they had to pull it back. So, some sellers are understandably cautious.

MyListerHub offers the flexibility eBay doesn’t. You can bulk update your costs, get detailed profit reports that stay private, and view them everywhere throughout the platform, like in messages, offers, orders, and accounting. Instead of wondering whether eBay is making use of your margin data, you maintain control while still having visibility into what’s profitable and what isn’t.

4. Inventory Mapping API & AI Listing Tools

For developers and high-volume sellers, eBay introduced an Inventory Mapping API; essentially, a way to bulk-generate titles, specifics, and descriptions using eBay’s AI. Upload your product details, and the system drafts listings at scale. For enterprise sellers, this could save enormous time, particularly when managing thousands of SKUs.

But there are serious trade-offs. Using any API requires developer resources, document review, a third-party tool to connect, and customizations. If you’ve ever tried to work in the eBay Sandbox, you know it’s a maze; time-consuming, inconsistent, and full of pitfalls. That alone puts the barrier to entry too high for most everyday sellers. And while eBay’s AI-generated content can speed things up, it’s still hit or miss.

This is where MyListerHub has already built accessible AI listing tools for everyday sellers (Cavio AI). You can generate product titles and descriptions without writing code, and in bulk. It’s user-friendly, not locked behind developer access. And because MyListerHub integrates with your existing templates and policies, you maintain consistency instead of letting AI freestyle essential details.

Another critical seller pain point today is pricing. Many sellers we interviewed at eBay Open mentioned how much time they save generating titles, descriptions, and item specifics using ChatGPT. However, since 2018, when eBay blocked Terapeak's “recommended price” feature, finding and double-checking remain the sellers' most time-consuming tasks, leaving them to guess or run manual searches. 

Finally, MyListerHub goes a step further by offering custom-tailoring for every niche seller. The listing needs of a jewelry seller are different from those of a car parts seller or a fashion reseller. Cavio AI and the MyListerHub platform adapt to those nuances, building item specifics, descriptions, and templates that reflect your category. It’s not a one-size-fits-all AI output; it’s refined for your market.

So while eBay’s Inventory Mapping API might help enterprise sellers automate at scale, it’s not practical for most of us. MyListerHub’s Cavio AI was built from the ground up for eBay sellers, combining accuracy, adaptability, and analytics. Instead of just producing words, it helps you measure performance, improve over time, and tailor listings to your niche, all without touching a single line of API code.

5. Seller Protection Against INR (Item Not Received)

Starting October 2025, eBay will reimburse sellers for the item cost if a buyer claims non-receipt, gets a refund, but then the package eventually arrives. They’ll also remove negative or neutral feedback tied to that late delivery, provided you shipped on time with eBay labels and tracking. It’s a welcome safety net against carrier delays that were previously our burden to absorb.

The problem is, the coverage is limited. It only applies if you use eBay’s own shipping labels. Sellers who ship through third-party accounts or negotiated carrier rates aren’t protected. And even when it does apply, reimbursement covers the item cost, not your lost profit, and doesn’t erase the stress of dealing with claims in the first place.

While no tool can override eBay policy, MyListerHub helps you stay ahead of INR claims by consolidating all tracking in one dashboard, flagging delays, and letting you proactively message buyers before they file. That kind of proactive communication can prevent claims altogether, meaning you won’t have to rely on eBay’s reimbursement as often.

6. Automated Positive Feedback

Historically, only about 30% of buyers leave feedback, meaning sellers often miss recognition for smooth transactions. eBay will now automatically leave a positive rating on the seller’s behalf if the transaction had no issues, the item was shipped on time with tracking, and the buyer hasn’t left feedback.

This should improve reputation scores, especially for new sellers. But the feedback itself will be generic and won’t carry the same weight as authentic buyer words. Plus, it only works when there are no issues; one return or dispute, and it won’t apply.

It’s a small win, but sellers still need to monitor feedback. That’s where MyListerHub comes in;by showing you feedback across all accounts, helping you spot issues faster, and giving you templates to ask buyers directly. Automated positives are nice for padding numbers, but genuine feedback requests are what bring real credibility.

7. Up & Running Grants (2025–$10K for Sellers)

eBay used Open 2025 to announce winners of its annual Up & Running Grants: 50 U.S. sellers received $10,000 each, plus business resources. It’s a fantastic opportunity for small sellers to invest in tools, inventory, or marketing.

The catch is timing; applications closed back in June, and not everyone knows about the program. It’s competitive, and if you missed the deadline, you’ll have to wait until next year.

Still, it’s worth keeping an eye on Up & Running Grants Program. Many past winners have used the funds to upgrade software, which is precisely the kind of step that turns a part-time store into a serious business.

8. Open Banking (Seller Financing)

Through eBay Seller Capital, sellers can now opt to share financial data from external accounts with eBay’s lending partners. By doing so, you may qualify for larger or more affordable loans, as lenders can assess your full business performance, not just your eBay sales.

For sellers seeking quick capital to buy inventory, this could be helpful. But sharing off-eBay data raises privacy concerns. Many sellers aren’t comfortable giving eBay or third-party lenders that much visibility into their finances. And of course, financing is still debt; you’ll need to weigh whether the cost makes sense for your business.

For me, the safer approach is to keep consolidated records in MyListerHub or accounting software. That way, if I want to pursue financing, I already have proof of my sales across channels, without having to hand it directly to eBay. Having control over your own financial narrative is key.

More info: eBay Seller Capital Financing

9. eBay Live – A Cautious Note 

eBay heavily promoted eBay Live during Open 2025, casting it as a futuristic way to engage buyers. Notably, Nick Carter, AJ McLean, and Brian Littrell of the Backstreet Boys joined the stream for a trading card, adding star power and drawing attention to the live format.

That said, the majority of sellers we interviewed weren’t ready for a live performance. Many expressed discomfort being on camera, especially given that most eBay sellers aren’t Gen Z, the generation most comfortable with livestreaming. Understandably, it takes time to adjust to that style, and for many sellers, this model conflicts with how their businesses are built: through product listings that sell around the clock.

It’s clear eBay is trying to take a slice of livestream commerce momentum from platforms like Whatnot and TikTok Shop, but it’s not a natural fit for all sellers. Some think this push is a way to attract a younger generation to selling on eBay. There’s no doubt that livestreaming can work well for certain categories like luxury items, high-value collectibles, antiques, and art, all of which thrive in a live, auction-like environment where excitement drives bids. But for the majority of sellers, the core of their business will continue to be searchable listings that generate sales 24/7. Listings remain the backbone of reliable, scalable income on eBay. Either way, it’s something we’re watching closely.

We don’t discourage innovation; in fact, livestreaming may work well for sellers willing to step in front of the camera. However, for the majority, traditional evergreen listings remain the backbone of reliable and scalable income. MyListerHub supports that model with tools that:

• Streamline listing workflows
• Automate inventory and price updates
• Refresh stale listings in bulk
• Centralize messaging and offers
• Provide analytics for continuous improvement

For a deeper dive into seller opinions and where eBay Live might actually fit, check out our article: eBay Live: A Hype or a New Beginning?

10. Multi-User Access (Team Access)

eBay renamed Multi-User Access to “Team Access,” letting you grant limited roles to employees. But the permissions are basic, and it still requires exposing your account credentials.

With MyListerHub, you can assign team members role-based permissions directly within the platform, without sharing your eBay login. That means a VA can handle listing drafts, or a warehouse worker can manage shipping, all within set boundaries. It’s safer, more flexible, and actually built for scaling your team securely.

How to Move Forward?

At the end of the day, scaling an eBay business takes more than keeping up with announcements; it requires smart tools, proven workflows, and a system you can trust to handle the grind. That’s exactly what MyListerHub was built for. Whether you want to see how our automations compare to eBay’s new features, get a personalized walkthrough, or discover what hidden gaps are holding your store back.

👉 Book a 1-on-1 live demo with a MyListerHub specialist
👉 Try our free assessment tool and discover what your eBay strategy is missing