What Is MPN on eBay?
When you start posting listings on the eBay marketplace, you might be surprised at how much you have to learn. There are quite a few new terms and abbreviations you'll run into. For example, what is MPN on eBay? We wouldn't blame you if you didn't know the answer - don't worry, it won't take much time to learn. Let's explore how identifiers like these can raise your visibility and improve your experience as a seller on eBay.
What Is MPN on eBay?
When you sell on eBay, there are certain rules that must be followed - unless you want to get banned! Using product identifiers (otherwise known as universal product codes) in your listings is one of those rules, and MPN is among the main ones. Understanding what it means will help you use it correctly and improve your e-commerce business. MPN stands for Manufacturer Part Number - it's a code assigned by the manufacturer to distinguish each product. The point of this product identifier is to help buyers find what they are looking for and facilitate selling on eBay. Therefore, MPN is crucial for every seller who takes its online store seriously.
Understanding Product Identifiers Is Crucial for Sellers
Product identifiers are not specific to eBay - they existed long before the rise of online selling platforms, and there are numerous product identifier systems currently in use. Even eBay uses several systems, MPN being just one of them. The point of these eBay tools is to ensure consistency in selling, which improves buyer satisfaction and lowers the rate of returns on eBay. Although we focus on MPN in this post, it's worth mentioning other product identifier systems used on eBay - here are the ones you need to be familiar with:
- GTIN - Global Trade Item Number,
- EAN - European Article Number,
- UPC - Universal Product Code,
- SKU - Stock Keeping Units,
- ISBN - International Standard Book Number.
There is also an identifying system created solely for eBay - the platform has its own internal catalogue through which eBay Product Identifier (ePID) is assigned. This number is used to identify a product only on eBay, and it's not assigned to every single item posted on the platform - a limited number of items have this identifier. ePID is not visible to buyers - only to sellers. It's mostly used by sellers as a way to categorize their listings.
The Benefits of Including MPN in Your eBay Listings
The quality of listings on eBay can vary drastically - it takes a few minutes on the platform to come to this conclusion. The better your listing, the better your chances of selling - it's that simple. MPN makes your listing better. This number improves your rankings in searches on this online marketplace platform, helping buyers find your product more quickly.
Not only does it optimize your listing on the platform, but it also helps it appear in off-site searches. In other words, MPN can help your listing get picked up by Google and other search engines. This increases your visibility and boosts your chances of selling the item.
MPN may not only increase your number of sales, but it can also make your job easier. Sellers put a lot of work into managing their stocks, and product identifiers like MPN can make tracking your products easier. Of course, they don't do as much as online selling tools like Zipsale, but their contribution to your eBay store is not to be overlooked. If you're still not convinced that product identifiers are important, take a look at the video below posted by eBay itself.
How to Find the Item's MPN?
Finding product identifier numbers like MPN for the items you want to sell is quite easy, especially if you have a model number or any other product identifier number. If you receive your stock from a manufacturer directly, finding MPN will take only seconds. It's usually located on the packaging. If it's not there, you will find it in the inventory file that comes with your stock order. MPN and model number are usually quite similar or even the same - however, note that you can't use them interchangeably unless you've confirmed that they are identical.
How to Add MPN to Your Product Listing?
You can type in MPN on the "Add item specifics" menu on the product page. There are separate fields for MPN and UPC. The other way to do this is through the eBay bulk listing and editing tool. When adding product identifiers, be sure to check whether your product has the Doesn't Apply option. If it does, you don't have to add this product identifier.
Try Using a Crossposting Tool and Make Your Job as a Seller More Enjoyable
Using product identifiers is just a part of your job as a seller. Managing your inventory can be a complex task, especially if you're selling on more than one multi-vendor marketplace platform. Luckily, there is software for selling online that can help you - our crossposting tool, Zipsale. With Zipsale by your side, you can keep track of dozens of listings across different online selling platforms. Sign up today and enjoy all the benefits of this excellent listing software.
