EPN RSS Feed Parameter Mapping File Download

Recently eBay had changed the way eBay Partner Network (EPN) affiliates obtain data through their RSS feed, and was announced via this post.  EPN had changed the request parameters from one form to another, forcing all affiliates to switch their applications.  There was a bit of confusion about exactly how to map the old parameters to the new required parameters, and after a bit of pulling I was able to obtain a file from an eBay associate that described the mapping and allowed me to make changes relatively easily for myself and others without banging my head against a brick wall as I tried to discover the mapping.

The old and new base calls to the RSS feed are:

Old base URL: http://rss.api.ebay.com/ws/rssapi?

New base URL: http://rest.ebay.com/epn/v1/find/item.rss?

After the ? in both of those URLs, a series of parameters were provided that allowed affiliates to tailor the data they retrieved from eBay.  They could specify a category to search over, a search term to use, and provide several other parameters that would ultimately provide a set of products that they wanted to display on their site.  As you can probably guess, knowing how to map the parameters became very important to someone like me.  Without the documentation, there was the very real possibility of missing something and causing problems or complete failure now, or in the future.

After making a ruckus on the EPN forums and patiently waiting quite a while, EPN finally provided me a file.  They never provided this file to anyone else that I’m aware of, so to me, it seems like they simply threw me a bone to shut me up.  After receiving a number of requests for this data, I’ve decided to simply make it a download here on my site.

I’m actually a bit concerned about providing it to the general public like this as I’m really not sure how EPN might feel about this.  I’ve felt that they should be the ones to provide it, yet they never have to date.  The communication at EPN to its affiliates is a bit to be desired, to put it nicely.

Download the RSS parameter mapping file (.xls): EPN RSS Conversion Mapping (226)

While performing the development for myself and clients, I’ve discovered several other changes that were never mentioned.  Some other items of consideration pertaining to this switch-over are:

• Images are coming as a different size now. You can revert back to the size delivered by the old feed by removing the 4040 at the end of the image filename.
• The RSS feed node names have changed, so you’ll have to change your code to reflect these new node names if you are grabbing elements by name.
• Identifying items that are PayPal-able are no longer “Listed with PayPal”, instead they are just “PayPal” now.
• The end time returned is now in a different format.
• The BuyItNow node doesn’t seem to be populated as frequently as the old feed was. Comparing the two feeds and their results shows that the old feed displays a BuyItNow price for items whereas the new feed does not.
• The categories being used need to be double-checked.  Some categories are no longer valid since EPN has switched from the old category structure and forced the new structure with this RSS parameter change.
• You can no longer filter by number of bids (minbids and maxbids)

Those are the “gotcha’s” that I discovered, and there might be others as well.  Be sure to test everything!

Other systems that consume the RSS feed

There are also a number of systems out there who have converted and provided updates to their members.

• phpBay – Members of phpBay can get an update from the phpBay site.  Read more here.
• McJiffy – Seems unsupported, but there is a discussion here that indicates an update was provided by a member.
• Build a niche store (BANS) – Find out more about the changes affecting you here.
• Wordbay – Customers of Wordbay can find out more information about their system here.

You can follow any of those links above if you are running any of those systems for yourself.  From there, you should be able to find updates for your systems.  There are plenty of people there that can help you upgrade, but I’m also here to help as well.  You just need to ask.

Why are the communications at EPN so bad?

<rant>

After pumping out a number of sites for clients trying to beat a deadline for this RSS change-over, I learn that eBay’s EPN affiliate program isn’t one to place bets on…unless of course you are betting that they’ll really mess up people’s lives with the changes they make.  Granted, they probably needed to make these changes, and they are very much warranted and will help their environment, but they forgot about the people they would impact with the changes…their affiliates.  Making changes to their RSS feed caused anyone running the phpBay, BANS or any other system that consumes their RSS feed for product display on their site to conform to the new URL.  The real gotcha about this change is all in the details though.  Just slight little changes that if you’re not paying attention will cause you a bit of grief.

Anyway, long story short here, I managed to service all the clients that came knocking on my door for help with their sites.  I thought at one point that I had maybe bitten off more than I can chew, but in the end it all came together, and that’s what matters.  Taking a little bit of a risk and being able to pull through feels good.

It wasn’t easy though, and for a time I thought that the fast approaching deadline of June 30th would leave a few of my clients in the cold wondering what the heck happened.  With all the issues and curveballs that eBay threw at us developers, and not to mention a deadline of when they would stop support of the old URL structure, and the lack of information forthcoming from eBay.  I’ll tell you this right here and now, eBay is the absolute worst at communication and disseminating information.  I don’t know why or understand how they get away with how they operate, but they basically just make an announcement, say something is going to happen, and don’t provide any assistance to the users at all. Even though the changes they are proposing will impact thousands, if not tens of thousands of affiliates, nothing but the initial announcement came forth. It’s like affiliates don’t mean a thing to them…they’re just there to provide some additional traffic to an already bulging at the seams traffic hog.  They’ve implemented a strange algorithm that produces the amount that they’ll pay you for providing them customers through your own sites, and conspiracy theorists might say it’s a way for them to control their outflow of cash to their affiliates.  Maybe some have become a bit too wealthy working their system…and they wanted a bit of that for themselves.  Who knows really…the fact is that if you’re going to work with eBay, it’s a one way street.  They say how it is, and either you conform, or you don’t get paid.  It’s that simple.

eBay, you need to look at your EPN programs communication.  Seriously.  It’s lacking, and it doesn’t need to be that way and it’s extremely puzzling why it is.  Baffling is perhaps a better word for it.  As for myself, I enjoy working with the program, and I feel that it helps me provide a great service to the visitors of my site, and I’d like to continue with it.  But someone needs to point this out as every attempt to do so within your own realm is met with silence.

J.J. McCarthy, it starts with you.  Get your team communicating effectively.  It’s been how many years now?

</rant>

The lesson here is simple:  never put all your eggs in one basket.  As an affiliate for eBay’s EPN program, I wonder daily what will happen with my relationship with them.  Will I suddenly get canned without any real explanation, like some of my friends have, or will I make a little money today?  I’ve learned to simply ignore these fears and just roll with it.  After all, that’s all one can really do when working with an 800 pound gorilla that has no obvious qualms about pushing itself about the room with ill regard to those in the same room.  I might be shooting myself in the foot here, but there are plenty of ways to make money on the Internet, and eBay is just one of those ways.  I’m committed, but I want to see better communication and if this little rant helps, great.  Just know it isn’t all roses over there.

Anyway, I hope affiliates find this mapping file a helpful resource.  Others that provide these types of files are more than welcome to download this post it on their sites as a resource too.  I know there are others that get more of this traffic than I do, so if it helps fellow affiliates find this information, that’s great.

We know we needed this, and unfortunately it takes affiliates to help other affiliates it seems.  EPN certainly doesn’t seem to show any care for improving communications to their affiliates or helping them out.  It’s a one-way street.  Suck it up and take it however EPN serves it up.

Pathetic.

Wayne  (531 Posts)

Wayne John is a health coach for people that want to lose weight, gain weight, improve athletic performance, or simply maintain a healthy lifestyle. Wayne has lost over 55 pounds and improves his current health every day by using simple, straight-forward techniques that anyone can integrate into their lives to achieve the same. Contact Wayne today to realize your own health and fitness goals, or get started now by completing and submitting the free Wellness Profile. He also has been developing websites since 1995 and programming solutions for clients even longer. He'd rather be outside having fun in the sun though.