- Hi guys, Neil Waterhouse.
In the last few weeks,
I've received a ton of emails asking about eBay,
non-API versus eBay API,
and what does this even mean?
Let me first explain for the newbies out there
exactly what an eBay API is,
and then explain how an eBay non-API
compares to the traditional eBay API.
This sounds like mumbo jumbo,
just hang in there and I'll keep it simple.
If anybody's new to this channel, my name's Neil Waterhouse,
I've been selling on eBay for 24 years.
I'm the author of "Million Dollar Ebay Business From Home."
So let's launch straight into it.
First, what is an API?
API stands for application programming interface.
In simple terms, in the case of eBay,
eBay's API simply allows third party programs and apps
to communicate directly with the eBay servers.
Another example of an API that we see all the time is banks.
All the automatic teller machines all over the world
are indirectly connected to the banks via their API.
Without an API,
there'd be no way an automatic teller machine
can communicate with a bank.
In the case of eBay,
eBay's API allows third party software applications
to communicate directly with the eBay servers.
So for example,
Scarcity Manager is a third party software application
that uses eBay's API
to automatically update customers eBay listings.
Some third party software companies
like SM, or Scarcity Manager,
offer both options of both API and non-API.
Let's look at one of the SM, or Scarcity Managers features,
and compare it using eBay's API or non-API option.
One feature of SM is a supplier inventory checking feature,
where SM continually checks your supplier's inventory,
and if your supplier runs out of stock,
SM will automatically make
that eBay listing show zero available,
so buyers can't purchase it.
SM does these updates on your eBay account automatically
using their eBay API,
where the SM servers communicate directly
to the eBay servers.
But if you prefer the non eBay API method,
you can go to the Google App Store
and download the SM non-API app,
and that non-API app
will make the eBay updates to your eBay account for you
using your computer,
therefore not using SM's API.
So for this example of SM doing an eBay inventory update
to your listings using your computer,
you get exactly the same result using the SM's API,
or installing the SM's non-API onto your computer.
But the big difference is with the eBay non-API app,
you must have your computer turned on
so the app can update your eBay listings
using your computer when your supplies inventory changes.
Whereas if you allow SM to automatically update
your listings using their API,
you don't need your computer turned on,
as the SM servers
communicate directly with the eBay servers.
So you might be thinking, "Which works best?"
For this example, both the eBay API and non-API option
achieve exactly the same result.
However, there are a couple of things to consider
when choosing between API or non-API.
Firstly, some people prefer the non eBay API app,
so they have control of how often the inventory is updated.
Other people prefer to use a software's API,
so they don't need to have a computer turned on 24/7.
The other thing to consider is,
does the API option for the software that you're looking at
have the same features as a non-API option?
There's no one fits all answer to that question,
every software application of course is different.
So is there any way to find out
which features are offered for API or non-API,
is to contact that service provider.
That's all for this week.
If you have any questions,
please let them in the comment section below,
and you found any value in this video,
please give it a thumbs up as it helps the channel.
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how anyone can make a full time living from their home
using less than $100.
Until next week, stay safe.
List more, sell more.
Neil Waterhouse.