Question 1

How do I start product sourcing with BuyMap?

Accepted Answer

Start your market research immediately with our eBay search features: Use the eBay search tool  - Enter a keyword, UPC barcode, ISBN, MPN, or EPID to find products instantly Compare shipping costs  - Enter your ZIP code to use our eBay shipping calculator for accurate total pricing Analyze product value  - See median prices and market data to spot underpriced items for thrift flipping or reselling Connect for better data (optional)  - Link your eBay account to access the official eBay product catalog for deeper analysis Start researching products →

Question 2

How does the eBay shipping calculator work?

Accepted Answer

Our integrated eBay shipping calculator is essential for accurate price comparison: Enter your ZIP code once to see shipping costs for every listing Automatically combines item price + shipping for true  " to your door "  cost Compare shipping costs across all sellers instantly Crucial for reselling and product sourcing where margins matter Never overpay for shipping again. See the real total price just like a professional reselling tool.

Question 3

Do I need an account to use BuyMap?

Accepted Answer

No, you can start searching immediately without an account!  However, creating a free account gives you benefits: Guest mode:  10 searches per day, all filtering features included. Perfect for trying out the price comparison tool. Free account:  20 searches per day and option to connect your eBay account for better product data from the official eBay product catalog. Premium:  100 searches per day for serious resellers and frequent shoppers.

Question 4

Should I connect my eBay account?

Accepted Answer

Connecting your eBay account is optional but recommended for better results: With connection:  Faster, more reliable searches using eBay ' s official product catalog with standardized product information. Without connection:  Still works well, but builds product data from individual seller listings which may be less consistent. To connect, you ' ll be redirected to eBay ' s login page where they ' ll ask for permission to search products. You can disconnect anytime from your eBay account settings.

Question 5

How does the product aggregator work?

Accepted Answer

BuyMap creates  dedicated product pages  that organize all eBay listings for the same item in one place. Instead of scattered search results, you get a complete price comparison tool with: All sellers in one organized view Price comparison across all conditions Instant filtering and sorting Total price transparency (item + shipping) Automatic filtering of bulk lots and broken items

Question 6

How does instant filtering work?

Accepted Answer

All listings load into your browser at once, so when you apply filters, the results update instantly - no waiting for page reloads! You can filter by: Condition (New, Like New, Very Good, Good, Acceptable, or Other) Buying format (Buy It Now, Auction, Best Offer) Seller location (domestic or international) Listing age (recently listed items) Seller rating (minimum percentage and customizable color thresholds) Everything happens in real-time as you adjust the filters.

Question 7

Can I bookmark and share product pages?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Each product gets its own dedicated URL that you can: Bookmark to check prices later Share with friends or colleagues Save for comparison shopping Return to anytime to see updated listings The URL preserves your search context, so you can always come back to the same organized view.

Question 8

Does BuyMap have a Chrome extension?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our free Chrome extension works while you browse eBay: Automatically detects products you ' re viewing on eBay Extracts product identifiers (UPC, ISBN, EPID) One-click link to see that product in BuyMap ' s organized view Adds BuyMap badges to eBay search results Skip eBay ' s messy search results and go straight to BuyMap ' s clean organized view where all duplicate listings are grouped together and irrelevant clutter is filtered out.

Question 9

What are the ways to use eBay search?

Accepted Answer

Our eBay search tool offers 5 specific methods for precise product research: Keyword Search  - Standard product name search (e.g.,  " Nintendo Switch " ) UPC and EAN Barcode Lookup  - Scan barcodes or enter the number manually. Perfect for retail arbitrage and reselling from thrift stores. ISBN Book Search  - Essential for book scouting. Supports ISBN-10 and ISBN-13. MPN (Manufacturer Part Number)  - Find exact electronics and parts (e.g., ABC-123) EPID Search  - Direct lookup using eBay ' s Product ID for catalog matches You can select your search type manually or let our system auto-detect it for the fastest results.

Question 10

Why use UPC barcode lookup instead of keywords?

Accepted Answer

UPC barcode lookup is the most accurate way to find product value because: It finds the EXACT product match, avoiding confusion with similar items Ideal for thrift and garage sale flipping when you have the item in hand Eliminates spelling errors and naming variations Provides precise price comparison data for that specific item For resellers and serious buyers, scanning the barcode is the gold standard for accurate product research.

Question 11

Can I scan barcodes with my camera?

Accepted Answer

Yes! When searching by UPC barcode, you can use your device ' s camera to scan barcodes directly: Click the camera icon in the search form when UPC is selected Point your camera at the barcode on the product The scanner automatically detects and enters the barcode Available on mobile and tablet devices Camera access requires permission from your browser. You can also enter barcodes manually if you prefer.

Question 12

What types of products work best with BuyMap?

Accepted Answer

BuyMap works best when you have a  specific product in mind  rather than browsing for general items. The app shines with: Media items:  Video games, CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays - anything with multiple sellers offering the same title Books:  Perfect for ISBN searches to find the exact edition across all sellers Electronics:  Products with UPC codes that have wide seller availability Collectibles:  Trading cards, figures, and items tied to eBay ' s catalog Board games:  Factory-sealed or complete sets with multiple listings Works best for:  Products with UPC barcodes or eBay Product IDs (EPIDs) from the eBay product catalog that have multiple seller listings you want to compare and filter. Less effective for:  Unique handmade items, one-of-a-kind pieces, or general browsing without a specific product in mind.

Question 13

What's an EPID and when should I use it?

Accepted Answer

EPID (eBay Product ID) is eBay ' s identifier for products in the eBay product catalog. Use EPID search when: You have an EPID from a previous eBay search Someone shared a specific EPID with you You need to find that exact eBay product catalog entry Note: Sometimes sellers create duplicate EPID entries for the same product. That ' s why BuyMap primarily uses UPC codes to group products - they ' re more reliable for finding ALL listings of the same item, even across different EPIDs.

Question 14

How do I search for books effectively?

Accepted Answer

For books, use the ISBN search method: Select  " ISBN "  from the search type dropdown Enter the ISBN-10 or ISBN-13 from the book ' s barcode ISBN usually starts with 978 or 979 for newer books This finds the exact edition and printing For general book searches without an ISBN, use keyword search with the title and author.

Question 15

What gets filtered out automatically?

Accepted Answer

BuyMap automatically filters out listings that might not be what you ' re looking for: Bulk lots  - Multiple items sold together (unless you ' re specifically looking for bulk) Broken/For Parts items  - Items explicitly marked as non-functional Unrelated items  - Products that don ' t match your search This smart filtering helps you see only relevant, individual items in working condition.

Question 16

Where can I see what was hidden from my results?

Accepted Answer

You can view all filtered listings on the   Hidden Listings page . This page shows: Every listing that was filtered out The specific reason it was hidden Full details including price and seller info Your last 5 searches with filtered items This transparency lets you verify nothing important was missed and understand our filtering logic.

Question 17

Can I see Best Offer listings?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Listings that accept Best Offers are clearly marked, and you can: See a  " Best Offer "  badge on eligible listings Filter to show only Best Offer listings Click through to make an offer on eBay Compare Best Offer items with fixed-price listings This is especially useful for higher-priced items where negotiation can save you money.

Question 18

How do I use BuyMap as a reselling tool?

Accepted Answer

BuyMap is a powerful reselling tool for sourcing and analyzing potential flips: Use the eBay deal finder  - Sort by  " Total Price: Low to High " to spot underpriced listings Check market value  - Use the median price data to understand what the item is actually selling for Scan everything  - Use UPC barcode lookup at thrift stores to instantly check values Filter for value  - Look for  " Accepts Best Offer "  to negotiate better margins BuyMap is a time saver for resellers - get accurate market data and price comparison in seconds instead of scrolling through hundreds of eBay listings.

Question 19

What do the seller rating colors mean?

Accepted Answer

Color coding provides quick visual feedback reference: Green  - 98%+ positive feedback Yellow  - 95-97% positive feedback Red  - Below 95% positive feedback Blue  - New or inactive sellers Customizable:  Adjust thresholds in the filter panel to match your preferences. These are visual aids - always review seller feedback, shipping policies, and return terms when making decisions.

Question 20

Should I focus on Auctions or Buy It Now?

Accepted Answer

Both have advantages depending on your needs: Buy It Now: Get the item immediately at a fixed price No waiting or bidding competition Often includes Best Offer option Better for urgent purchases Auctions: Potential for great deals with low competition Good for rare or collectible items Requires patience and monitoring Check ending times for best opportunities Use our format filter to explore both options!

Question 21

How do I actually purchase an item?

Accepted Answer

Once you find the perfect listing: Click on the listing to go directly to eBay Double-check the item details and shipping info Review the seller ' s return policy Complete your purchase through eBay ' s secure checkout BuyMap helps you find and compare - all purchases happen directly on eBay for your security and buyer protection.   Start comparing now .

BuyMap FAQ