question

It's contained in this announcement:

https://partnernetwork.ebay.com/page/february-2021-tracking-changes

Our app makes legacy API calls, however, we don't use tracking links. How does one make Legacy API calls using tracking links?

The only tracking links we use are when generating a link for someone to click to get to an eBay item. We have updated our code to replace these Rover links with the new tracking links.

If we're not using tracking links for Legacy API calls, are we ok or are we missing something?

The APIs return tracking (rover) links as a convenience, if you supply the affiliate information on the request. Otherwise they return links without tracking information. You do not have to use that feature. If you have the tracking links you need, you should be set.

The Browse API is a small part of the Buy API and provides some of the features of the FindingAPI and Shopping API, but not TradingAPI. The Buy API and other new APIs provide additional information, but are more complicated to use and have a lot of technical and contractual requirements related to building third party shopping carts that many developers will never use. You should start with the Browse API.

You can get more info from the developer site (this site). https://developer.ebay.com/docs#buy

Also the Shopping API is being converted to use OAuth tokens instead of key only. It's unclear if they intend to do the same with the Finding API.

Finding, Shopping and Trading will function fine for the moment, but the direction is toward removing them to some extent of entirely. They are trying to push everyone onto the new APIs, even though they are not yet really suitable replacements for many apps. This may change.

Use the below link so as to be able to convert your rover links to the new format.

https://partnerhelp.ebay.com/helpcenter/s/article/Tracking-Links-Overview?language=en_US

Is there anyway we can get 'var' information from the legacy APIs?

Hi there, we're (still) using the Finding-API for our affiliate-project.

Because the olrd rover-links will deprecated in a short (they say 03/31/2021) we're forced to move to another API.

My problem is, i do not know to which API we should move.

Our goal is to get all products for a specific keyword. At the finding-API we're using the "findItemsbyKeywords". Our request is like this

http://svcs.ebay.com/services/search/FindingService/v1?OPERATION-NAME=findItemsByKeywords&SERVICE-NAME=FindingService&SERVICE-VERSION=1.0.0&GLOBAL-ID=EBAY-DE&SECURITY-APPNAME=....&RESPONSE-DATA-FORMAT=XML&REST-PAYLOAD&affiliate.networkId=9&affiliate.trackingId=....&keywords=[keyword]&itemFilter(0).name=Condition&itemFilter(0).value=New

Anyone who can help with that issue?

Thomas

My understanding is that this will still work. Assuming you take the returned listings and create rover links, those links will need to be converted to the new format.

Hi there, we're (still) using the Finding-API for our affiliate-project.

Because the olrd rover-links will deprecated in a short (they say 03/31/2021) we're forced to move to another API.

No, you really aren't. Just build your own affiliate links. If you want item links, just assemble them from the examples provided in the new tracking links announcement. There is no requirement to use the URLs returned from the API as-is.

If you make your API request without the affiliate info, the API returns a direct item link to which you can add the new affiliate tags.

They want people to move to Browse API, but Finding API is not yet scheduled for removal. They are just polluting all of their announcements with that recommendation and confusing people.

Recently, they announced that the Shopping API will be moving to use OAuth. We may see the same with Finding API. Since the Browse API is nowhere near being a viable replacement for Finding API for many uses, this would make more sense.

Do your links now and worry about the Finding API after that.

Hi, thanks a lot for your answer so far! I tried out your idea to pull data from the finding API without without using my affiliate id in the request - and it works. :-)

But one more question about the new tracking url scheme (https://partnerhelp.ebay.com/helpcenter/s/article/Tracking-Links-Overview?language=en_US)

in the example they're using for

• [TOOL-ID] = 10050 (Browse API - getItem)

Is this value nice to have or should it be the correct tool-id ? If it will need the correct one, which is the "Tool-id" for the finding-api with "findItemsbyKeywords". I can't find these values anywh

Tool IDs Partial list:

https://partnerhelp.ebay.com/helpcenter/s/article/Tool-IDs?language=en_US

10034:

https://archive.is/rccbs

Just use 10034. The toolids are not critical, mainly for the reporting, and seems to have not influence on eBay's development roadmap for the APIs, but you probably should include the parameter.