Before you buy an Ebay Or Neoloch auction template     by dacholiday

So you want to buy an auction template.

Know what to look for before you buy one.
It could save you from heartbreak down the road.

1. Does the auction template have cute little disney, warner bros, or designer logo on it?

Don't buy it.
These designs are sooooh cute, but not licensed for use in auction templates. Most people don't know this. But any of the above companies could have your listing ended for using their copyrighted image.

2. Does the background color change any portion of ebays page?
For instance the auction template has a pretty sparkly background, that goes all the way to the top of the page, around Ebays header.

Don't buy it.
This is considered site interference by Ebay policy, as it interferes with their portions of the page. And again your listings could be ended because of it.

3. Are the links and title a different color than normal in Ebays portions of the page?

Don't buy it.
Again this is considered site interference by Ebay policy, as it interferes with their portions of the page. And again your listings could be ended because of it.

4. Does it have pretty colored scrollbars?
You know they are normally grey, or such, but they are for instance, now a pretty bright blue that matches the auction template.

Don't buy it.
Yep, you got it, it's site interference by Ebay policy, as it interferes with their portions of the page. And again your listings could be ended because of it.

5. Does it have mouse trailers?
You know they follow your mouse around the site, you know butterflies, flowers, etc.

Don't buy it.
Yep, you got it, it's site interference by Ebay policy, as it interferes with their portions of the page. And again your listings could be ended because of it.

6. Does it have falling hearts, leaves, snowflakes, etc. in any area other than the actual template area?
Most of them fall from the top of the entire open window.

Don't buy it.
Yep, you got it, it's site interference by Ebay policy, as it interferes with their portions of the page. And again your listings could be ended because of it.

7. Does it have any items graphic or otherwise in any portion of ebays area that doesn't belong to Ebay?
I have seen a few with little doggies, or kitties running across the area where the title is.

Don't buy it.
Yep, you got it, it's site interference by Ebay policy, as it interferes with their portions of the page. And again your listings could be ended because of it.

(A note about item numbers 5 & 7. It is possible to use these items inside your listing area of the template. I do it on several of my templates. But, and heres the BUT, the designer must know how to keep the element inside the template area. It must not carry over into Ebays parts of the page.
I have templates that have happy little fairy's sitting on top of my templates, but again they are all restrained to what area is legally mine to use)

These seven things are very important in your purchase. Yes they look great, yes they make the page more appealing, but not what you need to buy and still follow Ebay policy.

A few other points to consider before you purchase an auction template.

Music, sounds good, but is a nightmare to those Ebayers on dialup.
Many will not wait for the page to load, so you may have lost a sale.

Page load time, if you are on dialup, you will already know about this one. But if you are a high speed user, you may have no idea that the template that just took you 15 seconds to load may take 60 seconds or more for a user on dialup.
I suggest you look at the template from a dialup connection also.

Is everything on the page flashing and moving?
Not a good idea.
One or two small animations is ok, but have you seen those that everything flashes something different.
Talk about page overload. And again a problem for dialup users.

Many people are not aware that about half the USA's users are still on dialup.
Do you want to alienate half the users? No you don't!

So in closing regardless of what designer you choose to purchase a template from, choose wisely.

Don't be afraid to ask questions.

A few designers even offer a few freebie templates to try out on your own.
I do, they are here.

So shop to your hearts desire but please do keep these guidelines in mind as you shop.