Listing tool setup

Getting started

Bear in mind that not all listing tools will work the same. If you need help, or aren’t sure where to find something mentioned below, contact your provider.

Price & quantity

We recommend all professional sellers use ‘Buy Now only’ listings, with instant payment options (Ping & Afterpay). This streamlines the checkout and payment process, reducing friction for buyers. Payment via Ping or Afterpay also offers Buyer Protection.

If you have multiple quantities of identical items, select your available quantity. Buyers will be able to choose how many they want to purchase. Be sure to keep your inventory up to date if you’re also selling these items in a physical store, or on other platforms.

Description & attributes

We recommend using popular keywords that are relevant to the item, such as type of brand, specifications and SKU (without keyword spamming). Descriptions should follow a structure that’s consistent with your other listings. The following structure could be used for retail items:

• product title

• tagline (e.g. "Buy direct from the importer")

• description of goods

• specifications

• warranty/shipping information.

Many categories have attributes – structured pieces of data that describe a product. Some are mandatory (’size’ in clothing & fashion) and some are optional (‘brand’ in clothing & fashion).

Attributes let buyers find listings quickly and easily, which can help improve sales. We recommend filling out all attributes (even optional ones), so your products show in as many search results as possible.

​​Category mapping

Each product, SKU and listing belongs in a specific category. It’s important that you list your items in the right category as this makes it easy for people to find the items they want – either by searching through the categories, or when they use the keyword search function.

It’s especially important to make sure you’re using the correct category, as some have age restrictions (e.g. adult toys and alcohol).

Not sure which category is best? Try keyword searching for similar items on Trade Me to see where other sellers have listed them. 

Variants

Multiple variant listings (MVL) let buyers choose variants of an otherwise identical item. For example, a shirt that’s available in multiple sizes and colours.

Sellers benefit by being able to offer a wider variety of items, using fewer listings. This can help you maximise your listing allowance, sell-through rate, and any promotional extras.

Many listing tools have the option to use MVLs – check with your provider if you’re not sure. If it’s not available with your tool provider, variants will need to be listed individually – though you can still use MQLs.

Shipping

Shipping Templates

Add detailed shipping information to your listings, specific to the buyer’s location – including estimates delivery timeframes.

Shipping Templates are required for Buy Now only listings created using listing tools.

Learn more about Shipping Templates.

Combined shipping

Offer combined shipping deals for buyers who purchase multiple items. This can be set up in your listing tool as either a dollar value or quantity threshold to trigger free shipping. Individual products can be included or excluded.

It’s also possible to charge shipping once per order, for sales of multiple quantity listings. Choose to either ‘Charge per order’ or ‘Charge per item’ option when setting up your shipping details.

Promotional pricing

Was/now pricing and Clearance labels are exclusive to Trade Me Stores customers.

See our Discounted item promotion policy for the rules around their use.

Was/now pricing

Used to advertise discounts and promotions – making price promotions visible in search results and on listings. 

The Commerce Commission has rules around price promotions, and can issue fines if price promotions are used misleadingly.

Clearance

A label shown on listings to identify items as clearance. This is separate from was/now pricing.