Why Require an eBay Developer App ID?
What is an App ID?
An eBay App ID is a 36 character “key” that enables a piece of software to programmatically access the eBay databases for current product inventory. All software that accesses the eBay data requires an App ID – eBay won’t return the product listings without it.
It looks like this:
- FakeKeys-34e2-140c-d258-482f3994aw80
Other eBay plugins also use an App ID but they are embedding a shared App ID that the developer acquired and put into the code. This means that all of that product’s customers use the same App ID and you should be very uneasy about this. Let us tell you why.
First of all, it is in direct violation of eBay’s Developer Program policies and can get the developer booted from the program (their keys revoked and your [plugin name here] no longer works). Here’s what eBay’s policy states:
2.2.2 Access Keys. eBay will provide you with Access Keys that permit you to access eBay’s databases. The Access Keys are the property of eBay and may be revoked if you share them with any third party (other than as allowed under this Agreement), if they are compromised, if you violate any term of this Agreement, or if eBay terminates this Agreement.
Putting them in clear view in the code is considered sharing.
How Auction Thumbs is Different
WordPress and it’s plugins are written in PHP and since PHP is a scripting language, the code/script is easily readable by anyone – there is nothing hidden – including an embedded App ID. If a software developer embeds an App ID in the script, any of the product’s multitude of customers can extract that ID and use it anyway they like.
If one rogue user grabs the shared App ID and uses it in a malicious program and eBay decides to cancel the key, all copies of that plugin will cease to work on all blogs. Your blog will not display eBay products and your affiliate revenue stream shuts off. The plugin vendor will have to release an updated version with a new key which could take a few days. However, the new key can then be shut off just as easily as the first.
When you have your own unique App ID, you only need to worry about your own actions. No one else is using it.
Did You Know eBay Has Call Limits – Will Your Plugin Exceed Them?
By default, eBay allows 5,000 calls per day, per App ID. How many users using a shared App ID embedded in a competitive product will it take before their combined usage exceeds the limit? I wouldn’t personally want to gamble on that unknown.
With Auction Thumbs, since each App ID gets its own quota of eBay data calls per day, you are not sharing a pool of 5,000 calls with an unknown number of other users – you have your own unique App ID.
We Passed The Test
As an added bonus, Auction Thumbs has gone through the eBay Compatible Application Check (CAC) evaluation process and has passed. Read why our passing this evaluation is an important benefit to you and know that we are the only WordPress plugin for eBay that has passed this official eBay evaluation.
Industrial Strength Data Limits
One of the benefits of passing this CAC process is that your daily call limits are upped to 1.5 million calls per App ID! If you need this kind of volume, let us know and we can help get your unique App ID increased from 5,000 to 1.5 million calls per day. To our knowledge, no other competitive plugin has been approved for this industrial strength call limit.
The App ID is Easily Configured in Auction Thumbs
Now that we’ve convinced you that you are better off applying for your own App ID, be assured that adding this key to Auction Thumbs is easy as pie.
In the Auction Thumbs settings page, the App ID is the first configuration field that you enter – you don’t need to hack code or manually modify any files. Just paste it in and hit save.
Register In Minutes and Get Your Own App ID
Don’t risk your plugin investment on a shared App ID design, get your App ID production key by signing up for one at eBay here. There is no approval process – everyone can sign up.
