Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about SourceScout

About SourceScout

What is SourceScout?

SourceScout is an eBay search tool for professional resellers who source inventory on eBay. Using the official eBay Browse API, it offers advanced filtering capabilities and fast notifications that help you find profitable items quickly while eliminating noise from high-volume sellers and irrelevant listings.

Who is this for?

SourceScout is designed for professional resellers, arbitrage sellers, and inventory sourcing professionals who regularly buy products on eBay to resell for profit. If you're spending hours manually searching eBay and want a competitive advantage through better filtering and faster discovery, this tool is built for you.

How does SourceScout connect to eBay?

SourceScout uses the official eBay Browse API to search for listings. This means you get reliable, accurate, and real-time data directly from eBay. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by eBay Inc. All eBay trademarks are the property of eBay Inc.

How much does it cost?

SourceScout costs $69 per month with a single plan that includes all features. New users get a 3-day free trial with full access—no credit card required to start. You can cancel anytime from your account settings.

How It Works

How does SourceScout save me time?

Instead of manually refreshing eBay searches and sifting through hundreds of irrelevant listings, SourceScout brings only the items you care about directly to you. Block specific terms from titles and descriptions, exclude high-volume sellers with one click, filter by condition, listing format, price range, and categories. Configure your filters once, then let passive notifications do the work.

What makes SourceScout different from eBay's built-in search?

eBay's native search shows too much noise and lacks the filtering precision resellers need. SourceScout provides granular exclusion filters, real-time monitoring with instant Telegram alerts, seller feedback filtering, blocked seller lists, and the ability to save configurations that instantly clean up your results. You get precision and control that eBay's native tools simply don't offer.

How do the filters work?

SourceScout offers powerful filtering capabilities both at the API level and client-side. At the API level, filter by categories, conditions (New, Used, Refurbished), listing formats (Auction, Buy It Now), price range, item location, and free shipping. Client-side filters let you block specific keywords from titles or descriptions, set minimum seller feedback scores, require Top Rated sellers, and hide auctions with existing bids. These filters work together to ensure you only see highly relevant items.

How quickly do I see new listings?

Listings are delivered quickly as they appear on eBay, typically within 60 seconds. When new inventory matching your criteria is posted, you're notified fast—giving you the competitive advantage of being first to discover and purchase profitable items before other buyers.

eBay-Specific Features

What eBay listing formats are supported?

SourceScout supports all eBay listing formats: Buy It Now (Fixed Price), Auctions, and listings with Best Offer enabled. You can filter to show only specific formats or combine them based on your sourcing strategy.

Can I filter by item condition?

Yes. SourceScout supports all eBay condition categories including New, New Other, New with Defects, Certified Refurbished, Seller Refurbished, Like New, Used, and For Parts/Not Working. Select one or multiple conditions to match your inventory needs.

Can I filter by eBay category?

Yes. You can select up to 3 eBay categories to narrow your search. This is especially useful if your search terms apply to multiple product types but you only want items from specific categories.

Can I filter by seller reputation?

Absolutely. Set minimum seller feedback scores (e.g., only show sellers with 100+ feedback), minimum positive feedback percentages (e.g., 98%+), and optionally require Top Rated Seller status. These filters help you avoid problematic sellers and focus on established, reputable sources.

Getting Started

Do I need technical skills?

No technical knowledge required. SourceScout is designed for non-technical users with a simple interface for setting up searches, configuring filters, and managing notifications. The entire setup process takes just a few minutes.

How do notifications work?

SourceScout integrates with Telegram to send instant alerts when new items matching your criteria appear. You can enable notifications per search query and configure which searches trigger alerts. Notifications are optional and fully configurable.

Do you facilitate purchases?

No. SourceScout helps you discover inventory, but all purchases happen directly on eBay. We don't process transactions or handle payments for marketplace items. Each listing links directly to eBay where you complete your purchase.

Can I cancel anytime?

Yes. Cancel your subscription at any time from your account settings with no hassle. You'll continue to have full access through the end of your current billing period, and your settings are saved for 90 days in case you decide to reactivate.

Support

How do I get started?

Sign up at sourcescoutapp.com, verify your email, and start your 3-day free trial. Configure your first search by entering keywords, selecting categories and conditions, and setting up filters. Within minutes, you'll start seeing relevant eBay listings tailored to your criteria.

What happens to my data if I cancel?

Your search configurations, filter settings, blocked sellers, and saved preferences are retained for 90 days after cancellation. If you reactivate your subscription within that time, everything will be exactly as you left it.

Do you store my payment info?

No. All payments are processed through Stripe, which is certified as a PCI Service Provider Level 1—the highest security standard in the payments industry. We never store your credit card information on our servers.

How do you handle my data and privacy?

We take your privacy and data security seriously. Your data is encrypted, secure, and never sold to third parties. You can export or delete your data at any time. For complete details on data handling, see our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Ready to Get Started?

Try SourceScout free for 3 days. No credit card required.

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