Why Flipwise Doesn't Cross-List

We get this question a lot: why doesn't Flipwise support cross-listing like many other tools out there?

The short answer: for the safety and security of your seller accounts, we only connect to marketplaces through official channels, and most of the marketplaces don't offer an official way to connect.

Here's the longer version:

How Flipwise connects to marketplaces

A few of the big marketplaces, eBay and Etsy, offer an official connection called an API. Think of it as a key to a house, so approved software can get in and act on your behalf, with your permission. When Flipwise connects to your eBay account, we use a key that eBay gives us. It’s done using a method that eBay authorizes and approves of.

But many of the places resellers want to reach, like Poshmark, Mercari, Vinted, and Facebook Marketplace, don't offer that kind of connection. Without one, any software that connects your account to these marketplaces has to do so in ways they have not officially authorized.

Why we don't connect to marketplaces in unauthorized ways

Marketplaces that do not offer an official method to connect prohibit using bots or automated tools to access their platforms in their Terms of Service, which you agree to when creating your account. Because there's no official connection, we don't see a way to automate cross-listing on those sites in a way that stays within those terms. While many sellers do this without issue, it does come with risk, and doing so can get your account suspended or even banned from these marketplaces because it violates their Terms of Service.

"You'll probably be fine" isn't a promise we're comfortable building a product on. Not when your store and your income are what's on the line.

What Flipwise does instead

We made a deliberate choice: Flipwise only connects through official channels. On eBay, that means the API eBay provides, with permission from you and eBay. We don't run automations that act as you in unsanctioned ways. We never ask for or store your marketplace password or session. That's by design.

That does mean we don't offer cross-listing to marketplaces like Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace, Mercari today. Honestly, we'd love to, and if those platforms open an official connection for tools like ours, we'll be first in line to build it the right way. Until then, we'd rather wait than ask you to take on that risk.

Why doesn't Flipwise connect with marketplaces that do have an API?

We continue to focus on improving our support for eBay specifically. We may integrate with other marketplaces that have APIs, like Etsy, in the future.

Can you use a cross-listing tool with Flipwise?

Yes, with some caution. Flipwise does its best to play nicely with other cross-listing tools out there should you choose to use one alongside our platform. For more information, see here: Can I use Flipwise with Vendoo or other cross-listing tools?

The bottom line

Flipwise was built on a simple bet: that serious resellers would rather have tools that keep their accounts safe and their numbers honest than a shortcut that carries risk. Not offering cross-listing isn't a feature we forgot to build. It's a line we drew on purpose, for your protection.