I. Introduction:

Overstock.com is proud to announce the release of the XML feed for the Affiliate Program. This document gives a detailed look into all the information available from this XML feed. Topics to be discussed are calls, returns, expectations, and contact information.

Please direct all inquires regarding Datafeeds to affiliategroup@overstock.com

II. Overview of XML:

XML, or Extensible Markup Language, is a means by which a data set can be delivered without concern for the display level or production level. XML is a way to deliver raw and pure data. In the case of this project, the XML delivers all the needed data to display and merchandise any of Overstock.com’s 800,000+ products on hand. More importantly, the XML feed does not place such a large strain on your system as compared to the CSV datafeed file.

To use XML, you will use a scripting or programming language to request the information set from Overstock.com. You will then need to parse this information into your own presentation level or site

III. Calls:

Overstock.com has launched this version of the XML project with a basic level call set. These calls will be described in detail in the following order: (1) raw calls, and (2) quickies, or preformatted results.

1. Raw Calls

Raw calls are simply direct calls to the Overstock.com data base of products. To initiate a call to the data base you must use the following URL:

      http://www.overstock.com/productxml?

This call must be accompanied by a requesting string in the URL. Most calls for this process will request a record set from our database based on a Store, Department, Category or Sub Category. Below is an example of a call for 15 products from the apparel store. The record set returned includes the product name (Name) and short description (ShortDescription):

      http://www.overstock.com/productxml?dep=1&count=3&Name=Y&ShortDescription=Y

The following are acceptable field requests:

      BrandName
      Dimensions
      ISBN
      LargeImageURL
      LongDescrition
      Manufacturer
      ManufacturerPartNumber
      Materials
      ModelNumber
      MSRP
      Name
      Origin
      Price
      Quality
      QuantityOnHand
      ShortDescription
      ShortName
      SKU
      ThumbnailURL
      UPC
      Warranty
      ProductURL

For each field value in the output, a field request must be addedto the URL parameters in the form of "...&Fieldname=Y"

Standard Results:

The standard results are the result set that you get when you are using raw calls. To demonstrate what information is returned, I will revisit my previous request:

      http://www.overstock.com/productxml?dep=1&count=3&Name=Y&ShortDescription=Y

which results:

Result Set #1:
      <?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1" standalone="yes"?>
      <OSTKXML xmlns="http://affiliates.overstock.com/xml/o1" >
      <OSTKPRODUCT>
             <Name>Ultimate 4-inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper</Name>
             <ShortDescription><br><li>Hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial foam is ideal for those who suffer from allergies<li>Temperature sensitive for a custom feel <li>Mattress topper simulates a floatation effect <li>Constructed from Visco elastic memory foam</ShortDescription>
      </OSTKPRODUCT>

      <OSTKPRODUCT>
             <Name>Serta 4-inch Memory Foam Topper with Contour Pillows</Name>
             <ShortDescription><br><li>Sleep in true comfort on a Serta 4-inch Pad <li>Bedding set includes two contour pillows <li>High density 3-lb solid Visco Elastic memory foam</ShortDescription>
      </OSTKPRODUCT>

      <OSTKPRODUCT>
             <Name>14-inch Pillow Top King Size Memory Foam Mattress</Name>
             <ShortDescription><br><li>Unique Memory Foam mattress will provide deep, relaxing sleep <li>Pillow top provides the ultimate in Memory Foam surface feel and comfort <li>Uncomfortable pressure-points common in most innerspring mattresses is eliminated </ShortDescription>
      </OSTKPRODUCT>
      </OSTKXML>

As shown above, we have now pulled three products from the store list of 1 which are:

      Product 1:
            Name = Ultimate 4-inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper
            ShortDescription = Hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial foam is ideal for those who suffer from allergies Temperature sensitive for a custom feel Mattress topper simulates a floatation effect Constructed from Visco elastic memory foam

      Product 2:
            Name = Serta 4-inch Memory Foam Topper with Contour Pillows
            ShortDescription = Sleep in true comfort on a Serta 4-inch Pad Bedding set includes two contour pillows High density 3-lb solid Visco Elastic memory foam

      Product 3:
            Name = 14-inch Pillow Top King Size Memory Foam Mattress
            ShortDescription = Unique Memory Foam mattress will provide deep, relaxing sleep Pillow top provides the ultimate in Memory Foam surface feel and comfort Uncomfortable pressure-points common in most innerspring mattresses is eliminated

2. Quick Lists (Preformatted Results):

Overstock.com recognizes four major results sets that will be used as a mainstream for most affiliates. These results are as follows:

      Quick List 1
             ISBN
             MSRP
             Name
             Price
             ShortDescription
             SKU
             ThumbnailURL
             UPC

      Quick List 2
             ISBN
             Name
             Price
             ShortDescription
             SKU
             ThumbnailURL
             UPC

      Quick List 3
             ISBN
             LargeImageURL
             LongDescription
             Name
             Price
             SKU
             UPC

      Quick List 4
             ISBN
             LargeImageURL
             LongDescription
             MSRP
             Name
             Price
             SKU
             UPC

The quickies are built to work with SKU, ISBN and UPC numbers. Here is an example of the user of SKU with a quickie:

      http://www.overstock.com/productxml?quicklist=1&SKU=123456

The results from the above request are as follows:

Result Set #2:
      <?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1" standalone="yes"?>
      <OSTKXML xmlns="http://affiliates.overstock.com/xml/o1">
             <OSTKPRODUCT>
             <MSRP>450</MSRP>
             <Name>Royal Heritage Luxury 1000 Thread Count Sateen Sheet Set<Name>
             <Price>89.99</Price>
             <ShortDescription><br><ul> <li>Enhance the look of your bedroom with this amazing sheet set <li>This exquisite sheet set includes a flat sheet, fitted sheet and two pillow cases <li>Bedding is available in white, ivory, crystal, chocolate, linen and gold color options</ShortDescription>
             <SKU>10776978</SKU>
             <ThumbnailURL>http://cdn.overstock.com/images/products/T10776978.jpg</ThumbnailURL>
       </OSTKPRODUCT>
       </OSTKXML>

Above you will see the request returned the following pieces of information:

      ISBN =
      Name = Royal Heritage Luxury 1000 Thread Count Sateen Sheet Set
      Price = 89.99
      ShortDescription = Enhance the look of your bedroom with this amazing sheet set <li>This exquisite sheet set includes a flat sheet, fitted sheet and two pillow cases Bedding is available in white, ivory, crystal, chocolate, linen and gold color options
      SKU = 10776978
      ThumbnailURL = http://cdn.overstock.com/images/products/T10776978.jpg
      UPC =

IV. Linking:

The last step is to use LinkShare to link to the products requested by the XML feed. If you have ever worked with our CSV datafeed, then you are already familiar with this process. Using this link:

      http://linksynergy.overstock.com/fs-bin/statform?id=[SITE.CODE]&offerid=52439&bnid=888&subid=0&OSSKU=[SKU]

Replace [SKU] with the XML generated SKU for the product to the end of the Linkshare code.

Using result set #2 as an example, you will see that SKU 10224 was added to the end of the code to link to the product.

      http://linksynergy.overstock.com/fs-bin/statform?id=[SITE.CODE]&offerid=52439&bnid=888&subid=0&OSSKU=[SKU]

V. Offset & Limitations:

In order to limit the strain on the Overstock.com systems we have built in some limitations. The first limitation is size of a data pull. We have limited all data pulls to a 50 item max. This means that when using the count variable you will not be able to pull a number higher than 50. As a default if the count variable is not used, the data set will return up to 50 items in it.

To work around this limitation we have built in an offset variable. This variable allows you to pull a data set with a specific starting point. Here is an example where your customer visits your site and you show them the first 10 products of a category:

      http://www.overstock.com/productxml?dep=1&count=10&Name=Y&ShortDescription=Y&Price=Y

After viewing all ten products on this page your customer decides he/ she would like to see another 10 products. To accomplish this you add an offset to the query.

      http://www.overstock.com/productxml?storelist=1&count=3&Name=Y&ShortDescription=Y&Price=Y&Offset=10

This will result in the next ten products of that same category.

V. Store & Category Listings:

As noted in raw calls (Section III, 1) you can specify the Store, Department, Category or Sub Category from which you wish to pull your record set. To do so you must call one of these four variables:

      sto
      dep
      cat
      sub

Keyword Search:
The page supports keyword search along with one of the category parameters in the preview section. To use this feature you would specify the parameter "keywords" in the request.

http://www.overstock.com/productxml?keywords=king+sheets&dep=1&quicklist=1

For more information on the corresponding values, please see appendix 1.

Important Information:

In the interest of your users we discourage the use of a query on store 3. Because of the size of this store the system may take an extended amount of time to respond to the request.

We instead suggest that you pull a query on storelist 9, 11, 34, 10, 35, and 12. These storelist ids are the next step down in the taxonomy.

If you have any questions about this please feel free to email affiliategroup@overstock.com.

Work Log:

We would like to encourage each of our affiliates to provide feedback on this program, simply email affiliategroup@overstock.com any suggestion, questions or comments you have in regards to this program.

Appendix:

In this appendix, you will find a complete listing of the taxonomy that works with the Overstock.com XML and CSV feeds.

For any questions regarding the appendix/taxonomy please email us at affiliategroup@overstock.com

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD APPENDIX/TAXONOMY