LF : DRAFT .csv Excel template with variation

[lacelles]

Hi,

I'm looking for a .csv (Excel) example to create a DRAFT listing with variation.

After my draft will be created, I will be editing my DRAFT template to add my pictures.

Note: I'm selling sports cards. 

[danli-3564]

I don't think you can upload a CSV and have it create drafts.  I've tried and it didn't work.

[huntfor]

@lacelles  go to this link and follow the below steps:

https://www.ebay.com/sh/reports/uploads

Tap "Get template".

Select template source.

Select listings with the radio button

Select template type

Select Create New Drafts

Download the template.

The filename you will see will look like this:   eBay-draft-listing-template-Sep-19-2021-14-9-56.csv

Save a copy and work from the copy so you have a fresh template when you need it.

[danli-3564]

@huntfor 

Have you had this work for you?  I've never had any luck, any tips?

[shipscript]

@lacelles 

I am unable to download the draft template that @huntfor  suggested (it's fairly new) because of my older system, but others have been successful.  So try that first.  Draft listings allow the upload of items that are missing mandates, like photos, since working on the draft later will prompt for missing data.

If you are unable to download the draft template, then you do have another alternative to creating your variations in bulk and populating the photos later.

The File Exchange or Seller Hub spreadsheet "upload" method allows manually defining a scheduled listing in the spreadsheet, which has worked for me.

The column that must be added to the standard spreadsheet is called "ScheduleTime", and the data in that column is a date and time.

From eBay's File Exchange manual, page 86:

ScheduleTime
Use this field to schedule a listing to start at a specific time in the future (listings cannot be started in the past).
Valid Entry:  YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS

Hours must be specified in 24-hour format (convert 2:00:00 PM to 14:00:00 GMT).

For example:  2013-06-20 16:30:00

I can create a spreadsheet listing that addresses mandates, upload as a new listing with a schedule that is a week in the future, and it is held in scheduling, where I can catch up with all of the other missing details that are not mandates. When those are fleshed out, I can undo the scheduling and let it go live immediately. There is no charge, even to store owners, if the scheduling is undone.

To undo the scheduling, be sure the settings on your listing screen display the scheduling option. If you don't see it, use the configuration settings at the top of the business listing tool to turn on the display of that option.

When you successfully upload listings using scheduling, they exist on the site, and are easily revised or canceled, but are not visible to buyers and are not technically listed. They do not count against your free insertions until they actually go live., and the start date is the moment they acquire "live" status. 

When using this method to start your listing, you will be required to upload at least one placeholder photo. You can pick anything large enough that is hosted online and use that URL address for the master record in your spreadsheet. Later, on the manual listing form, while the listing is still scheduled, delete that photo and add your own, along with the photos for each of your variations.

If you are fast enough with your revisions, you can list your spreadsheet items without setting a schedule, but that just puts pressure on you, as a seller, to get that thing revised immediately before someone buys, or reports the listing for bogus photos. So I like the breathing room of the scheduling.

[lacelles]

Thanks for the suggestion, I did try it but still can't create a draft with variation even after adding the appropriate columns in my spreadsheet.

[lacelles]

Thanks @shipscript, I will try your suggestion

[huntfor]

I haven't had the need to create a spreadsheet with variations since we changed over to sellers hub. Are you just asking if you can create the  draft  like I showed above?

[shipscript]

@lacelles 

I created a sample trading-cards-singles spreadsheet some months ago for File Exchange, and I just updated it today to address more concerns.

http://shipscript.com/ebayhelp/lister_file_exchange/Sports_Trading_Cards_Singles_261328_Template_dtd...

(sorry, that server doesn't have an SSL certificate, so you may get a warning that your connection is not secure, but that should not matter because you are not transmitting any private data to the site).

The spreadsheet is in File Exchange format, but should work on Seller Hub. The column labels differ slightly between the two tools, but Seller Hub will accommodate those differences. The required fields have an asterisk in the heading that is tolerated by File Exchange and Hub.

The four samples in the spreadsheet show the differences that would come into play with:

• Auction vs GTC
• Flat rate shipping vs Calculated
• Business policies vs no policies.
• Variations

The template also shows how to used ScheduleTime.

Any unused columns can be eliminated.

You could also download a category spreadsheet from the Hub and add the ScheduleTime column. The XLSX file format from the Hub has droplists of allowed values for the various fields and vastly simplifies the process for novice users.

[recycle-4-good]

I've been able to make this work, but I still have some issues.  I'm hoping the community can help me crack this....

There are two templates available:

<NEW Template> to create new listings

<DRAFT template> to create drafts. 

I've been able to get both of those to work, but the draft template doesn't seem to allow item specifics.  (This is the problem I'm trying to solve).  It seems like a big step backwards to create drafts in bulk, but then still have to go through them one by one to add millions of item specifics.

I have tried:

*  copying the item specific column headers from the NEW Template into the DRAFT Template.  It seems to ignore the extra columns when you upload but still successfully create the drafts.

*  Copying the action "Draft" from the DRAFT template into the NEW Template.  This gives me a failure and says "Unable to find Task Action Id for task Draft"

Has anyone been able to make drafts from a file that include item specifics?

[lacelles]

@shipscript 

My understanding with your sample file, is this will create a new item with a schedule date and time but not a DRAFT?

I will try it out.

Thanks again for all your help.

[shipscript]

@recycle-4-good 

This has been tried by others on this forum. eBay confirmed that the draft template will support some new columns, but generally not the ones we would tend to want to add, like variations or item specifics.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Seller-Tools/Uploading-Draft-listings-via-Seller-Reports/m-p/32135842

[shipscript]

---

@lacelles wrote:

My understanding with your sample file, is this will create a new item with a schedule date and time but not a DRAFT?

---

@lacelles 

Yes, that is correct.

Also, as a seller, you either have business policies or you don't; so remove the columns that do not apply to your own seller settings.

[mrfaucets]

Hi.  I now your post is old, but I am having the same problems, as I want to enter item specifcs, and no luck so far. I also want to enter the weight and dimension fields and shipping type(=calculated).  I agree with you! Why cant Ebay populate these additional fields in draft mode???  Who would want to use a live mode template and then have to still go to the listing to edit.  Does not make sense.  

Were you every able to find a solution?  

Regards,

[lacelles]

No I wasn't able to find a solution.  I will keep you posted if every I find something.

Thanks

Stéphane