Main Gallery picture in EPS but NOT the variation picture? Using ebay file exchange

[roadst87]

So I recently start doing variation listing via ebay file exchange. Today I was checking the listing that is recently created, and realized something weird - While the main gallery picture has been uploaded to the EPS, the picture within the each variation kept on using my self-hosting link.... Anyone know what caused the issue? I thought ebay does not allow mixture of EPS and self host?

I would like all the picture to be hosted on EPS(which could be done when I was using sixbit to create listing). Is it something only can be done via API?

Thx in advance!!!

@shipscript @bigdeals.etc 

[shipscript]

@roadst87 

The gallery thumbnail and the listing images are two separate processes, so you might see different results on each.

Images that fail to transload to EPS hosting are usually just too big or slow. The remote server can not respond to eBay in the allotted time, and simply can not keep up. 

One recommendation is to decrease the photo size of the images on the remote server.  While eBay's largest photo is 1600px on the long side, I have seen sellers upload images that are a whopping 4000 pixels.  If an excessive size is the problem, then resize down to no more than 1600px. I have even suggested reducing down to 1000px or 800px on the long side if there will be a significant number of photos in each listing. Now that eBay allows 24 photos per item, this is even more important.

Another recommendation is to move to a different image host that can support the bandwidth required when eBay peppers the host with picture delivery requests.

[roadst87]

Thank you for the quick response!

Unfortunately, I already followed most of the advise you have given:

1. My picture sizes are around 1000x1000 px.

2. All my pictures are currently hosted on inkfrog; I just don't want to lost the listing's picture if I somehow want to cancel inkfrog in the future....

So is there no other reason that can cause the issue? Somehow it only happens to the picture inside the variation. All 4 of the main gallery picture(ie of the similar size) was uploaded to EPS correctly.....

Here is one of the listing for reference:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/304568305420

[shipscript]

@roadst87 

It seems odd that the parent record images are transloaded, whereas the variations aren't. This seems to be a problem with most of your listings. How long has this been going on? Some of your listings are pretty old, and some revisions show that the variations were updated. A handful look like they may have transloaded correctly, like this one: https://www.ebay.com/itm/304604396368

What happens if you upload only one listing?

Have you tried updating the variation images? If so, you may need to add a suffix to each variation photo URL to force eBay to retrieve and update the image. That suffix would be "?" or a "?" with some letters or no "?", depending on what was last used.

If the same URL is offered each time, eBay will see that they already have that URL and will not attempt to refetch. If you change the suffix in the URL, eBay will see it as something different and will try to again transload the images.

[roadst87]

@shipscript 

Both listings are created within 2-3 months from each other. I have been using the file exchange for a year or so, but another user(a friend of mine) notice the issue and let me know.

I did revise some of the listings and add more variation, but never touched the picture. All the pictures was uploaded from the creation of the listing using picrul field, in which the picture was uploaded to inkfrog beforehand. 

[shipscript]

@roadst87 

I would recommend trying to revise all photos in one single listing using File Exchange. You'll have to add a suffix to the URLs as mentioned previously.  It would be interesting to see if you can get any variations to update that way. Choose a listing that doesn't have too many variations. Maybe this one:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/302506754761

Example of changing the variation URL:

Arrow=http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/2890enmobile/IPH-7PL-CLR-TPU-ARROW.JPG

to

Arrow=http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/2890enmobile/IPH-7PL-CLR-TPU-ARROW.JPG?a

[jwestwoo@ebay.com]

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@roadst87 wrote:

So I recently start doing variation listing via ebay file exchange. Today I was checking the listing that is recently created, and realized something weird - While the main gallery picture has been uploaded to the EPS, the picture within the each variation kept on using my self-hosting link.... Anyone know what caused the issue? I thought ebay does not allow mixture of EPS and self host?

I would like all the picture to be hosted on EPS(which could be done when I was using sixbit to create listing). Is it something only can be done via API?

Thx in advance!!!

@shipscript @bigdeals.etc 

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Hi @roadst87 ,

When uploading items with Seller Hub Reports (File Exchange), only the shared pictures are converted to EPS. In my experience, pictures on variations are not converted.  That should not ordinarily cause a problem unless the pictures are removed from your self-hosting site.

Let me mention that some technically sophisticated sellers upload pictures using our API so that all the pictures are hosted on eBay. Here is a link to a page with information on uploading pictures using our API:

http://developer.ebay.com/DevZone/XML/docs/Reference/eBay/UploadSiteHostedPictures.html

For more information about that, you could go through the Developers Program:

https://developer.ebay.com/