eBay

pattycookcrafts · ‎03-21-2022

I sell books, mostly cookbooks. Out of the 200+ I have listed, 100+ have add recommended item specifics. I went back to those listings and filled in as much as I could. Some of the recommendations are not applicable to the listing, but they still come up that its recommended to add the item specifics. My question is, does Ebay views them as missing specifics, does this lower your listing visibility?

my-cottage-books-and-antiques · ‎03-21-2022

@pattycookcrafts

does Ebay views them as missing specifics, does this lower your listing visibility?

No.

"If they don't apply, let them lie"

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my-cottage-books-and-antiques · ‎03-21-2022

@pattycookcrafts

does Ebay views them as missing specifics, does this lower your listing visibility?

No.

"If they don't apply, let them lie"

literaryconundrums · ‎03-21-2022

I am new-ish at this, but from reading seller forums in the past, it seems like you shouldn't sweat it. You can't fill in information that isn't available or applicable. Just describe item as thoroughly as you can and fill in every blank possible. 🙂

caldreamer · ‎03-21-2022

Only include item specifics that apply to your specific book. It is very confusing to the customer if you include too much info.

You can click on box "don't remind me again" and this will stop you from getting reminder on that particular listing.

lamber9347 · ‎03-21-2022

@pattycookcrafts It has been said by eBay reps in the daily chats that any item specifics which do not apply to your item should be left blank. They are only recommendations and not required.

714ricki · ‎03-21-2022

I would only fill out the item specifics that are applicable to your book. Leaving some specifics blank will not hurt you in the overall visibility search.

femmefan1946 · ‎03-21-2022

I use N/A where I don't have the information and that works fine.

The Required IS are much more important than the Recommended.

cstpos · ‎03-21-2022

@pattycookcrafts Most of the time, the Required Item Specifics are only a couple of fields (depending on the item). Immediately under Required are the Recommended Item Specifics and you can leave those blank if the don't apply or you don't know.

If you get a message that you have listings that need Item Specifics added, there is a box you can check next to Don't remind me again under the Recommended section.

iart · ‎03-21-2022

I don't think anyone can know for sure. And if CS says otherwise, they are winging it or reading from a script.

I think they do lower visibility. But I think price, keywords and good service can easily make up for it. And most book sellers skip a lot of these specifics so we're in good company (last count there were about 2 dozen options).

We can't waste time filling out silly item specifics that buyers don't bother with. About 2/3 of our items have recommended.

mr_lincoln · ‎03-21-2022

@pattycookcrafts The important ones are those eBay deems "Required" ... they have no clue how to separate "Recommended" item Specifics that do not apply to an item ... they tend to just load them up and keep posting that "Recommended" list so Sellers will feel compelled to find more info to build their database ... if you do one of those Recommended ones I think there is a check box that will prevent them from bothering you again on that particular item ...

The other failure was they did NOT carry known good and previously recorded Item Specifics forward to their new fields ... I have listings with double info ...

the additional failure in some cases was they deleted I.S. that I already put in the form ...

Presently I suspect they are tweaking their Search Algorithms in an effort to optimize Search ... I have seen a noticeable drop off of GTC sales since they launched the Item Specific thing February 22, 2022 (last month).

What I was expecting was either NO change in sales OR an increase in sales NOT a significant decrease in a particular listing format.

Here was a chart I prepared prior to the launch ... I can honestly say Auctions have taken the Sales increase path while GTC listings have taken the Nose dive route ... I am hopeful they will get it figured out ...

Regards,

Mr. L

Best regards,
Mr. Lincoln - eBay Community Mentor

wpt05 · ‎03-21-2022

@pattycookcrafts

After you add the item specifics, check the box that says "Don't remind me about these recommendations again."

m60driver · ‎03-21-2022

@pattycookcrafts wrote:
My question is, does Ebay views them as missing specifics, does this lower your listing visibility?

To the best of my knowledge no. One only need fill in the required specifics. I rarely fill in, or even bother read, the recommended specifics as the vast majority are not applicable and/or trivial.