Duplicate Listings? Email from ebay...

[officechikmwise]

Ebay sent their note out about ending / deleting any duplicate listings as of June 1st I think it was.

It then said I have duplicate listings that I should fix before then, but of course did not say what item numbers, etc.

I used the duplicate listing scan tool and it found no duplicates, or even the potential for duplicates.

http://www.isdntek.com/ebaytools/DuplicateListings.htm

[richard1rst]

Thanks for the tool. I was surprised to find I had a couple of duplicates. Tool works great.

Just a heads up to everyone else: If you have 2 similar but different items with identical titles the tool will flag them as a duplicate. For example, 2 completely different deigns of the same pro sports belt buckle, etc. But the tool also shows you a thumbnaoil picture so you can see when it is actually a dupliate or 2 similar but different items.

[gracieallen01]

Just curious.  I wonder if this is the same tool that ebay will be using to detect duplicate listings?  That could mean problems if something is noted as a duplicate, but not really and not pulled by the seller.

[officechikmwise]

Ebay doesn't say how they are determining duplicates.

However in their duplicate listing policy guide it says you are allowed 5 variations of the same item... i.e. different sizes, colors, models.  So I am assuming ( yes I know ! ) they don't want you to list each size or color you have of every item. Which is problematic, I would rather inventory by item or UPC. I have many items that come in a variety of sizes and colors.

I have had serious problems in the past with listing items with variations. For example, trying to edit the items to conform with new ebay policies (adding higher res photos, adding item specifics, etc) it won't allow you do do that, kept getting errors wanting me to update information on items that were sold out!

Michelle

[gracieallen01]

"  .... it won't allow you do do that, kept getting errors wanting me to update information on items that were sold out!"

May want to be careful about that since they now say that they may relist certain unsold items - at their sole discretion. Possibly why they want them up-to-date.

[richard1rst]

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@gracieallen01 wrote:

Just curious.  I wonder if this is the same tool that ebay will be using to detect duplicate listings?  That could mean problems if something is noted as a duplicate, but not really and not pulled by the seller.

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Found an easy work around. I have 2 hats embroidered CIA from 2 different manufacturers. They are similar but different. I simply changed the headline by adding “#1” and “#2”. The tool no longer calls them out as duplicates because the headlines are not exactly the same.

I presume that changing the other “duplicate” headlines in a similar manner will eliminate the problem.

[penguins_dont_fly]

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@richard1rst wrote:

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@gracieallen01 wrote:

Just curious.  I wonder if this is the same tool that ebay will be using to detect duplicate listings?  That could mean problems if something is noted as a duplicate, but not really and not pulled by the seller.

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Found an easy work around. I have 2 hats embroidered CIA from 2 different manufacturers. They are similar but different. I simply changed the headline by adding “#1” and “#2”. The tool no longer calls them out as duplicates because the headlines are not exactly the same.

I presume that changing the other “duplicate” headlines in a similar manner will eliminate the problem.

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Why not just put the Manufacturer name in the title instead?

[richard1rst]

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Why not just put the Manufacturer name in the title instead?

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The biggest reason is that these are not a major brand name and the name would not mean anything to anyone. (Aquitaine Embroidery). I do include Reebok, etc when it is available.

Secondly, the space requiring the brand name would mean removing some of the description which I feel is more important information.

Finally, the hat was just an example. Many of the products I offer have no brand name at all. They are simply commodities.