eBay

itolduandso · ‎12-26-2022

Earlier I posted here a question how do get the CSV files from Ebay in an importable format. Right now Ebay provides Order and Transaction report which all the junk at the top of the file above the headers. That junk is meant for a novice user to understand how the file is structured and what is what. But once the CSV import process is setup, there is no need for that junk anymore. Ebay could have put it simply into a separate sample file but not include it with every and each download. That makes me to open the CSV every single day and delete the 1st few rows and save it. While apparently Excel macros can do that, it didn't work for me on MacOS. Although Excel for MacOS includes Macros, MacOS version of MS Office is more limited than the Windows version (I am using the installed MS Office, not Office 365).

3d seller solution includes import file from ebay and they also include fees which is great, but their monthly fees went up quite a bit.

Are there any other solutions to that allows me to bring in the ebay fees?

Anyhow, finally I came across and excellent tool for manipulating CSV files. I save a recipe and assuming the input file name is the same, run it and it will remove the junk. It's called Easy Data Transform. It's quite expensive but it pays me back so I don't need to open the CSV every day and edit that because having to edit that sucks alot.

stainlessenginecovers · ‎12-26-2022

The 'reports' is run in Excel; if you have Excel, that's how it will come. Then you just 'delete' or 'hide' any columns or rows you don't want to see (hold CTRL button to hide more than 1 at 1 time).

threelittlelambs · ‎12-26-2022

I just highlight and delete, takes 2 seconds. But, I only have to do it once a month when I generate a report with all sales and transaction info for the month. Why do you need a separate file for every single day. Maybe you use a special program for your business? Sounds like too much work.

blingfling123 · ‎12-26-2022

I use a databse so already have these import specs set up for free for pulling in files.

I will give a word of warning though, having used these reports for years, eBay moves fields around, changes the names and sometimes the formatting of the column names so be sure that your program will show import errors properly. They also have a habit of not announcing these changes in some cases, at all.

chapeau-noir · ‎12-26-2022

They did yet another revamp fairly recently so the spreadsheet I had to import and calculate revenue and costs just came up gibberish.

“The illegal we do immediately, the unconstitutional takes a little longer.” - Henry Kissinger

"Wherever law ends, tyranny begins" -John Locke

itolduandso · ‎01-15-2023

Thanks for warning. Is there no blog or what's new page that would mention those upcoming changes or changes that were done on CSV page?

While I am aware Ebay likes to make announced changed and puts in small print their are not liable for any mistakes in their CSV reports, you have to go to website to check the data. It's nuts, so you basically are required to look at their site and type things of the website manually. Most companies have this limited liability statement but ebay takes it to the full limits by making the changes when it pleases without informing the users. Big companies have accounting systems to catch it up of course.

I download them every day because I like to see profitability on my items right away rather than over the time.

The sales order report, although has less junk, still has the junk rows above the actual headers start. I need the sales order report to clear cross-postings I have on other sites. The cross post services are expensive, I rather do that myself and to cover so many sites I would just pay multiple cross-posters to do that, so I do that myself and save tons of money.

itolduandso · ‎01-15-2023

Doesn't allow me to edit the post, wanted to add:

The EasyDataTransform has an option to add Javascript so maybe I'll look into it if there is a way to create some kind of CRC check on the columns names and compare with a control number. I would need a programmer on tasker then because I am not a programmer.