Is it better to start a new listing from scratch or sell one similar?

[timeprimesave]

I'm wondering because there's some people that say if you just start from scratch you most likely get more views and appear more on the search rank, rather than using one of the pre-made that other sellers made, also they could make mistakes onto what they put on their product specifications? Overall my question is do you guys post your items from scratch or just use the sell similar. 

[loveyourimagination49]

I have only used sell similar from my own listings. If there is a mistake it’s my own fault.
Otherwise from scratch.

[lex-talon]

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@timeprimesave wrote:

I'm wondering because there's some people that say if you just start from scratch you most likely get more views and appear more on the search rank, rather than using one of the pre-made that other sellers made, also they could make mistakes onto what they put on their product specifications? Overall my question is do you guys post your items from scratch or just use the sell similar. 

Most of the time I start from scratch. If I have a similar item available, then sell similar is used. TRS get better search placement than those who are not. 

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[mtgraves7984]

My items are so often similar (ball caps) that I use Sell Similar from my own listings and adjust the particulars. My first listing started from scratch, though.

I just sold an item (ironstone punch bowl) that I'd never sold before. With that listing, I started with another seller's 'like' item and began my listing from Sell Similar (from there) just to make sure I got the category right. I overrode their specifics to make sure mine matched my item and used copy & paste (from one of my listings) to put my own description copy in.

I'm selling either way... but I'm curious as to whether you DO get 'view' and 'search' preferences, too, with each method as I'd never heard that. I appreciate the question and await your responses!

[coast_of_maine_antiques]

My choice is a resounding “Sell one like this”- with one important caveat: review every single box every time. A lot of the minutiae work is done = quicker listings.

[patd3283]

I have tried 'sell similar' but found that pictures I uploaded were often not in the proper order - had to go in and correct.  Now, I do not use 'sell similar.

[mtgraves7984]

@lex-talon… So the criteria for better search placement is TRS? It doesn't have anything to do with 'Sell Similar or From Scratch'? Because I sure love 'Sell Similar' like @coast_of_maine_antiques describes... 

[points13]

I have developed templates for each type of item I sell. Part of the title, category, item specifics, description and terms are all prefilled. leaving new pictures and a few details only to be filled in. This was done to get new listings up faster and uniformity.

So that would be from scratch I guess. When I have used sell similar in the past I found too many things checked or entered that I didn't want or need.

[turquoisetulips]

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@timeprimesave wrote:

I'm wondering because there's some people that say if you just start from scratch you most likely get more views and appear more on the search rank, rather than using one of the pre-made that other sellers made, also they could make mistakes onto what they put on their product specifications? Overall my question is do you guys post your items from scratch or just use the sell similar. 

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Sell similar is a big time saver for me . Often I just need to change a few details . Of course I'll start from scratch  if its something I've never sold before . The views do seem to increase  on those listings  but I've not noticed any  other changes otherwise .  Tulips 

[gamersbaystore]

Always use sell similar if you're selling the same items you've previously sold. Why? Because, selling with sell similar retains your sales history, starting from scratch does not.

If the items you list with sell similar are selling well, ebay's algorithms will actually give you a boost for that particular product.

As an example, I've sold hundreds of games this year using sell similar. I sold 3 copies of a $25 game just a few days apart this past week alone. In fact, I sold 2 of them in just 24 hours.

The more sales you get for a particular product, the more ebay thinks it will continue to sell, so they give it more visibility.

Anytime I use sell similar, the items sell 10X faster.

[coast_of_maine_antiques]

Gotta love templates.

[coast_of_maine_antiques]

Sounds like a fluke patd. When you use sell one like this, from another similar listing, there are no pictures. The canvas is blank. I have had some issues trying to sell similar from listings that were from other countries