Is there any real benefit to putting variations in your listings?

[aspyr45]

Besides convenience & ease when creating the listing(s). Is there any benefit to using the variations option? Is there any benefit to putting the variations in one listing? Instead of making one listing for each variation? Is there any way that doing it that way can help something sell faster? Is there any way the variations set up could help make the deal sweeter for the buyer?

Basically is there any way the seller can let the buyer buy variations in bulk? And can the buy financial save money from buying variations in bulk? On shipping or price?

[onlinecentral]

In another thread, a buyer bought 4 units of one color, then sent the seller a message.
"Send one each of red, blue, yellow and green."
Then it was a headache for the seller to revise the remaining available quantities to match what they actually have in stock.
The seller should correct that right away to avoid an Out-Of-Stock situation, cancellation and defect added to their seller account.
I individually listed about 100 different sizes of fuses with 6,000 packages total.
If I had one listing with 100 variations, I would have had these issues.
I could not put 100 sizes into a 80 word title.
Buyers searching for a certain size would be much less likely to find my item.
The limit for photos is 12, I think.
The variations option probably works great for some sellers.
I would like to hear their stories.

[thegath97]

What should I do If I want to offer variations and a bulk discount in one listing?

[mam98031]

Variation listings when used within the rules of Ebay are a fantastic tool for sellers.  One of the benefits is how much is saves in listing fees.  Some of my variation listings have 30+ variation.  So instead of 30 listings I have 1.  That is a big deal.  But most have a half dozen or so.

It depends on what is being sold in the listings, but yes I often have multiple purchases within the same variation listing.  I love the darn things.  They are a time saver and a money saver.

But if you are going to use them, make sure you do it within the rules of Ebay.  Don't put things together in a variation listing that don't belong being put together.  At some point that will get you into trouble.

[mam98031]

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@thegath97 wrote:
What should I do If I want to offer variations and a bulk discount in one listing?

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That is two separate things.  But when you are setting up your variation listing there is an area just above the post button where you can but in what discounts you'd like to have for that listing if bulk purchases are made.

[mam98031]

http://shipscript.com/ebayhelp/lister_hub/creating_ebay_variations.htm

[inhawaii]

I've done some experimenting and found that variations listings sell better than if you list them separately. A variations listing with 5 different color widgets will do better than 1 listing for a blue widget, 1 listing for a red widget, 1 listing for a yellow widget, 1 listing for a green widget and 1 listing for a black widget.

In my opinion a variations listing is more appealing to the customer because they can pick and choose exactly what they want.

My pet peeve as a buyer is a variations listing where most of the variations are "sold out".  When i see a variations listing, i want ALL of the variations to be there for me to choose. 

GOOD LUCK!!

[thegath97]

Can you please elaborate how they save money?

[thegath97]

What if I want to offer bulk savings on different variations? Say I'm selling a shirt in different sizes. I want to let the buyer buy one of each size and get a bulk discount for that.

[thegath97]

What if I want to let the buyer buy 3 widgets. Each of a different color and I want to let the buyer get a bulk discount in that order?

[Anonymous]

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@thegath97 wrote:
What if I want to offer bulk savings on different variations? Say I'm selling a shirt in different sizes. I want to let the buyer buy one of each size and get a bulk discount for that.

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You save money by using fewer listings.

If you have the same shirt in different sizes and they're all the same condition then it is actually against eBay's duplicate listing policy to put them in separate listings - unless they're for different categories like mens and kids. If you have a brand new men's t-shirt in sizes S-XXL then you have to use variations to follow eBay policy. I have seen others get warned and have listings removed for violating the duplicate listing policy when they put the same item with different sizes or colors across separate listings.

As for the discounts, your best option would be to get an eBay store subscription and use promotions manager to set up order discounts.

If you're a new seller then you are subject to listing limits and getting a store subscription will not change those limits. Establish some sales history first, get a boost in listing limits, then move on to a store.

[mam98031]

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@thegath97 wrote:
Can you please elaborate how they save money?

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Listing fees.  You could have one variation listing or lets say 30 separate listings if you did each item as a separate listing.  So you can pay for one listing or 30 listings.  That is how you save money.

Now if you are one that always stays within whatever free listings you have for the month, then variation listings allow you to list more products that you could otherwise by listing everything separately.  For example I have just under 1000 different listings but when you consider the variations I have over 2,250 items listed.

[mam98031]

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@thegath97 wrote:
What if I want to offer bulk savings on different variations? Say I'm selling a shirt in different sizes. I want to let the buyer buy one of each size and get a bulk discount for that.

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Again, when you set up your listing at the bottom of the form are some options for discounts and percentages.  Take a close look at those.  Or you can go into your Store Manager and then Volume pricing and take care of it there.