Is this true about using UPCs?

[leareamc]

Like a lot of sellers, I try to make shorter work of listing by using the "sell similar item" link attached to other sellers listings. I always hope they have included most if not all of the item specifics I would have included as if I did a completely fresh listing on my own. Often, it will look like the specifics used has the look like when you input the items UPC and then Ebay automatically fills in those specifics based on that UPS.... BUT when I scroll down, I come to find that there is nothing in the UPC box. It confuses me as to whether the other seller went in and filled out and selected the specifics manually, or somehow did trigger Ebay to auto-fill the specifics but for whatever reason, the UPC doesn't show up. This all matters to me because I end up wasting  more time because I then have to find the UPC code and then manually enter it. I would just assume skip that step but I've always figured that including the UPC will be seen as a big plus by the algorithm and boost me in visibility, plus likely make me easier to find in search results outside of Ebay. I decided to finally take a moment and google whether or not including a UPC is truly a big deal to the algorithm and Ebay rewards you in search and I came across this thread:

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Entering-a-UPC-vs-quot-Does-Not-Apply-quot-search-results/td-p...

Has this been found to be true... that UPCs actually hurt you in search?

[leareamc]

Any thought on this?

[sextons-sweet-deals]

If your items are not new with tags that show the UPC code, you should not be trying to use some other sellers UPC code of similar item. 

You're setting yourself up for a potential buyer claim or possible scam from those looking for errors in listing details & photos. No tags attached, No UPC code, Not as described, and so on. 

A little extra time spent on details & photos will pay off down the road. Better time spent than fighting open cases.

[ebooksdiva]

I only use sell similar on my own listings.
In all the years I’ve been selling it never even crossed my mind to use other sellers listings to sell similar. 
Using sell similar on another sellers item could set you up for problems.

How do you know that any information the seller has in their listing is factual? 

[coolections]

---

@leareamc wrote:

Has this been found to be true... that UPCs actually hurt you in search?  

---

Without reading the whole thing, the person "assumes" their item does not show up in search results.  If a buyer types the name of an item they are looking for in the search box, believe me, the item is there. It may be on page 38 in oversaturated categories. People who are not selling as much as they wish like to use that as an excuse.

[zamo-zuan]

A long while back it used to hurt you if you used it in some situations. It seemed to allow "perfect matches" to fit better, but "partial matches" were excluded. This was back when they were focusing heavily on their "new catalog" and using that information rather than the information entered. But I believe they stopped having it weigh negatively a long while back.

In the last time I had tested it, it hadn't made a difference.

But as with everything on eBay, this is something that would be best tested on your own store to see your own results. As not everyone is on the same algorithms, and much is dependent on category/seller status/etc.

[richard1rst]

ike a lot of sellers,

As my lawyer likes to say “You are assuming facts not in evidence”. What exactly is “a lot” of sellers. In my mind ONE is too many.

 I try to make shorter work of listing by using the "sell similar item" link attached to other sellers listings.

So basically you are saying that you are so lazy that you are willing to steal some other listers time and labor rather than do it yourself.

I always hope they have included most if not all of the item specifics I would have included as if I did a completely fresh listing on my own

Which is exactly why you should do it yourself.

 It confuses me as to whether the other seller went in and filled out and selected the specifics manually, or somehow did trigger Ebay to auto-fill the specifics

Another reason why you should do it yourself.

I end up wasting more time because I then have to find the UPC code and then manually enter it.

Still one more reason to do it yourself.

boost me in visibility, plus likely make me easier to find in search results outside of Ebay.

And again you are trying to benefit off of the labors or someone who took the time to create a listing from scratch.

[sapphire_studio · Accepted solution]

It's weird to me that people think using sell similar or scanning a UPC and getting all those attached details is somehow stealing or a problem in any way whatsoever.

 Of course you're going to look at every single item specific that gets carried over and make sure that it is correct and edit accordingly.

 I sell new beauty products so the very 1st thing I do when I list in my app is scan the UPC which will bring up similar listings and then I choose the one or (one of several) that matches and it brings in a bunch of details so I don't have to type them.

 I'm not carrying over anybody's description or photos it's just the item specifics and many times I need to edit a few things but it's great when I don't.  It will carry over the title but I definitely always edit that.

 If the item doesn't have a UPC then I type the name of the item when I'm making the listing and eBay will manually find similar results for me. Once again many items specifics will get carried over.

 EBay has designed it this way to make it easier on us and to list items and keep everything that is exactly the same in a sort of catalog. 

 Maybe it's different for people who sell new items vs. used items but I feel like I am not stealing in any way whatsoever.  Many times when I look up an item I see that it's using a listing that I had made on a different account a year or two ago. So people have been using my listing when they scan the UPC and the item specifics that I had created back then and it doesn't bother me at all. 

 This means I can create a listing in a few minutes. I don't understand the problem whatsoever with this method.

[leareamc]

Ahh thank you for being an adult and not just looking for a reason to spout out mess like "so I guess you're lazy..." smh. Ebay has the "sell similar" link attached to all listings for a reason, and it's exactly what you mentioned. To assume I am "stealing" someone's listing is ridiculous... when did I every say am am completely copying another's work? I just use it for prefilled item specifics and I clearly said that. I fill out my titles and description myself. And as far as setting myself up for problems... take a look at my feedback - obviously I am seasoned enough and responsible enough to know better than just assume all is correct according to what I am selling and I give a quick scan and change anything that is different. I assume most sellers with any good sense do the same. And yes, I'd be willing to bet a huge percentage of sellers use others pre-filled specifics and even titles depending on what they are selling. I'm not talking about selling clothing where specifics can be so varied that it's not necessarily a wise thing to do this with. 

[coolections]

Don't worry about. People would be crazy to NOT use sell similar. That is why they give you the option to use it.