You don't have to create a new listing from scratch to add variations to an existing listing that was created without any variations. The process below will create a new listing with a new Item Id, but all the other item's information will be intact.
To add variations to Listing that was created without any variations:
1) From Manage Active Listings, select item Action of Save As Template from dropdown menu.
2) Create Your Template will appear completely populated with item's information.
3) You must enter a unique Template Name. I copy and paste the item's Title.
4) Create your variations in the template then Save it.
5) You're Saved Your Template will appear with a button List With Template. Don't press the button yet.
6) End the active listing from which the Template was made.
7) Click List With Template button.
😎 On Create Your Listing, click the List Item
It is unfortunate that the above process will not create a listing with the old Item ID. If eBay updated Save As Template to save the old Item Id as a read only field in the template, then if old item was ended when List With Template button pressed, the old Item Id could be reused for the new listing. History would be saved. Buyers looking to rebuy an item would not be presented Item Not Available because its item ID changed.
