Need help please

[tweetystwades]

Can someone please tell me how the catalog works. Every time I ask a question I get no answers.

How to use it, access it, or whatever.  My sales have dropped off since April. I'm jumping through hoops here changing and cancelling listings, taking new pics and so on. Now I'm being told that my items may not be in the catalog and I need to update it. The items I sell are not my own, I buy clothing wholesale. How do I access or update the catalog, and is this the reason why my sales have dropped? 

Thank you. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

There's a whole special discussinon board about it.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Product-Catalog/bd-p/ProductCatalog

[tweetystwades]

That really did not help me or answer my questions.

[tweetystwades]

When will you know the item is not in the catalog, or needs to be updated?

[uncommon_movies]

When you create your listing, and enter the UPC, eBay will fill in many of the Item Specifics from its catalog. If this doesn't happen, the item is not in their catalog. Most major manufacturers share their catalogs with eBay, but some smaller ones do not.

[tweetystwades]

Thank you, now we are getting somewhere. Please stay with me. When I create a listing using a UPC code, I see the item specifics and I add the ones that are relevant. Is that correct? How is it possible for the sellers to update the catalog?   

[tweetystwades]

Also, if the item is not in the catalog, does that mean it will not be visible?  

[fashunu4eeuh · Accepted solution]

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@tweetystwades wrote:

Thank you, now we are getting somewhere. Please stay with me. When I create a listing using a UPC code, I see the item specifics and I add the ones that are relevant. Is that correct? How is it possible for the sellers to update the catalog?   

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Yes, that is correct, you select those that are relevant. Thank you for posting about the catalog as i’m sure it will help others too.

Here is a link from Ebay’s Help pages that can answer some of your questions.

https://www.ebay.com/help/listings/creating-managing-listings/listing-item-product-details-catalog?i...

If you still have questions after reviewing the Help pages info, i would post your inquiry to the Product Catalog board, as you were directed to in the post above. I think you might find some experts there and receive more in depth information. Good luck to you moving forward.

[patd3283]

99.9% of what I sell never had UPC numbers.  Are they going to create catalog pages for old/antique glass, porcelain, etc?

Patd

[fashunu4eeuh]

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@patd3283 wrote:

99.9% of what I sell never had UPC numbers.  Are they going to create catalog pages for old/antique glass, porcelain, etc?

Patd

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Hi, no, the product catalogue is for new items only.  Listings of used, collectible, vintage, unbranded, or one-of-a-kind items are not required to have UPCs included and therefore won't be part of eBay's product catalogue.

[tweetystwades]

No one seems to be answering questions on the catalog board. How do we get these questions answered? 

[tweetystwades]

I have been on the phone now with ebay for 1hr, not one person can answer a question about the catalog.   

[dhbookds]

maybe some of this will help tho I doubt lack of sales can be traced to the catalog, at least not yet...

Look at this url and screen shot:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/PATAGONIA-merino-2-light-weight-blend-zip-neck-slim-fit-black-NWT-WL/362093...

That is the listing and it is connected to a catalog page, up at the top where it says "See more Patagoia" etc.  Clicking on that link takes you to the catalog (product) page.  Normally, there would be more than one item there, but this one only has the one.....

But the presence of that  link is what tells you the item is in the catalog.  I've also read, but can't verify...if an item has a product review, it's in the catalog.

There are 2 ways to get items in the catalog.......If the items are required to be there, you get a notice in SH on the Active listing page on a tab that says "Requires Product".

I won't try to explain the process.....except to say you fill out a form and then submit it for approval.  With that approval comes the EPID (Ebay product id number) which is the identifier for the catalog page.  (and the way eventually even those items with out UPCs, etc will be cataloged)..

The second, untalked about way, is that bots create product pages from item specific info.  When this first began, I was told if you had the UPC, brand, the MPN , a  catalog page would be generated (and sellers were to add the MPN and brand in item specifics if it wasn't asked for).  This process ended up with alot of incorrect pages/information, but I believe it's still working( perhaps corrected) as I don't know how else items outside the required categories are being produced. Whether it works for ALL categories, I don't know.  Frankly, I was surprised to see a catalog page in clothing at all.

Certainly none of your items are barred from search as they aren't among the required categories....... so I think the catalog is not responsible for lack of sales.

@tweetystwades

[dhbookds]

weird, sure lost a post.............and know it posted as I went back and edited to @ tweety.

[robot-hands]

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@tweetystwades wrote:

I have been on the phone now with ebay for 1hr, not one person can answer a question about the catalog.   

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Of course not. That is not part of the revenue stream and will remain broken for all eternity.

There is no reason why you should do ebay's work, I suggest you stop before investing time that you will not see reward for.