New Tool "Required" UPC Item Specific on items where UPC does not exist

[mr_lincoln]

devon@ebay, velvet@ebay 

I have run in to a major issue with the New Unified Listing tool and the Required UPC Item Specific on items that never had a UPC code.  We're talking early 1980s model kits. 

-Are we supposed to go back to using Does not apply?

-Without filling out this field will the listing be buried & never see the light of day?

-Regardless of the model categories they list the UPC as a Required Item Specific and the UPC does not exist for some items

Additionally, when I changed model categories the ENTIRE listing form reset all the Item Specifics to null, meaning no values.

I look forward to some direction on this critical subject.

Regards,

Mr. L

[elizabeth@ebay]

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@mr_lincoln wrote:

devon@ebay, velvet@ebay 

I have run in to a major issue with the New Unified Listing tool and the Required UPC Item Specific on items that never had a UPC code.  We're talking early 1980s model kits. 

-Are we supposed to go back to using Does not apply?

-Without filling out this field will the listing be buried & never see the light of day?

-Regardless of the model categories they list the UPC as a Required Item Specific and the UPC does not exist for some items

Additionally, when I changed model categories the ENTIRE listing form reset all the Item Specifics to null, meaning no values.

I look forward to some direction on this critical subject.

Regards,

Mr. L

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Hey, @mr_lincoln!

Let me reach out to the perfect team on this, and get some answers for you. I'll be in touch once I hear something back. 

[mr_lincoln]

Thank you elizabeth@ebay  ... I want to avoid many of the models I am listing coming up on the Required Item Specific list for something that does not exist.  UPC codes were not used on many vintage items.

Mr. L

[the_fancy_fox]

It gets real interesting once you know that UPC codes get reused by the manufacturers all the time. 

Fabric patterns are notorious for reassigning them. So are toys. 

[elizabeth@ebay]

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@mr_lincoln wrote:

Thank you elizabeth@ebay  ... I want to avoid many of the models I am listing coming up on the Required Item Specific list for something that does not exist.  UPC codes were not used on many vintage items.

Mr. L

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Totally understandable @mr_lincoln. I'm happy to get some clarification on this, and have reached out to the best team regarding your concerns/questions. I'll be sure to follow up as quickly as possible. 

[mr_lincoln]

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@the_fancy_fox wrote:

It gets real interesting once you know that UPC codes get reused by the manufacturers all the time. 

Fabric patterns are notorious for reassigning them. So are toys. 

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@the_fancy_fox   Actually, the issue is that UPC codes did not exit on certain items prior to a certain time in history.   So there is a slew of products out there from the 70s & 80s that did not have a UPC code even though the codes were being used in certain places like grocery stores ...

[femmefan1946]

Same with ISBNs on Books.

Plus eBay will not accept ISBNs for older editions (pre-1985) or from foreign (UK and Canada) editions.

I just go with N/A, which does work with Books.

Also.

Again in Books.

There are only three REQUIRED Item Specifics.

If you don't fill those, the listing will not post.

There are dozens (~30) RECOMMENDED IS.

You can ignore those if you want.

This may not carry over to other categories, but is worth mentioning.

[the_fancy_fox]

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@mr_lincoln wrote:

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@the_fancy_fox wrote:

It gets real interesting once you know that UPC codes get reused by the manufacturers all the time. 

Fabric patterns are notorious for reassigning them. So are toys. 

---

@the_fancy_fox   Actually, the issue is that UPC codes did not exit on certain items prior to a certain time in history.   So there is a slew of products out there from the 70s & 80s that did not have a UPC code even though the codes were being used in certain places like grocery stores ...

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Oh that’s true too. I sell old books from. Even a lot of the old car parts I have there are no UPC’s. Lots of old toys I have sold, same thing. UPC? Nope. 

Hopefully they are not reducing views on that factor alone. 

[mr_lincoln]

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@the_fancy_fox wrote:

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@mr_lincoln wrote:

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@the_fancy_fox wrote:

It gets real interesting once you know that UPC codes get reused by the manufacturers all the time. 

Fabric patterns are notorious for reassigning them. So are toys. 

---

@the_fancy_fox   Actually, the issue is that UPC codes did not exit on certain items prior to a certain time in history.   So there is a slew of products out there from the 70s & 80s that did not have a UPC code even though the codes were being used in certain places like grocery stores ...

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Oh that’s true too. I sell old books from. Even a lot of the old car parts I have there are no UPC’s. Lots of old toys I have sold, same thing. UPC? Nope. 

Hopefully they are not reducing views on that factor alone. 

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@the_fancy_fox  well here's the issue and why I am asking ... they made such a big deal about Item Specifics AND the UPC code winds up being a REQUIRED field on items that have no UPC code ... without "something" in that field you can list the item ... I have been putting Does not apply in ... a wrong UPC results in the listing being blocked ... I can use one of my older templates which opens in the new tool format and  the UPC field is not there ... BUT if I change eBay categories in the Template then the UPC field appears ...

If I create a new listing from scratch in most cases the UPC field is there.  The tool is still BETA as far as I am concerned, it is certainly NOT a finished piece of programming ...

It is taking twice as long to get listings done so I am a bit frustrated with the tool although I am (currently) committed to keep using it ...

[ekmadonna]

I can't tell you how many times I put the UPC code in and it rejects it as WRONG, when it clearly is right on the box or package. Usually with OLDER items. so frustrating!

[gamersbaystore]

I dont use UPC's myself, just go with Does Not Apply. I never liked UPC's because ebay doesnt always get them right, and buyers have to scroll for eons to actually read the description of what they're buying.

I had instances where UPC's resulted in the description offering things that were not included, such as digital codes, or an alternate version of a movie, etc, you end up with angry buyers. Then there's the instances where ebay says it can't find any info for the UPC you entered.

[the_fancy_fox]

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@ekmadonna wrote:

I can't tell you how many times I put the UPC code in and it rejects it as WRONG, when it clearly is right on the box or package. Usually with OLDER items. so frustrating!

oh yeah, I’ve seen that a lot too. 

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[katzrul15]

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@ekmadonna wrote:

I can't tell you how many times I put the UPC code in and it rejects it as WRONG, when it clearly is right on the box or package. Usually with OLDER items. so frustrating!

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We have this same issue with older issued items from the 70's, NIB, but no actual UPC on the item itself.

I usually type does not apply, but I like @mr_lincoln wonder if that is why my listings are not selling??

[kathieskorner]

Mr. Lincoln - obviously the "perfect" eBay team is not in their IT department who programmed the new listing format and other changes.  

I wouldn't hold my breath about elizabeth getting back to you with a real explanation.   It is likely along the same lines as blocking media mail in books/publications/video sub-categories. 

[elizabeth@ebay · Accepted solution]

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@mr_lincoln wrote:

devon@ebay, velvet@ebay 

I have run in to a major issue with the New Unified Listing tool and the Required UPC Item Specific on items that never had a UPC code.  We're talking early 1980s model kits. 

-Are we supposed to go back to using Does not apply?

-Without filling out this field will the listing be buried & never see the light of day?

-Regardless of the model categories they list the UPC as a Required Item Specific and the UPC does not exist for some items

Additionally, when I changed model categories the ENTIRE listing form reset all the Item Specifics to null, meaning no values.

I look forward to some direction on this critical subject.

Regards,

Mr. L

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Hey, @mr_lincoln! I've received some clarity back on this: 

UPC isn’t mandatory for most categories, but if you do see it as a mandatory field, “Does not apply” can be selected for 1980s model kits with no UPCs.

UPCs help with Search but isn’t the only criteria when buyers search for items so, no – just because a listing isn’t provided with UPC, it won’t get buried.

When sellers changes categories, all items specifics are refreshed with new item specifics applicable for that category and usually we don’t have a way to map them to different categories.

One option you can try is to add a secondary category in those cases (but not all categories support secondary).