Not able to update required item specifics

[iart]

Cannot update required item specifics unless the title is in the drop down menu?

There are literally hundreds of millions of book titles and authors. Not all are in that drop down. Putting anything not in their catalog simple forces the option to be blank.

Further, we often sell books in lots. Sometimes lots of several dozen books. Are we really supposed to put every title and every author in there? That could take up more space than ALL the forum complaints about managed payments! LoL

At the very least, if eBay is going to require us to do something this silly, it should work.

Or am I missing something here?

[femmefan1946 · Accepted solution]

I was listing books last night.

The Title has to be typed in.

Many of the other Item Specifics include a list of authors, but you can add to the list. Since most of my books are from fairly obscure SF/F writers I almost always have to type in the names.

Be sure to ADD the name, it's not automatic.

I did notice that most of the forms did not have the ISBN. No human being has ever Searched an ISBN but Google does, and I figure that is what is being targetted by the IS.

Did you notice I said "most"?   I was busy listing, not comparing forms, but there were variations in the forms, even though I was working in the same genre.

[iart]

@femmefan1946 

How do you add to the drop down list? If we type ANYTHING in that isn't already in the drop down, it goes blank.

[iart]

@femmefan1946

Ah, I see. I tried a couple different books. But for some reason it isn't always an option "to add custom value"

[femmefan1946]

Yep there seems to be more than one form.

Sigh.

[katzrul15]

We had similar issues in seasonal a couple of days ago - they have restored that category (at least our IS are back) - wonder if books due to massive size is slow to roll it all back in/correct?  Some of the weird boxes and drop downs in seasonal are gone and Hallmark is back to be a brand choice from the list, etc.  Several boxes no matter what you typed, it would not stick.

I would think books as a category is massive - maybe just will take a while longer to fix?

[booksandjava]

It is obvious to me ebay is using its sellers to do work for free that benefits them.  What did they do with books, quit paying for bowker data service and decide our sellers can spent time giving us free information instead of building their business and sales.  To quote ebay, “our tech-led reimagination continues”. Try a business team ebay.  It is faster for me to move listing to other marketplaces than to edit listings and that is exactly what we are doing.

[myhomeschooldelights]

@iart 

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@iart wrote:

Further, we often sell books in lots. Sometimes lots of several dozen books. Are we really supposed to put every title and every author in there? That could take up more space than ALL the forum complaints about managed payments! LoL

In the excellent replies you've already received, I did not notice anyone addressing the above item you asked about.  I also sell several lots.  I most certainly have not been adding each specific title in the title field.  What I have done is to use a series or collection name for the title.  If there isn't one,  I'd suggest using the title field to describe what it is that unites the books in that specific lot, for example, "children's mysteries" or "books by Charles Dickens".    You've got to put something there even if it would fit better in genre or topic.  And if there are multiple authors, I've been typing in "various".   I have also used the "bundle description" field to state, for example, "lot of /set of 5 paperbacks".   For any field that you want to use if your item/lot is not in the drop down, you have to type it in, and then actually click on what you wrote below the box, and hit enter.  I found that adds it to the field box and keeps it from going blank.  If I just check the little square to the left of it, it doesn't add it.  That's my experience anyway.

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[animal-house-8]

I don't know what to tell you I have all my required specifics filled out yet I get a message saying I need to fill out item specifics for 110 items, I look at their list and every REQUIRED field is filled out as required so whats the problem eBay?

[bettinasbookshop]

Yeah.... I was having the same problem and finally figured it out. It appears that the info we entered previously for our listings *displays* ... but not all of it is "really there". SIGH. very weird. 

For example, books: Required specifics are Language, Author(s), and Title. I entered all three when I first created the listing, and when I go to fill in the Required Item Specific(s) as I am being instructed to do, all three required things are *displayed*.  BUT only Language and Author(s) have "stuck" -- I must retype the Title! Even though I see it there already!! 

When retyping the title (I copy and paste it from the listing title when I can) you have to IGNORE when the info you previously typed appears in the dropdown list with a check mark, and just keep typing the complete title, and then hit enter, OR  if the the blue link "Add custom value" appears, click that. 

Fortunately I am just a tiny seller doing this as a hobby.... If this was my livelihood and I had hundreds or thousands of listings, I would be enraged. 

[johnny-daydream]

I have just started selling in last few months after buying for 20 years. I am selling my items however, ITEM SPECIFICS PROBLEM IS ANNOYING! I get notices telling me to add them but, YOU CAN NOT ADD ITEM SPECIFICS! I’ve spoken with multiple reps, been told it’s a “glitch” they’re working on it. I told them to google this issue. It’s been a problem for a long time! 

Anybody else having this issue?

thanks guys & gals. 

[arlenes*antiques]

Yes....when adding the name of the author of a book in specific items, it does not accept it and will not post. Sooooo I just click on any author (which is not the actual author) and it will post. This makes no sense at all!! I'm deceiving the buyer....but that's the only way to post a book if the author is not in the drop-down box. I feel like eBay is forcing me to be a liar!

[downunder-61]

As stated in the solution on 16th May

Many of the other Item Specifics include a list of authors, but you can add to the list. Since most of my books are from fairly obscure SF/F writers I almost always have to type in the names.

Be sure to ADD the name, it's not automatic.

[mpcac]

I sell vintage fountain pens and pencils. Ebay is asking me to list the nib size for my pencil listings??? Pencils do not have nibs.... not sure what to do.