Relisting Problems Due to 3rd Party Listing Provider

[kansashomewares]

If you are currently using a 3rd party to list your ads, you will find it difficult to make changes if you relist. If all you want to do is change a quantity or a price, you will recieve an error message regarding Self-Hosted & EPS Images. This is not allowed by Ebay. Now, you do not want to change any images, but that does not make a difference. Now, sometimes, it will work and if you use Ebay's relister it is more likely to work. I was trying to do a manual relist because it was a multi-variational ad and I needed to see the quantities shown as being on hand - not easy to make changes through their relister. When I called, I was told that I needed to delete my photos - particularly the main one - and upload my personal, computer images. Basically, they are trying to shut-down other businesses from listing to Ebay. I have a problem with this "policy" issue. I was told since I was selling on Ebay that I needed to list using Ebay. I have been with my 3rd party lister since 2008 and they do an exceptional job. I do not recall ever having agreed to this. I was told to read the agreement. No doubt it says something like they can make changes at any time. I am not happy being regulated to an Ebay employee. I pay Ebay for the "privilege" of posting my ads. I pay for my store and I pay for my sales as well as a listing cost should it exceed my allotment or if I want an ad in two categories or international. To "force" sellers into using only an Ebay listing program would probably improve their bottom line, but probably not my bottom line. I have a great deal more freedom with my current lister and a lot more assistance when I need it. I have been selling since 2008 and I have had various issues with Customer Service. I figure I have 50/50 chance of getting correct information or correct navigation. In fact, I went in search of a remedy under the "help" section - it also does not have the correct information - navigation is wrong and the material outdated. I even had a hard time getting access to make the phone call. None of the seller's selections had anything to do with "listing." Now, I would say that is kind of important. The automated phone representative did not understand and kept trying to close the call.  And, Ebay will wonder why, oh why, would I not want to use their lister. There use to be charges associated with listing on Ebay if you wanted something to post at a specific time - I don't know if that is valid now. This is something I do not have to worry about with my own lister. Also, my own lister is dealing with the active content issue at no cost. Again, why, oh why, would I want to use the Ebay lister? I have to create my own templates? Personally, I will have to complete my stores agreement, however, I am looking to creating my own website. It is unfortunate, but I am so tired of all the extra work - programming problems, deleted photos, constant changes that make something so easy be so difficult. I am a Top Rated Seller, too. I am a business person and as such I like making my own decisions regarding my business. I like the creative templates of my lister - so easy - I like to create folders and store my photos for future use on their website, not my computer. I can see any ad I every created, every photo - all at my fingertips. Why, oh why, would I want to use the Ebay lister? Anybody else have this problem of relisting due to Self-Hosted Images and EPS Images? This is a new problem for me. They are enforcing something ...

[slippinjimmy]

If you are currently using a 3rd party to list your ads, you will find it difficult to make changes if you relist. 

Maybe not all third-party tools are created equal. I'm not seeing any issues nor reports of any relisting issues with SIxBit.

[icollectucollect]

They do make everything hard. 

[pjcdn2005]

It looks like you use auctiva which is what I use and I haven't had any problems when revising or relisting on eBay.  The problem might be the pictures that you are putting in the body of your listing so you might want to try using the eBay gallery only.  To be honest I find it annoying to have to scroll through pictures in the listing to get to the description.  Perhaps eBay wants sellers to use the gallery only which you can do through auctiva.

[shipscript]

@kansashomewares

That sounds like a bug somewhere along the way.

There are two methods that third party services can use to add photos. One is called "self-hosted" with only a single photo allowed. The other is called "web-hosted" with up to 12 photos allowed.

With "self-hosted", eBay tries to rehost the third-party image, but if it can't fetch  that image at that moment, it will allow the third-party URL to be shown on eBay. This can cause issues when trying to revise listings on eBay because the photo in the "self-hosted" slot may be an eBay hosted photo and eBay has never allowed eBay URLs in the "self-hosted" slot.

With "web-hosted", the photos are rehosted on eBay and any that fail are simply not accepted. Thus, these photos are all guaranteed to be hosted by eBay and convert to EPS photos.

Early on, Auctiva was using "self-hosted". When "web-hosted" became available, they switched. Recently, a few sellers have reported some cases of going back to a single photo and losing the multiples, which sounds like an accidental reversion at Auctiva from "web-hosted" to "self-hosted".  Since eBay has been adding new APIs (new methods for accessing eBay data) and encouraging listing services to switch, I would not be surprised if the photo step-down may be due to switching to a new API.

It is a tricky business allowing third-party tools to list on eBay, due to the complex structure and requirements of item specifics, variations, and category limitations. Yet eBay accommodates that process and meets with providers monthly because MOST product is listed through third-party automation of some sort.

[kansashomewares]

Yes, I think they are still working out the bugs from everywhere. I would like to have my "cashback" button approved - but, it, apparently has "active content." This would be a good move for Ebay - more sales. Make a "cashback" button that does not have active content. It would make my buyers more happy.