Scanning for duplicate listings

[shipscript]

People have asked me for a Duplicate Listing Scanner, similar to my scanner for eBay Photo Size compliance, and I had declined in the past because it is too complex a problem.  But I was again encouraged to create one, so here is the beginning of one.

http://www.isdntek.com/ebaytools/DuplicateListings.htm

It first looks for duplicate titles, but a duplicate title is not enough to violate eBay policy.

So it further looks at the duplicate fixed price guidelines and the duplicate auction guidelines, and tries to take a measure of price and auction type to report the probability of being a duplicate listing, and then displays the results using color coding. Because there are more parameters to consider, like photo, item specifics, condition, and subtitle,  this scanner is not conclusive. 

The scanner simply finds items with duplicate titles so that you can decide for yourself.

If someone is circumventing duplicate policy by adding a character to the title, this tool will not detect it.

If you think you may have duplicate items, I would love to hear from you to help improve the tool.

[californiakaren]

Thank you Thank you Thank you for this! Tells me it's not just me going buggy with all the spamming with multiple listings. Ugh! I tried reporting someone yesterday who was using the same photo... not a manufacturer's photo but one obviosly taken at home, but the report system here wouldn't take it. I will check out your program in the categories I tend to frequent and let you know what I think.

[shipscript]

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@californiakaren wrote:

I tried reporting someone yesterday who was using the same photo... not a manufacturer's photo but one obviosly taken at home, but the report system here wouldn't take it.

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Keep in mind that eBay has recently relisted some duplicates due to some system error, which some sellers on this forum have discovered within their own listings.

I was thinking of those people when I posted the tool, and had not even considered applying it to the listings of others. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the duplicates policy before reporting other sellers' listings for duplicates. Some categories are allowed to post up to five duplicates with only compatibility differences.

[ymeagainlord]

What I love about eBay's dupe finding bots is...they can find a dupe listed on 2 IDs (linked obviously) that was a mistake, yet they can't give a dupe warning across linked IDs.

Wonder why that is.

Oh yeah and they'll also issue a dupe "you can't list this" red warning when you have say an auction scheduled and you're using sell similar to change it to FP........you have to send the FP to draft then delete the scheduled auction then complete the FP draft.........good grief already. Not like the scheduled one is even LIVE yet.

[msmaggie060]

Thank you so very much for taking the time to create this scanner! Worked great for me! Will save me a lot of time checking for those phantom relists.

[cjscupboard]

Thanks so much!  It caught 2 of my items that I had no idea were somehow double listed on the same days.  Thanks!

[ymeagainlord]

Ship, I guess the reason your tool can't find the dupes with one character different is the same reason their bots can't seem to either?

[shipscript]

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@ymeagainlord wrote:
Ship, I guess the reason your tool can't find the dupes with one character different is the same reason their bots can't seem to either?

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I'm not even trying to find one character off.  That would take a lot of processing power to try all the combinations of one letter out of 80, times all the listings.

However, as to the two IDs, I can make the tool scan across multiple IDs if they are comma separated.  Give me a few hours to make the change.

[cynthealee2]

Has any one told you lately how much we LOVE you?  🙂 

[shipscript]

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@cynthealee2 wrote:

Has any one told you lately how much we LOVE you?  🙂 

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Thanks! we all need a hug now and then. 🙂

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@ymeagainlord wrote:
What I love about eBay's dupe finding bots is...they can find a dupe listed on 2 IDs ....

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 OK, the tool will now accept multiple IDs so you can check your linked accounts for duplicates. (and I found one!)

[cinco_swim]

Wow, what a wonderful tool to have! Thanks so much Shipscipt........very much appreciated!!!!!!

[ymeagainlord]

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@shipscript wrote:

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@ymeagainlord wrote:
Ship, I guess the reason your tool can't find the dupes with one character different is the same reason their bots can't seem to either?

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I'm not even trying to find one character off.  That would take a lot of processing power to try all the combinations of one letter out of 80, times all the listings.

However, as to the two IDs, I can make the tool scan across multiple IDs if they are comma separated.  Give me a few hours to make the change.

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If you can do that it would be SUPER useful = )

And I second the love ya girl = ) Between the gallery and the photo thing back when and the zippy and now this - just wow - you are totally awesome.

[ymeagainlord]

tbh with as much moving between IDs as I've been doing recently I'm surprised it's only one LOL

[ymeagainlord]

All fixed, I'm not surprised it was that one.

[shipscript]

The tool was skipping the last set of duplicates, so those of you who found duplicates will need to check again to pick up that last set.