eBay

castlemagicmemories · ‎03-11-2019

There's been a lot of venting on the new GTC listings which is understandable.

This is not that kind of a thread, therefore no redundancy.

Reactions and opinions have been freely shared as to what was thought of this change. The dust has settled somewhat after the announcement of the Early Seller Update. As you know, there has been much reaction. Many don't like it. Some are optimistic. Others don't feel it is a concern. Some have already made plans and know how they will handle it. Some may not have any plans. Some may be planning other things.

So this thread is an opportunity to share your plans, if any, and share what you intend to do about it and how you will handle it. Some have shared strategies on when to post to avoid additional listing fees which would be costly. Thank you!

May it help any who are undecided solidify their plans. Together, we're better! Thank you!

calntom · ‎03-12-2019

I am awaiting the finished version of the spring update. I would assume there are other updates within the GTC iniative that have not yet been mentioned by eBay.

Looking for a lot more documentation surrounding GTC listings. Thinking that the finished product is still in a work in progress at this time.

mam98031 · ‎03-12-2019

@calntom wrote:
I am awaiting the finished version of the spring update. I would assume there are other updates within the GTC iniative that have not yet been mentioned by eBay.
Looking for a lot more documentation surrounding GTC listings. Thinking that the finished product is still in a work in progress at this time.

Like what for example? I ask only because GTC is pretty straight forward. So what else do you think the Update due out later next month might hold for us on this subject? Just curious on your point of view.

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999

mr_lincoln · ‎03-12-2019

@calntom wrote:
I am awaiting the finished version of the spring update. I would assume there are other updates within the GTC iniative that have not yet been mentioned by eBay.
Looking for a lot more documentation surrounding GTC listings. Thinking that the finished product is still in a work in progress at this time.

The finished version of the GTC mandate is out, it came out early by design ... its more about what will sellers do to work within its constraints. If you mean what can and can not be changed on a GTC listing once it goes live then that is certainly a good question.

Regards,
Mr. Lincoln - Community Mentor

mam98031 · ‎03-12-2019

@mr_lincoln wrote:
@calntom wrote:
I am awaiting the finished version of the spring update. I would assume there are other updates within the GTC iniative that have not yet been mentioned by eBay.
Looking for a lot more documentation surrounding GTC listings. Thinking that the finished product is still in a work in progress at this time.
The finished version of the GTC mandate is out, it came out early by design ... its more about what will sellers do to work within its constraints. If you mean what can and can not be changed on a GTC listing once it goes live then that is certainly a good question.

Are you saying they are planning to chance what can currently be changed in a GTC listing once live than is currently available now?

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999

mr_lincoln · ‎03-12-2019

@mam98031 wrote:
@mr_lincoln wrote:
@calntom wrote:
I am awaiting the finished version of the spring update. I would assume there are other updates within the GTC iniative that have not yet been mentioned by eBay.
Looking for a lot more documentation surrounding GTC listings. Thinking that the finished product is still in a work in progress at this time.
The finished version of the GTC mandate is out, it came out early by design ... its more about what will sellers do to work within its constraints. If you mean what can and can not be changed on a GTC listing once it goes live then that is certainly a good question.
Are you saying they are planning to chance what can currently be changed in a GTC listing once live than is currently available now?

Go back one poster and ask that question ...

Regards,
Mr. Lincoln - Community Mentor

mam98031 · ‎03-12-2019

@mr_lincoln wrote:
@mam98031 wrote:
@mr_lincoln wrote:
@calntom wrote:
I am awaiting the finished version of the spring update. I would assume there are other updates within the GTC iniative that have not yet been mentioned by eBay.
Looking for a lot more documentation surrounding GTC listings. Thinking that the finished product is still in a work in progress at this time.
The finished version of the GTC mandate is out, it came out early by design ... its more about what will sellers do to work within its constraints. If you mean what can and can not be changed on a GTC listing once it goes live then that is certainly a good question.
Are you saying they are planning to chance what can currently be changed in a GTC listing once live than is currently available now?
Go back one poster and ask that question ...

I was going by what was in your post, not theirs.

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999

fresh_picked_by_sarah · ‎03-12-2019

I prefer auctions but get aggravated to pay additional money for an auction with a BIN feature. So I have taken to listing as mostly BIN 30 days. The few items I have listed as GTC have mostly languished in obscurity. Even eBay notices and reminds me no sales on these items for x days...lol. Can't afford to keep listing all as GTC. I'm a small seller and the fees over my store subscription would not be worth it. As much as I've enjoyed eBay these past 10 years too many changes that haven't helped me as a small seller. Thinking my business plan will be similar to others: donate some, yard sale some, try my luck on other sites, not renew my store subscription and shutter my eBay after a decade. Between no longer receiving the top rated discount because my margins don't allow for free returns, nothing selling in ages for whatever reason, the move away from auction items, and now forever listings. I used to love eBay.

calntom · ‎03-12-2019

@mr_lincoln wrote:
@calntom wrote:
I am awaiting the finished version of the spring update. I would assume there are other updates within the GTC iniative that have not yet been mentioned by eBay.
Looking for a lot more documentation surrounding GTC listings. Thinking that the finished product is still in a work in progress at this time.
The finished version of the GTC mandate is out, it came out early by design ... its more about what will sellers do to work within its constraints. If you mean what can and can not be changed on a GTC listing once it goes live then that is certainly a good question.

@mam98031 @mr_lincoln

eBay will/should be providing a lot of documentation surrounding the required listing information that is expected to play well with google and other search engines. There will be more long term hoops to jump through with listings, I am wondering what they will be?

(Previous reports of GTC listings being ended by eBay due to no sales for an extended period. Though, this has not happened to me.)

Since eBay is moving more towards this being the norm, there should be “Required Maintenance” over the course of the GTC listing to keep it active over the course of “years”.

At this time, eBay labels stagnate listings with “This listing hasn't had any sales in at least 16 months. Please consider updating it". What are going to be the requirements going forward to keep a GTC listing active for the longterm?

I heard the poorly thought-out, rapidfire presentation of information supplied by the eBay reps on the chat session just after the “early” update was released. This was the part where they were suggesting on what to do to improve GTC listings.

I will expect that eBay will have all these thoughts documented in the final release of the spring update. eBay has some documentation surrounding this now but I expect it to be more in depth moving forward.

There will probably be more hoops to jump through as I would expect to see the listing form updated at some point and possibly more information to be “required” for listings to be activated. Maybe not in all categories.

This initiative with limiting fixed price listings to GTC is an extreme measure. One would hope there is a lot more behind it than perhaps more listing fees even if eBay actually ends up with that.

I reckon I have a lot of expectations of eBay on the issue moving forward.

i.e. There is a method behind the madness

mam98031 · ‎03-12-2019

eBay will/should be providing a lot of documentation surrounding the required listing information that is expected to play well with google and other search engines.

I'm unsure as to why you expect this. GTC isn't a new type of listing. It has been around for years.

There will be more long term hoops to jump through with listings, I am wondering what they will be?

While there have been many subjects Ebay would be able to provide this type of information on, it is an impossible expectation you have of Ebay. I know know how they could possibly know what may or may not be required of sellers off into some undetermined time in the future. If nothing else, Ebay has proven to have the rules always in a fluid form. They change often.

(Previous reports of GTC listings being ended by eBay due to no sales for an extended period. Though, this has not happened to me.)

Most likely because they started to roll that out when they announced it a couple years ago or more, then stopped. I'm in the same place as you, they never ended any of my listings either.

Since eBay is moving more towards this being the norm, there should be “Required Maintenance” over the course of the GTC listing to keep it active over the course of “years”.

That would fall into the realm of a seller's responsibility to set that kind of procedure up. Many of us long time sellers that use GTC do this on a regular basis. Although I must admit my time has been limited the last couple months so I'm a bit behind right now. But I will get caught up.

At this time, eBay labels stagnate listings with “This listing hasn't had any sales in at least 16 months. Please consider updating it". What are going to be the requirements going forward to keep a GTC listing active for the longterm?

The GTC will stay active whether you pay attention to the listing and changes something or you don't. Ebay to my knowledge is not ending any GTCs unless there is a policy breach.

I will expect that eBay will have all these thoughts documented in the final release of the spring update. eBay has some documentation surrounding this now but I expect it to be more in depth moving forward.

Then you will undoubtedly be disappointed.

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999

mr_lincoln · ‎03-12-2019

@calntom wrote:
@mr_lincoln wrote:
@calntom wrote:
I am awaiting the finished version of the spring update. I would assume there are other updates within the GTC iniative that have not yet been mentioned by eBay.
Looking for a lot more documentation surrounding GTC listings. Thinking that the finished product is still in a work in progress at this time.
The finished version of the GTC mandate is out, it came out early by design ... its more about what will sellers do to work within its constraints. If you mean what can and can not be changed on a GTC listing once it goes live then that is certainly a good question.
@mam98031 @mr_lincoln

eBay will/should be providing a lot of documentation surrounding the required listing information that is expected to play well with google and other search engines. There will be more long term hoops to jump through with listings, I am wondering what they will be?

(Previous reports of GTC listings being ended by eBay due to no sales for an extended period. Though, this has not happened to me.)
Since eBay is moving more towards this being the norm, there should be “Required Maintenance” over the course of the GTC listing to keep it active over the course of “years”.

At this time, eBay labels stagnate listings with “This listing hasn't had any sales in at least 16 months. Please consider updating it". What are going to be the requirements going forward to keep a GTC listing active for the longterm?

I heard the poorly thought-out, rapidfire presentation of information supplied by the eBay reps on the chat session just after the “early” update was released. This was the part where they were suggesting on what to do to improve GTC listings.

I will expect that eBay will have all these thoughts documented in the final release of the spring update. eBay has some documentation surrounding this now but I expect it to be more in depth moving forward.

There will probably be more hoops to jump through as I would expect to see the listing form updated at some point and possibly more information to be “required” for listings to be activated. Maybe not in all categories.

This initiative with limiting fixed price listings to GTC is an extreme measure. One would hope there is a lot more behind it than perhaps more listing fees even if eBay actually ends up with that.

I reckon I have a lot of expectations of eBay on the issue moving forward.
i.e. There is a method behind the madness

Not to get off topic too far but these are valid points and will influence how people respond and what their plans are moving forward with GTC. I too remember last year the purge on stagnant GTC listings that sat for over a year, they weren't reports, they were real events. They were taken down by Home Office with the expectation that they be updated, tweaked, changed, modified, etc before being Relisted. I have never used GTC, my understanding is once a listing is clicked to go live one can not "Edit or "Revise" it as easily (if at all?) like a normal 30 FP listing. I assume the price can be changed but again, I need to learn the current dos and don'ts with the format ... what I DO know is they Relist every 30 Days so that part I am working through as previously posted.

Regards,
Mr. Lincoln - Community Mentor

therustygardener · ‎03-12-2019

I am also a small seller with less than 1000 items. I don't like the GTC change. I have had 150 items end just today. Before this, I just kept tabs on what was renewing, etc. Now I have added steps of having to review each batch of ended items and relisting them.

But, like you, I will have absolutely no impact because I'm a retired woman sitting in her craft room selling on eBay. I do not employ people and I don't have warehouses. It's me, myself, and I....and none of us like it.

mam98031 · ‎03-12-2019

I am also a small seller with less than 1000 items. I don't like the GTC change. I have had 150 items end just today. Before this, I just kept tabs on what was renewing, etc. Now I have added steps of having to review each batch of ended items and relisting them.

I think you may misunderstand. If you like the ability to have a listing renew, that is what a GTC listing does. It auto renews without you doing anything. Those added steps you are talking about will not be necessary.

But, like you, I will have absolutely no impact because I'm a retired woman sitting in her craft room selling on eBay. I do not employ people and I don't have warehouses. It's me, myself, and I....and none of us like it.

I too am my entire staff, so I have great respect for all the things you have to do.

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999

sharingtheland · ‎03-12-2019

@mam98031 wrote:
eBay will/should be providing a lot of documentation surrounding the required listing information that is expected to play well with google and other search engines.
I'm unsure as to why you expect this. GTC isn't a new type of listing. It has been around for years.

There will be more long term hoops to jump through with listings, I am wondering what they will be?
While there have been many subjects Ebay would be able to provide this type of information on, it is an impossible expectation you have of Ebay. I know know how they could possibly know what may or may not be required of sellers off into some undetermined time in the future. If nothing else, Ebay has proven to have the rules always in a fluid form. They change often.

(Previous reports of GTC listings being ended by eBay due to no sales for an extended period. Though, this has not happened to me.)
Most likely because they started to roll that out when they announced it a couple years ago or more, then stopped. I'm in the same place as you, they never ended any of my listings either.

Since eBay is moving more towards this being the norm, there should be “Required Maintenance” over the course of the GTC listing to keep it active over the course of “years”.
That would fall into the realm of a seller's responsibility to set that kind of procedure up. Many of us long time sellers that use GTC do this on a regular basis. Although I must admit my time has been limited the last couple months so I'm a bit behind right now. But I will get caught up.

At this time, eBay labels stagnate listings with “This listing hasn't had any sales in at least 16 months. Please consider updating it". What are going to be the requirements going forward to keep a GTC listing active for the longterm?
The GTC will stay active whether you pay attention to the listing and changes something or you don't. Ebay to my knowledge is not ending any GTCs unless there is a policy breach.

I will expect that eBay will have all these thoughts documented in the final release of the spring update. eBay has some documentation surrounding this now but I expect it to be more in depth moving forward.
Then you will undoubtedly be disappointed.

mam, I think you and calntom are on different pages. You're talking about (I think) ebay sharing proprietary data with us which of course ebay isn't going to do.

And (I think) calntom is talking about the final dotted i's and crossed t's in the Update.

I'm in the camp that thinks there is more coming. Maybe some restrictions or at the very least warnings about detrimental consequences if a seller uses or overuses some of the workarounds that have been discussed.

And I assume there are more "updates" than just the GTC thing.

once a listing is clicked to go live one can not "Edit or "Revise" it as easily (if at all?) like a normal 30 FP listing.

From mr. lincon ^^^ I've never done GTC and I didn't know this ^^^. mam, you use GTC; you can't change or revise a listing? Or change the price? What about having a MM sale?

If we are limited on revisions (I do a zillion just because of typos!), then I will be most very unhappy with the GTC thingy.

Sherry

=^.^= =^.^=
( ) ( )
" " =^.^= " "

mam98031 · ‎03-12-2019

Maybe yes, maybe no. I'm not sure what they are thinking. But they are mistaken if they think that Ebay is somehow required to justify any move they decide to make in regards to the site to it's sellers.

I firmly believe there is more coming in the Spring Seller Update due out next month. If their weren't, it would not even be logical to have one. So I think it is a guarantee that there is more coming. Whether we will like it or not or whether it has anything else to do with GTC listings is another question.

However GTC listings are pretty straight forward. So personally I don't know what else they could possibly say about GTC requirements on all FP listings. Well beyond justifications for the move, which I don't think they will do in the upcoming update.

As for editing GTC listings. I've been running these types of listings since Ebay began them. I have always been able to edit any field I want to with the exception of some fields on variation listings. Specifically to the variations themselves that have sold items on them.

It was an OLD problem with FP listing that sellers were quite vocal about years ago where once something sold on the listing you couldn't change the title, the description and maybe other fields. It was so long ago I don't remember the specifics anymore. GTC listings are not like that.

You can revise them and there is no limitation to number of times you can revise them. The current rules for GTC listings is what you would need to adhere to.

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999

calntom · ‎03-12-2019

@mam98031 wrote:
eBay will/should be providing a lot of documentation surrounding the required listing information that is expected to play well with google and other search engines.
I'm unsure as to why you expect this. GTC isn't a new type of listing. It has been around for years.
Really?? Years?

There will be more long term hoops to jump through with listings, I am wondering what they will be?
While there have been many subjects Ebay would be able to provide this type of information on, it is an impossible expectation you have of Ebay. I know know how they could possibly know what may or may not be required of sellers off into some undetermined time in the future. If nothing else, Ebay has proven to have the rules always in a fluid form. They change often.
Nothing to respond to here.

(Previous reports of GTC listings being ended by eBay due to no sales for an extended period. Though, this has not happened to me.)
Most likely because they started to roll that out when they announced it a couple years ago or more, then stopped. I'm in the same place as you, they never ended any of my listings either.
Roger that, though I keep my eye on them.

Since eBay is moving more towards this being the norm, there should be “Required Maintenance” over the course of the GTC listing to keep it active over the course of “years”.
That would fall into the realm of a seller's responsibility to set that kind of procedure up. Many of us long time sellers that use GTC do this on a regular basis. Although I must admit my time has been limited the last couple months so I'm a bit behind right now. But I will get caught up.
It will always be the seller's responsibility. At some point, eBay will be laying that out for the sellers. No telling what they will come up with but we will be updating these listings somehow, someway.

At this time, eBay labels stagnate listings with “This listing hasn't had any sales in at least 16 months. Please consider updating it". What are going to be the requirements going forward to keep a GTC listing active for the longterm?
The GTC will stay active whether you pay attention to the listing and changes something or you don't. Ebay to my knowledge is not ending any GTCs unless there is a policy breach.
Of course they stay active, as it stands now.
Where will they be in search result status a year from now without any updates?

I will expect that eBay will have all these thoughts documented in the final release of the spring update. eBay has some documentation surrounding this now but I expect it to be more in depth moving forward.
Then you will undoubtedly be disappointed.
I am sure this whole deal is still an eBay work in progress, but eBay will provide documented hoops to jump through surrounding long-term GTC listings and their newest buzz phrase, "sales velocity". Just a matter of time. Probably sooner than later.