Variation Listings - let's work on a tutorial?

[shipscript]

In a prior thread, the topic came up about lack of information for those wanting to start using variations.

@mcdougle4248  wanted to try using variations, but there was no helpful roadmap, or perhaps those that existed online were outdated, so I said I would start one.

@myjunqueyourtreasure  and  @mam98031  specifically mentioned in that thread that they both regularly use variations, so I'm putting them on the spot here to ask what pitfalls and workarounds they've dealt with and which listing forms they are using (desktop vs mobile). 

I've taken this endeavor to 80% completion where we can plug in, correct, or rearrange information.  It's long winded because there is a lot of territory to cover.  I've created new variation listings and have revised an existing variation in order to test and screencapture, but surely I have not hit all the gotchas.

Hopefully, we could come up with a shorter bullet list for those who already "get it" if they just knew how to start and only needed a few references. Or, for those who just like to follow pictures, perhaps we can add any pictorial steps that are missing.

Anyway, here is a work in progress, still rather rough around the edges, and when we get it smoothed out, we could post it here on the forums where others could more readily find it.

http://shipscript.com/ebayhelp/lister_hub/creating_ebay_variations.htm

[shipscript]

Sorry for the hiatus. I'm back on this again and here is a "quick guide" outline version. It doesn't really incorporate the gotchas, but is instead just a beginning to end idea of the workflow. How can we make this better?

http://shipscript.com/ebayhelp/lister_hub/creating_ebay_variations_quickguide.htm

[mcdougle4248]

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@shipscript wrote:

Sorry for the hiatus. I'm back on this again and here is a "quick guide" outline version. It doesn't really incorporate the gotchas, but is instead just a beginning to end idea of the workflow. How can we make this better?

http://shipscript.com/ebayhelp/lister_hub/creating_ebay_variations_quickguide.htm

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First and foremost, I am glad to see you back and hoping that you are feeling much better.  

Looks good to me, however, I am slow to pick up on new (to me) processes.  I like your first post with the screenshots.   FYI, I am most likely to have only one attribute with about 25 options and the possibility to want to edit an existing listing to add additional options...easy peasy right?

Thank you so much for doing this>

[shipscript]

@mcdougle4248 

Thank you.

We can probably extend the quick guide and the longer tutorial to include how to handle a revision on a listing that already has variations. 

Ideally, I would like a tutorial that can be brief and expand to elaborate where needed, but also have the ability to open all details instead. Unfortunately, the quick guide already seems too long for that.

[mcdougle4248]

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@shipscript wrote:

@mcdougle4248 

Thank you.

We can probably extend the quick guide and the longer tutorial to include how to handle a revision on a listing that already has variations. 

Ideally, I would like a tutorial that can be brief and expand to elaborate where needed, but also have the ability to open all details instead. Unfortunately, the quick guide already seems too long for that.

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I understand.  I know you are spending so much time on this, I am sure your finished tutorial will be wonderful.

[mam98031]

@shipscript 

It is wonderful to have you back.  I hope this means you are feeling much better now!!!

Thank you for your hard work.

[shipscript]

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@dhbookds wrote:

Only I have now to contribute is something I "think" is still applicable.  You can only use flat rate shipping so be sure you figure out how to do that BEFORE creating the variations.......

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@dhbookds  Could you elaborate on this? If I can understand what was the issue, perhaps I can perform some tests.

[shipscript]

@bigdeals.etc 

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@bigdeals.etc wrote:

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@shipscript wrote:

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@bigdeals.etc wrote:

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That red error pops up when I click the box to "neckline" to try to add another attribute after my original 4. Perhaps it's category dependent... which is dumb.

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@bigdeals.etc 

Odd. How many combinations do you have already in that listing? I'll have to start a draft in that category to test. Perhaps it's dependent on new listing vs revision.  Can you provide the path to that category?

I just used my Art draft to add 5 attributes and to add 70 options to one attribute.  The tool generated 420 combinations. But when I clicked "save and preview" a popup error refused to save, due to exceeding the 250 combination limit.

So I elimated some of the attributes, kept the 70 options, and the tool generated 210 combinations and accepted that "save and preview".

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I have less than 250 combinations in that listing. That's the limit for me in clothing too. And I believe it's not sensitive to create or revise a listing... it's the same deal for me. Here's the path: Clothing, Shoes & Accessories (CSA)>Men's Clothing>Shirts>T-Shirts

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I've confirmed the same with that category and a few others within men's clothing. I did not encounter the same restriction in: Clothing, Shoes & Accessories (CSA)>Men's Clothing>Other Mens Clothing

I suspect many of the Clothing categories are kept to some tightly defined attributes to help with search.  Perhaps the limit on the Attributes is why the cap was removed on the Options. Or vice versa.

[dhbookds]

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@shipscript wrote:

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@dhbookds wrote:

Only I have now to contribute is something I "think" is still applicable.  You can only use flat rate shipping so be sure you figure out how to do that BEFORE creating the variations.......

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@dhbookds  Could you elaborate on this? If I can understand what was the issue, perhaps I can perform some tests.

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The problem comes with shipping when the variations aren't somewhat equal in weight.  If you can only charge a certain amount for any variation and, as some T shirt people do, you list by design with variations of T Shirt, hoodie, long sleeve turtleneck, etc....  you've got to figure out how to charge shipping.....use the shipping cost for the t shirt as the flat rate and then add in the extra weight charge to the price of the heavier item....  etc.   Most just used free shipping, I think and did the adjustments to the item price.

I just looked for some examples and do not see that kind of variation listing now.....(ie the combination of different items), so there may have been a change that moots the point. 

shri

[coffeebean832]

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@shipscript wrote:

Sorry for the hiatus. I'm back on this again and here is a "quick guide" outline version. It doesn't really incorporate the gotchas, but is instead just a beginning to end idea of the workflow. How can we make this better?

http://shipscript.com/ebayhelp/lister_hub/creating_ebay_variations_quickguide.htm

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I think this should also include "relist".

2. Start a new listing (not a sell-similar, not a revision, not a relist).

If this quick version is going to be the main tutorial then I think you can summarize the gotchas in one last short section at the end.

[shipscript]

@dhbookds 

Thanks for the info on shipping. I think I'll try to add something in the startup area warning that shipping should be evaluated because it might affect the prices that will be entered in the variation grid.

@coffeebean832 

Thanks, added the phrase and will look at building an "exceptions" or "problems" section to the outline version.

[Anonymous]

@shipscript 

I remembered this thread when I was helping a friend with variation listings today. I don't think anybody mentioned that Best Offer cannot be used on a variation listing and thought it was worth adding the info here.

[shipscript]

@Anonymous 

Thank you for that info. It's not something that I can test myself, so I'll take your word for it, and have updated the tutorials.