What are the Ramifications of Selecting NOT to use Catalog Info on a listing?

[mam98031]

This was getting discussed on a thread that got really long and had many subjects within it.  This particular portion of that thread is very interesting and we all need further clarification on both as buyers and sellers.

When a seller sets up a listing and uses a UPC or ISBN but does NOT select the box to auto fill the listing with info from the Ebay catalog, it was brought up on this other thread that even though the seller does not select that auto fill box, the information WILL display for those using the Mobile app to view listings.

I hope I got that right.  If I didn't, I'm confident some of the others that participated on the other thread will pop in and share more information with us.

@Anonymous 

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Buyer-opened-SNAD-because-they-wanted-an-item-not-in-my-listing/td-p/29435365

Further the Ebay UA that we all have agreed to so that we can sell here holds the seller's responsible for the accuracy of the Ebay catalog.  Here is an excerpt from the Content section of the UA.

We offer product data (including images, descriptions and specifications) that are provided by third parties (including eBay users). You may use that content solely in your eBay listings. eBay may modify or revoke that permission at any time in our sole discretion. The product data includes copyrighted, trademarked and other proprietary materials. You agree not to remove any copyright, proprietary, or identification markings in the product data and not to create any derivative works based on that data (other than by including the data in your listings).

We try to offer reliable product data, but cannot promise that the content provided through the Services will always be available, accurate, complete, and up-to-date. You agree that eBay is not responsible for examining or warranting the listings or content provided by third parties through the Services, and that you will not attempt to hold us or our data providers liable for inaccuracies. As a seller, you agree to ensure that content directly associated with your listings is accurate.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/member-behaviour-policies/user-agreement?id=4259#9.%20Content

[sharingtheland]

Though it has been brought to our attention that this is displaying differently on Mobile than on a Desktop,

You mean, until today no one at ebay realized this was happening ?

[coolections]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Though it has been brought to our attention that this is displaying differently on Mobile than on a Desktop, the product identifier would be visible on the desktop and the seller is responsible for the product information associated with this product identifier.

While we do work to ensure that our catalog is as accurate as possible, there may be incorrect details associated with a product from time to time. If an issue occurs on a seller's account related to an eBay product catalog error, we will work to take responsibility. This may mean removing defects or feedback, compensating a seller for return shipping costs or even covering a refund to the buyer ourselves with no fault to the seller. While a seller is responsible for the information in their listing and would be at fault if they gave the wrong product information/selected the wrong item from our catalog, if the details in our catalog are incorrect then we will work to resolve this as soon as possible. The specifics of any given situation would need to be reviewed as the unique details would determine what protections are appropriate.

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Thanks Trinton

[this*old*attic]

You left out one part.

1. The OP of that thread plugged in a WRONG UPC CODE.

2. The catalog info only populated the mobile app because there WAS A UPC.

No UPC, no catalog population in the mobile app.

The real question is: What are the ramifications of not putting a UPC, or checking “other” or “not applicable” in the categories where it is required?

[gramophone-georg]

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@sharingtheland wrote:

Though it has been brought to our attention that this is displaying differently on Mobile than on a Desktop,

You mean, until today no one at ebay realized this was happening ?

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Yeah, if so, that's rather disturbing.

[gramophone-georg]

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@this*old*attic wrote:

You left out one part.

1. The OP of that thread plugged in a WRONG UPC CODE.

2. The catalog info only populated the mobile app because there WAS A UPC.

No UPC, no catalog population in the mobile app.

The real question is: What are the ramifications of not putting a UPC, or checking “other” or “not applicable” in the categories where it is required?

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And the rest of the story is- the OP did that because:

1. The item was sealed, therefore "new".

2. This meant the UPC code seemed to be REQUIRED to list the item.

Had the OP of that thread listed it as USED or NEW OTHER he could have listed it with a UPC of "not applicable" but the seller not only didn't know this- he didn't know he didn't know this. Not only that- he didn't know that the catalog info would populate in the Mobile app, because there's nothing anywhere to tell a seller that this will happen.

It seems even eBay didn't know this would happen until now.

The whole process is WAY too complicated and full of 'GOTCHA!s".

[millcreekrescue909]

Well, he probably could have used “Does Not Apply” anyway. There are listings all over eBay that require UPCs and the sellers are using “Does Not Apply”...and they are not being taken down. EBays enforcement of this policy is spotty at

best.

[gramophone-georg]

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@millcreekrescue909 wrote:

Well, he probably could have used “Does Not Apply” anyway. There are listings all over eBay that require UPCs and the sellers are using “Does Not Apply”...and they are not being taken down. EBays enforcement of this policy is spotty at

best.

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How could he have known this with eBay saying a UPC is required?

[millcreekrescue909]

I didn’t say he could have

known this. Just sharing my observation.

[gramophone-georg]

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@millcreekrescue909 wrote:

I didn’t say he could have

known this. Just sharing my observation.

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No worries, but this actually helps underline what I mean when I say eBay is too complicated. If a seller wanted to find out how things are done here and went exploring, here's a link to the eBay policies overview:

https://www.ebay.com/help/account/policies/az-index-policies?id=4649

On this page, there are links to 425  pages of policies. FOUR HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE PAGES!!!

On THOSE pages, sometimes after nearly every paragraph, there's a clickable "LEARN MORE" link to even MORE policies!

Even with all of that,  there's still  nothing on the first policy page- the overview- that has anything at all seeming to do with UPCs or the Product Catalog.

Where would you even find it?

FOUR HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE pages of policies... and we've been told that there are likely at least this many other "SECRET" policies that we're not allowed to know about because knowledge of them might be "misused".

Is it any wonder  that nobody knows what the Hades is going on around here?

[millcreekrescue909]

Heck! EBay needs all those policies because we sellers are not capable of running our own businesses. (Sarcasm) We need mama eBay to do it for us.

[this*old*attic]

Right, he didn’t do his research. It turns out that - in this case - 2 components of a bundle were individually wrapped and placed in a bigger box. His UPC was for BOTH the console and adapter.

His mistake is not Ebay’s fault. 

That doesn’t make the OP bad, but he failed to research a complicated item thoroughly and therefore created a conflicted listing.

It could have happened to any of us. That doesn’t make it Ebay’s fault either. Sometimes you wade out into deep waters and there’s a drop you can’t see. 

Too bad, so sad. It happens in business.

What IS annoying is your, the OP’s and several others’ determination to skip over the facts in order to hang on to your points.

That catalog is a jungle all it’s own, it doesn’t need misinformation to make people more scared or nervous.

Thank GOODNESS it doesn’t affect my category. Dodged a bullet!

[this*old*attic]

This is NO DIFFERENT than any seller listing merchandise they aren’t familiar with - theirs a learning curve and people goof and the consequences are unpleasant. They don’t check vintage clothes for thread rot or bend vintage shoes to make sure the leather is strong or tug on the hairs of fur to make sure they’re stable. New glass and pottery sellers pack poorly and basically ship shards. People pay too much money thinking they can flip something that went out of style last week or was worthless from the get-go. People in the know scour categories all over EBay looking for Newly Listed and Lowest Price trolling for the mistakes some bumpy listed that they can grab for a song and sell for....

You get the idea. And I haven’t even started on customer service and scam and all other kinds of challenges, wrapped up in crazy seller metrics while the price of goods goes up and the gloss of the site fades.

Sheesh.

[beardedbovine]

@Anonymous 

Trinton, I'm following up on a question I asked on the video game thread.

When I have an object that is new, but missing a piece, I have been listing it as Used, but I have also been including the UPC/MPN. Now I learned from your response that this is incorrect... that I should not be using the UPC/MPN (but that my Used condition is correct)... however that's not what it says on the product identifier requirements page.

The information you provided to not add PIs (product identifiers) contradicts what's on this page. It says:

Be sure to add your item's brand, manufacturer part number (MPN), and global trade item number (GTIN)—along with item specifics such as size and color—any time you list on eBay.

I thought I was following the rules and policies, but now it turns out that following what's written in the policy pages is the wrong thing to do?

I also have to ask about bundles and lots. Are we not supposed to use the UPC/MPN if we sell a lot of 3 of the same item since the PIs apply only to a single item?

What about bundles? Are we not supposed to use the UPC/MPN because that's only specific to one item in the lot? Previously Griff told us we should use the PIs for the "main" item in the bundle, and if that wasn't available then use the UPC for any item in the bundle. Is that not correct?

Edit: The "bundle" item specific is not available in all categories.

Thanks in advance for your time. This is confusing and frustrating!

[beardedbovine]

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@dhbookds wrote:

As far as UPCs are concerned, just leaving them out doesn't always exclude the item from a Product page......which can add an item to an existing page without the knowledge of the seller.

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So spot on that there are larger catalog issues at play. I saw this product page in the P&G category.

eBay has almost no required or suggested item specifics in that category. As a result, sellers are adding or not adding whatever and it's inconsistent.

That example product page linked above shows that some sellers in this category are putting the pattern number in the MPN field. The product page is picking up the brand and the MPN, therefore it's identifying bowls, plates, cups, etc as all the same item just because they share the same brand and MPN.

Of course the MPN being looked at is not actually a MPN, but this demonstrates why any listing that requires you to remove the UPC because it's different from the product catalog also requires you to remove the MPN.

[beardedbovine]

Sorry for yet another post, but I wanted to add that I'm aware what it says about bundles and lots on the Product Identifier FAQ page, however since the policy pages were wrong as posted above, I feel the need to question if this information is accurate or not and reiterate that the bundle and lot item specifics are not available in all categories.

What if I am selling a bundle or group of items that could have multiple product identifiers?

Bundles are defined as multiple different products being grouped together and sold as a single offer.

• If the bundle contains a primary items plus accessories (like a camera plus case and additional lenses) use the identifiers of the primary item and indicate in item specifics that it is a bundle offer
• If the bundle is created by the manufacturer use the identifiers provided by the manufacturer for the group
• If the offer contains multiples of the same product, we refer to that offer as a "lot". Use the identifiers of the item that is grouped and use the lot size value to indicate the quantity in the listing. For example, if you are listing a 12-pack of blank DVDs, use the product identifiers from an individual DVD and enter a lot-size of "12" when creating the listing.