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

[mam98031]

When I am listing an item and check or uncheck a box, I expect it to STAY the way I have it set.

And that is the point of this thread.  It wasn't to rehash the other thread.  That other thread is the RESULT of a PROBLEM created by Ebay.  I'd like to focus on the PROBLEM.  

If we are proactive and make sure Ebay hears us, it will be better for all.  They need to FIX this issue with the Mobile app showing the catalog info when a seller has set up the listing to NOT show it.  This issue needs to be FIXED.

We all also need to be aware that Ebay is heading towards NOT allowing us the option to not display catalog info.  That was in the posts from Trinton earlier in this thread.  These are VERY important things for sellers to know and start preparing for.  This IS A BIG DEAL!!

[usgamecollector]

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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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the upc code was correct, but that upc was associated with a bundle. The item I was selling was from the bundle. I and many other sellers/buyers still consider it a new product as it is sealed. I removed the catalog (or thought I did) because I did not want any conflicting information.

If you have 2 products and they are bundled together but you want to sell them separately how would you do that? Sell them used? They aren't used, they are both brand new and sealed products. I don't know what the solution is but I shouldn't have to sell a sealed item as used.

[usgamecollector]

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@this*old*attic wrote:

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. 

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it is ebay's fault to not have any option to allow a sealed item to be sold as new. Especially when there are many people who do not need the adapter and are looking for the NEW game only.

it is also ebay's fault to give me the illusion of removing the conflicting information and then adding it on mobile without my knowledge. If I knew there was conflicting information I would have researched another way to list it.

[usgamecollector]

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@this*old*attic wrote:

The problem IS NOT the fact that the catalog populated the mobile app. THE PROBLEM is an incorrect UPC code. The customer was JUST AS LIKELY to be confused on a PC if they checked the PC in some other fashion.

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The only way the customer would have been confused on PC is if he was searching by UPC code and decided to look at only the UPC code and close his eyes while purchasing and ignore the picture and description. No where on the PC site did it mention an adapter so there is no reason the buyer would have thought there was one if eBay didn't add it to mobile. The buyer said he bought it because the listing said it had a controller/adapter. I did not have that in my listing, ebay did.

[gramophone-georg]

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@coffeebean832 wrote:

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@hillbillymedia wrote:

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When I am listing an item and check or uncheck a box, I expect it to STAY the way I have it set.

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While I do very much agree with this- it wouldn't have mattered whether the box was checked if the buyer purchased from the product catalog page without clicking on the seller's individual listing.

The big disconnect is that sellers thought unchecking the box to populate catalog info would mean their listing was not tied to the product catalog. That's not the case. You have to leave out product identifiers so your listing isn't tied to the catalog and from what I've seen- even then it's not guaranteed your listing won't be linked.

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So are you saying then that the tests Trinton outlined in his accepted solution weren't thorough? Just for fun someone should create a listing, then grab a millennial with a phone and see what shows up. 

[usgamecollector]

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@gramophone-georg wrote:

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@coffeebean832 wrote:

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@hillbillymedia wrote:

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When I am listing an item and check or uncheck a box, I expect it to STAY the way I have it set.

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While I do very much agree with this- it wouldn't have mattered whether the box was checked if the buyer purchased from the product catalog page without clicking on the seller's individual listing.

The big disconnect is that sellers thought unchecking the box to populate catalog info would mean their listing was not tied to the product catalog. That's not the case. You have to leave out product identifiers so your listing isn't tied to the catalog and from what I've seen- even then it's not guaranteed your listing won't be linked.

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So are you saying then that the tests Trinton outlined in his accepted solution weren't thorough? Just for fun someone should create a listing, then grab a millennial with a phone and see what shows up. 

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maybe they changed the code, but as of yesterday when I made my thread the product catalog details were on mobile but not PC. I verified this 3 times while writing the post because I did not even understand why the buyer thought it came with anything else besides what was in my description. I can't check now because I removed the listing to prevent any more errors.

[coffeebean832]

I was saying that even if the listing didn't show catalog specifics on mobile or PC it wouldn't matter if the buyer was making a purchase from the product page. The product page shows all the catalog specifics and you don't have to actually click on a seller's listing to purchase it- you can do so from the product page.

I was saying that a lot sellers were under the impression that if you uncheck the box you were not associating your listing with the catalog- which is not the case after all. With that information, the bigger issue isn't whether or not catalog specifics are populating on mobile or not- it's educating sellers that they can't use certain product identifiers if they don't want their listing to be part of the product page. That information isn't made clear anywhere but this board.

[gramophone-georg]

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@coffeebean832 wrote:

I was saying that even if the listing didn't show catalog specifics on mobile or PC it wouldn't matter if the buyer was making a purchase from the product page. The product page shows all the catalog specifics and you don't have to actually click on a seller's listing to purchase it- you can do so from the product page.

I was saying that a lot sellers were under the impression that if you uncheck the box you were not associating your listing with the catalog- which is not the case after all. With that information, the bigger issue isn't whether or not catalog specifics are populating on mobile or not- it's educating sellers that they can't use certain product identifiers if they don't want their listing to be part of the product page. That information isn't made clear anywhere but this board.

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Ah. Sort of makes sense. I say "sort of" because I am a fogey.

[hillbillymedia]

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@coffeebean832 wrote:

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@hillbillymedia wrote:

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When I am listing an item and check or uncheck a box, I expect it to STAY the way I have it set.

---

While I do very much agree with this- it wouldn't have mattered whether the box was checked if the buyer purchased from the product catalog page without clicking on the seller's individual listing.

The big disconnect is that sellers thought unchecking the box to populate catalog info would mean their listing was not tied to the product catalog. That's not the case. You have to leave out product identifiers so your listing isn't tied to the catalog and from what I've seen- even then it's not guaranteed your listing won't be linked.

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I understand that after doing some more research....I just don`t like it, to be honest. It shouldn`t be this difficult/confusing. Why have the checkbox there? Like you stated, if the only way to unlink from the catalog is to remove the upc, mpn, isbn etc. entirely (IF then) and then your item may not show in search.

I believe the proper procedure when the catalog is incorrect (or when you have an issue like in the original post) would be to submit a "product request" to ebay so they can create and approve a catalog listing for the item. If two items have the same upc code ebay issues an ePID number to separate/differentiate the items. The problem with this is that it`s time consuming and many times ebay rejects it from what I`ve read. Not only that, but many sellers know nothing about it. I admit fully that I don`t understand how it all works. What I do know is that it`s been a big problem for years.

[hillbillymedia]

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@mam98031 wrote:

When I am listing an item and check or uncheck a box, I expect it to STAY the way I have it set.

And that is the point of this thread.  It wasn't to rehash the other thread.  That other thread is the RESULT of a PROBLEM created by Ebay.  I'd like to focus on the PROBLEM.  

If we are proactive and make sure Ebay hears us, it will be better for all.  They need to FIX this issue with the Mobile app showing the catalog info when a seller has set up the listing to NOT show it.  This issue needs to be FIXED.

We all also need to be aware that Ebay is heading towards NOT allowing us the option to not display catalog info.  That was in the posts from Trinton earlier in this thread.  These are VERY important things for sellers to know and start preparing for.  This IS A BIG DEAL!!

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This is a big deal. I couldn`t agree more. I sell used items mainly so I can opt out of using the catalog in my categories. The problem is that if I don`t use the upc code many of my items do not show up in certain searches. I`ve done many tests with and without upc codes and the pre-filled info. to check how the listings appear in different searches. I can`t find any solid consistency.

I also don`t like to use the pre-filled catalog info. at all. To me, that big "pre-filled" box with all that info. overshadows my description and causes my potential customers to have to scroll past all the gobbleygook ebay has inserted to see my description if, at all.

[mam98031]

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@hillbillymedia wrote:

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@mam98031 wrote:

When I am listing an item and check or uncheck a box, I expect it to STAY the way I have it set.

And that is the point of this thread.  It wasn't to rehash the other thread.  That other thread is the RESULT of a PROBLEM created by Ebay.  I'd like to focus on the PROBLEM.  

If we are proactive and make sure Ebay hears us, it will be better for all.  They need to FIX this issue with the Mobile app showing the catalog info when a seller has set up the listing to NOT show it.  This issue needs to be FIXED.

We all also need to be aware that Ebay is heading towards NOT allowing us the option to not display catalog info.  That was in the posts from Trinton earlier in this thread.  These are VERY important things for sellers to know and start preparing for.  This IS A BIG DEAL!!

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This is a big deal. I couldn`t agree more. I sell used items mainly so I can opt out of using the catalog in my categories. The problem is that if I don`t use the upc code many of my items do not show up in certain searches. I`ve done many tests with and without upc codes and the pre-filled info. to check how the listings appear in different searches. I can`t find any solid consistency.

I also don`t like to use the pre-filled catalog info. at all. To me, that big "pre-filled" box with all that info. overshadows my description and causes my potential customers to have to scroll past all the gobbleygook ebay has inserted to see my description if, at all.

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EXACTLY and that was the purpose of this thread.  Not to rehash the old thread and the outcome that seller had.  I wanted to concentrate on the issue that caused the problem, not what resulted from it. 

But unfortunately there are many that still want to discuss the result that the other seller had instead of what the larger problem is, which is what I outlined in my OP. 

I'm unsure why some feel this is not an issue or an issue that should take a back seat to what transpired on the other thread.  It makes no sense to me.  

[beardedbovine]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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HI @beardedbovine, happy to clarify! You should absolutely include the UPC/MPN anytime you list as a best practice, even if the item is being listed as Used. The example from the other thread was problematic because the product identifier was not solely for the game, but for a manufacturer bundle. The manufacture put two items together under one UPC, so the UPC was not for either item individually. In a scenario where only half of the manufacturer bundle is being sold, the UPC should not be used.

A seller only needs to ensure that the information they provide in their listing is accurate. If the UPC/MPN you are providing is for the item you are selling, then you are fine. If the UPC/MPN you are providing represents a different product, such as a manufacturer bundle that you do not have all the components of, it should not be provided.

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@Anonymous 

Thanks for the reply. Let's say I bought a box of 12 pens from the office store... tried one of the pens but didn't like it. I want to sell the remaining box of 11 brand new pens.

The proper procedure is to list it as Used and not use any UPC or MPN?

[myjunqueyourtreasure]

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@beardedbovine wrote:

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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.

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Not to mention that P&G STILL says "condition field not required" in a category (P&G) where condition can be THE most important consideration.

Yet they WILL require a UPC on items where even the maker can be a mystery, let alone knowing the freaking UPC (IF it ever even had one).

I just don't get it.

eta: and don't even get me started on the requiring a field called "object type" when the OBJECT is usually IN the title - If I call it a bowl in the title it's a freaking BOWL, ok?

[myjunqueyourtreasure]

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@abfabvintage wrote:

Hey, Hill...just like the adding of the BO on listings without seller knowledge. 

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AND "forced IPR" that you can't see and can't remove?

[pjcdn2005]

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@usgamecollector wrote:

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@gramophone-georg wrote:

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@coffeebean832 wrote:

---

@hillbillymedia wrote:

---

---

When I am listing an item and check or uncheck a box, I expect it to STAY the way I have it set.

---

While I do very much agree with this- it wouldn't have mattered whether the box was checked if the buyer purchased from the product catalog page without clicking on the seller's individual listing.

The big disconnect is that sellers thought unchecking the box to populate catalog info would mean their listing was not tied to the product catalog. That's not the case. You have to leave out product identifiers so your listing isn't tied to the catalog and from what I've seen- even then it's not guaranteed your listing won't be linked.

---

So are you saying then that the tests Trinton outlined in his accepted solution weren't thorough? Just for fun someone should create a listing, then grab a millennial with a phone and see what shows up. 

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maybe they changed the code, but as of yesterday when I made my thread the product catalog details were on mobile but not PC. I verified this 3 times while writing the post because I did not even understand why the buyer thought it came with anything else besides what was in my description. I can't check now because I removed the listing to prevent any more errors.

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You can't actually remove the listing from the servers so doesn't it show up in your sold listings?