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

[Anonymous]

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@beardedbovine wrote:

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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?

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Hi @beardedbovine, you are welcome to use a UPC or MPN for any used product if you wish. The fact that you are selling it as used is enough to indicate it is not in the same condition as the New item. Selling it as New would be the issue, because in the New condition of your example, there would be 12 pens. Used, there may not be 12 pens, but the product identifier is fine. In fact, it would be recommended because product identifiers help your placement in search and allow buyers to find what they are looking for more easily. 

[moo*cow*corner]

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@myjunqueyourtreasure wrote:

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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?

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I get it. P&G is a hot mess. No small wonder that people can find anything to buy at all, especially if they are coming from a Google search.

It'll be very interesting to see what they try and do. So many patterns, so many manufacturers. Tons of listings where the items are not manufacturer marked and the seller did little to no research. And worse, if one knows what to look for...

Not really relevant, but one post in this thread (quoted above) is displaying in Greek on my PC. Weird, eh? I assume it's a board thing, but I think it's hilarious. All this stuff is like Greek to some of us, right? Is this happening to any one else? I'll post a screen shot if anyone is interested...too funny!

[millcreekrescue909]

Too weird!  LOL

[moo*cow*corner]

Here ya go. Don't want to derail the thread or anything, but figured we could all use a smile on a dreary Monday...

[beardedbovine]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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Hi @beardedbovine, you are welcome to use a UPC or MPN for any used product if you wish. The fact that you are selling it as used is enough to indicate it is not in the same condition as the New item. Selling it as New would be the issue, because in the New condition of your example, there would be 12 pens. Used, there may not be 12 pens, but the product identifier is fine. In fact, it would be recommended because product identifiers help your placement in search and allow buyers to find what they are looking for more easily. 

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@Anonymous 

I don't want to belabor the point, but now I'm more confused. The video game/adapter example you said to list it as used and not include a UPC because it was an incomplete set.

The box of pens you say to list as used with a UPC even though it's an incomplete set.

What about a trio of frying pans that's shy one pan but the 2 being listed are still new. List it as used with or without a UPC?

What about a new iPhone that's missing the charger? Use the UPC or don't use it?

[beardedbovine]

@moo*cow*corner 

That's very weird. I remember the font and formatting got messed up on that post and I had to select a font from the drop-down. I don't remember what font I picked, but maybe it's not installed on your computer which is why there's a display issue? The post looks ok on my end.

[beardedbovine]

@moo*cow*corner 

That jumbled up text you're seeing is representative of how I'm feeling about UPCs right now. I think the computer knows...

[moo*cow*corner]

@beardedbovine
I agree that it's likely a board specific font issue. For sure. I'm using Chrome on a Win7 PC, and everything is up to date. I got a clue that it's a font issue when I copied and pasted your post into Google translate. There, it rendered just fine and it was detected as English. Hysterical! Looks like Greek to me though. Every time I read this thread, it tickles my funny bone.

[beardedbovine]

Testing... does this look like English to you?

[moo*cow*corner]

@beardedbovine

I can guess what you are writing, and yup, that looks like Greek to me. Obviously not Greek, but it must be a crazy font like wingdings? Maybe it's Klingon or Romulan or something? If everyone posting were to choose that font, whatever it is, OMG, I'd be so hit! LOL!

[beardedbovine]

I think it's my fault! I scrolled down the list and picked something that was somewhat similar in appearance to the regular font here since I didn't know what font this is. I paid no attention at all to the font name... SYMBOL! It looks like regular text on my screen. Oops.

[sharingtheland]

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@beardedbovine wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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Hi @beardedbovine, you are welcome to use a UPC or MPN for any used product if you wish. The fact that you are selling it as used is enough to indicate it is not in the same condition as the New item. Selling it as New would be the issue, because in the New condition of your example, there would be 12 pens. Used, there may not be 12 pens, but the product identifier is fine. In fact, it would be recommended because product identifiers help your placement in search and allow buyers to find what they are looking for more easily. 

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@Anonymous 

I don't want to belabor the point, but now I'm more confused. The video game/adapter example you said to list it as used and not include a UPC because it was an incomplete set.

The box of pens you say to list as used with a UPC even though it's an incomplete set.

What about a trio of frying pans that's shy one pan but the 2 being listed are still new. List it as used with or without a UPC?

What about a new iPhone that's missing the charger? Use the UPC or don't use it?

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If I may, allow me to add another layer to this ball o' confusion.  

If we use the UPC for a box of 12 pens, but have only 11 and call the box of 11 used per trinton's explanation,  won't the UPC automatically pull up the catalog photo and specifics of the box of 12 pens?

Which is exactly what happened to the seller of the video game.

Or, is this the actual answer:  If we use "used", then the specifics and photo don't auto fill ?

This is a problem on Amazon - sellers with different sizes or amounts of a widget but they add to the only listing available.  Or, it's an old photo and a seller has changed the sizes/amounts in the title.  The UPC selected trumps all.  Don't ask me how I know this.

[beardedbovine]

@sharingtheland 

That's exactly why I was asking.

I have been using UPCs but listing as used if something was incomplete, even if the parts I did have were new and sealed. With the info we learned from the video game I thought the lesson was don't use a UPC if it's incomplete because the catalog tells the buyer it should come with all parts... but now? I'm more confused than ever.

[Anonymous]

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@beardedbovine wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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Hi @beardedbovine, you are welcome to use a UPC or MPN for any used product if you wish. The fact that you are selling it as used is enough to indicate it is not in the same condition as the New item. Selling it as New would be the issue, because in the New condition of your example, there would be 12 pens. Used, there may not be 12 pens, but the product identifier is fine. In fact, it would be recommended because product identifiers help your placement in search and allow buyers to find what they are looking for more easily. 

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@Anonymous 

I don't want to belabor the point, but now I'm more confused. The video game/adapter example you said to list it as used and not include a UPC because it was an incomplete set.

The box of pens you say to list as used with a UPC even though it's an incomplete set.

What about a trio of frying pans that's shy one pan but the 2 being listed are still new. List it as used with or without a UPC?

What about a new iPhone that's missing the charger? Use the UPC or don't use it?

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Hi @beardedbovine, I apologize if I misspoke somewhere. What I intended to say on the video game example was that the item needs to be listed as Used or be listed with the correct UPC. The seller listed the item as New with a UPC that represents more than just the game. New means the item in the condition it was sold in, which in that example, means the game and the adapter sold together. The seller needs to either list it as Used or they need to obtain a product identifier that only associates with the game itself. 

I will attempt to reiterate and simplify:

• A New item is in the same condition it was sold in. 
• Some categories require a product identifier when sold as New, New other, New with defects, or Refurbished.
• At this time, no categories require a product identifier when sold as Used.
• If a product identifier is provided for a Used item, it does not need to be in the same condition that it was sold in, as this is indicated by the Used condition and additional details in the item description.
• If a product identifier is provided for a New item, the product needs to include all of the original components associated with that product identifier.

The product identifier is not just a string of numbers - it represents a specific product. It's almost like a unique nickname for the product. In the seller's video game listing we've discussed, the product identifier they used was the same as if they had put into their listing "Video game and adapter". In the example you gave of a set of three frying pans, if you used the product identifier for the set, it would be the same as saying "Set of three frying pans". You would need to include all three frying pans if listing the item as New, because New indicates the item is in the same condition it was sold and the product identifier is identifying the product as a set of three. You can sell the same two pans as Used with or without a product identifier, because the Used condition indicates that there are defects or missing components. If the frying pans that make up the set of three also contain a product identifier for each individual pan, you could sell each of the pans you do have as New with the appropriate product identifier. If no such product identifiers exist for the individual pans, you would not be able to sell them as New with a product identifier for the set of three, as the product identifier is basically another way of saying "These three pans together". As for a cell phone without a charger - cell phones come with chargers, so it cannot be listed as New. You can list the cell phone as Used, with or without the product identifier.

In the event that a Brand New item legitimately does not have a product identifier, the seller can select Does not apply even when a product identifier is required for that category. This would typically not apply to items like video games, but is common in certain categories like craft supplies.