selling multiple books in one listing

[frankanddot]

I just spent a fruitless hour with eBay help trying to list multiple books (lot) in one listing - how to deal with the ISBN number that is required. What happened to the "not applicable." They suggested I list all the numbers -- for twenty books? Finally had to put in just one number. Ridiculous. New form does not take into account book lots. Has anyone gotten a sensible answer to this?

[m60driver · Accepted solution]

I often use n/a as the ISBN when selling multiple books as well as "various" for titles and authors.  If the system won't allow it then just input an ISBN from one of the books as a place filler.  Choose the most poplar book out of the lot for the ISBN.

[lonebuck-books]

I just listed a book lot a few days ago under the new listing page and it allowed me to use Does Not Apply as the ISBN.  No problem at all.  If that fails, as others have said pick the most popular book and use that ISBN.  People who are looking for book lots aren't searching by ISBN anyways, they are searching by author, subject or series titles typically.  Don't fight the listing tool, learn to work around it if it is fighting you.  If you have a good item, buyers will find it.

Edited to add, Does Not Apply has to be done with capital first letters of each word for it to work for me.  I've never had any luck with N/A or does not apply in all lower case letters.  

[1786davycrockett]

Besides "Does Not Apply," you can also add a fake ISBN of your own choosing.  Since it won't be a match for any past, present or future book, the system will just kick it out immediately -- just click on the "X", and continue with your listing. 

Keep in mind -- since ISBN numbers did not exist until 1969 or thereabouts, the vast majority of published books have NEVER had ISBN codes.

[frankanddot]

Thanks, I'll do that, but how ridiculous is it that it is a required answer. Give me back the old form, or at least the parts of it that made sense, as in "not applicable" as an answer. If one types N/A in where numbers are required, the listing won't go through. And don't get me started on that list of book titles. Whose bright idea was that? Just type in your title (if you happen to be selling only one book) and be done with it. Was I supposed to type in twenty titles there? Aargh!

[whimsyonthewinetrail]

i find that " doesnotapply " .. all lower case and all one word works ...

[frankanddot]

Thanks! Linda

[theimmortalcollector]

Hi, I am having the exact same problem and can completely sympathize! The new format for listing multiple items in a "lot" is absolutely awful because it DOESN'T EXITST anymore. There is no category in any sections for lots. I absolutely HATE this new format. Requiring ISBNs and numerous titles doesn't  make sense for lots. I tried it with some movie series and by listing each title it pretty much guarantees a buyer is not going to find your listing.... Is a buyer going to type in each name of a series just like you do in the title or just one when they're searching? And how can you as a seller possible know which one they are going to type in out of six or even four book or movie titles.... and of course you lucky if there is room in your title for more than one of the titles.  It's just stupid. I have had to just pick one out of however many titles I have and put that in the title slots but like I said it means not everyone is going to see your listing.  I don't know why they think this is a better system than the old one. I  find it much more cumbersome and all my photos take 3 times longer to load.