ShipScript has been an eBay Community volunteer since 2003, specializing in HTML, CSS, Scripts, Photos, Active Content, Technical Solutions, and online Seller Tools.
mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999
Hi everyone! Thanks for joining us for the Weekly Chat with eBay Staff. We don't have a specific topic this week, so feel free to share any general buying or selling questions you may have.
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@b86fiero wrote:
Listing Question
I use Sell Similar for some of my items - why reinvent the wheel right?
I am listing new kitchen towels right now. I use one of my current listings for the same brand and click Sell Similar. I update the Title, photos, myriad item specifics and description.
After the listing goes live I check it for accuracy. For the past few days not all of the item specifics - same or updated or newly added - transfer to the new listing. For instance, an original listing had 14 item specifics filled out. Sell Similar new listing created for same brand different design has only 5 item specifics showing. Some missing specifics not transferring include size, pattern, color, etc. Important info for buyers. Why are not all item specifics transferring to the new listing?
The same has happened when I use Sell Similar to list new bowls and plates.
Thanks for any help you can give.
@b86fiero hmmm... my guess is that since a large number of Item Specifics were updated in the last few months the listing used for the Sell Similar might have old internal data that can't transfer over to a new listing. If you don't mind sharing the item number of the listing you used for Sell Similar and the new listings item number then I can get it reported in the hopes of getting an answer to this.
@bimmerpc1 wrote:
Following up on tyler@ebay response to this post last week: https://community.ebay.com/t5/Weekly-Discussion-with-eBay/Community-Chat-July-7-1-00-pm-PT-General-T...
Tyler asked:
Update: - would you mind getting me an item number example that I can use to do some searching? It will make it simpler for me if I need to end up sending it off to the Seller Hub team. Thanks!
I cannot provide an item number publicly as the URL is seller-specific and requires both a transaction ID and an item number. I would be happy to offer an example via private messaging.
Hi @bimmerpc1 - I completely respect that. I can't promise I am able to request this information via a private message at this time since we're down a teammate, but this may be a good thing to raise with CS so they can review. The social media team is great to work with!
Brian, you will be missed...thank you for the years you have supported us.
----
With the recent Item Specifics mandate, listings can no longer be edited unless all the mandates are addressed in that edit.
Historically, mandates have generally not prevented listings from auto-renewing (when the seller is in good standing). They just lower search visibility.
What is the situation with the July 12 mandate?
1) Will non-conforming listings continue to renew so that sellers can address the requirements using available tools?
2) Or, will eBay deny renewal and allow those listings to end on their renewal date?
The sanity of many sellers will hinge on your answer.
-----
Edit: A reply to your questions can be found here
@mam98031 wrote:
I've ran into a new issue regarding shipping labels, well new to me. Yesterday and again today I could not print labels for a couple of items due to the proper shipping method did not show up nor could I get it to.
The categories the items were listed in are fine for Media Mail, but the option was blocked. I had other sales in the same categories that I was able to print labels using Media mail. Any ideas??
Hi @mam98031! I found out about this earlier today when some Canadian members reported it. It's a known tech issue and being worked on currently but they're requesting more details to get to the bottom of it.
I can add you to the open ticket if you'll get me the following as an example:
Seller ID:
Buyer ID:
Item #:
Screenshot of the error:
tyler@ebay wrote:
@mam98031 wrote:
I've ran into a new issue regarding shipping labels, well new to me. Yesterday and again today I could not print labels for a couple of items due to the proper shipping method did not show up nor could I get it to.
The categories the items were listed in are fine for Media Mail, but the option was blocked. I had other sales in the same categories that I was able to print labels using Media mail. Any ideas??
Hi @mam98031! I found out about this earlier today when some Canadian members reported it. It's a known tech issue and being worked on currently but they're requesting more details to get to the bottom of it.
I can add you to the open ticket if you'll get me the following as an example:
Seller ID:
Buyer ID:
Item #:
Screenshot of the error:
I will email you the information. I didn't make a note of the two yesterday, but I did today, so I will send you two examples.
-----
Edit: A reply to your comment can be found here
@gwzcomps wrote:
Electronics are highly price driven. This has always been a problem with price lowest first sorting, but has gotten even worse this year. I understand it may show up other ways, but it doesn't show up the way that matters the most. It still gets suppressed if I use the other keyword variations. This isn't my only listing effected either.
@gwzcomps thanks for clarifying that. The listing still appears on the first page in the fifth spot when sorting by price lowest first, so it's definitely still visible to buyers searching this way. However, it will show below items prices lower, which is the intended way a search by lowest price first is designed to work.
The messaging about 'fewer words' is something I can have looked into though. Thanks!
@mam98031 wrote:
What is up with all these new members to the Community that have been posting one line posts, dozens at a time. They are all over the place posting 10, 15, 20 postings to any given thread, especially threads that are already very long. Going back and responding to posts that are a year old. And they won't respond to anyone that addresses a posting to them even when tagged.
@mam98031 I haven't noticed this. If you want to tag Tyler and I in a thread with links to examples then we can take a closer look!
@donsdetour wrote:
brian@ebay wrote:
To start the chat out, I want to share that I will be joining a different team within eBay, which means I'll be leaving the Community team in the coming weeks. It's bittersweet for sure as I'll miss everyone on the Community and the wonderful team I've worked with for the past several years. I wish everyone the best going forward!
Good luck and very sorry to see you go.
Thanks @donsdetour! I appreciate it 😊
@vrykalak wrote:
@vrykalak wrote:
I have been meaning to ask: why was "Vacation Mode" deleted,
being replaced by "time away" which is limited to 30 days?
I asked this last week. The reply I got was a link to the page that explained the change, but didn't answer my question: WHY was this change made?
Hi @vrykalak - moving to 'Time Away' was done to provide the option to all sellers whether or not they had a store subscription. It also allowed the product team to make several updates to it like automatically adjusting handling time, more effectively blocking purchases, and automatically protecting your feedback.
If your question is specifically why the decision was made to set the hard limit as 30 days, I don't have a specific 'because' answer. I can speculate and say that Time Away is intended for short durations, and that if you have a need for extended time away from your listings it would be better for you to consider ending them and relisting when you're ready (up to 90 days). This can save you money in insertion fees and help make sure your listings stay fresh when you return.
Thanks!
@shipscript wrote:
Brian, you will be missed...thank you for the years you have supported us.
----
With the recent Item Specifics mandate, listings can no longer be edited unless all the mandates are addressed in that edit.
Historically, mandates have generally not prevented listings from auto-renewing (when the seller is in good standing). They just lower search visibility.
What is the situation with the July 12 mandate?
1) Will non-conforming listings continue to renew so that sellers can address the requirements using available tools?
2) Or, will eBay deny renewal and allow those listings to end on their renewal date?
The sanity of many sellers will hinge on your answer.
Hi @shipscript - I have not seen any information internally that indicates listings will be put on 'deny renewal' for not having the required specifics. Historically I've seen it work exactly as you describe for months before any 'your listing will not renew' emails are sent. I think that everyone has some time.
However, that isn't to say that you shouldn't go through and work on updating listings with the new specifics (staying relevant in search results is a large motivating reason to do so). Thanks!
@mam98031 wrote:
tyler@ebay wrote:
@mam98031 wrote:
I've ran into a new issue regarding shipping labels, well new to me. Yesterday and again today I could not print labels for a couple of items due to the proper shipping method did not show up nor could I get it to.
The categories the items were listed in are fine for Media Mail, but the option was blocked. I had other sales in the same categories that I was able to print labels using Media mail. Any ideas??
Hi @mam98031! I found out about this earlier today when some Canadian members reported it. It's a known tech issue and being worked on currently but they're requesting more details to get to the bottom of it.
I can add you to the open ticket if you'll get me the following as an example:
Seller ID:
Buyer ID:
Item #:
Screenshot of the error:I will email you the information. I didn't make a note of the two yesterday, but I did today, so I will send you two examples.
Thanks @mam98031 - I'll work on getting to those to get you added. 🙂
