topic Re: Can I bulk edit UPC numbers? in Selling

Can I bulk edit UPC numbers?

charmony — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 00:05:00 GMT

I have hundreds of listings and every one of them should be UPC - Does not apply. However, in the Bulk Edit tool there doesn't seem to be a way to change them except for individually. Urrghhh! Is there a way to bulk edit them?

Re: Can I bulk edit UPC numbers?

kopenhagen5 — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 00:48:48 GMT

I wouldn't imagine so as each UPC is unique.

But try switching to the quick listing tool if you haven't.

Edit - Oh, I think you want to select No UPC or whatever the wording is. I would have thought that is the default unless a UPC is entered.

Re: Can I bulk edit UPC numbers?

charmony — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 01:21:00 GMT

The default is just empty. When I try to bulk edit *anything* now, it won't let me save the changes unless I fix all errors, and having no UPC is an error... so I'm having to go through hundreds of them today, right now, as once I started I can't stop until they're ALL done, or none get saved. This is crazy!

Re: Can I bulk edit UPC numbers?

harley_babes_hoard — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 02:24:13 GMT

yeah you bulk edit the UPC and MPN the same way you bulk edit everything else. it's under item specifics.

Re: Can I bulk edit UPC numbers?

charmony — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 02:32:15 GMT

But it's not there.

Re: Can I bulk edit UPC numbers?

kopenhagen5 — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 02:44:12 GMT

Ok, just been in to have a look.

You can leave the field blank like I do or do the following.

If you are getting the quick edit tool after selecting all listings, next to customize columns make sure quick edit tool is maximised.

Then you can scroll across and after payment policy you will see UPC/EAN/ISP

Re: Can I bulk edit UPC numbers?

charmony — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 02:50:01 GMT

Maybe I'm doing this wrong, but it doesn't work for me.

In the bulk edit tool, I select all but on the right there's no option to bulk edit, only "Edit in bulk one at a time" (yeah, that makes sense...?)

If I "maximise" then I'm only editing the one item (which *does* have the UPC field, after it refreshes itself).

Re: Can I bulk edit UPC numbers?

kopenhagen5 — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 04:22:03 GMT

Sorry, just came back.

Yes I see, can you get a different option if you checkmark all listings in the edit tool ?

I thought once all listings are selected (turn blue, background) you simply change one and it carries to all others, but appears not.

Found this though - https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Anyway-to-bulk-edit-UPC/td-p/24143671

Re: Can I bulk edit UPC numbers?

charmony — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 06:01:54 GMT

I found that too, doesn't look hopeful. And the image I posted was what I see when I select all the items in the list. Going via the bulk edit tool and changing them one by one, it takes about 10-20 seconds per item which is faster than editing from the listing itself, and less scrolling.

The other thing that's become mandatory is the brand, and I *was* able to bulk edit that to "unbranded - by going to the Edit Fields drop-down menu and clicking "Item Specifics". (Actually not quite in bulk as my items are across several store categories and I had to edit each category separately.) Item Specifics is where the UPC should also be, of course, but it's not.

What's more, it won't let me *save* that change to the brands because of the other "errors" (no UPC) in those listings.

Re: Can I bulk edit UPC numbers?

kopenhagen5 — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 07:44:41 GMT

Wow, that's frustrating.

I'm only a hobby seller so I don't have those probs.

When you say mandatory item specifics, is that because it's a store as I don't seem to have those?

I don't select anything in UPC, unbranded or condition description in any listings.

Re: Can I bulk edit UPC numbers?

charmony — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 09:46:31 GMT

I don't know if everyone has to do it... I think so? By "has to" I just mean that when you try to list new items, or relist, you won't be able to unless you fill in those fields. So I don't have to do this now, but at some point I will have to, and I also think ebay has said you end up lower in search results if you don't fill them in.

Re: Can I bulk edit UPC numbers?

kopenhagen5 — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 10:06:13 GMT

Ok, thanks.

I think eBay state that if buyers search by item specifics then you may be lower on the list, nothing more.

But I will start filling them in to see if it improves the viewing on my listings.

Re: Can I bulk edit UPC numbers?

*tippy*toes* — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 11:33:14 GMT

I've only got about 3 or 4 listings that required it. The only reason I knew they required it was because there was an asterix next to the box and a dropdown in the box. I've never been asked for any of the other listings. Those 3 or 4 also required a brand name, which I just put in unbranded. Not sure if it will ever be required for my others or not. I list as auctions, so best match isn't really an issue for me as most people looking at auctions tend to search by time ending soonest.

Re: Can I bulk edit UPC numbers?

pennyforum14 — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 00:04:40 GMT

If you haven't already found a solution, I have one.

If you don't have it already, download Turbo Lister, import all your listings (this may take a while if you have lots, so take a lunch break while it brings them all in for you). Select all, then click Edit in the menu bar. This will bring up a blank listing sheet and a warning message that any changes you make will be applied to all listings selected. Change the UPC field to Does not apply and save. Then synch TL to update your listings on line, this will also take a while.

Re: Can I bulk edit UPC numbers?

charmony — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 02:03:17 GMT

I've always been a bit wary of using Turbo Lister in case it somehow screws up my listings en masse, but I guess it's time to bite the bullet. Thanks.

Re: Can I bulk edit UPC numbers?

pennyforum14 — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 02:11:32 GMT

Me too, although in more than 10 years of using it I had never had an issue with it until 30 mins AFTER I posted this solution. My TL installation died when I went to upload the batch of 37 listings I had spent 2 hours preparing this morning. It won't even open now, will have to reinstall and hope the database hasn't been corrupted.

Re: Can I bulk edit UPC numbers?

charmony — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 02:12:31 GMT

Arghh! Sorry to hear that.

I'm having a bit of trouble installing the thing in the first place... going round in loops.

Re: Can I bulk edit UPC numbers?

screamingdemon_2007 — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 01:41:51 GMT

I have tried to edit the UPC option and change listings to "does not apply", but it all seems very manual. With 3 stores and 27000+ listings, this is going to be painful... and since the UPC does not apply to any of my items, it is going to be a pointless and very costly timewise. I guess its head down for a few days...

Re: Can I bulk edit UPC numbers?

clarry100 — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 01:57:48 GMT

If you have access to File Exchange you can do it via the Excel CSV file interface. I think you need to specifically request access to File Exchange if you do not have it set up.

From there you can download a CSV file of all your active listings but instead of standard CSV select the File Exchange format for

"Add unique identifiers (UPC/EAN/ISBN/Brand/MPN)"

This will give you a downloaded CSV file that contains all your current values for these fields.

Then go thru and edit the applicable values in the CSV file (using Excel) and it will be ready to re-upload as it already contains all the necessary fields for a REVISE action for each record. Main ones being Item ID and Action Fields.

I've tried it on my stuff and it seems to work OK.

Re: Can I bulk edit UPC numbers?

waddingtonfirstaid — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 06:11:18 GMT

DO NOT start changing anything maually or you may find it does not stick. See my post "UPC DISASTER"

eBay support have acknowledged major bugs and software failures concerning UPC implementation. Even if you have a store, the work-around currently being peddled is not a sure fire solution once the software gets sorted out properly. I would hate to think you start spending days changing hundreds of your listings only to discover as I have done that the "Does Not Apply" setting fails to set in the field, especially if you have to revise the listing later on.