topic Re: PRODUCT IDENTIFIERS REQUIRED....here we go in Selling

PRODUCT IDENTIFIERS REQUIRED....here we go

twyngwyn — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 08:26:02 GMT

How can I associate my listing with a product that’s in the eBay catalogue?

When you start a listing, you will be able to search for a product in the eBay catalogue by using a product identifier like UPC, EAN, ISBN or keywords. Once you have selected the product from the catalogue, you will continue with the rest of the listing experience.

Starting in May 2018, if you are selling an item in the select product lines but you do not associate it to a product from the eBay catalogue, you will be unable to complete the listing.

Re: PRODUCT IDENTIFIERS REQUIRED....here we go

the4masters2013 — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 09:47:11 GMT

Thanks for that. Another hair pulling exercise then. for a few of us...

Re: PRODUCT IDENTIFIERS REQUIRED....here we go

dazzledayz — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 09:49:55 GMT

@twyngwynwrote:
How can I associate my listing with a product that’s in the eBay catalogue?
When you start a listing, you will be able to search for a product in the eBay catalogue by using a product identifier like UPC, EAN, ISBN or keywords. Once you have selected the product from the catalogue, you will continue with the rest of the listing experience.

Starting in May 2018, if you are selling an item in the select product lines but you do not associate it to a product from the eBay catalogue, you will be unable to complete the listing.

Good luck with the ISBN's - I've found the category assignments to be largely rubbish.

Print assigned as audio, anything remotely instructional becomes textbook etc

It's an absolute dogs breakfast and contrary to eBay's claims, there is no way to flag items as incorrect.

Maybe that will come later but I'm not holdin my breath.

Re: PRODUCT IDENTIFIERS REQUIRED....here we go

go-tazz — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 10:28:44 GMT

@twyngwynwrote:
How can I associate my listing with a product that’s in the eBay catalogue?
When you start a listing, you will be able to search for a product in the eBay catalogue by using a product identifier like UPC, EAN, ISBN or keywords. Once you have selected the product from the catalogue, you will continue with the rest of the listing experience.

Starting in May 2018, if you are selling an item in the select product lines but you do not associate it to a product from the eBay catalogue, you will be unable to complete the listing.

Not once have I been able to associate a bulk listing in the eBay catalogue with the UPC,EAN or ISBN so it

looks like it will be based on the keywords still,(provided they don't change them off course),

Re: PRODUCT IDENTIFIERS REQUIRED....here we go

davewil1964 — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 10:52:25 GMT

@dazzledayzwrote:
@twyngwynwrote:
How can I associate my listing with a product that’s in the eBay catalogue?
When you start a listing, you will be able to search for a product in the eBay catalogue by using a product identifier like UPC, EAN, ISBN or keywords. Once you have selected the product from the catalogue, you will continue with the rest of the listing experience.

Starting in May 2018, if you are selling an item in the select product lines but you do not associate it to a product from the eBay catalogue, you will be unable to complete the listing.
Good luck with the ISBN's - I've found the category assignments to be largely rubbish.

Print assigned as audio, anything remotely instructional becomes textbook etc

It's an absolute dogs breakfast and contrary to eBay's claims, there is no way to flag items as incorrect.

Maybe that will come later but I'm not holdin my breath.

There is one particular high volume seller (I have no idea why, their feedback is marginal and they charge twice what almost every other Australian seller does) who seems to categorise every book they have as a textbook. it would seem they are/were the first to utilise the catalogue, so that's what we're stuck with.

eBay promised a reporting tool for incorrect sub-categories, but that hasn't appeared.

I might just put 'Does not apply" for ISBN and 1960 for publication date. Even eBay can't expect an ISBN for books published pre ISBN.

Re: PRODUCT IDENTIFIERS REQUIRED....here we go

Anonymous — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 13:51:06 GMT

@twyngwynwrote:
How can I associate my listing with a product that’s in the eBay catalogue?
When you start a listing, you will be able to search for a product in the eBay catalogue by using a product identifier like UPC, EAN, ISBN or keywords. Once you have selected the product from the catalogue, you will continue with the rest of the listing experience.

Starting in May 2018, if you are selling an item in the select product lines but you do not associate it to a product from the eBay catalogue, you will be unable to complete the listing.

You've only quoted part of the page and left off the most important bit, which says which select product lines it refers to - currently a very small list of products.

Re: PRODUCT IDENTIFIERS REQUIRED....here we go

dazzledayz — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 01:05:26 GMT

@Anonymouswrote:
@twyngwynwrote:
How can I associate my listing with a product that’s in the eBay catalogue?
When you start a listing, you will be able to search for a product in the eBay catalogue by using a product identifier like UPC, EAN, ISBN or keywords. Once you have selected the product from the catalogue, you will continue with the rest of the listing experience.

Starting in May 2018, if you are selling an item in the select product lines but you do not associate it to a product from the eBay catalogue, you will be unable to complete the listing.
You've only quoted part of the page and left off the most important bit, which says which select product lines it refers to - currently a very small list of products.

Currently yes, but the thrust of the explanation is quite clear.

Eventually all categories will join the "ramp" and some product identifier will be required.

eBay look like they are going down the Amazon route where nothing can be listed that does not have a catalogue description.

I don't know how this bodes for the 1 off, vintage, antique or handmade items (or pre ISBN books for that matter).

All I am sure of is that this is going to be a lengthy and involved operational road with quite a few potholes along the way.

There has been no mention either of whether or not we'll be notified of non-compliant listings as we were with active content.

One advantage of this that I can see however is to put the brakes on category spamming which is rife in some areas.

Re: PRODUCT IDENTIFIERS REQUIRED....here we go

imastawka — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 01:12:56 GMT

Sooo, what product identifier should I put on my slice of toast with the face of Jimi Hendrix?

Re: PRODUCT IDENTIFIERS REQUIRED....here we go

dazzledayz — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 02:05:00 GMT

@imastawkawrote:
Sooo, what product identifier should I put on my slice of toast with the face of Jimi Hendrix?

Probably just call it an iPhone X and have done with it?

Re: PRODUCT IDENTIFIERS REQUIRED....here we go

brerrabbit585 — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 07:11:33 GMT

"Eventually all categories will join the "ramp" and some product identifier will be required."

Not under the same scheme that they're applying to the mobile phones, according to what I read.

Re: PRODUCT IDENTIFIERS REQUIRED....here we go

dazzledayz — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 07:16:41 GMT

@brerrabbit585wrote:
"Eventually all categories will join the "ramp" and some product identifier will be required."

Not under the same scheme that they're applying to the mobile phones, according to what I read.

That's not too surprising really; each category has its own idiosyncrasies so different approaches will necessarily be needed.

That being said, it's still going to be required to feature some sort of cataloguing data in each of our listings.

In many ways we can put the blame on Google for this as their requirements pretty much rule the way the web is searched.

eBay is starting to play ball in this area (they were previously a hold out).

Also Amazon deserves a nod as they've had their catalogue structure pretty much from the get-go.

The idea of ebay's "improved buyer experience" is really only a cover for their desire to be seen more in general web search.

Currently this is an area where they've been lacking so it may even be helpful to us in the long run even if the short term pain level is a bit high.