I keep a copy of the HTML version of the description for each type of item I sell in a notepad document and whenever I want to do a new listing I just paste it into the description and then change the relevant bits.  After years of frustration because of code mysteriously being added to listings I find it much easier to do it this way.  I use sell similar but then delete all the old code in the description and start afresh.

I used to keep a template of items I only listed occasionally but it's much easier to keep the description in my own document so that it's not lost, to save me having to rethink the wording next time I need to sell that type of item.

I read ebay announcements but I missed that one because my eyes tend to glaze over when reading some of their stuff, kind of like the "top tips for selling your items".