duplicate policies - need some advice

[boutiquestepup]

I am in dire need of some good advice in regards to the duplicate item policie. Am I wrong to think that we are allowed to list the same clothing several time if the item offered is in different sizes or color.

In September ebay remove around 15 items from my store stating that I was violating the duplication policies. The items were different in size and color so I did not think much of it I figure that it was a mistake on their behalf.

However by mistake i had 2 items that were in the wrong store category, and when i received another shipment of skating dresses, i listed some new dresses and browsed my store to see if I had all ready these dresses in store,and di not see that these 2 dresses were in wrong category. Well over the last weeks i got nailed twice for duplications policies and now I am 1 violation away from loosing my ebay store.

Contacted ebay yesterday and i got all sorts of different answers form all the people I talked to, making this just more confusing.

Finaly 1 person that i talked to decided to escalate my request to 1 step above.

I am still waiting for an answer from them and i was wondering what is everyones opinion on this one.

If we are not allowed to list an item twice when it is in different size or color and we have to use the multi sku. How can we work the store category and have our inventory categorized by size.

I have close to 600 skating dresses in stock, and my customers do not want to have to browse all my store pages to find what they need. They prefer to go directly to the size needed, and if I have to go to multi sku a shopper will need to click on each individual dress to see what size I have in stock...is this correct.

Thanks everyone! Christine

[pjcdn2005]

Hi Christine,

I know that at one time that listings for the same item in different sizes was not considered a duplicate listing. Part of the problem might be that their computer program is flagging your listings because the pictures are identical and the program isn't noticing that the title or item specifics are different.

I notice though that in the section about duplicate listings, ebay now 'suggests' that we use a variation listing for multiple sizes. I didn't notice sizes being mentioned in the not allowed (or allowed) section but at the bottom of the page it says:

Follow these guidelines to make sure that your listings follow our listing policies and have the best possible position in eBay's Best Match sort order:

List identical items in one multi-quantity fixed price listing.

List items with variations such as size and color in one fixed price listing with variations.

http://pages.ebay.ca/help/policies/listing-multi.html

To be safe, I would use more variation listings. You use variations for tights and I did a search for youth suntan skating tights and your listings did up so buyers should be able to find your items if they search using the size.

[boutiquestepup]

Thanks pjcdn2005, I have noticed the changes in the page for policie for duplicate listing, I think that guidelines suggest some room to manouevre. I looked at the dictionnary to make sure I was understanding the definition of guidelines, and even the dictionnaries did not have the same answers....it is so confusing. I am trying to have ebay removed these strike against my store because I was obeing the rules according to their policies and that I was using the guidelines where it is appliable within my store.

If ebay can shut my store down base on guidelines that are not followed they should change their wording and make it crystal clear.

[boutiquestepup]

By the amounts of reply I received I guess no one heard of this before or had to deal with ebay in regards to giving a seller a strike for non compliance to this duplicate policie for listing same item in differerent size or color.

So perhaps this was just some ebay employee interpretation of the policie.

Ebay was suppose to get back to me on Sunday and I have not heard or seen any email yet.

[bighillbargains1]

Hi, just got nailed with this duplicate policy too!!!

Did you get any selling restrictions?

I got 2!!! listings removed within the last 2 months, both were duplicates by accident. Now I'm not allowed to list new items for 7 days. This is unbeleivable!

Very frustraded!

[bighillbargains1]

The question "are we allowed to have 2 listings for the same item but a different size" has not been answered and it's not clear if you read the policy for duplicate listings!

Arrrrrrgh!

[boutiquestepup]

My policy compliance is now at LOW and this is the message that show

Your policy compliance rating is Low. You have at least one policy violation on your account. Check to see what policies you violated and what steps you can take to avoid those mistakes in the future. An additional violation can result in listing cancellations, restrictions on your account, and loss of any PowerSeller status and privileges.

Avoid violating this policy again and your account will be clear of this violation after 04-Jul-13.

[bighillbargains1]

Same here, but in the email I got, it also says:

Your selling privileges have been temporarily restricted because of a recent policy violation. You won't be able to list new items for seven (7) days. You're also not allowed to register a new account during this time.

This seems a bit harsh for removing 2 duplicate listings!!!

[boutiquestepup]

I am sorry to hear 😞 bighillbargains1

The question still remain to be answered are listings of the same items in different color and size and considered duplicate.

[bighillbargains1]

I just got off the phone with ebay (took only 50 minutes...)

My account got restricted because I had this same violation in Sept. 2011, that's 2011!

The ebay rep was very patient, helpful and friendly but unfortunately didn't get me anywhere, so I asked to talk to a supervisor and he will now forward my appeal to trust & safety. No guarantee that it gets removed, but at least I got my appeal taken care of.

My understanding of duplicate listing policy is;

same item in different color is ok, as long as you use a different picture representing the color variation. Same item in different size is not ok, as the picture will most likely be the same.

[boutiquestepup]

Well that sounds fair, however you would think that if they wanted me to do the multi sku they would have multi sku in skating dresses category. They have a special section for skating dress where a customer can do a search by dresses style and size. Perhaps that is why they are not yet reinforcing it or making this a rule.

[zoomrr69]

Are the pics the same..or due you use different pics for all listings..

Same pic..different size..

strike

Create separate pic

Create separate title

1 pic for 10 dresses of different sizes is wrong..

Maybe this was the problem

wrong cat.  

you where reported...

Big stores often place item(s) in wrong cats. to catch buyers....

[boutiquestepup]

Thanks Zoomerr69 for your reply. I always list in my category and do not try to catch buyers attention by listing in wrong category.  I think this is negative attention, at least  it is for me when I  am shopping on ebay. 😉