Having problems listing

[triber]

I know that a lot of us are finding the new listing page very difficult. I only go to "List similar item", I can't even think of doing one from scratch.

What is happening is that I get the new listing half completed, and then it locks up and I can't finish. Sometimes i can list the page, and then go back to it and revise it.

I have mentioned the problem twice on the feedback option, but I don't know if anyone reads that. It is very frustrating and time consuming.

[msau4301]

I just used sell similar now and didn't have a problem. Are you using it from an older item (over 60 days?). Sometimes I have had problems when trying to modify an older listing. I know our history now holds listings a lot longer, but I tried to use an older one since I was selling almost the same thing but it wouldn't work.

Also sometimes I've had trouble using the sell similar on the drop down menu but if I actually click on the listing I want to sell similar to itself it works.

Last thing is are you working on it all at one sitting? Sometimes I've left to do something in the middle of working on one, get distracted, come back and work away to finish it only to realize it had "timed out" and didn't take any of the new changes. On the plus side the original part I'd worked on was in drafts. If you get locked up/kicked out/stuck with the never ending spinner leave the page completely and there should (hopefully) still be some of it sitting in "drafts". Good luck!

[triber]

Some of the listings may be over 60 days old, some of my crafts are active for quite a while.

I always go to the actual listing before I go to Sell Similar, and I am not leaving it half finished, but it is leaving me!

Two worked today, and two did not, and it goes along fine until just before the description, and then nothing happens when I try to continue.

[pjcdn2005]

To be honest I've never had that type of problem with the new listing form.  It might have something to do with your computer and browser.   Which browser are you using and is it up to date?  

[ricarmic]

If you haven't already, be sure to clear your cache, intermittent problems like this could well be fixed by doing that. Doesn't hurt to try if you haven't already that's for sure!

[flipistics]

Are you using any addons (especially something like an ad blocker or javascript blocker)?

[triber]

I use Firefox and Chrome, all up-to-date and no other problems.

[triber]

No, nothing like that. I clear my cache regularly.

[flipistics]

What are your settings in Firefox for Enhanced Tracking Protection and Do Not Track (under Privacy & Security)?

[msau4301 · Accepted solution]

"Some of the listings may be over 60 days old, some of my crafts are active for quite a while."

It could be if you are using older ones they were originally done before some (of many!) changes to listing tools, item specifics, item categories etc. so it confuses the sytem. I know I've had problems with older listings I left in drafts for a while (over 60) and while I could see them sitting there it didn't let me access them and I had to start again from scratch, it may be different for drafts though.

If some times it works and some times it doesn't as you say, see if you can try one that you know is more recent without problems and another you know is older and see if that makes the difference.

[triber]

I followed your advise and did 5 listings today with no problem. I think I need to review my store and cancel old listing, and reduce and relist them.

[msau4301]

So glad to have helped! 😊

[triber]

Well that didn't go well.  I have just spent  2 hours deleting about 40 listings from 2021, then doing a sell similar, editing, lower prices etc. Just checked them and they have all gone back to the original 2021 date!

[msau4301]

Oh no! If they were originally from 2021 I don't think sell similar will work even if you've ended them. I think you would have to go to your most recent (somewhat) similar one and use that as the base since the 2021 ones were done up before the new tools/item specifications, etc. Even though you are trying to change them now the changes don't take if they were originally from too long ago.

While experimenting with the changes do only a few at a time and check them so you won't have spent as much time only for them to be lost.

Do you typically do up your listings individually or in bulk? I do mine up individually (I usually do up about 20 and they are different enough in description that I do them one at a time) but I know you have tons more listings than me! I don't know how the bulk listings work but would imagine that if the original date is the problem (before many updated changes to site) you might still need to use newer ones (within last month or so) as the base to go from.

Anyone else out there been able to make changes to listings originally dated in 2021?!

[triber]

I always do them individually. I thought if I deleted them and then did a sell similar, it would have todays date.

[msau4301]

No, I think the similar would be picking up the info from too long ago. I'm hoping someone who has large volume listings (including older) can shed some light. Mine are all under 30 days (and currently less than 20 active). Before all the recent changes to the listing format I thought changes could be made to any existing/active listing (I would have thought active almost mean current). Looks like the new way makes it difficult to do changes on items originally done past a certain time period. That really sucks! 😞

[ricarmic]

I ONLY do sell similar.

I've "sell similared" items in the last week that were originally listed over 10 years ago and were heavily grandfathered. (remember that I play the long game sometimes).

Of course all the "now needed stuff" like required item specifics etc have to be populated when I relist these items.

I am confused if one ends an item and does a sell similar, the old ebay item is gone and the new item is new with a new item number, with today's start date. Revising an item doesn't change the original date. Selling similar from an ended item works like I mentioned at the top, I do this all the time, even with "anciently" listed items.

Note though that my stuff is pretty simple, everything is flat rate shipping, I don't have any special stuff, I've always tried to keep them as simple as possible so I didn't have to go back and fix them. I also never use draft items, I simply go into the ended item and sell similar from the ended item.

Note when I say "ended" I mean for any reason, actually manually ended by me or sold, whatever causes it to be not running anymore.

[mrdutch1001]

I have used "Sell Similar" for years, with no issues. Since being forced to use the new listing format, the "Sell Similar" feature has been a huge time saver. Before my "Unsold Listings" get to the 90 days, I apply the "Sell Similar" , save to "Draft", and gradually make any changes, edits then send the updated draft listings to "Scheduled" (because I do not have a store,this feature has been "free" to use), so storing these listings in the "Scheduled" listings section saves them indefinitely by simply applying "Re-Schedule" and just keep going through "Re-schedule" process until such time as I want to send them into "Active" mode.  As a hobby seller, this process works for me, but may not be a solution for a busy business seller who may forget to "Re-schedule" listings that are not ready to go "Active".

[pjcdn2005]

When I look at your listings using 'newly listed' I see quite a few listings that show as having been listed today.

Sell similar should show as a new listing with a new date and item number.   But if you use 'Relist' the listed on date will stay the same as the original date.

It looks like you have at least one duplicate.  That knitted sweater pattern for kids and adults shows two listings that appear to be identical.

[triber]

Thanks for letting me know, I found I had a couple like that. This morning turned out to be very confusing. I think it was a mistake to delete about 15 at a time and then sell similar, I should do one at a time. I did get quite a few right. Back to it tomorrow!