Seller Listing Recommendations

[westernstargifts]

On my Active Listings page there is a "Listing Recommendations" tab that I haven't really noticed before.  When I click on the tab it gives me the recommendation to "Add a condition description to help buyers quickly understand exactly what to expect" and gives the sum total of all of my listings.

I already have condition description in every listing.  I use SSB and you can't launch a listing from there without checking the box listing the condition.

This has me wondering if it is always "just there" on everyone's selling page or if eBay is somehow not reading the condtion in my descriptions.  If not it could have a big effect on placement in search.

Any insight would be appreciated.

[twicereadbooks]

Thanks for opening a thread on eBay's Listing Recommendations.  I have a reminder from eBay on my summary page to revise many hundreds of listings by entering something in the "Listing Recommendations" area.  Back in September, after months of back and forth with GarageSale, which I use for listing on my Mac computer, I wrote Kalvin@ebay.ca the following:
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Kalvin,

I have a Mac computer, and use GarageSale for listing on eBay.ca on two seller accounts.  If I listed directly on eBay, I would be able to use the 1000 characters provided for "Condition Details" which are visible to the shoppers at the top of listings.  Because I use a Mac, I can't use Turbolister, I am unable to list in bulk, and it is not feasible to do each listing individually..

Correspondence with GarageSale (over 40 emails) confirms that GarageSale users are unable to access and use "Condition Details" in many categories, including all of those that I use for listings.  I believe that this makes my listings less competitive, both in search results, and in read-throughs.

Here are some of my questions to GarageSale:

In categories that I know support the condition details option, I should be able to click on the magnifying glass beside "Condition Details" in "Inspector" window, then be able to write a brief description of the exact relevant condition details.  On my GarageSale, this magnifying glass does not allow me to click, and to its left is written:  Condition Details:  Not Supported.  This never changes, for any category, and I have checked and double-checked right on eBay, where creating a listing WILL allow me to do this, so I know the category is correct for condition details.  I should be able to use this feature in GarageSale both to create new listings, and to revise existing templates.  I have never been able to get it to function, despite following exactly every thing that Matthias has told me to do.

Every time I upload a listing to eBay, where condition details are supported, if I use the old "Condition" box that allows for about 4-5 pre-set options, I get a message from eBay that the condition I have chosen is not supported, and that they have deleted it from the listing.  If I leave it blank, I get a message that I have not completed the condition details, and the event is cancelled.

Your latest version states that it supports the new condition details, yet it appears that it does not support this in the same manner that people listing directly on eBay, or through their Turbolister program, can access.  Explain this to me, please, because I am losing my preferred placing in searches because I cannot put these details at the top of my listings.

Have a look at these eBay.ca listings:  listing number 161109857898 and #121170198556

Now have a look at one of my listings:  listing number 290969508028 and #290969509856

The first two listings are by 2 different Canadians listing on eBay.ca, and their goods are in the same categories as my two listings shown below them.   They have a "Condition Details" area, and why can't I have the same?  Neither of their listings supports a "Used" condition, exactly the same as mine.

Latest replies fro GarageSale:

1. The Clothing > Vintage category on the eBay Canada site does not support the condition option. You can check this in eBay's own "condition lookup table" here:
http://pages.ebay.ca/sellerinformation/sellingresources/itemconditionlookup.html
It states: "Available Item Conditions: Not Applicable"
That's why you get this "Condition is not applicable for this category" warning from eBay. You should ignore this warning or better don't select any condition value.
2. Since the vintage category does not support conditions, the condition description option is not supported as well (it can only be selected if a "Used" condition can be selected).
There's no way around it. If eBay decided to not add support for condition/condition description for a specific category we have to live with it.

and another reply:
...GarageSale can only offer what the eBay API system (that we have to use) gives us. GarageSale can't offer the cond. descr. option because eBay does not offer conditions in this specific category. That's why you get that error from eBay(!).

So, for now you can't add cond. descr. in this specifc category in GarageSale. You'd have to add it through the eBay  web form afterwards.

Just to clarify: GarageSale does support the cond. descr. option in all categories that supports conditions.
Ihr GarageSale Team

I apologize for the length of this email, but I wanted to give a thorough explanation, and I hope that eBay will take my inquiry seriously, and be able to offer a solution either by upgrading the eBay API system so GarageSale can support Condition Details in exactly the same way that eBay does, or by (finally) setting up a bulk listing tool for Mac users (I'm not holding my breath on this option).

I would appreciate a reply to this inquiry.

Regards,

maggiebvintage2010 on ebay.ca

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Kalvin's reply Sept. 25th

Hi,

Thanks for reaching out. I’ve forwarded your concern to our Customer Support team to see if there’s anything they can suggest. They should be in touch soon.

Kalvin

eBay Canada Community Manager

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Nov. 7th to Kalvin@ebay.ca

Hi eBay.ca Support Team,

I have not had a reply from the Customer Support team regarding my Sept.25th email.  I do not like to bother you, but really would appreciate an answer.  iI is so frustrating not to be able to use the new "Condition Details" area, apparently because of some lack of update between eBay and GarageSale.  It seems that other third party listing tools, such as Auctivia and Ink Frog can support this.  If the eBay API system can offer this to other third party listing tool companies, it seems they could also do this for GarageSale.  The API system does support other updates through GarageSale.

Thanks, eBay.ca, for listening to me.

Regards,

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TO DATE:  No response, nothing from the Customer Support Team, still unable to use any Listing Conditions on GarageSale.

Kalvin, or anyone, if you read these posts, Please respond, and let's see something done about this.

[pjcdn2005]

My two cents.....I was able to use a condition box in the vintage handbag area when using the ebay.ca sell your item form and when using  auctiva. Garage sale is saying that they can't help you because ebay hasn't set up their site that way but obviously they are wrong. I really think the problem is at their end, not at ebay's end. I would go to them again and give them examples of listings done on .ca that do show the condition box in your categories. I would also start a listing using the ebay sell your item form and then take a screen shot to show the condition box, category etc. so that you can show that to garage sale.

[recped]

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@rose-dee wrote:

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@recped wrote:

In the Music category at least the Condition Details box shows regardless if the Item Condition field is New, Like New, Used etc. Can't speak to other categories but for most Media new/used is insufficient information on it's own.

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I've yet to see the option "Like New" in the category in which I list these -- I wonder why?  I'd love to have it available -- it would be one  of those little things that make a big difference.  With such patterns, I choose "Used" to be safe and add a few words describing the actual condition.  

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Yup you nailed it exactly on the first part, standard grading M/EX/VG are far too broad because they are subjective and depend on the expertise and/or honesty of the person doing the grading. A standard grade PLUS a brief text description is much more likely to result in the buyer being satisfied than a grade alone.

On the New, Like New issue, yeah eBay is screwed up badly on this one, CD's &  Cassettes have Brand New, Like New, Very Good, Good, Acceptable but vinyl records only have New or Used as condition choices.

Most of my records would be considered NOS (New Old Stock), they don't rate as "new" (to me, given 20 - 40 years of possible shelf wear or handling) and they don't really rate as "used". It's further complicated by the fact that records are a mass produced item which even when absolutely fresh from the factory may contain "glitches" in the printing or pressing process. In other words there are many shades of "new" just as there are many shades of "used". Add to that, a record graded EX may be perfect except for a single not so important glitch or it may be an important glitch but still very minor. The terms New & Used are actually rather meaningless on their own just as a plain grading (M/EX/VG) is also rather meaningless.

Of course all this grading and condition descriptions are included in my main description area but if it's more prominent to buyers in the special condition box I'm going to be filling it in.

By the way, for the person using Garage Sale, they are not being truthful when they tell you they can't add the condition description box for ALL the categories where it's available. If it's available via SYI, it can be available for any Third-Party Listing Tool if the tool creators want to make the effort.