Taking several months off from selling.....is there a way to preserve listings?

[fergua3]

At the end of June i'm going to be takng several months off from selling.  Not sure exactly how many.

Anyway, is there a way to preserve all my listings so that i won't have to start from scratch listing all over again when i return?  I know time away won't work for that long a period of time, so i am hoping there is another way.

[ricarmic]

I'm currently "time away'd" from mid may extending till mid september.

Time away can only be set for up to 30 days, however, one can open and reclose the store "immediately" (which translates into the store is open for 1/2 to 1 hour) to extend the time for another 30 days.

I've traditionally had my store closed for at least 2 months in the summer, and have used the time away extension that way with no problems. A few years ago, I often did have one or two buyers sneak in to buy something during the brief open window, however the last couple times I've closed/reopened there weren't any sales at all.

This year will be the longest duration time away I've done, I know that 2 to 3 months hasn't been a problem, this time between shutting down early and extending my vacation, I'll set a new personal record of just over 4 months.

[sapphyres-designer-jewellery]

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@fergua3 wrote:

At the end of June i'm going to be takng several months off from selling.  Not sure exactly how many.

Anyway, is there a way to preserve all my listings so that i won't have to start from scratch listing all over again when i return?  I know time away won't work for that long a period of time, so i am hoping there is another way.

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If you use a database like SixBit, you can download all your current listings on eBay into the database and preserve them offline on your computer until you're ready to return. Problem is SixBit costs $30 USD per month, so you'd have to decide if the expense is worth not having to put the effort into redoing your listings.

C.

[apmtrade]

If you follow ricarmic advice, it will work. I tried it and it works...

[recped]

@fergua3 

Use the Out Of Stock option, it's simple, it works, it will preserve your listings for at least 8 months with minimal effort.

Turn on OOS

Bulk edit your listings to zero quantity

Listings will renew 5 times before eBay ends them, they will then remain in your Unsold for an additional 90 days.

If you have less than 250 listings it costs you nothing.

It's a better option that fiddling with Time Away every 30 days.

[38e_avenue]

Your ended listings are safe for 90 days. 

Then - if you still keep your store subscription - just relist / end your listings and get another 90 days. 

[ricarmic]

Just a small caveat to @recped suggestion, this is ok if you have only single unit items.

I have a decent number of multi item listings, it would be work for me to take note of how many remain of each before zeroing them out.

[musicyouneed]

I was away for 96 days in 2024 so what I did was put myself on time away for 30 days and then ended all my listings.  They were kept for 90 days so when I got back I relisted them.  It worked.  I will be away for 95 days in 2025 and I plan on doing the same thing.  If you are going to be longer than that I would do a combination of that and just hope no one buys anything in the mean time.

[fergua3]

i am very likely going to be away from selling for 6 months or even a bit more and i don't have a store.  Do these facts alter any of the above advice given ie time away, OOS options?

[recped]

Spend a bit of money....sign up with WonderLister (they are one of the cheapest third-party listing tools).

I've heard a few recommendations for InkFrog as well (an online tool), I don't know what it costs.

I use SixBit but that's expensive for your purposes.

You could also look at eBay Reports, bit complicated to set up but it doesn't cost anything.

[fergua3]

so if i delist an item, does it stay in my unsold section for 90 days exactly or approximately?  What would be the minimum amount of time that it would be accessible?

[ypdc_dennis]

90 days approximately

I wouldn't trust to be still there once it gets past 85 days...

[musicyouneed]

On 2 of my accounts I do not have a store and it worked.  However being away 6 months, I would do 30 days time away, then end all listings, then about 85 days in, reinstate all listings for a minute and then end all listings again.  You might want to make your shipping really high just before so that no one will purchase anything while you are listing and ending your listings.   I have close to 3,000 listings over 3 accounts and it worked for me.   

[fergua3]

thanks for the advice.  That is pretty much what i have decided to do after reading all the great feedback on this thread.

[flipistics]

 You can end the listings to buy a few months time (I wouldn't push it), then bulk save the ended listings as drafts. That will buy you another 3? months. If you need to extend it further, you can edit something simple in each draft through the bulk edit screen to gain another 3? months. Items in the draft list on eBay have a column showing you when the drafts expire.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@flipistics wrote:

 You can end the listings to buy a few months time (I wouldn't push it), then bulk save the ended listings as drafts. That will buy you another 3? months. If you need to extend it further, you can edit something simple in each draft through the bulk edit screen to gain another 3? months. Items in the draft list on eBay have a column showing you when the drafts expire.

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@flipistics 

Drafts got a demotion. Now 75 days. Does come with countdown timer. Wascally work around is open and resets the meter.