Unable To Create or Edit Listing Templates - When I try to save I get a perpetual spinner...

[intimewithmusic]

Hi. Has anyone else noticed this? This past week the template form won't allow me to edit a listing template  or copy it and create a new one or even start from scratch. When I hit save I just get a spinner and gray screen. 

I haven't used up the 50 allowed templates. I've tried it on two separate computers. 

Mystified...

Thanks!

[kawartha-ephemera]

@intimewithmusic wrote:
* Your instructions about "Create a Listing" work just fine. The existing templates we saved before the gliche work and can today be used to create new listings. That said those who use them must be able to edit them for various reasons or they are useless.

Yes, they are useless if they cannot be edited to reflect the ever changing eBay listing system. Thank you for your thorough explanation of how you're employing templates. Clearly you are well versed in their use, I cannot argue with any of the points covered in your very well written tutorial. The fact that you are not pre-filling any IS in your templates certainly does mitigate a lot of potential problems in that area. My templates do include plenty of pre-filled IS, in fact probably half of category IS are pre-filled plus additional custom specifics that are also pre-filled. So, as you pointed out users' needs vary widely.

Still feel it would be worthwhile to create a scratch listing, doesn't need to be anything fancy, just include the minimum required info to allow it to be saved as a new template. Then try to edit the newly created template, if it can be, then creating new templates is an option ... albeit an unattractive one.

[intimewithmusic]

Hi. Thank you! I've been dreading contacting a CSR who will pass you on to tech support anyway. I figured it had to be affecting more than just me. I've also noticed some anomalies with "Drafts". 

[intimewithmusic]

Thank you. I hope someone benefits from my "tutorial". Donations are graciously accepted!  I'm hear to learn and pass it on which reminds me,  I forgot to mention a couple of other benefits. 

*Templates are a great opportunity to carry your "Branding" from one listing to another. When collectors see your brand at the bottom they connect your listing with the service they rec'd from you in the past. I find it's a big help for collectibles and creates lots of repeat customers. 

* One place Ebay encourages sellers to put links is in templates providing the links are internal. This feature  lets you direct customers into a specific department in your store. Handy if you have a lot of departments.

   If a potential buyer clicks on a listing for Dave Brubeck  vinyl LP "Take Five" the template allows you to display your branding, show your record testing and grading method, explain your shipping standards, direct the customer into the Jazz record section of your store, tell your employee where to find the record in your warehouse and spit it out as revenue on your year end statement. 

 I envy your simpicity of listing and ease of shipping however I think there's a trade off in the vulnerability that comes with 1 or 2 category selling.  For example Ebay sellers in 2020 that specialized in Playboy magazines were forced to restructure due to Ebay eliminating the adult category. That said Mcdonalds seems to do just fine  specializing 🙂 !

"The fact that you are not pre-filling any IS in your templates certainly does mitigate a lot of potential problems in that area. My templates do include plenty of pre-filled IS, in fact probably half of category IS are pre-filled plus additional custom specifics that are also pre-filled. So, as you pointed out users' needs vary widely."

I agree that whatever you can do to make new listing easy is what you should do.  Many, if not most categories don't allow for the pre filling of item specifics.   For example "Media". The subcategories I'm tweaking templates for are CDs, 8 tracks,  VHS, Reel To Reel, DVDs and 3 kinds of vinyl records. I'd challenge anyone to pre fill in the IS data for media. It's not possible. 

IT

[back2paul]

It has been the same with me since Nov 2nd.

I list in a section of eBay where there have been no category changes.

I mention this because other posts have suggested that is an underlying problem.

[intimewithmusic]

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@back2paul wrote:

It has been the same with me since Nov 2nd.

I list in a section of eBay where there have been no category changes.

I mention this because other posts have suggested that is an underlying problem.

---

Thanks for posting. I just tried again. Still no luck. (Monday 8:am.) I think it's related to the restructuring of item specifics. 

If you don't mind me asking did you notice anything unusual with sales over the same period?

Thanks.

[kawartha-ephemera]

Last night I followed my own advice offered earlier and was not able to find any way to create a new template or edit existing ones. I even gave the mobile app a spin, what a horrible experience that was ... the app does not even allow for access to templates let alone edit/create them.
This is the first I've needed to work with templates for months as I've not listed anything new since late July.

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@kawartha-ephemera wrote:
Last night I followed my own advice offered earlier and was not able to find any way to create a new template or edit existing ones. I even gave the mobile app a spin, what a horrible experience that was ... the app does not even allow for access to templates let alone edit/create them.
This is the first I've needed to work with templates for months as I've not listed anything new since late July.

---

I haven't tested but they should turn up on the create a new listing page down at the bottom. Mine were created months ago so limited in the way they'd be guaranteed to work. ( PC Version)

-Lotz

[intimewithmusic]

Hi. thanks for posting. 

   Any templates created before this month work normally.  Please test your system by taking one from your list via "Copy Template".  Make an edit and try saving it under a new name as not to damage your original. You can also try and create a new one from scratch. If it saves try it again to see if you just got lucky. I was only able do that once in over a week. 

  Not sure why eBay isn't posting a notice on it. Maybe it's a "domino effect" from the restructuring that they didn't foresee?

IT

[kawartha-ephemera]

@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote: I haven't tested but they should turn up on the create a new listing page down at the bottom. Mine were created months ago so limited in the way they'd be guaranteed to work. ( PC Version)

Yes, when the The Create Listing link in SH or elsewhere is used there are two options provided. Choosing to use an existing template is the second option, otherwise one proceeds from scratch by choosing or browsing for a category.
Last night when I chose to start fresh without using one of my templates I noticed eBay has introduced more of their "helpful" AI to the process. In the past when starting a fresh scratch listing there were no shipping details setup at all, zero. Now eBay AI is pre-filling my shipping details based off of my most commonly used shipping setup. I wish they would not do that.

Maybe my memory is not so good nowadays. I had been thinking one of the options at the bottom of the desktop SYI form was "Save as Template", but there's no such option now, only Save as Draft".

I very rarely use anything but a template to create new listings and I usually use Copy template when creating new templates. So I have not been paying much attention to SYI Save options. Was my memory of them faulty?

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@kawartha-ephemera wrote:
@lotzofuniquegoodieswrote: I haven't tested but they should turn up on the create a new listing page down at the bottom. Mine were created months ago so limited in the way they'd be guaranteed to work. ( PC Version)

Yes, when the The Create Listing link in SH or elsewhere is used there are two options provided. Choosing to use an existing template is the second option, otherwise one proceeds from scratch by choosing or browsing for a category.
Last night when I chose to start fresh without using one of my templates I noticed eBay has introduced more of their "helpful" AI to the process. In the past when starting a fresh scratch listing there were no shipping details setup at all, zero. Now eBay AI is pre-filling my shipping details based off of my most commonly used shipping setup. I wish they would not do that.

Maybe my memory is not so good nowadays. I had been thinking one of the options at the bottom of the desktop SYI form was "Save as Template", but there's no such option now, only Save as Draft".

I very rarely use anything but a template to create new listings and I usually use Copy template when creating new templates. So I have not been paying much attention to SYI Save options. Was my memory of them faulty?

---

Most likely just another "dropped on us surprise" modification/eBay designated improvement. So definitely not a case of your mind going.  🙂  From my past experiences with any attempts of using templates, I've always felt like best to start from scratch. And even more important now with these new IS required/suggested/eventuallies that we now fill in with N/A. 

Same thing will happen when creating a new random listing. Anything you checked off with the most recent listing created gets ported to the next listing created. Definitely something to watch for going from for example flat rate shipping to calculated shipping. 

-Lotz

[intimewithmusic]

Thanks Lotz. If I'm on tomorrow I'll run it by tyler. 

IT

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@kawartha-ephemera wrote:
@lotzofuniquegoodieswrote: I haven't tested but they should turn up on the create a new listing page down at the bottom. Mine were created months ago so limited in the way they'd be guaranteed to work. ( PC Version)

Yes, when the The Create Listing link in SH or elsewhere is used there are two options provided. Choosing to use an existing template is the second option, otherwise one proceeds from scratch by choosing or browsing for a category.
Last night when I chose to start fresh without using one of my templates I noticed eBay has introduced more of their "helpful" AI to the process. In the past when starting a fresh scratch listing there were no shipping details setup at all, zero. Now eBay AI is pre-filling my shipping details based off of my most commonly used shipping setup. I wish they would not do that.

Maybe my memory is not so good nowadays. I had been thinking one of the options at the bottom of the desktop SYI form was "Save as Template", but there's no such option now, only Save as Draft".

I very rarely use anything but a template to create new listings and I usually use Copy template when creating new templates. So I have not been paying much attention to SYI Save options. Was my memory of them faulty?

---

@intimewithmusic 

@back2paul 

@shoppergurl08 

@davismavis017 

"Solution" posted on dot  com 11/09/2021 . Haven't tested but worth a shot.

The issue is now SEEMINGLY resolved this morning in general- even just by adding a test 't' to the title (and updating the category since mine were that outdated...) 

I'm going to try and quickly update everything I need to get listing again.

-Lotz

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Seller-Tools/Why-can-t-I-edit-or-make-new-selling-templates/td-p/32430...

[intimewithmusic]

Will also try again...

[back2paul]

I think ebay got it fixed.

I have  been able to edit my templates since yesterday.

[intimewithmusic]

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@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:

---

@kawartha-ephemera wrote:
@lotzofuniquegoodieswrote: I haven't tested but they should turn up on the create a new listing page down at the bottom. Mine were created months ago so limited in the way they'd be guaranteed to work. ( PC Version)

Yes, when the The Create Listing link in SH or elsewhere is used there are two options provided. Choosing to use an existing template is the second option, otherwise one proceeds from scratch by choosing or browsing for a category.
Last night when I chose to start fresh without using one of my templates I noticed eBay has introduced more of their "helpful" AI to the process. In the past when starting a fresh scratch listing there were no shipping details setup at all, zero. Now eBay AI is pre-filling my shipping details based off of my most commonly used shipping setup. I wish they would not do that.

Maybe my memory is not so good nowadays. I had been thinking one of the options at the bottom of the desktop SYI form was "Save as Template", but there's no such option now, only Save as Draft".

I very rarely use anything but a template to create new listings and I usually use Copy template when creating new templates. So I have not been paying much attention to SYI Save options. Was my memory of them faulty?

---

@intimewithmusic 

@back2paul 

@shoppergurl08 

@davismavis017 

"Solution" posted on dot  com 11/09/2021 . Haven't tested but worth a shot.

The issue is now SEEMINGLY resolved this morning in general- even just by adding a test 't' to the title (and updating the category since mine were that outdated...) 

I'm going to try and quickly update everything I need to get listing again.

-Lotz

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Seller-Tools/Why-can-t-I-edit-or-make-new-selling-templates/td-p/32430...

---

Tried it but as of 8:33 am Wed mine are still "hanging" . I mentioned in a post last week I was also able to add the word "test" to one title and save it but that was only one ocassion. Like trying to get thru to book a provincial campsite....

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

@intimewithmusic 

In that discussion post they also mentioned the new listing form available only to US sellers as a possible workaround. Unfortunately most of the kinks haven't been worked out that system yet. It was worth a shot.  🙂

-Lotz

[intimewithmusic]

Thank you!

[kawartha-ephemera]

@lotzofuniquegoodies  I've been busy with other things all day, so I've not tested templates today. One of the unsuccessful workarounds I have tried was using the DOT.com template and simplified listing tool combo ... same problem there, wouldn't save. Will read through the discussion you referenced.

[intimewithmusic]

Updated 9:00am Pacific Nov 11. Templates are now editting and saving normally!

[intimewithmusic]

(12:30 Pacific) Thank you for your support. The template system went down 15 minutes later.  Hasn't worked since 9:15...  I will wait for a permanent fix before any further updates... 😞