Multiple variation listings?

Hi Linda! Did you ever get an answer to this question or figure out how to do multiple item listings with variations? I too am wondering if I can do it on Auctiva or if I have to do those types of listings directly on eBay. Thanks for your time! =Denise

As an FYI, Auctiva does not yet support multiple variation listings. We hope to do so later in the year.

I agree. This is a feature that will save us on ebay fees. A couple of weeks ago, I was told by live that they are talking about this. It was suggested that I go in to ebay and fix the listing there to show multiples. . sounds like a real time saver to me.

Also have noticed that the ITEM SPECIFICS as not updated.. this has been for quite awhile. Is most of the energy going for commerce now?? These are things that save us time and money.

Please work on this.. we need to save all the $$$$ we possibly can.

The holidays are coming. That is for sure not the time to roll out a new program, as previous history has shown there is steep learning curve on new roll-outs AND it takes time to get kinks out. We need this promto so kinks can be worked out before holiday season hits us.

This is needed now so that when ebay rolls out next categories of it, sellers are familiar with it and it is ready to be used.

PLEASE auctiva.. more information!!

Do I create several hundred listings within Ebay one at a time, in order to use the multiple variation option, or can I do it here sometime soon?

How much work has been completed so far in implementing this feature here on Auctiva? How close is it to being available?

This is a HUGE money saver for sellers and as ebay releases more categories more sellers will be able to use it. The kinks need to be worked out before ebay releases ALL categories for this.

For sellers who may not be able to use now.. you may be able to later.

Also, ITEM SPECIFICS need to be updated in a bad way.

Both of these features are time consuming to go in and re-do in ebay separately. In this business TIME IS MONEY and we need these things fixed asap.

Auctiva.. please give us some in put here. A lot of sellers could re-coup their Auctiva fees in one or two multiple listings.

Please respond with time-frame.

We appreciate the concerns being expressed in this thread. We understand the savings and opportunity that Item Variations offers; it IS on our product roadmap.

However, Item Variations happens to be a big project so we aren't in a position yet give an ETA as to when we will make it available.

I am sure it is a huge undertaking.. but can't help but wonder if auctiva is biting off more than they are able to chew with the ebay listings going, new commerce enhancements, (plus working out soooo many kinks there and people surrendering on that - as I did) poster all going, new billing system all going on at once. When things were free people did not expect things to be updated very often, or at least I didn't.. I figured you get what you pay for and was thankful for what we had. . . But now that people are paying they will expect site issues to be addressed and updates to be done on a timely basis. Right now ebay only has couple of areas rolled out, I am sure so they can iron out kinks before a full release. But when they are going full steam with this, I would guess more auctiva customers will be after this quickly. I can only assume the previous mention of later this year is a very remote possibility. With such a large job I would think it would already be being worked on if it was coming out in 2009.

I guess I am concerned because I see major bucks being thrown away on fees, or I see lots of time being spent re-doing listings that could be multiples and should only have to be done once. Obviously, in this business, time is money and this is huge amounts of money in our pockets.

Please see what we can do about getting this on a priority list. It is important to have kinks out before Christmas rush.

Thanks for your input.

Reality check:

1. It looks like Auctivia has addressed the issue.
2. They can't just push a button or something to make it happen overnite. Anyone with a tiny bit of knowledge of the programming biz knows this. Look how long it took Ebay to even have this feature: they had been mentioning this happening for a very long time (a year? longer?) How can you honestly expect that a 3 rd party service can make the same feature in a month? it ain't that easy.
3. Can't people still list the multiple variation listings directly on ebay untill Auctiva supports it?

Auctiva is dancing around the issue. If they are planning this for "later this year", then surely there is an estimated date??? Just like planning a wedding, you set a date and plan and plan some more, send announcements so people anticipate the event. Yes, lots of work, but that is life in most businesses these days. My husband is contractor. They can give estimated date for any job they bid, even before the ground is cleared. Auctiva is not starting from the ground up, they are established company.

Yes, programing is not something that happens overnight, and it does not take a rocket scientist to know that. However, nothing happens of noone is working on it.

Ebay announced plans for this months ago, perhaps auctiva should have been "thinking" about it then. It is not new news that this was coming. It started June mid-June which is over a month ago.

Auctiva's suggestion was to list through them and then going to ebay and revising the listings. This is a time waster, and listing through ebay costs us more money because of pictures that we are paying to have hosted by auctiva.

However, if it is not something you will use that is why you do not care. Others do.

Passive people are never heard. Just like you said you sat back waiting on auctiva to change the fees back to do the right thing. Do you REALLY think that those fees would have been changed without someone raising the roof??? If so you are in fantasy land. If everyone sat back we would be paying LOTS OF $$$$$$$$$.

It is obvious that perhaps you are a recreational seller and do not care, others sell for a business and they are only asking for what we are paying for. We still need DATES for plans so we can either hold on those items that apply or list another method.

I am sorry if our posts steam you , as do most of the people who posts written but passive people get no where in life.

I think that ebay charges for each of the variations as a separate listing. So if I were to list 1 t-shirt with 4 sizes and 2 colors...it would be 8 x the listing fee. Also for each variation it counts as an item in your store. Does anyone know if that is correct? I love the templates from Auctiva and must have the multi-variation option in conjunction with the template to make an effective listing that sells.

Hi- This is cut and paste from ebay site. Unless I am totally mis-reading this, this is a great money saving device as well as huge time-saver. If anyone understands or interprets this differently, pls. let us know.



List multiple variations of a product including color and size in one 35¢ listing!

* Save on listing and photo fees
* List more in less time
* Manage inventory right from your listings
* Price each variation separately
* Great way to cross sell
* Get exposure for more inventory

Here is listing link from the Bay:

http://pages.ebay.com/sell/variation/

I have not tried to revise a listing, however, did go through ebay listing process last night for this, just to check prices. This is truly a piece of cake, there is no real learning curve all explained very well. (did hit one minor, very minor snag) I did mock listing of 11 pairs of shoes T $24.00 - $24.99 each pair. The cost to list 11 pairs was 35 cents for the listing, fixed price plus 15 cent for an extra picture I put in. So for 50 cents I could list 11 pairs of shoes all in one listing with one extra photo. Doing through auctiva, we should not have to pay for extra photos. I typically list shoes with 4 photos - 5 photos So doing through auctiva the savings would be very big when you multiple the listing fee X's 11 and the photos X's 4. Then multiply that by how many item you have. There is a chance for auctiva to make more money also, as more pictures will be added to their site simply because right now listing through ebay that is revenue auctiva may not see, as there is no real need to add those in auctiva when we can't list them through auctiva anyway.

IF anyone dares to try to revise a listing, let us know how that works. . may get courage to tackle that one later.. but sounds like a hassle to me.

Although I have some issues with Auctiva right now, I must defend them on this. This is a huge undertaking for them. Auctiva is just a speck of dust compared to ebay!

Give it some thought, they don't even have spell check anymore. I am pretty sure that spell check is a lot easier to program than multi-variations auctions.

Just something to think about....

Auctiva.. can you give us detailed directions on work around for this as a temporary solution. This will save lots of us trial and error and lots of time wasted trying to figure it all out.

You are right it is VERY unprofessional. I have done this type of listing as CHOICE listing for years and hated/hate doing this way because I too feel it is not polished looking.

We have beautiful templates, nice layout to listings and then blob. . no place to pick size without a separate email.

I talked to ebay this week and they are working on rolling out LOTS more categories according to person that called me.

I see a train wreck if auctiva plans on rolling out for all old and new categories at same time and tries to get those kinks out at same time.

Also. . Christmas is about 112 days away, YES, 112 days away. that is not long to roll this out this year and get kinks before we miss the Christmas business. Obviously, would be great to know we will get before Christmas day.

Auctiva.. we have been able to do "CHOICE" listings for YEARS and YEARS which is what we are still having to do. We need multiple listing.

*******Auctiva.. we asked for your go around for this.. please tell me you can at least figure out a logical go around besides choice listings.*******

Thanks, look forward to hearing more from Auctiva and other members.

Well here is the work around. I finally started listing directly thru ebay with the multi variation listings. It is much better for the customer to use with the "pulldown" tabs to select the size and color of my t shirts. Ebay gives you 12 pics per variation also and it is only 35 cents for 30 days for each listing. I have 3 colors and 6 sizes...18 variations for only 35 cents. No more "store" listing that don't show up in the search results either. Oh yeah the work around...I make the listing in Auctiva and then cut and paste from the preview page only the template part of the listing (animations, graphics, details,shipping,about us, etc) into an ebay listing that has been newly started with the variations enabled. Just use the "Sell Similar Item" command to start another after the first is done and cut and paste the Auctiva stuff into the "Describe Your Item" box. Check it out and let me know if I missed anything.

http://cgi.ebay.com/StG44-STUR...d=p4634.c0.m14.l1262

Bill

Auctiva.. can you give us information on this. This is July note from Tony. .

Can you give us current status??? It is October.. holidays are fast approaching. Would LOVE to use this.

Auctiva Tony M.
Auctiva Product Manager

Apprentice
Posted July 14, 2009 12:45 PM
As an FYI, Auctiva does not yet support multiple variation listings. We hope to do so later in the year.

Auctiva Tony M.
Sr. Product Manager, Auctiva.com

Can you give us current status??? It is October.. holidays are fast approaching. Would LOVE to use this through AUCTIVA system. It is now pretty much later this year.

quote:

Posted July 14, 2009 12:45 PM
As an FYI, Auctiva does not yet support multiple variation listings. We hope to do so later in the year.

Auctiva Tony M.
Sr. Product Manager, Auctiva.com