No item specifics - Tony please help!

Jane,

Rebecca and I are looking into your question. We aren't experts in the categories you are using, but eBay does say here that item conditions may vary by category. The upshot of this is that you might not have conditions in the second category that you have in the first.

To test this out, Rebecca just made a test listing directly on ebay, chose 2 categories, and they only gave her ONE set of item specifics to fill in...for the first category.

Based on that, we think what you are running into is an eBay restriction, not a limitation of the Auctiva site.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Tony - I shall look into it too! I'll phone eBay tomorrow and ask them - it seems grossly unfair to pay double if you can't put your item into a specific sub-category for the second choice category. (Hope that makes sense!) Obviously I want my item listed under the right decade. Mind you, I'm not very happy with the way they've changed the vintage clothing category anyway - there used to be far more leaf categories than there are now. You only get 'clothes, vintage, womens' now whereas you used to get those then 'decade' then 'clothing type' as well.

I wonder if this has anything to do with the different ways they do categories and specifics in the UK (where I am) versus the US??

I'll phone and let you know what I can find out...

Thanks for answering,

Jane
Silk Dreams Lingerie

Hi Tony,

I phoned eBay and after the usual 20 mins wait on the phone, got through to someone. You were right - you can't enter any item specifics for a second category, even though they charge you just as much as for the first category.

Anyone else who normally lists in two categories should take note, because basically you're getting ripped off! The whole point of choosing a second category is to increase visibility for your item, but it is very unlikely to do so!

Maybe this is a particular problem for me with the items I sell, but I'm sure others must be affected too.

In my example, here's how it works: for my vintage Dior camisole and slip set, I can choose either 'underwear and sleepwear' for my first category, or 'vintage, womens'. And I can then choose item specifics to help buyers find it. However, when it comes to the second category (if I use it) the item will NOT appear where I want it because there are no longer any leaf categories. No one will find it because it will be lumped under 'other' and who looks there? If I have underwear/sleepwear as my second category, my item will not appear under slips or camisoles, but only amongst the millions of items in the category as a whole. As soon as someone clicks a sub category (which everyone does in these big categories) my item is invisible. Doing it the other way round, the same thing happens - it would appear under 'vintage, womens' but if you click on 'decade' or 'garment type' you won't find my item anywhere because I can't put it in any particular place. Not fair! If I'm selling a vintage (but otherwise 'new') slip, I want people looking in 'vintage' to find it, but I also want people browsing 'underwear, slips' to find it as well, as they may want to buy even though they hadn't considered looking at vintage items. Under the previous category divisions it was possible to do this - it no longer is.

I'm really unhappy about this. (With eBay not Auctiva!) If they double the listing fee for choosing to list under a second category, then obviously you ought to get the same chance to fill in specifics for your item just as you can in your first choice category. If you can't, you may as well not bother.

So - a warning to all - don't bother with a second category unless the leaf/sub categories available will show your item where you want it. In my case that just isn't possible.

I am not happy! I hope others see this post and take note...

Jane
Silk Dreams Lingerie

Another update:

I just posted on the eBay discussion boards about this issue, and that it's unfair to charge double fees when item specifics are not allowed for the second category.

James the Pink replied saying 'I know nothing' as usual, but says he has forwarded the thread to the people who work in 'categories and IS'.

So I'm holding my breath now, ready for eBay to take immediate action.*

In the meantime, I'm going to edit all my future listings - no more second categories for me. It wouldn't be so bad if the second cat. was offered at a reduced price, but it isn't. Pah!

*Jane has now collapsed in a heap due to lack of oxygen... Huh.

Anacylus, Don't hold your breath, I am sure James the Pink's answer is same as other people there will be .. we don't know, we are working on improving things to make your experience better, we have been very busy, (this one KILLS me as for ebay every day is holiday season they are always experiencing high call/etc, volume) but may consider this.. IF and NOTE I SAID IF you even get response at all. My vote would be you will not get response back!!

In the meantime breath in breath out!!

VIckie