Simplifying the process

mikeandnoraMember

Hey everyone.

We list about 50-100 items once a month. The items are all random and we attain them all at once.

I'm trying to understand how to simplify the process. Last month we didn't use the inventory feature at all and just listed our inventory out on an excel spreadsheet. We would then go through and list the items one at a time, marking that they were listed in the spreadsheet. Once the item would sell we would move the item and change it's color (all in excel). This seemed to work pretty well, but was not very automated.

This month we tried taking all of the 100 new items in and entering them into auctiva inventory (only a handful are multiple quantities) At the same time we were taking pictures that we'd then upload to auctiva.

The problem arose when we began to go through and list each of the inventory items. I expected that I'd be able to upload the description, pictures, price, etc. all to the inventory item, then "create listing" and have almost all of the listing ready to go. This obviously is not how auctiva is designed to work.

So my question is, can anyone recommend an easy way to accomplish this process of streamlining the inventory to listing process or are there other services (blackthorn, inkfrog, etc. that would be better aimed at making my life easy.

12/4/0811:45 AM

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krebelMember

Hi! Since I sell a lot of different items, I don't bother with the inventory feature (that seems more geared towards people who list a lot of the same items over and over.)

For my own records, I create my listings and organize them into specific folders (crafts, shoes, dvds, etc.) And when I am done with my sales for the month, I download a .csv file with all of my sales info--it's not a perfect system, but it gives me an overview of what sold and what didn't and selling price, etc...and I don't have to re-type the info into a spreadsheet.

Have you created a Seller Details profile to save time entering your payment/shipping/terms/etc info into your listings? I use those constantly to save time when I need to list on eBay.

Good luck with your selling & sorry I can't offer much advice!

12/4/0812:16 PM

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thurstonMember

I don't know if your products lend themselves to this procedure but I do find that a mailmerged word doc really speeds up the listing process. Since you already have the spreadsheet, it should be a short putt.

As Reba mentioned, once the seller details and Master Profiles are created so one needs do is paste the description (HTML or text)into the listing and off you go.

To be clear though, this only works if your products can all be described in a very similar way changing only details. I sell vinyl records and the story about them is the same for all - only the titles and description details change. These strings are easily inserted.

Thanks for posting the thread. I'm always up for learning how to do this smarter and faster.

12/4/082:52 PM

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cassandravertMember

Mike and Nora, this is what I do:

For the items that are identical except for color, create a complete listing for the first one including the color in the subject line. List it or schedule it for listing.

Go to the saved items list. Your new item is at the top. To the right is a link to create a similar listing. Create a new clone listing from the old one, swap out the picture and the color in the subject line. Ta-da.

If you want to list all the colors at once, go ahead and list or schedule. If you want to list one at a time, then just save the clone listings. When the first one sells, go back to the saved items list and filter for a key word of the item. The original and all clone listings will appear. Because you put the color in the subject line, you can see which is which. You can also see which ones have been listed in the listing column.

I also use folders to sort out listings. I have a folder for partially completed listings when I make listings for things I have ordered but not received yet or have not photographed yet. Then when I list it, I change the folder designation to the listed items folder. The items in each folder are color coded so I can tell which folder any item is in when I look at all saved listings.

12/4/087:53 PM

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