The New Listing Tool : No more opting out

[Simon]

Hello everyone,  I haven’t been here for a while but I thought I’d share this news.

Today my main account was opted into the new eBay listing tool….. And now there’s no way to switch back to the old listing tool.  eeek.

I’ve used the new tool a couple of times in the past but I never stuck with it.  It appears that eBay thinks it’s ready for prime time.

(It wouldn’t surprise me if people start freaking out and they re-add the link to switch back but for now I’m stuck with it. )

If you haven’t been forced into it yet. It might be worth saving a copy of the link to the old listing tool in case it’s possible to trick ebay and use that one instead.

[Jay]

Good advice. We still use the old tool. We tried the new one once and didnt like it.

Has it evolved at all? Are you able to successfully list your items?

[Amatino]

You’re lucky, Simon. I was opted into it months ago and, despite many, many, many messages to eBay, and lots of “feedback” (which even resulted in a video conference!) I’m stuck with it. eBay is determined to roll out the new system. I think, with the amount of negative input they’ve received, that it’s being touted as “good for sellers” but it’s actually got more to do with the background system. It’s better for eBay and the eBay programmers, so sellers will just have to deal. IMHO, anyway.

Jay, there are some improvements. They have made some items clickable in the fields, for example, but no, it’s definitely more work than the old tool. Even though I’ve worked with it for some months now, aka gotten used to it, if the old tool was an option, I’d revert in a nanosecond!

[Simon]

That’s interesting.  I haven’t seen many complaints in the reselling forum.  Normally there’s a huge freak-out if even the most minor thing is changed. I would have expected to see that kind of thing already if lots of people had been pushed into the new tool.

[Ryanne]

i’m still seeing the old listing tool, but surely we’ll all see the new one soon.

[debitendcredits]

I will say the new listing tool is better than it was.  There is a learning curve to dealing with the new item specifics format.  While I think click boxes are faster, once you get a rhythm the pull down menus are WAY MORE functional than they were on day one.

 

[Simon]

They have definitely improved the new listing tool since the early days.  It’s usable but it’s different.

My main complaints are :-
1) the lag & page refresh when you touch any of the item specifics for the first time.
2)  some item specific selections are hidden. eg: for hats, there is a “Features” item specific are a bunch of checkboxes such as “lightweight” “adjustable” “wide brim” etc  If you check more than 1 checkbox it just shows the first selection with a “+1” after it so it is displayed as “Features: Adjustable (+1)”   This could be problematic if you do a a “sell similar” and can’t see everything that has been carried across from the old listing.

I’m also sad that the “reset” option has been removed from the image editing tools.  It was helpful to be able to undo changes

[craig rex]

I got thrown into the new listing tool a few days ago. I hate change, always.

But my first instinct was that the new tool isn’t so bad. Like @debitendcredits mentioned, the pull down menus are really fast.

I am going to play around this weekend what I think is the most interesting new feature, uploading photos from mobile using (I think) a QR code within the eBay app. I have a feeling this could streamline the listing process for those of us who start a draft on the computer, add photos in the app and then finish the draft on the computer.

[debitendcredits]

I’ve always been able to upload photos from phone using the eBay.  The app allows you to access photos in your camera roll.  I have a mac but I assume it’s the same on Android platform.

With the new listing tool, I have found that moving between desktop and mobile is alot smoother.

[craig rex]

With the new listing tool, I have found that moving between desktop and mobile is alot smoother.

Yeah, I have always been able to upload photos from phone (Android) as well but the new listing tool is a huge improvement in that process. The draft syncs with mobile as you’re creating it and vice versa. So you can add photos to your draft in mobile without having to close the draft on the computer. No QR code involved like I initially thought but my impression so far is that the new flow is much smoother. There is a lag with item specifics populating but if that gets fixed, this new listing tool will be really fast.

[icequeen]

I decided to try it because of the ease of uploading video…now I’m stuck with it I guess.

Yeah, I’m sure I’ll get used to it, but I definitely miss the old listing tool.

 

 

 

[ChristineR]

I’ve just been forced to join you in the new listing tool.  I don’t mind it too much except if that you have to click to add (confirm) what you just typed in as a custom answer to item specifics (or else it gets deleted on exiting and you have to retype it).  Also having some weird issue so I can’t set an auto decline amount, just an auto accept.  The shipping method boxes functionality is kind of annoying as well.  Finally, I’m not seeing required vs. recommended specifics like before and the list seems shorter but that’s not a bad thing if they don’t bug me for more.

[Sharyn]

Yes, I was also “added” in last week. The lack of automatic selections for required item specifics is the biggest issue. I assume the software is still in development, and it will eventually be rolled back out.

Another annoyance I ran into: if you adjust and save a photo, but later decide you wanted it in the original format, you cannot undo it. In the old tool, you could change your mind, at least before you posted it, but now you have to delete it and re-upload the original.

[pythonesk]

I’m using the new listing tool for the first time.  It’s very slow to process photos.  In some cases I’m having to upload them several times before they stick.  When it times out it loses many of my choices in item specifics.  *sigh*

[craig rex]

I have noticed that the new listing tool has been running a lot faster the last few days. No huge lags when you change an item specific. If those problems are truly fixed, that’s an exciting development.

[ChristineR]

Is anyone comparing desktop v iPhone with the new listing tool?  I’m considering an experiment starting to list on my phone.  I think it may require fewer item specifics.  You still have to type and then hit the + to confirm for everything, which annoys me on desktop but it’s easier to click on the phone.  It also keeps losing my low end offer amount when I switch to the phone to take photos.

[JasonK]

I’ve been using the “new” listing too for months, not sure how I got enrolled in it but we gritted our teeth and just dealt with it until now I don’t remember the old one. I’ve tried selling on iPhone in the past and it’s almost always a “limited” experience where I can’t get all the options I need. I use business policies, custom store categories, listing templates and item description templates so I have a lot going on in my listings though.

[IndySales]

I’d be the first to say if eBay goofed up, but I have to admit this feels like a straight upgrade just on speed alone.

One minor complaint: Item specifics being in a single column really makes the page look bloated. I almost never touch item specifics since 99% of my listings come from existing solds. Optionally hiding that section unless there’s some required field missing or going back to double columns would clean up the page a great deal.

Photo uploading is crazy fast, the editor is nice (actual gridlines for cropping), and the fresh coat of paint on everything else is much needed.

Curious to see if the mobile version is a direct copy of the desktop one. If so, cool.

[craig rex]

I’d be the first to say if eBay goofed up, but I have to admit this feels like a straight upgrade just on speed alone.

I agree. I’ve been surprised to see mostly negative feedback here and other forums. Now that the load time for item specifics has been fixed, the new listing tool is so much cleaner and faster.

One minor complaint: Item specifics being in a single column really makes the page look bloated. I almost never touch item specifics since 99% of my listings come from existing solds. Optionally hiding that section unless there’s some required field missing or going back to double columns would clean up the page a great deal.

I would love to see a consolidation of item specifics in the next seller’s update to only the required item specifics. There are some niches, like clothing or other hard goods, where I think item specifics are really helpful to narrow down search results. There are a lot of other niches like unique collectibles where I think most buyers will use the search bar to find what they want and do not use item specifics much, if at all. I used to fill out a number of recommended item specifics for every single listing, but I’ve stopped doing this over the last few months and it hasn’t affected my sales at all.

[Sharyn]

I don’t like that the new tool does not try to automatically pick out the item specifics for you. On the other hand, I’ve saved a listing for later, opened it back up again, and then found some item specific that I definitely didn’t select. I’ll be happier once this gets fixed.

I have noticed that the requirement for UPC codes seems to have been lightened. Although, strangely, it popped up for a used vintage clothing listing I was working on. I put in N/A, and that worked, but it seemed out of place.

[ChristineR]

I like the new listing tool but I am noticing some bugs in the item specifics.  There is a category where the style or something is stuck on Mammut and I can’t change it.   Also I’m almost certain that the shipping boxes reverted as I have been stuck with an inappropriate flat rate on an item or two.  I usually don’t take time to review after opening my draft to take photos.

[JasonK]

If we are talking bugs on the new listing tool I’d say my biggest complaint is that changing something as simple as the listing title or the store category will sometimes wipe out ALL your item specifics and you have to re-enter the same data all over again. I’ve also been having odd issues with drafts where the shipping policy and weight/dimensions get wiped out and it will not let me re-enter the data.

[Pikapop]

I just got rolled over this week and my main complaint is having to get the hang of this thing during prime selling season lol.

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