Variation listing

[jimpowney]

HI

I raised this to Ebay support over 1 year ago asking if it could be passed to SW development etam as it was an excellent option but not user friendly - the issue remains the same

I have again raised it and support said they would forward and proposed i write to community - last time I did as well just after teh variation listing came in and community told me eiether I was doing it wrong or it was not possible to do what I wnated to do

I have created 2 lists this week so I know it is possible BUT it is NOT user friendly and the 3rd list today shows just why and although I undertsand there may be limits, they should be made clearer during or at teh start of the process rather than being hidden aways in T&C or rules where many people that are not computer litterate do not manage to find or lt takes longer to find a specific item than it does to work around it

My issue

I am creating a variation list with 3 variations 1 - 2 options, 2-options, 3-in region of 50 options

I do NOT Need EVERY permutation of the 3 but I DO need to be able to sort these in the easiet possible way as it is extremely time consuming to create the variations, name the varables and then later on take photos of each variable, reszie them all to Ebay spec (Something I learned the hard way last year) and then assign each variable with the correct image(s) - this is taking me circa 3hrs even though I now know what I am doing

SO I create my variationson Page 1, I skip through Page 2 as no extra info to add, I then arrive at Page 3 where Ebay decides which options are "probably the best" for my ad

When I create  Brand new listing, Ebay seems to skip this page and goes direct to the page where I denote the quantity which I can cope with but using the "Sell Similat Item" options use Page 3 as " review Your Variations" with the suggetsed best options form Ebay

THis is very kind of Ebay to try to help except that its a very poor attempt with only a few variations being offered and ZERO options offered that include my very first variation and NO backout Option (EXCEPT DELETE ALL) and no Modify option except deleting all and starting again - if this was a paid SW option the company would have goine bankrupt as it is so useless

I understan there must be limits BUT IF I am offered the number of variables on Page 1, then Page 3 MUST offer me every permutation of Page 1 OR allow ME to specify what options I want as a "New Listing" would

All giving me a selection of variables does is annoy me, make me delete eveything and start again wasting hours when a better review and some discussion with people who have raised this issue would make eth entire experience much more peasureable and propably gain more sales as more people would use teh options taht are put off as it stands

Example

I have 3 variations - 1-Long/Short  2-Plus/Minus  3 - A/B/C/D/E/F/G

I would expect Ebay to offer me

Long/Plus/A-G - 7 options

Long-Minus/A-G - 7 OPtions

Short/Plus/A-G - 7 Options

Short/Minus/A-G - 7 OPtions

Total - 28 options

In NEW Listing, this is NOT there BUT I am offered a drop down menu system that allows ME to choose the required options - long winded but simpler if like me you have ordered the variables and images in a certain order in readines for creatig teh variables because you leant last time

Instead, In Sell SImilar Item the offered veriables may be

Long/Plus/A-G - 7 options

Long-Minus/A-G - 7 oPtions

Total - 14 options

where Ebay has totally ignored the 2nd variable in teh first variation group

(With thsi limited number of permutations I would probably get everything offered but for simlicty I have reduced teh numbers but effectively, this is what I was oiffered in my listing where the 2nd variable of the 1st variation was completey disregarded)

As I state, this may be down to permutation limits but IF that is the case, why offer me the possibility to createt hose variants on page 1 or not atleats want me of the limits?

Other issues on this listing type are also annoying and easily fixed but someone form Ebay SW team needs to know about them and its hard to gat it that far

• IF you miss 1 item because Ebay didnt offer it due to the other issues I have raise here or you simply forgot or need to add a new variable, you cannot return as it then removes everything else you have just spent hours configuring - at least this is what the EBay message tells me will happen and I have spent too much time to risk it
• When you use STANDARD to upload photos, it reopens in default folder each time rather than the LAST USED Folder which is usually where the user would leave all images so EVERY photo uploaded needs the entrire folder path to be found again - unless I have missed something?

As stated, the Variation option is a great idea but needs a little TLC

I CAN make it work better but only by creatingnew listing rather than sell similar item which defeats the point of having the latter as it is there to help rather than hinder your listings

I am sure someone will tell me I have done stuff wrong or should not moan but I am simply trying to get the SW bods to help us  as this helps Ebay make more money as more items are listed because the process is so good so please dont write just to criticise unless you have something to remark about how I did this or you know how to get round it and can offer options

REgards

JIm