Hi stuff-4-me,

Thank you for the post.

Q:Unlike the competitor you are trying so hard to emulate, it is not clear at all to me how to list in the "catalog". Is the catalog different from the Product Pages? Does it go by ISBN? UPC? Title? How do I find catalog/product page items that already exist?

A:Listing in the DVD catalog can most easily be done using UPC, but if you don’t have UPC you can search using Title. The catalog provides the details for the product page, and provides a way for sellers to confirm or associate their listings with the product page. The product page presents the buyers with additional information and a purchase oriented experience.

Existing pages can be accessed by entering the UPC of an existing DVD title in the search box

Q: I use a third party to list (it is owned by you) and they are not up to speed on item specifics/product details. Is Item Specifics the same as Product Details?

A: Product details are pre-filled item specifics for a particular category. For example in the DVD category, product details include genre, rating, and region. The catalog product details don't cover product condition. Because product condition is one of the top purchasing criteria for eBay buyers, be sure to provide the product's condition using item specifics.
We have worked with all of the certified providers and 3rd party tools to get the updates in their system.

Q: How do I know if I am listing in the catalog? How do I know if an item is in the catalog?

A: Listings associated with the catalog will contain product details on the View Item Page, below the fold and just above the description. You can also get a summary of your active listings in these three subcategories not currently listed with the catalog, use the Advanced Search functionality in free eBay Selling Manager (or Selling Manager Pro) and follow these steps:
1.Go to Selling Manager (or Selling Manager Pro)
2.Click on “Active” in the left-hand navigation
3.Click on the “Advanced Search” link located on the right just above the table of active listings
4.Choose “Category” from the drop down menu in the first field
5.Choose “is” from the drop down menu in the second field
6.Enter one of the following subcategory ID numbers in the “Category look-up” field:
-iPod & MP3 Players (subcategory # 73839)
-GPS Devices (subcategory # 156955)
-DVDs, HD DVDs & Blu-ray (subcategory # 617)
7.Click on “Add another”
8.Choose “Catalog product” from the drop down menu in the first field
9.Choose “is not specified” from the drop down menu in the second field
10.Click on the “Search” button in the lower right-hand corner


Q: What if I am the only one carrying that item? Can I start a catalog page?

A: You can submit a request to append new titles to the catalog with the applicable information through the following link using the ADD It to Our Catalog Link in the SYI flow For titles that are not in our catalog, submit the request to the add the title and continue to list your item. We will add it to our catalog and then it will be eligible for free insertion. In the meantime, you can still list that item in the category. It will not be available for free insertion, but will show up in the search results page as it does today.

Q: What do I have to do to insure ALL my media products are in the catalog?

A: List with UPC and verify your titles are in our catalog. If not add them through the link articulated above.

Q: If I have to revise (AGAIN) to fit this latest seller release, will a Turbo Lister revision to add product details be enough? Or will I have to end listings and then "actively" relist to the catalog to get into the catalog?

A: Good news, you can go into Turbo Lister and revise the listing by associating with the catalog title.


Q: What is the difference between actively listing to the catalog and eBay doing an auto map of my product? Is there a difference?

A: In scenarios, autotagging (automapping) and seller tagged listings will be consolidated on the product details page. The seller tagged listings receive free insertion and are eligible for the Value Box on the Product Page, whereas the autotagged listings are not eligible for either.

Q: Will Best Match determine who gets the Value Box? If so, why should I bother as I can not determine, other than you give preference to larger sellers, what criteria you are using and therefore the whole thing is a guessing game for me.

A: The qualifying listing will be the lowest total fixed price, new, listing in which the seller has eTRS status and has actively used the catalog.


Q: Finally: As I said, I sell niche DVDs, only a couple have ever shown up on what I assume are Catalog / Product Pages. Early this year, and running for 6 months, I did a test. Listed identical products, one under the Product Page (and made sure I was in the value box) and another in what I assume is just regular search. The Product Page item did not sell a single DVD, the search item sold several.

A: Until now and up until the Sept 10.3 launch, listings against the catalog and not had the same exposure in search, so that was likely not the differentiating factor.

Please answer the questions above... because as of right now I find the whole catalog experience to be:
1) Difficult to understand
2) Unclear as to how to get in the catalog/create a catalog page
3) Unclear how to qualify for the catalog and therefore coming free listing
4) Frustrating and pointless as sales were not positively impacted.

Thank you for the opportunity to share this information. We hope this will be helpful to you and other members.

Cheryl

Cheryl
Seller Marketing and Communications
eBay

Hi sgrunin,

Thank you for your question.

If a seller is including multiple DVDs in a single listing and they are not a specific product with a single UPC for all the items, and don’t want to use the wholesale category, then we recommend separating the different DVDs into single listings and associating each to the correct products in the catalog. That way, the items will be getting the exposure in the site via the Product Details Page, as well as paying no insertion fees for such listings.

Thanks,
Cheryl

Cheryl
Seller Marketing and Communications
eBay

Cheryl,

Regarding adding an item to the catalog, you say, "ADD It to Our Catalog Link in the SYI flow"

1) I do not use the SYI flow. Is there another way to add to the catalog?
2) You say I make my "request" and then you will "add" the item to the catalog. How long will this take? Will it be possible that items are not added to the catalog? During the eBay Express fiasco, I was told to add my ISBN numbers via a link and they would be added to eBay Express. I did so - BUT THEY WERE NEVER ADDED.
3) My test showed a disadvantage to being in the catalog. What changes in September that will change that? And will I be disadvantaged if I join the catalog now?
4) If I am the only one with a product, is there any advantage is being in the catalog?
5) Many of my competitors do not list in the DVD category so that they can overcharge on s/h and pay a lesser FVF. It would appear to be against the rules, but I have been assured by T&S that it is not. Will being in the catalog boost my exposure against those competitors?

Hi stuff-4-me,

Here are responses to your questions above:

Q: I do not use the SYI flow. Is there another way to add to the catalog?
A: Please see above answer on how to list items using the catalog via Turbo Lister.

Q: You say I make my "request" and then you will "add" the item to the catalog. How long will this take? Will it be possible that items are not added to the catalog?
A: We will evaluate requests for additions to the catalog and where we find the product missing and enough information to create the item, the product will be included in the catalog within 1-2 weeks.

Q: What changes in September? And will I be disadvantaged if I join the catalog now?
A: There should not be any disadvantage to listing using the catalog immediately. Listings with and without the catalog have so far had the same exposure in search, and will do so until the September launch of our new experience. Starting with the launch in September, that is when search results will feature product cards that summarize the total number of listings for that item. By clicking on that card, buyers will get to the product details page where they can access all available inventory.


Q: If I am the only one with a product, is there any advantage is being in the catalog?
A: The product pages are intended to give buyers more information to help them make a buying decision. If you are the only one with the product, it will still be to your advantage to be in the catalog so we can provide that improved experience to buyers.


Q: Many of my competitors do not list in the DVD category so that they can overcharge on s/h and pay a lesser FVF. It would appear to be against the rules, but I have been assured by T&S that it is not. Will being in the catalog boost my exposure against those competitors?
A: With the launch in September, we will be requiring sellers to list with the catalog and will be automatically mapping listings to products where appropriate. Once notified, sellers who continue to have listings not using the catalog when there is a product match may be subject to a range of actions including listing removal, limits of buying and selling privileges and possible account suspension. Listings will appear on the Product Details Page based on best value (price + shipping + great service), so do your best to be competitive on those fronts.

Thank you for your questions!
Cheryl

Cheryl
Seller Marketing and Communications
eBay