From collectibles to cars, buy and sell all kinds of items on eBay
Site Map
aAdvanced Search
BuySellMy eBayCommunityHelp

Home

  » 

Community

  » 

eBay Discussion Boards

  » 

Community Help Boards

  » 

Workshops

  » 

eBay Workshop: Learn to use Blackthorne Pro - Oct 11
Topic Locked This topic is locked - uploads are not allowed.
Last Post Oct 11, 2006 12:02 PM by: deirdre@ebay.com
Replies: 37
View Listings
deirdre@ebay.com
Posts: 3,846

eBay Workshop: Learn to use Blackthorne Pro - Oct 11

Sep 28, 2006 10:35 PM
eBay Workshop: Learn to use Blackthorne Pro

Host: eBay Staff
Date: Wednesday 10/11
Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
Location: Workshop Board

Description: Join the Blackthorne Software team for this workshop to learn about Blackthorne Pro, the redesigned Seller’s Assistant Pro. This top-of-the-line sales management tool can help you scale your eBay business. To learn more, go to the Blackthorne Pro page.

Cheers,

Deirdre
eBay Community Development
Reply
Reply
Name:
Email:
 
Click for emoticon Click for bold Click for italics Click for underline Click for pre tag Click for url tag Spell Check
Tip: To create a link - type the desired text, highlight it with your mouse and click[Click for url tag]
Tags:
 
View Listings
deirdre@ebay.com
Posts: 3,846
(1 of 37)

eBay Workshop: Learn to use Blackthorne Pro - Oct 11

Oct 11, 2006 10:56 AM
Welcome and thanks for joining us today!

We love workshops to be interactive, so please feel free to ask your questions that directly relate to this topic.

Added note: If you click on the "Watch this discussion" link, you will receive an email each time someone posts to the workshop.

Stop Watching: If at any time you no longer want to receive updates on a thread you are watching, just click on the link titled "Stop Watching Thread" found in the specific thread being watched. Also you can remove any watched thread by clicking on the "Watched Discussions" link located in the log in bar and deleting the watched thread.

If you're new to the discussion boards, please be sure to check out the board tutorial:

Link


Cheers,

Deirdre
eBay Community Development
Reply
Reply
Name:
Email:
 
Click for emoticon Click for bold Click for italics Click for underline Click for pre tag Click for url tag Spell Check
Tip: To create a link - type the desired text, highlight it with your mouse and click[Click for url tag]
Tags:
 
View Listings
mmonico@ebay.com
Posts: 347
(2 of 37)

eBay Workshop: Learn to use Blackthorne Pro - Oct 11

Oct 11, 2006 11:00 AM
Hi, I’m John Slocum. During today’s workshop we’ll discuss how to use some of Blackthorne’s key features. Then, we’ll open up the forum for any questions you may have.

I don't expect that you will be able to follow along real-time with all the steps. I would recommend instead that you get a general idea of what we are discussing and then refer back to this archived workshop when you are actually using the program later. The "eBay Blackthorne Users Guide" (Link) will also be invaluable as you work through the program.

Feel free to ask any questions that relate to the topic we are currently discussing, but if you have unrelated questions I’d like to ask you to hold them til the end of our workshop. We have sellers who joined this workshop primarily to see how to get started with Blackthorne. Thank you!
Reply
Reply
Name:
Email:
 
Click for emoticon Click for bold Click for italics Click for underline Click for pre tag Click for url tag Spell Check
Tip: To create a link - type the desired text, highlight it with your mouse and click[Click for url tag]
Tags:
 
View Listings
mmonico@ebay.com
Posts: 347
(3 of 37)

eBay Workshop: Learn to use Blackthorne Pro - Oct 11

Oct 11, 2006 11:00 AM
Before we can discuss the program, you should make sure you have downloaded it and run the Setup Assistant.

The first time you run eB, you will be guided through the Setup Assistant. The Setup Assistant will collect data from you and import your Seller’s Assistant database if you are migrating from SA. Because eB uses your SA settings and data during the Setup Assistant, you should NOT uninstall SA until you have ported your process over to eB.

The Setup Assistant will let you specify the database to be imported, collect your eBay Userid info, and collect email and picture host server info. It will also let you specify various preferences.

After completing the Setup Assistant, eB will be ready to go.
Reply
Reply
Name:
Email:
 
Click for emoticon Click for bold Click for italics Click for underline Click for pre tag Click for url tag Spell Check
Tip: To create a link - type the desired text, highlight it with your mouse and click[Click for url tag]
Tags:
 
View Listings
mmonico@ebay.com
Posts: 347
(4 of 37)

eBay Workshop: Learn to use Blackthorne Pro - Oct 11

Oct 11, 2006 11:02 AM
Let's do a brief overview before we start to list our first item.

There are 3 major processes that you will perform with eB. The process of "Creating Items", "Monitoring Listings" and "Finalizing Sales" are each performed on a different tab on the main screen.



On the "Create Items" tab, you will enter all the information for the items that you want to list. When you are ready, you will submit the items to create listings. The items on this tab will act as original copies. You can use them over and over to submit multiple listings from a single item.



Some of the major advantages of the Items mode are:

- you can organize your items into folders and lists
- filters will allow you to view your items in intelligent ways
- the grid and details panes can be viewed either singly or together on the same screen
Reply
Reply
Name:
Email:
 
Click for emoticon Click for bold Click for italics Click for underline Click for pre tag Click for url tag Spell Check
Tip: To create a link - type the desired text, highlight it with your mouse and click[Click for url tag]
Tags:
 
View Listings
mmonico@ebay.com
Posts: 347
(5 of 37)

eBay Workshop: Learn to use Blackthorne Pro - Oct 11

Oct 11, 2006 11:03 AM
Once your listings are created, you will track your listings on the "Monitor Listings" tab.



In "Monitor Listings", you will be able to see just the listings that are running, the listings that have ended and are eligible for relist credit, or the listings that have ended.
Reply
Reply
Name:
Email:
 
Click for emoticon Click for bold Click for italics Click for underline Click for pre tag Click for url tag Spell Check
Tip: To create a link - type the desired text, highlight it with your mouse and click[Click for url tag]
Tags:
 
View Listings
mmonico@ebay.com
Posts: 347
(6 of 37)

eBay Workshop: Learn to use Blackthorne Pro - Oct 11

Oct 11, 2006 11:04 AM
When a listing is completed, a sales record is created. You will see the sales records on the "Finalize Sales" tab.



This is where you will manage all your post sale activity including sending emails, leaving feedbacks and filing disputes.
Reply
Reply
Name:
Email:
 
Click for emoticon Click for bold Click for italics Click for underline Click for pre tag Click for url tag Spell Check
Tip: To create a link - type the desired text, highlight it with your mouse and click[Click for url tag]
Tags:
 
View Listings
mmonico@ebay.com
Posts: 347
(7 of 37)

eBay Workshop: Learn to use Blackthorne Pro - Oct 11

Oct 11, 2006 11:05 AM
Now, let's go back and discuss the process of listing an Item.

From the "Create Items" mode, you will use the "New Item" button to create a new item. You can also select any existing item and use "Duplicate" to get a copy of that item as a starting point.



If you list a lot of similar items, you can even create an "Item Template" and use it to create new items. Let's say for instance that you sell glassware quite frequently. Since many of the elements of your listing are the same for every piece of glassware you sell, you can create an item template that has all of the common glassware settings already filled in.



Then to create a new item for a pitcher you are ready to sell, you would select the "New Item" dropdown and choose your "Glassware" Item template.



Now all you will have to do is to fill in the fields that are different for this particular piece of glassware.
Reply
Reply
Name:
Email:
 
Click for emoticon Click for bold Click for italics Click for underline Click for pre tag Click for url tag Spell Check
Tip: To create a link - type the desired text, highlight it with your mouse and click[Click for url tag]
Tags:
 
View Listings
mmonico@ebay.com
Posts: 347
(8 of 37)

eBay Workshop: Learn to use Blackthorne Pro - Oct 11

Oct 11, 2006 11:07 AM
Filling in the information for an item should be very familiar. All of the common elements (title, description, pictures, categories, etc.) are present.



You may notice though that some of these settings have been grouped into "field presets" to make data entry faster.

Listing upgrades are an example.



Suppose that for most items, you use just Bold on your listings, while for some of the higher end items you use Bold, Highlight, Border and Gallery. You can create a preset called "Bold Only" that has just "Bold" set, and a preset called "High End Upgrades" that has Bold, Highlight, Border and Gallery turned on. Now, when assigning your listing upgrades, you would simply choose either "Standard Upgrades" or "High End Upgrades" from a dropdown box.

Of course the use of presets is optional and you are always free to enter any listing upgrade combinations you'd like without having to create a preset.

Presets are available for listing upgrades, shipping, and payments.
Reply
Reply
Name:
Email:
 
Click for emoticon Click for bold Click for italics Click for underline Click for pre tag Click for url tag Spell Check
Tip: To create a link - type the desired text, highlight it with your mouse and click[Click for url tag]
Tags:
 
View Listings
mmonico@ebay.com
Posts: 347
(9 of 37)

eBay Workshop: Learn to use Blackthorne Pro - Oct 11

Oct 11, 2006 11:08 AM
Another advantage of eB is the Ad Templates.



Most users have a large portion of text that appears in all their listings. In addition, users also may want to modify their listing by placing an attractive border around it. eB allows you to use multiple text templates (called “Ad Templates”) and graphic templates (called “Themes”) interchangeably. You can select any Ad Template and Theme for your listing and eB will place your title, description any other information into the ad when it is built.

The best part is you can customize your Ad Templates to include any text you want.

Reply
Reply
Name:
Email:
 
Click for emoticon Click for bold Click for italics Click for underline Click for pre tag Click for url tag Spell Check
Tip: To create a link - type the desired text, highlight it with your mouse and click[Click for url tag]
Tags:
 
)
View Listings
cbonhamlive
Posts: 8
(10 of 37)

eBay Workshop: Learn to use Blackthorne Pro - Oct 11

Oct 11, 2006 11:08 AM
Does this work with HTML?
Reply
Reply
Name:
Email:
 
Click for emoticon Click for bold Click for italics Click for underline Click for pre tag Click for url tag Spell Check
Tip: To create a link - type the desired text, highlight it with your mouse and click[Click for url tag]
Tags:
 
View Listings
mmonico@ebay.com
Posts: 347
(11 of 37)

eBay Workshop: Learn to use Blackthorne Pro - Oct 11

Oct 11, 2006 11:10 AM
Re: Post 10

cbonhamlive,

Yes, the WYSIWYG editor will create HTML for you, or you can paste your own HTML in. It even allows for Javascript as I'll discuss next.
Reply
Reply
Name:
Email:
 
Click for emoticon Click for bold Click for italics Click for underline Click for pre tag Click for url tag Spell Check
Tip: To create a link - type the desired text, highlight it with your mouse and click[Click for url tag]
Tags:
 
View Listings
mmonico@ebay.com
Posts: 347
(12 of 37)

eBay Workshop: Learn to use Blackthorne Pro - Oct 11

Oct 11, 2006 11:12 AM
We have also added "Global AutoText" in Ad Templates and Emails. A global autotext is a string that you can set once and use in many different templates. For instance, if the tag line to your listings and emails is something like "Since 1999, XYZ Auctions has sold over 30,000 items on eBay.", you can create a global autotext for that sentence. Then your Ad Templates and email templates can use that global autotext. When you have sold over 40,000 items, you simply change the global autotext and it will be changed everywhere it is used.



There are many creative ways to use global autotext. We have included a few that use Javascript to provide features like a countdown to a specific date, or links to tracking info at UPS, FedEx and UPS.
Reply
Reply
Name:
Email:
 
Click for emoticon Click for bold Click for italics Click for underline Click for pre tag Click for url tag Spell Check
Tip: To create a link - type the desired text, highlight it with your mouse and click[Click for url tag]
Tags:
 
View Listings
mmonico@ebay.com
Posts: 347
(13 of 37)

eBay Workshop: Learn to use Blackthorne Pro - Oct 11

Oct 11, 2006 11:13 AM
When creating your first item, you should spend some time following the "Quick Start" in the User's Guide and experimenting with field presets and Ad Templates. When you get the hang of it, you will realize the immense potential available to you.
Reply
Reply
Name:
Email:
 
Click for emoticon Click for bold Click for italics Click for underline Click for pre tag Click for url tag Spell Check
Tip: To create a link - type the desired text, highlight it with your mouse and click[Click for url tag]
Tags:
 
View Listings
mmonico@ebay.com
Posts: 347
(14 of 37)

eBay Workshop: Learn to use Blackthorne Pro - Oct 11

Oct 11, 2006 11:14 AM
Once you have created your Items, you are ready to list them on eBay. eB allows you to list them in 3 different ways:

1. Start immediately
2. Schedule on eBay
3. Schedule on Blackthorne (Pro version only)

The most common way to list is to start the auction immediately. If however, you want your listings to start at a later date. You can schedule them. By scheduling on eBay, you send the item to eBay immediately, and eBay will list the item when the time comes. There is a fee involved to do this. You can also schedule the items to have eB list them at a later date. In this case, eB holds your listings until the appropriate time and then submits them. Your computer must be turned on with an active internet connection when the scheduled time arrives, but there is no fee for scheduling this way.

To submit, highlight the items you want to submit from the grid and click the “Submit” button to see your submission options.

Reply
Reply
Name:
Email:
 
Click for emoticon Click for bold Click for italics Click for underline Click for pre tag Click for url tag Spell Check
Tip: To create a link - type the desired text, highlight it with your mouse and click[Click for url tag]
Tags:
 
Page: of 3
Back to Top

New to eBay Boards? Try a visit to our Community Discussion Boards Help and Welcome Center .

Want to visit another board? You can view our Community Overview Page or select from these lists:

Community Help Boards:

eBay Tools Boards:

Category-Specific Boards:

General Discussion Boards:


Feedback Forum | Discussion Boards | Groups | Answer Center | Chat Rooms | Community Values

About eBay | Announcements | Security Center | Resolution Center | eBay Toolbar | Policies | Government Relations | Site Map | Help
Copyright © 1995-2009 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the eBay User Agreement and Privacy Policy.
eBay official time
hosted by LiveWorld