Creating Multi-Variation Listings

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Introduction

Multi-variation listings allow sellers to create a single listing for multiple items of the same type (e.g., men's shoes) that have different attributes (up to five attributes per listing).

Attributes might include size, color, width, style, etc. Each attribute will have at least one option. For example, options for "Size" might include 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5 and 11.

With multiple attributes and options for each listing, the possible permutations could be in the hundreds. However, eBay allows up to 250 variations per listing.

In order to create a multi-variation listing, a few requirements must be met:

The listing must be in the fixed-price format.
The listing must be in a category for which eBay supports multi-variations.
If listing in more than one category, the second category must also support multi-variation listing.
The listing must have at least two variations.
Each variation must include a valid price and quantity.
Each variation must have a unique SKU (stock keeping unit).

Using Auctiva's Multi-Variation Tool

Auctiva's Multi-Variation Tool has been designed to make creating multi-variation listings fast and simple, whether creating a few variations or 250.

There are two ways to create multi-variation listings using Auctiva's Multi-Variation Tool. Variations may be created manually by entering item attributes and options one at a time on the Create Listing Variations pop-up page, or automatically by using our Variation Generator wizard.

When you select a category in your listing that supports multi-variations, the tool will list the attributes eBay suggests for that particular category. You may select up to five of these attributes for your product, or create custom attributes if a desired attribute is not suggested.

Accessing the tool

Auctiva's Multi-Variation Tool is built into the One-Page Lister. The multi-variation option is enabled only on listings that are fixed-price and in a category for which eBay supports multi-variations.

If the multi-variation option is enabled for your listing, you will see a message that reads, "Do you want to create a multi-variation listing?" and the "Add/Edit Variations" link (Figure 1). This message will appear just below the "Custom Item Specifics" link after you have selected your category.

Figure 1. "Add/Edit Variations" link

Click the "Add/Edit Variations" link to go to the Create Listing Variations pop-up page.

The Variation Generator wizard is located in the top-right corner of the Create Listing Variations pop-up page. Clicking on this button will open the wizard. Note that there is always the option to switch from the wizard back to the manual process, and vice-versa. However, in doing so, any information already entered will be lost.

Which method to use

Manual creation of multi-variation listings is recommended if only a few variations need to be created. While this method may be used to create up to 250 variations, it may not be the most efficient approach. See Manually Creating Variations.

The Variation Generator is recommended for creating listings that will have many variations. You'll also want to use the Variation Generator for listings that will use custom attributes. Custom attributes may be created when an attribute is not automatically suggested for a given category. See Using the Variation Generator.

Manually Creating Variations

Step 1. Create a new listing.

To create variations one at a time using the manual process, start by creating a new listing. From the Listings tab, select the "Create New" link (Figure 2). To enable the multi-variation feature, the Sale Type must be "Fixed Price" and the selected category must be one for which eBay supports multi-variation listing.

Figure 2. Click on the "Create New" link to start a new listing.

When you are ready to create your variations, click the "Add/Edit Variations" link located just below the Category # and "Custom Item Specifics" fields (Figure 3). This will open the Create Listing Variations pop-up page, which is set to default to the manual process (Figure 4).

Figure 3. "Add/Edit Variations" link.

Figure 4. Manually creating variations with the Create Listing Variations pop-up page.

Step 2. Choosing attributes.

Under the Add New Variation section, choose from the drop-down menu whether to generate SKUs for each product with a "Numeric Sequence" or using an "Auto Variation" ID, which will include part of the variation name. SKUs may be edited after the variation has been created by clicking in the box and entering your own SKU.

Next, select the attributes by clicking in the boxes. Based on the category selected, the tool will automatically suggest certain attributes, such as size, width, color, material, etc. Up to five attributes may be selected per multi-variant listing. Use the drop-down menus on each applicable attribute field to select an option for that attribute. If no option is selected for a given attribute, that attribute will be left blank when variations are created.

Be sure to fill in the quantity of items available for each option you have selected, enter the item's price and click the green plus-sign icon to add and save the variation to your listing.

When a variation has been added, it will display at the top of the page under the Created Variations section. You can still change the quantity, price or SKU number on individual variations. To do this for more than one variation at a time, select the appropriate checkboxes on the left, then click the appropriate blue button. A dialog box will open, allowing you to enter the desired change (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Editing variations in bulk.

At this point, you may continue adding variations, if desired.

Step 3. Specifying a display image attribute.

Once desired variations are created, use the drop-down menu to specify the attribute that will determine which image is displayed on your multi-variation listing (Figure 6). You will make the actual image selection back on the Lister page. To do this, first click the Done button to save and close the Create Listing Variations pop-up page. On the Lister page, scroll down to the Image Selection for Variations section and click on an image to select it (Figure 7).

Figure 6. Image Display options.

Figure 7. Image Selection for Variations section.

Note: The selected image is what will display when a buyer chooses the attribute associated with the image. It is not to be confused with the Gallery or default header image, which you will select separately under the Auctiva Image Selection section.

Step 4. Completing the listing.

Item prices and quantities will not display on the Lister. Should these need to be revised, you will need to go back and add, remove or edit variations by clicking the "Add/Edit Variations" link.

If applicable, click on the "Custom Item Specifics" link directly above your item variations summary to fill in further specifications. These are attributes that apply to all of the products listed, rather than to specific variations of the product. For this reason, the item specifics you enter may not duplicate the variation attributes already selected, or the Listing Generator will return an error message.

eBay uses Custom Item Specifics to filter search results, so by including this information, you are helping to ensure visibility of your listing. Custom Item Specifics may include style (e.g., dress shoes, casual, athletic) and condition (e.g., new, used).

Proceed with creating your listing as usual and click the Save, Post or Schedule button at the bottom of the Lister page.

Using the Variation Generator

The Variation Generator may be used to create multiple variations at one time, or to create custom attributes.

Step 1. Create a new listing.

Start by creating a new listing. From the Listings tab, select the "Create New" link (Figure 2). To enable the multi-variation feature, the Sale Type must be "Fixed Price" and the selected category must be one for which eBay supports multi-variation listing.

Step 2. Open the Variation Generator wizard.

Open the Variation Generator wizard by clicking on the Variation Generator button located in the top-right corner (Figure 8).

Figure 8. Click the Variation Generator button.

Step 3. Create variations.

To start creating variations, click on the green plus-sign next to the desired attribute. You may choose up to five attributes per variation, including custom attributes. Custom attributes may be created by clicking on the green plus-sign next to the "Custom Attribute" link. This will open a box with a prompt to enter a name for the custom attribute (Figure 9). When finished, click the Submit button.

For each attribute you select or create, a box will open below. Within each attribute box, select as many options as apply. If using custom attributes, enter a name in the text field for each option you wish to create, then click the green Add button (Figure 10).

Figure 9. Select options and add custom attributes.

Figure 10. Name custom attributes and click the green Add button.

Clicking the blue Generate Variations button will return a list of all possible variations using the attributes and options you have selected. Any variations that do not apply to your listing may be removed by selecting the checkbox on the left, then clicking the red Remove icon on the right. To remove multiple variations at one time, check as many boxes as apply and click the blue Remove Selected button located at the top or bottom of the list.

Note: When you first click the Generate Variations button, all variations will be selected. Make sure you de-select any checkboxes you want to keep.

For those variations that will be included in the listing, enter the quantity available and price.

You may also manually add a new variation to this list using the Add New Variation feature directly below the existing variations.

Step 4. Specifying a display image attribute.

Once desired variations are created, use the Image Display drop-down menu to specify the attribute that will determine which image is displayed on your multi-variation listing (Figure 6). You will make the actual image selection back on the Lister page. To do this, first click the Done button to save and close the Create Listing Variations pop-up page. On the Lister page, scroll down to the Image Selection for Variations section and click on an image to select it (Figure 7).

Step 5. Completing the listing.

Item prices and quantities will not display on the Lister. Should these need to be revised, you will need to go back and add, remove or edit variations by clicking the "Add/Edit Variations" link.

Proceed with creating your listing as usual and click the Save, Post or Schedule button at the bottom of the Lister page.

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