Ebay File Exchange For Bulk Uploads

With the exception of odd pieces here and there, I have been using File Exchange on eBay for bulk uploads.

It's been a couple months and I was prepping another bulk upload of a couple thousand items.

Recently I went to download a new template for a different subcategory and found that they have changed their templates and presumably API. Columns and column headers are different with a lot of changes.

I tried several subcategories under stamps and a couple others as well. All with the same results. They offered an .xlsx file (no choice) and it offers drop-down lists in individual fields (columns) and conditional formatting which color codes entries as a checksum of sorts. Sounds fine but the files downloaded ALL error and strip out the color coding at least.

I asked if it was as versioning problem I was using Excel 2013. I didn't really get an answer from eBay other then try converting it to a .xls file. Excel 2013 accepts both so this isn't really an answer but the error went away. This is really a false test as the only way I can convert it is to open the .xlsx which strips the error causing features off. I also got the same errors on a different machine and Excel 2016.

I compared the column headers and find that they don't match up and some names have changed. 47 columns in the new compared the the old 52 columns and some of the missing are fields that I use.

Missing columns included: StoreCategory, Subtitle, GalleryType, ShippingType, PromotionalShippingDiscount, ShippingDiscountProfileID, DomesticRateTable, ShippingCostPaidByOption, AdditionalDetails, C:Denomination, C:Color, C:Year of Issue, C:Cancellation Type, C:Modified Item, C:Modification Description, C:California Prop 65 Warning.

New columns include: P:UPC, P:ISBN, P:EAN, P:EPID, C:State, C:Features, C:Brand, Category name. Most of which are useless for selling stamps.

I was told by eBay: 'the old files I already have might work for a while' and 'You'll have to manually change column headers or import them from the old file as needed and that should work until it doesn't.

WHAT? Not very helpful eBay!

I've been struggling with this for a week with multiple downloads. Today, I tried downloading fresh template from a different subcategory and this time it offered .csv as a file format. Guess what it's the old file and format! I tested an upload and it worked!

So, If you are using file exchange and have troubles with the .xlsx file try the .csv file. It seems to me that eBay is trying to improve the process but as usual they are using the sellers as guinea pigs rather than proper per-release testing.

The re-emergence of the .csv file might be a temporary fix to address complaints? If so, it might not last as they seem determined to make the new files the standard.

I talked to a couple others that I know and they see the same thing. I have seen them do testing releases on particular servers in the past. They are continuing to tweak the .xlsx files as I see minor changes in the columns downloaded a week ago and today.

Have any of you seen this or had a similar problem or is it just a few of us that may be on a particular server?

You can email the excel file and I will troubleshoot it.
Don

There's a lot going on in the backend at ebay. They are ditching some legacy APIs at the end of the year. Finding, Shopping, and Trading APIs are going away and they are telling everyone to migrate to the Browse API asap, which has a ton less functionality. And you must use OAuth now which I have no idea how to do. Ugh.

Thanks for the offer Don.

I've combed through the .xml and version compatibility issues and given eBay all that I found. I'm tired of debugging their files so I'll let them deal with it from here. Now that I can down load the .csv files, (which are considerably different from the .xlsx files) I will continue with .csv until it stops working.

Funny thing... eBay's whizkid even tried to tell me that the ducks subcategory didn't exist so I sent them a screen shot and a link
https://www.ebay.com/b/US-Back-of-B...5/bn_2314006

What's wrong with these people?

Asking this for my sanity: Could a seller of stamps on ebay by chance send a young fellow like myself an xlsx file that's usable? Ebay's provided template does not cooperate and another things that's worse: It only lets you have a template with 5 categories. I mostly sell covers and I do like to list each one under its respective category just for prosperity. Ebay's solution was for me to make 50 different templates for all the categories. I asked why on earth we would be limited to 5 per template and the guy said that it's because I haven't sold enough (that's a lie) and that once I do my number of categories would get bumped up to 7 (another lie, I found zero proof of this anywhere). 7 is still nothing.

So I ask on my hands and knees, can a kind generous stamper please share their template! I've found youtube vids and whatnot about other sellers' methods but they lock everything behind paywalls! Tell you what I'll send you stamps in exchange for a useable xlsx file

Also for a youngun I'm apparently technically illiterate so making my own would just lead to headaches and brain scratching.

I sell on Ebay myself,but I post the old fashioned way, still.

Could someone tell me in a nutshell what the main benefit is of using them templates ( I heard of them )

Thanks in advance

From what I understand: there's a few benefits. First if you have another website that you manage on your own and you manage your inventory with an excel file, you can easily copy and paste the same stuff into ebay thereby dumping thousands of listings on both sites. Second, just from watching youtube videos I understand that you circumvent all the stupidities of ebay's listing processes. If you only list 10 items at a time or 1 a week you don't need a template, but even 30-40 items approaches a level of inconvenience that borders purgatory. Bulk listing enables you to post things that normally wouldn't be worth your time like dollar items and the like. I'm also trying to start a vintage snapshot account and I'm selling very low priced items just to gain some viewers so posting one by one really loses me time and time is money.

That sounds interesting...

I have a few items that are priced arround a Dollar, but that list seems to be growing ( someone will eventually need it) and I do those manually was well. I may give it a try one of these days..