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Post by PickyChicky on Mar 12, 2014 17:24:06 GMT -6
After seeing @momspennies post about updating Google UPI attributes, I decided to go check the two listings that have been rejected from the getgo on eCrater and realized that the problem was due to listing multiple attributes as I was instructed to do in their forums. The two listings are both of lots of two VHS tapes. On one, I had both ISBNs listed with a | character in between, but only one UPC listed. So, I removed the UPC and the less important ISBN, but was then told that it was missing a UPI, which turned out to be the UPC that I just removed. I'm not sure why when Google clearly states that media items only require the ISBN, but I re-added the UPC and now it seems to be fine. I just have to wait for eCrater to update them with Google, which they only do for rejected items once a month. They should at least do it 2-4 times a month. On the other, I have the identifier_exists:false attribute because both VHS tapes are from Time Life (or some such distributor) and don't have ISBNs or UPCs. The problem with it was because the rest of the attributes (genre, year, rating, etc.) had two entries apiece with the same | separator. So, I removed the second instance on each and now it seems to be fine, but I still need to wait and see what happens after eCrater updates them with Google. So, my question is...how do you list attributes for lots? Is there some specific way to do it on eCrater or a universal way? It doesn't seem right that all products included in the listings are not represented in the attributes. I did see something on the Summary of Attribute Requirements page about Merchant-Defined Multipacks, but it gives absolutely no details. ETA: I just noticed on that Summary page that it's the UPC that's required for videos, video games and software and the ISBN is for books. So, at least that question is answered. I thought it was just the ISBN for all of the above. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2014 19:54:03 GMT -6
With Lots I have always just never put a UPC or an ISBN (Bonanza now shows both of these under GTIN under their Search Optimize link rather than just UPC or ISBN but then other sites are not showing exactly like this when looking at the attribute).
Way back when Google made the big changes and had it to where sellers could get an exemption based on the items they carried, a Lot was one type of listing that could qualify a seller for this exemption. BUT also, in order for the seller to be granted the exemption, all the other listings in their store had to qualify for the exemption such as a book that was pre 1970 or no ISBN anywhere.
BUT I could not qualify for the exemption because not all of my listings fit the mold for qualifying. So, I just made sure to put in the title and the listing the word Lot. I'm not sure if Google shopping recognized this word or not as automatically knowing I could not possibly provide one UPC or one ISBN for all items in the Lot. However, these types of listings that had the word Lot in the titles with no UPC or ISBN were fine in Google shopping.
Now that we have the option of using the product identifier exists false attribute, I make sure to use that and still include the word Lot in the title and in the listing.
This has been my experience with a Lot. I hope this helps.
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Post by PickyChicky on Mar 13, 2014 1:33:15 GMT -6
Actually, I just found something in the Google forums about this. They're considered custom packaged item offers: Google Merchant Center: Products that have two or more GTIN Numbers? These are usually considered a custom packaged item-offer. Google must be contacted for an exemption; global-trade data (mpn, gtin, brand) should not be submitted for exempted items unless someone at Google indicates otherwise. Google may be contacted here: www.google.com/support/merchants/bin/request.py?contact_type=unique_id_exemptionBefore requesting the exemption, be certain all other (single) item offers within the feed have required and exact global-trade data directly from the brand-manufacturer or the product packaging: www.gs1.org/barcodes/technical/bar_code_typeswww.gs1.org/barcodes/technical/idkeys/gtinIf required and exact global-trade data does not exist for any other items, then such items must also be given an exemption by Google or cannot be submitted to product-search. All merchants selling the same product should be submitting identical global-trade data that can be traced back to a specific brand-manufacturer and an exact item by the consumer, regardless of merchant. Otherwise, an exemption is required and global-trade data should not be submitted for the that (multi-part) item-offer. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2014 7:51:53 GMT -6
I wonder if that is old info...Google has got to try and make everything sound so complicated (could be new, I know).
Even so, for me it's worked great with how I've dealt with Lots in the past. Now though we've got the identifier exists false attribute and that takes care of it for me with Lots along with including it in the title and listing.
I checked out just some of my Lot listings to see how they are doing. The first one I used 4 keywords in Google shopping, which one of those words was a Lot, the listing comes up on the first page, 4th down out of a whole bunch of listings, over 10 pages.
In another listing the results are nearly the same except that it is 6 images down and over 7 pages.
Another one I had to add 2 more keywords in order to find it in Google shopping because there must be a boat load of them. When doing this it came up on the first page,
If the need ever arises and things ever start showing differently I'll have to rethink it on how I do Lots. Based on the past and now, I'll keep doing what has worked for me. If I had to go through that trouble with Google for a Lot, it probably would not be worth me selling that Lot is how I personally feel....
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2014 8:05:57 GMT -6
On the other hand, if it was worth it for me money wise and my Lot listings were not doing how I wanted them to, I'm sure I would do this.
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Post by PickyChicky on Mar 13, 2014 14:57:05 GMT -6
That Google forum discussion I posted the link to it two years old, but I only found that and one other from 2011. The best answer on both were answered by Celebird, a top contributor there. That's all I could find on the subject, so I'm not sure if the info still applies or if they're doing things differently now.
You would think the question would come up more often than that, so I'm surprised by the lack of more updated info in the forums. I'll see if I can find out more about it, but I did a lot of searching earlier. At this point, it's really not all that important because the few lots I have listed are low priority items and I don't plan to list anymore lots.
If I do list anymore, it would be just to include a second item that would be difficult to sell by itself or not worth selling it individually. So, I currently just include the attributes for the more important item. I need to check and see how they're appearing in GS and maybe even see if I can find some lots on there to see how they're listed.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2014 16:55:45 GMT -6
Celebrid helped me out once. He makes a lot of sense (I think Celebrid is a male?)
I'm not sure if the info above would apply to this or not....but I remember something way back when Google was making changes. There was something about having multiple items of the same but then they were not the exact same and yet it was okay to list them separately as long as a number was given by Google.
I know I am vague in this post about what I am trying to say.
Let's say for instance that I used to have two different listings for tanks top. In each package they had 3 tank tops but both packages had different colors. I think that would have been a good example maybe? I had always left one out of Google shopping and the other one in. Maybe this would have helped in this situation.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 14:30:24 GMT -6
Sorry I am behind on reading the forum threads, I have been on a mission to set up a huge yard sale in May, anyway, I sell book lots all the time and I have checked and mine are going to google shopping, I sell several lots of shirts that are different brands too, I was told by someone in google forums to list them as a multipack attribute with the number of items in the lot after multipack, example I have is 5 Christine Feehan Drake Sister Series Books and I entered on bonanza [[multipack:5]] and since they are the same author I listed her name too and that is all, no isbn numbers and I have not had any of my book lots come up with any errors and have found them on google shopping.
On other items that have several upc codes and you are selling them as a lot I was told they should be treated the same way above. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 14:47:16 GMT -6
and, last month I went in and put a bunch of my single books in lots by author because a lot of my books have been in my store for over 3 yrs, and selling them has been few and far in-between, anyway I created several lots and in March I sold 3 of these lots I created, and one large lot in April. So for me selling in lots has increased my sales I did ask one lady how she found me/my books she said she saw them on google shopping when she did a search for Georgiana Kincaid series, which was the name I used in the title along with the authors name and amount of books "Georgina Kincaid Series by Richelle Mead 6 Book Lot"
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Post by PickyChicky on Apr 15, 2014 15:46:02 GMT -6
Thanks for that info, @crittercreekranch. I'll have to try that on the lot of VHS tapes because they're still show as being rejected on eCrater. It's been over a month since I updated the attributes, so they should have been cleared by now, but they aren't. So something is still wrong with them.
The other item that was rejected hasn't been cleared, either, but I can't remember what I had to change on that one. I'm thinking it may have something to do with the identifier_exists:false attribute. If so, maybe I should try removing all of the other identifiers and see what happens.
I wish eCrater updated the Google feed more often so I don't have to wait so long to see if they've cleared or not. I don't see a way to request a feed review, either, and they don't specify what the problems are. Google is such a PITA!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 17:12:56 GMT -6
I have always only included one isbn only, and included both in the listing description.
I don't typically list anything in lots because of the problems with Google, and there are only a few cases where I've done so with paper backs, and in another listing where I include multiples of the same item in a lot. Sounds like @crittercreekranch has a great solution.
My practice has been to always include both authors names in the title and what ever I can insert to indicate to the one READING my title on Google would recognize that it is more than one book.
I won't even bother searching for these items in Google because I know there are millions of these mass market books listed online and it's not worth my time to force them up front somehow. Just easier to donate them or sell them at a yard sale. I am really starting to re-evaluate what I bother to list and what I don't. Time is money, and these days, I don't have much of either, so I am moving forward listing only products that are easy to sell and get a decent price.
It's just one more thing that we, as sellers, have to think about when deciding what to sell and not to sell. If everyone else is selling it, it ain't worth it.
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Post by PickyChicky on Apr 15, 2014 21:57:18 GMT -6
Yeah, the mass market Harlequin and Silhouette romance books are at the very bottom of the priority list. When I do get around to them, I plan to sell whatever I can in lots as there are several that are part of a series. I have several other books that are more likely to sell, but they're only one notch above the romance books on the priority list. LOL Anywho, I had to lay down earlier after being forced to take another Vicodin, so I'm just now about to start listing stuff. I have the dentist appointment at 1p tomorrow, so I can't stay up too long, but I want to get what I can done tonight. While in eCrater, I'll fix those attributes as @crittercreekranch suggested and see what happens.  Thanks again!  |
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Post by PickyChicky on Apr 16, 2014 0:08:08 GMT -6
Well, eCrater updated the feeds yesterday and there's only the one item that's still not right, so whatever I did to the lot of tapes must have worked. Now if I could just remember which lot it was so I could see exactly what I did. LOL I have at least a few lots listed and there was only the one that was previously not being accepted.
The one item that's still not right is the set of bookends that doesn't have a brand or other UPI. I just listed another item with the same problem (the Christmas snow globe) and it's got an exclamation mark next to it, too (meaning the attributes aren't right). For these two items, the only thing I could enter for attributes was identifier_exists:false, product_type, and material.
According to Google, having the identifier_exists:false attribute with no other UPI is supposed to be acceptable, but it's not being accepted for some reason. They're both listed under the Home & Garden category -- one under Decor > Bookends and the other under Decor > Snow Globes.
So, I don't know what the problem is. Like I said Google is a PITA! LOL
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Post by PickyChicky on Apr 17, 2014 5:21:51 GMT -6
Okay, I found the two items on eCrater that weren't being accepted by Google and am just making note of them here for future reference. I also need to correct what I said about about how often eCrater sends the feed to Google Shopping...it's 3 times a week, but it always says that they're behind.
It's just the area where they report problems to sellers that doesn't get updated but once per month. For some reason, they're still being reported to me as needing to be fixed even though it's been more than a month. Yet, the exclamation mark is gone, which should mean that they're okay now.
The attributes included for the Bob Hope Christmas tapes are format, genre, identifier_exists:false, rating and year. I don't remember what I did to fix this one. The ones included for the Jack Nicklaus and PGA Golf tapes are isbn, upc, format, genre, rating, and year. For this set, I must have added the UPC because I was thinking it was the ISBN that was required for them so didn't previously enter the UPC.
I'm not too worried about it at the moment because I'm busy with other more important things. When I get some time, though, I'll post a question about it in their forums and see what they say.
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Post by PickyChicky on Apr 17, 2014 17:52:25 GMT -6
Well, I tried the multipack thing on eCrater and they don't support that attribute. I can't even add multiple attributes for anything and am not sure if I can put a comma between things like ISBNs. So, at the moment, I'm forced to enter required info for just one of the books listed in the lot.
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