2 min article

Multi-quantity listings and listings with variations

When you sell items on eBay at a fixed price instead of through auction, you can add multiple identical items to the same listing. If you have many similar items that have different variations, such as color or size, you can also create a single fixed-price listing that includes all the variations you offer.

 

How to create a multi-quantity listing

To list multiple items in the same listing, simply select the Fixed price format and specify the number of items you have for sale in Quantity when creating your listing.

Fixed price listings are Good 'Til Canceled, which means your listing remains active until you sell the number of items specified or until you end the listing.

To create a multi-quantity listing with the quick listing tool.

  1. Choose Fixed price as your listing format and enter your Buy It Now price.
  2. Enter the quantity.
  3. Complete the rest of your listing and select Submit.

Tip
If you're using the quick listing tool, be sure to enable “more options” to see the bulk listing option. Simply select Change listing preferences at the top of the page, check the Enable more options box, and hit Save. You can then select More options to enter your quantity. 

To create a multi-quantity listing with the advanced listing tool.

  1. Go to the Pricing section.
  2. Select Buy It Now from the Format dropdown.
  3. Select Quantity and enter the number of items you're selling.
  4. Complete the rest of your listing and select Done.

If all your items are the same, tell us how many you have and we'll keep track of the quantity as they're sold. The listing will end when you run out of inventory, unless you've turned on the 'out of stock' option.

If your items have a few different options, such as color or size, you can combine them in a single listing with variations.

How to update your listing quantity

You can change how many items are available on your listing at any time. Find the listing in My eBay - opens in new window or tab or Seller Hub - opens in new window or tab, and either select Edit, then update the quantity. 

There are two important reasons for keeping the quantity of items up to date on your listing:

  • A listing's sales history is one of the things that determines its position in Best Match search results. If you get more stock, you should add it to the existent listing rather than creating a new one
  • You don't want to oversell items. Buyers don't want you to cancel their order because the item is out of stock; doing so can affect your seller standing

Tip
Set up the out-of-stock feature to hide your listing in case you temporarily run out of inventory.

How to set preferences for multi-quantity listings

You'll always see exactly how many items are left on your listing, but it's up to you whether to let buyers see the exact number.

Here's how to edit your quantity display preference:

  1. Go to Selling preferences - opens in new window or tab
  2. Scroll down to Multi-quantity listings and select the toggle beside Buyers can see exactly how many items are left.

How to add variations on eBay listings

Most categories are set up for eBay listing variations. You can create and manage your variations through the advanced listing tool or Seller Hub. Each tool will walk you through the process.

When listing, do the following:

  • Describe the features of the item that are standard across all of the items
  • Specify your variations and the options for each variation
    • Each listing can have 5 variation details and up to 50 values for each of those details
    • For example, if you’re selling shoes, your 5 variation types could be color, size, width, material, and style. Each of those details can have up to 50 values: 50 different colors, 50 different sizes, and so forth
    • You can have up to 250 variations in a single listing for no additional fee
  • Review the variations to make sure your inventory matches exactly with the quantity selected for each variation; you can delete variations for which you are missing inventory
  • Add pictures (up to 24 for each variation)
  • Add quantities and price, which can be different for each variation of your item

Please note that if you’re selling in Parts & Accessories, your compatibility information must apply to all your variations.

Tip
If you relist your listing, any variations that are at a zero quantity will be relisted with the original quantity. You need to review and update your quantities to match your current inventory. If you plan on relisting regularly, we recommend listing with Good ’Til Canceled.

How to use the out-of-stock option

Your bulk listing will be shown to buyers until you've sold all your items. When the quantity runs out, the listing will end.

However, if you regularly restock that item, you can use our out-of-stock option to hide your listing from search results until you refill the quantity.

Here's how to enable the out-of-stock option:

  1. Go to Selling preferences - opens in new window or tab.
  2. Scroll down to Multi-quantity listings and select the toggle beside Listings stay active when you're out of stock.

When you set up the out-of-stock option, the following will happen: 

  • All of your existing and future bulk listings use the out-of-stock option until you disable it
  • When the quantity of the listing becomes 0 (either because all the items were sold, or you adjusted the quantity), your listing stays active but hidden from search results
  • The listing will reappear in search results when you increase the quantity of items available
  • You can still end your Good 'Til Canceled listing yourself at any time

Using the out-of-stock option on your Good 'Til Canceled listings may help protect you from receiving a transaction defect for running out of stock. Learn more about our seller performance standards.

Insertion fees and credits

With a Good 'Til Canceled listing, we charge an insertion fee every month from the time you create it until all the items in the listing sell, you end the listing, or we end the listing. Fee amounts are based on the terms in effect when you create the listing and when it renews. Learn more about our standard selling fees.

If you enable the out-of-stock option, and your Good 'Til Canceled listing has a quantity of 0 for the entire month's billing period, at the end of that period you may qualify for an insertion fee credit and a credit of any advanced listing upgrade fees applicable to that period. Learn more about receiving fee credits.

If your listing has a quantity of 0 for 180 consecutive days, we will end it.

With the multi-quantity listing feature, you only need one listing per item, no matter how many you have in stock.

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