@Paintcreek (paintcreekbooks) posted a new topic, subject "What is the best way to list a large backlog of inventory with a helper?". It read:

   I am a little bit overloaded with past inventory purchases and I have someone who can help me out a few days a week to try to get all of these Media items listed (books, CD's and DVD's), but I'm not sure of what the correct approach or way to utilize her time in the most efficient way to get these items listed for sale.
    
    I really don't trust someone to list my items in the correct condition that I would list them, maybe it is best to just write down the condition and have the helper person list them from my home PC or laptop?
    
    Maybe it would be better to “train them” on how I list and then review their listings (seems like duplication of effort though…)?
    
    Nothing can sell if it isn't listed and (“if you list it, it will sell, eventually, and hopefully”)…
    
    I would just like to list, sell and move out some of this old inventory faster than I am able to do by myself.
    
    Thanks in advance for any recommendations,
    
    Gail

Then @ckm (CKM) said

    1. Place them in piles, or stacks, separated by condition.
    
      2. Work your most saleable ones first until they are completed.  
    Then, go on to the next stack.
    
      3. Assign yourself a goal to attain. It doesn't have to be the same  
    number each and every time.
    
      4. Set yourself a target date to start, and another one to finish the project.
    
    
    
    
    Treat yourself to a nice dinner out, when the project is completed.

After which, @Paintcreek (paintcreekbooks) added

    Dommiesan:
    
    > I would think using abbreviations might help in that department for the helper and also make the job go quicker for you. Like LN, VG, G, A for the conditions. Maybe skip condition notes altogether for the actual listings. There's a reason why many mega sellers skip condition notes. When listing a large amount of products, sometimes it's just better logistically to rely only on a grade.
    
    Hi again,
    
    I don't think that I could go that far as I am a little compulsive with description notes and also would probably have to teach her how to set prices bases on feedback numbers and other listing conditions from other sellers, but she has already learned a lot regarding that so that shouldn't be an issue.
    
    You are correct about abbreviations though, as I use that frequently and also on the comments that I make on the post-it note, she would get used to that as well I guess in time.
    
    Thank you very much again for your very helpful advice,
    
    Gail

After which, @dommie (Dommie) added

    How about taking post-it notes, and going through each piece and writing down your assessment of condition and price for each one and sticking it on the piece. Or writing down condition and then giving them a set of pricing rules like $0.05 under lowest price in same condition, etc.
    
    That way the helper can just do all the data entry.

After which, @Paintcreek (paintcreekbooks) added

    Dommiesan:
    
    > How about taking post-it notes, and going through each piece and writing down your assessment of condition and price for each one and sticking it on the piece. Or writing down condition and then giving them a set of pricing rules like $0.05 under lowest price in same condition, etc.
    > 
    > That way the helper can just do all the data entry.
    
    Thank you and that is pretty much what I do anyway is writing down my listing comments and SKU on a Post-It note when I list with the sales ranking. That might be the best thing to do, but I would have to write a little bit “neater” and slower, for someone else to read and understand my writing. 
    
    Thank you, and I think that may be the safest way to proceed,
    
    Gail

Then @dommie (Dommie) said

    I would think using abbreviations might help in that department for the helper and also make the job go quicker for you. Like LN, VG, G, A for the conditions. Maybe skip condition notes altogether for the actual listings. There's a reason why many mega sellers skip condition notes. When listing a large amount of products, sometimes it's just better logistically to rely only on a grade.

So @dommie (Dommie) replied

    Step 5 is most important. If you employ a helper for this job, be sure not to forget about them when celebratory meal time comes also.

After which, @dommie (Dommie) added

    Your pricing stately is much more complex than mine. I shoot for the best price according to condition. If that becomes difficult because of many sellers misclassifying and tons of sellers on a single page, my rule is to not drop below the top 3 listings on a page regardless of condition. If at all possible, I try to beat everybody's price regardless of condition. This is for used merchandise. For new, I price to obtain the buy box, and ignore the non-featured merchant's prices.

Then @ckm (CKM) said

    Of course. Especially if the helper is a relative, or a neighbor!

Then @Paintcreek (paintcreekbooks) said

    CKM:
    
    >   1. Place them in piles, or stacks, separated by condition.
    > 
    >   2. Work your most saleable ones first until they are completed.  
    >  Then, go on to the next stack.
    > 
    >   3. Assign yourself a goal to attain. It doesn't have to be the same  
    >  number each and every time.
    > 
    >   4. Set yourself a target date to start, and another one to finish the project.
    > 
    > 
    
    > 
    > Treat yourself to a nice dinner out, when the project is completed.
    
    Hi and I thank you also for you very helpful advice.
    
    I've been doing this in the manner that you stated by having her help by checking all of my books that I had in Inventory by sales rank and sales value and have sorted them on bookshelves by value which has helped quite a bit to know which books to list first based on sales value.
    
    That has helped, but having them just sitting on the bookshelves isn't helping much if they aren't listed for sale.
    
    I also liked your number #5 and have treated her to a Red Lobster lunch on me for my Dad's birthday and also at Dave and Buster's for lunch and some fun. 
    
    Thanks again for your help and advice, it is very much appreciated,
    
    Gail

To which @Paintcreek (paintcreekbooks) replied

    Hi again,
    
    I tried to give you a “Helpful answer” about four or five times and I am so tired of trying to do things on Amazon and have to keep re-logging in and not getting anywhere.
    
    Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. It seems like I have to log in several times to even do one simple task. Very frustrating.
    
    Gail

After which, @Paintcreek (paintcreekbooks) added

    Hi,
    
    Not quite sure what you meant in your last post, as the “helpful” had been finally applied to your post (due some latency in sign-in attempts,) but I just want to thank you once again for your advice and your help.
    
    Gail

Then @ckm (CKM) said

    Well, thank you for your thoughtfulness. And, keep trying!! It's a foot race, ya' know! lol.  
    (I did take a peek, and they weren't there, YET!). Chuckles!

So @Golden_Desert_Books (Golden Desert Books) replied

    paintcreekbooks:
    
    > I am a little bit overloaded with past inventory purchases and I have someone who can help me out a few days a week to try to get all of these Media items listed (books, CD's and DVD's), but I'm not sure of what the correct approach or way to utilize her time in the most efficient way to get these items listed for sale.
    > 
    > I really don't trust someone to list my items in the correct condition that I would list them, maybe it is best to just write down the condition and have the helper person list them from my home PC or laptop?
    
    With or without the book?
    
    We make a copy of the title page or the page with the ISBN. Then we have a half page form that covers 95% of the terms used to list a book's condition.
    
    The helper lists the book from wherever they are without having the book in hand.
    
    >  
    > Maybe it would be better to “train them” on how I list and then review their listings (seems like duplication of effort though…)?
    
    This would be faster for all books that already have Amazon product pages.  
    >  
    > Nothing can sell if it isn't listed and (“if you list it, it will sell, eventually, and hopefully”)…  
    >  
    > I would just like to list, sell and move out some of this old inventory faster than I am able to do by myself.
    
    First off: What do you do by yourself?
    
    Type every condition for every listing?
    
    Waste of time. You create as many of your listings off of an existing product page's Sell Here button as you can. _AUTOCOMPLETE_ works here. It does not work starting from the Add A Product page.
    
    Do you have a lot of items with barcodes?
    
    Get a scanner. Good handhelds start at $40.
    
    Want to type almost nothing?
    
    Get a light pen. $175. It can be set for barcodes, numbers only, or full text.
    
    Get everything off off the book in all caps?
    
    You can find a place via Google that converts it.
    
    Want to just get it on and worry about a picture later?
    
    Learn how to do UIEE files.

After which, @Paintcreek (paintcreekbooks) added

    Hi and thank you for your post and advice.
    
    Yes, I have every book, CD and DVD on hand.
    
    About 90% of the items have product pages which isn't an issue as I would either myself list on another site or create a page sometime in the future.
    
    Yes, I do everything by myself, including typing in condition and detailed descriptions for every listing.
    
    Yes, most of my item have barcodes or UPC's.
    
    As far as scanners or light pens that would be an additional investment and the only thing that they would really help you with is the barcode or UPC, you still have to manually look at the Amazon listing to see if the product details are the same as there are times when UPC's or ISBN's are re-used for more current versions or editions of items. You would still also have to manually type in the listing description which takes quite a bit more time than just typing in a barcode, (even though I have several templates set up to help that go more quickly).
    
    All of the “tougher” things to list I would do myself, but just am trying to find a way to streamline listing items in a quicker and more efficient manner than how it is working presently.
    
    I'm lucky to get even 10 items listed a day and with about 15,000 items of backlog, it would take me about four or more years to list everything in house.
    
    Thanks again though for trying to help,
    
    Gail
    
    Edited by: paintcreekbooks on Sep 15, 2012 5:42 PM  
    Added another sentence.

@Golden_Desert_Books (Golden Desert Books) replied

    paintcreekbooks:
    
    > I'm lucky to get even 10 items listed a day and with about 15,000 items of backlog, it would take me about four or more years to list everything in house.
    
    If there is an Amazon product page, I usually do 20 an hour.
    
    You say you have templates, but you did not mention that you use autocomplete.
    
    Listing from the sell on Amazon on the product page, after selecting Amazon's condition, I type only the letter v in the condition note field. I now have 80 descriptions to choose from.
    
    I type only 8 in the price field and have everything from 8.00 to 87.50
    
    One letter in the SKU field brings up everything I've used since the last time I cleared the field.
    
    Is this what you mean by using templates?

Then @Paintcreek (paintcreekbooks) said

    Golden Desert Books:
    
    > paintcreekbooks:
    >
    >> I'm lucky to get even 10 items listed a day and with about 15,000 items of backlog, it would take me about four or more years to list everything in house.
    > 
    > If there is an Amazon product page, I usually do 20 an hour.
    > 
    > You say you have templates, but you did not mention that you use autocomplete.
    > 
    > Listing from the sell on Amazon on the product page, after selecting Amazon's condition, I type only the letter v in the condition note field. I now have 80 descriptions to choose from.
    > 
    > I type only 8 in the price field and have everything from 8.00 to 87.50
    > 
    > One letter in the SKU field brings up everything I've used since the last time I cleared the field.
    > 
    > Is this what you mean by using templates?
    
    Hi again,
    
    I don't list from Amazon but use AMan Pro a 3P software service.
    
    Even if I listed directly on Amazon, it never showed me the things that you mentioned in your post unless things have changed from the past when I used to list directly on Amazon.
    
    I also don't understand your use of the word “autocomplete”, where exactly does that come in and how would I find it? Are you uploading files or listing item by item manually?
    
    Gail

Then @Golden_Desert_Books (Golden Desert Books) said

    Autocomplete is a function of your computer and browser. Nothing to do with Amazon.
    
    Once turned on, it might fill the fields used on AMan Pro. Searching on Google, I think this is so.

@MarilynsAttic (Marilyn's Attic) replied

    Gail, one thing I do is if my assistant lists, she sets all the ashley24@example.org. Then i go back in and review the prices. It doesn't take me that long and I am happier when I do the pricing.

So @Paintcreek (paintcreekbooks) replied

    Golden Desert Books:
    
    > Autocomplete is a function of your computer and browser. Nothing to do with Amazon.
    > 
    > Once turned on, it might fill the fields used on AMan Pro. Searching on Google, I think this is so.
    
    Hi again,
    
    I understand what you mean now. I saw it in action using Google Chrome as my browser now and when I went to fill in some information it “autofilled” it in, I guess that might be similar to “autocomplete”.
    
    (Not sure what the difference between the two are but it is helpful and time saving.)
    
    Thanks again for your help and advice,
    
    Gail

So @Paintcreek (paintcreekbooks) replied

    Marilyn's Attic:
    
    > Gail, one thing I do is if my assistant lists, she sets all the ashley24@example.org. Then i go back in and review the prices. It doesn't take me that long and I am happier when I do the pricing.
    
    Hi Marilyn,
    
    Thank you also for taking your time to reply and help. That is a good suggestion that you made. I'm going to try to give her some leeway as she already has been helping me in other ways with determining value and rank. I'll double check her for a few weeks and if the pricing isn't in line with what mine would be, I will take your suggestion and just price myself.
    
    I'm just trying not to duplicate work at all, but I know I will have to for a while just to make sure as everything she does reflects back on my seller account.
    
    Thanks again for your help and also want to thank everyone else who posted with their helpful advice.
    
    Gail

So @Golden_Desert_Books (Golden Desert Books) replied

    paintcreekbooks:
    
    > Can you save shipping references and “autocomplete or autofill” with your personal method of listing or don't you include that information in your listing comments?
    
    Autofill can't be used to select individual shipping choices.
    
    When working with books where a new product page has to be made, I can work with only small books when I create a UIEE file, and then select the priority and foreign shipping options to be added to what is sent in. My default shipping option is still what Amazon gives for Media/1st class.
    
    * * *
    
    If you hire someone to list, and to do so on their computer, I do not know of a way to transfer the lists created by autofill.
    
    Maybe a computer expert would know how to do it.

@Paintcreek (paintcreekbooks) replied

    Hi again,
    
    I thank you again for your posts, patience and advice, and I will try to post a “correct” answer for your suggestion for using templates or saved listed settings in whichever way to say time and effort in listing.
    
    Thank you for your help,
    
    Gail

So @Golden_Desert_Books (Golden Desert Books) replied

    paintcreekbooks:
    
    > I understand what you mean now. I saw it in action using Google Chrome as my browser now and when I went to fill in some information it “autofilled” it in, I guess that might be similar to “autocomplete”.
    > 
    > (Not sure what the difference between the two are but it is helpful and time saving.)
    
    And I think you don't have to worry about memory until you reach 500.
    
    You can add to what you already have in memory.
    
    My condition “drop down” now looks a bit like this:
    
    Good.  
    Good in G DJ.  
    Good in G DJ. Owner sig fep.  
    Good in G DJ. Owner sig fep. Frequent UL.  
    Good in ragged DJ.  
    Good in ragged DJ. Owner sig fep.  
    Good in ragged DJ. Spine end frays. Owner sig fep.
    
    Etc.
    
    Very time saving the more you use it.

After which, @Paintcreek (paintcreekbooks) added

    Thanks again very much.
    
    I remember when I used to list directly on Amazon that comments would be saved that I could “re-use” and I think that is what you are mentioning.
    
    With AMan Pro I can save the listings settings based on the “Saved Setting” for different Media like items books, CD's, DVD's with different conditions and shipping preferences and also for non-Media items like Toys and games.
    
    (I'm not sure if you can do that with just using Amazon directly and differentiate by type of listing and shipping preferences.)
    
    All of your examples seem to reference books. I think I have the setting for each and every condition I could run into using AMan Pro and just need to select the correct one and substitute/exchange some listing comments that are particular for the individual item.
    
    I'm not sure if that option exists for Amazon listed items as I haven't use that method in several years.
    
    Can you save shipping references and “autocomplete or autofill” with your personal method of listing or don't you include that information in your listing comments?
    
    Gail
    
    Edited by: paintcreekbooks on Sep 16, 2012 4:35 PM  
    Some typo's.

@system (system) replied

    


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