Dawn Johnson: What is the process for that? Maybe a have a setting wrong somewhere, because the only way I can access the builder templates is through a new Product, and then there isn't an option to save without pictures and additional information.

Ian Smedbron: We open a draft product to list it, then choose the category on the first screen for that item. That category then triggers the builder template on the next screen.

Most of our products are created/given SKUs in processing, then go to photography, and from there to listing. Sometimes for an item, if the photographer feels a lot should be split, etc., they'll create an additional SKU.

Our listers work from drafts in all cases and it's choosing the category for the item that triggers which builder template they'll use for the listing.

There was a slightly cranky adjustment period at first with the builder templates but everyone seems to have settled into using them. I tried to keep the REQUIRED fields to a minimum so they can skip other things that don't apply to an item. Yesterday's "go live" of the item photos showing on all the listing screens is a game changer for this process.

Edit: I've added a screen cap of our builder template for jewelry.

Dawn Johnson: Hmm, my builder templates don't show up when I select "Add Draft Product" even if I select a category that has a builder template assigned to it. If I choose "Add Product" it does, but it requires many additional fields filled in to save it, which isn't quite how we do our drafts. In our case the draft products are used mostly for items that require testing prior to listing. Occasionally this includes photography, but many times not. Then the item is passed to a lister who handles the photography, double-checking description information, and the actual listing. We haven't been able to get everyone earlier in the handling chain onboard with the whole manifest/SKU thing yet, so we're doing all of the Lister/Link work right before items get listed, more or less.

Ian Smedbron: Yes, as far as I know, the builder templates won't show when you're creating a draft; they're tied to the listing process and categories within that. We create the drafts in processing or photography and then the listers work from the drafts; listers don't create them.

I'm curious about how much of the listing you're adding in the draft vs. in the actual listing. Sounds like you're adding a lot of the information at draft stage rather than listing. We work just the opposite with drafts having a short title, SKU, and photos added. Listers input all the details and specs, using the builder templates.

Dawn Johnson: Most of our items never see Draft stage, as they go straight to the lister who handles the whole process. But for certain items (video game consoles, home electronics, valuable record lots) we do some testing and pre-listing preparation where the builder template would be handy in the draft stage to be saved for use later. Also some of listers specialize and handle processing and listing for certain items, so it would be nice to have those templates for them where they can work at their prep station, save all the drafts, and then move to photography, which isn't always in the same immediate vicinity.