Google Shopping Changes, USPS Postal Increases

Hello again everyone, and Welcome back to LilacsNDreams! Hmmm....spring, and I just LOVE the smell of Lilacs. Don't you? Course, right now for the past few days we have had rain, snow, rain & snow, it melts right away, but how depressing for the start of spring! I just keep thinking of lilacs, and smelling that scent in my mind, and it gives me a smile. 

If you have not heard yet, or maybe you have noticed some issues with your items being submitted to Google lately....it is pending, things are acting funny, you are seeing some of your listings, but not all of them, and so on. Google has some changes that will be taking effect by May 3rd. Google Merchant is making some changes which will effect Google Shopping, and how you show there. It will not effect the Normal Google...LOL don't ask me to define normal now:) NO effect to the Normal Google Organic search which is the majority of a shoppers visit with most sites, and anywhere. Also, keep in mind there are still other searches out there that help you with placements, and being seen too. Places such as Bing, Yahoo, different social medias, and the list goes on. As always make sure you focus with your titles, your keywords, backlinks, your anchor text, and that wonderful SEO.

The change that Google is working with is your unique product indentifiers (UPI). They are product codes, or other values associated with an individual product, or listing. They are something like a UPC code, MPN code, and your ISBN codes. For Google Shopping you will be required to show this within your descriptions, or your items will not show with google shopping searches. 

Categories NOT currently requiring the UPI is: Apparel (including asseccories like jewelry) Collectibles, Vintage, Antiques, One-of-a-kind (OOAK) and Custom Made Goods.  IF the UPIs are available by another retailer, then you must also include the UPI as well. There are a few sites where you can look for some of these codes. So, a little more search has been added to items that we sell. What I find difficult is that majority of the treasures I sell are vintage, collectibles, and gently used. Also, the one-of-a-kind treasures I am including with my Artfire Store too. With the gently used treasures that is how I buy them for resale, and most of the time there is No code with them as they came without the box, they are not marked, and etc. So, Google wants us to research things like that further to get the code because if you don't find it, another person can show it, then your product does not show with Google Shopping. Hmmm....we as sellers have to do so much work with research now, and this has added more for us to do. I am not sure how this is suppose to benefit the shoppers yet, but that is the new change being worked on.

Also, if you do not know this already, or have noticed already, USPS Postal Rates have increased again too. Flat Rate Priority Mail boxes have no change in their cost. But, there were increases for Priority Mail, First Class Mail, and I do believe for International Rates there was an increase too. The increases range from .05 to .20. This started April 17th when the changes for that took effect. So, sellers make sure you are watching your postage right now, and making any adjustments. And, for the shoppers please know that not all sellers put that hike in the shipping costs. There are many of us that are true to the shipping charges that we collect, and when you see an increase like this know that we the 'sellers' had nothing to do with this, ok? Thanks so much for understanding!:)

So, now you are aware of a couple of changes that have happened, or will soon be happening. Hope I was able to help a few understand why some things have been off with Google again, and what is happening. Gotta love Google, right?

Thanks again for visiting with LilacsNDreams. Remember that with my LilacsNDreams Store at Artfire I sell items vintage, collectibles, glassware, dinnerware, tableware, home decor. I have also been adding inventory for repurposed, upcycled, and recycled treasures too. Visit when you can, and see the treasures being offered by LilacsNDreams Artfire Store. Take care till the next time everyone. If you have any questions, please contact me, or know you are always welcome to leave comments here too.

 

Vintage, Collectibles, Gently Used Treasures

 

Good Day everyone & Happy Hump Day! Wednesday is becoming a common time for me to stop by here & visit & add a few notes. Kind of like that. Sorry, been kind of lazy it feels like lately. I have spent more time at the computer reading, signing up with things, taking notes of things I learn, researching items to calculate prices for resale, and etc. I am happy to say that I do have my facebook fan page all set up, and I do have an address for that too. I can be found there at http://www.facebook.com/LilacsNDreams. When you get a chance stop by to visit there sometime. Also, a ning that I have signed up with I can now list a few items for sale there, and you can also buy there directly with paypal. That place is http://www.thriftyvaultshoppers.ning.com/profile/LilacsNDreams. The internet is such an amazing place, and there is just so much out there to visit, sign up with, join, read about, sell at, and etc. 

Another marketplace that I have come across just recently, and everything is free there is at http://www.addoway.com  When you get a chance you should see this place too. Bonanzle is still my main venue to sell with, and my larger amount of inventory is there, but when there are other places that I can try to sell at, maybe change the pace of things a bit, I like to try them out a bit. 

Yesterday I got to spend a little bit of time thrifting. I was with someone who does not do things like I do, or enjoys all of what I do. I still worked it to get some things maybe to do for shadow boxes, paint, etc. Tomorrow I hope to do a little bit more as I will be with my daughter, and when I look at things she likes to go her own way to look also. Ok, time to call it a night. Hope everyone had a great Hump Day!:)

 

Pyrex, American Collectibles, Decorative Plates See at Bonanzle

 

Good Morning Everyone & glad you stopped by! Looks like the ground hog seen his shadow, so 6 more wks? of the snow? UGH! I so was hoping that maybe spring could have come a lil sooner...getting tired of the snow. Ready for spring to go diggin with yard sales, estate sales, thrift stores, etc. You can always tell when it is shopping time again. Especially if I want to look for some things with a new venture I would like to add along with the items I sell. Am getting excited, and hope I can do what I am planning right now.:)

 

Pyrex Gold Butteryfly 1 PT Casserole Dish with the Lid. Upon looking thru my booth I noticed I had a few more Pyrex pieces than I realized..Hmm. They are good pieces that last through time too.

 

Unique set of plates that were decorated. I can find no signature on here from the original creator, but how unique they are. Both the man & woman figures here have been glued with cloth, netting for her face, felt like material, and a gorgeous trim around the rim that has a painted like look. Light weight plates, and they do have the hangers on them that I will NOT be removing. I am hoping to have this listed in my booth by tonight...waiting on a phone call to leave for a while today. Anyway, much better in person than I could picture:)

 

Here is an adorable little salt and pepper shaker set that is New in the box, and very light weight. By American Collectibles making vintage reproductions is how it is worded on the box. New, and such yummy colors too! Looks like they are having fun, huh?:)

 

Hope I am not repeating myself here with some of these pics as I seen I had done that before...so sorry if I am. I don't mean to. This is another Pyrex Casserole Dish that is listed in my booth for sale too. Has the snowflake pattern, and in very good condition. Inside bowl area does not show signs of use. There is no lid for this. I found the bowl like this. Very nice shiny clean piece to add to your Pyrex Collections.

Ok, I am gonna stop with these pictures for now. Do not want to over whelm you, or bore some of you too. When you get a chance, stop by my booth sometime at www.bonanzle.com/booths/LilacsNDreams  It is really starting to get busy around there with all the new sellers, and with the many different items being transported there from other venues:) Wishing you all a great day! Take care till the next time...Toodles:)