Multi-variant offers – how to link offers and edit variants

How the offer is shown in the offer lists in categories

On the offer lists, a multi-variant offer (offer variant) is always highlighted by the “dostępne warianty” (other variants available) label.

In order to provide transparency and better visibility of multi-variant offers (offer variants), we use “collapsing” – a more compact and orderly view.

What the collapsing of multi-variant offers (offer variants) is and how it works

Collapsing of multi-variant offers (offer variants) is a way of displaying offers on offer lists. Offers being a part of a multi-variant offer are grouped together into one offer on an offer list. The way they are grouped together depends on:

• Rozmiar (size) parameter – they are displayed as one position on the list
• Rozmiar (size) and Kolor/Wzór (color/pattern) parameters – for example, the color red, sizes S, M, L, are displayed as one position; the color green, sizes S, M, L – as another position
• differences visible only on thumbnails presenting different colors – we will not change anything.

Example

A multi-variant offer (offer variant) is composed of offers of shoes in different sizes and colors. The offers will collapse so that all the available shoe colors will be visible on the offer list. Therefore, all the sizes of silver shoes will be displayed as one position on the list, while all the sizes of the same shoes in the color gold will be displayed as another position.

In the case of collapsed multi-variant offers (offer variants), the offer that is displayed as the main one is the one that is best suited to:

• the buyer’s search query – according to the phrase entered into search engine, filters, and sorting
• the category that the buyer is viewing, such as Obuwie (shoes)

Currently, we do not collapse:

• terminated offers
• offers in the search results, when the buyer is looking for a specific phrase in offer descriptions.

How the multi-variant offer (offer variant) is displayed in the offer description

All available product variants are visible in the offer. The buyer sees all the parameters with variants that you choose during linking offers.

Example

The seller offers different colors and sizes of the same shoes, so the buyer sees different colors and size variants in the offer, as shown below.

In order to avoid incorrect offer linking, remember a few tips you will find below. This is what you should pay attention to while linking the offers in order to do it correctly.

• Offers need to present a product of the same intended use and brand. That is why you should link only variants of the same product.
• Link the offers of variants of the same product. For example, the same perfumes of different bottle volumes, the same bracelets of different chain lengths, the same trousers of different colors and sizes.
• Use the same thumbnail for offer variants differing only by size. Thumbnails are identical if they have the same resolution, file format and watermark. Do not compress the thumbnail again – use the same file to create a thumbnail in all variants of the same offer. If you list an item through the wystaw podobną (list similar item) option, you do not need to upload the new thumbnail, as it is imported automatically.
• We will group offers into color variants (according to color/pattern parameter), after you choose the second parameter.
• Newly listed offers that you want to link together will appear in the variants editor tool within a few minutes.
• You are not able to create multi-variant offers in classifieds categories.
• You can link up to 500 offers into a multi-variant offer (offer variant).
• You can use multi-variant offers in REST API. Learn more.
• You are not able to link identical offers into a multi-variant offer – these offers need to be unique. A cloned offer is an offer which:
  • is listed by the same seller
  • is listed in the same category
  • has the same parameters (including EAN)
  • has the same thumbnail.

To link offers, go to the variant editor tool:

1. Click [dodaj] (add).

2. Find the offers you want to link.

3. Select the offers you want to link and click [wybierz parametry] (select parameters).

4. Decide which parameters you will use to combine offers. You can combine offers using up to 2 parameters. Additionally, if you want, you can give your own names to your multi-variant offers. Only you will see that name — it will not affect the offer title.

5. Click [zapisz] (save).

In the Wielowariantowość (Variants editor) tab, you will find a list of your existing multi-variant offers (offer variants). From this list, you can:

• search for linked offers by entering the name of the multi-variant offer (offer variant) or the offer number
• edit multi-variant offers (offer variants)
• unlink offers from a multi-variant offer.

How to edit a multi-variant offer (offer variant)

If you want to edit multi-variant offers, click [edytuj] (edit).

Editing allows you to add units and change parameters by which multi-variant offers (offer variants) are grouped.

We will link different variants of the same product into multi-variant offers for you in: Moda (Fashion) category, clothing and shoes subcategories outside the Moda (Fashion) category, Biżuteria i zegarki (Jewellery and watches) category. You will find a full list of categories where we automatically link offers into multi-variant offers in Allegro Terms and Conditions.

We automatically link new and edited offers on a regular basis.

How we link offers

We automatically link offers which are variants of the same product and have the same thumbnail, but differ by the Rozmiar (Size) parameter, for example, Długość (Length) in the Łańcuszki (Chains) subcategory.

Thumbnails must be identical for all different size variants: they must have identical resolution, file format and watermark. Do not compress the file repeatedly. The best way to ensure that thumbnails are identical is to upload the same thumbnail file. If you list an item through the wystaw podobną (List similar item) option, you do not need to change the thumbnail, as it is imported automatically.

Below you will find a sample view in the variants editor tool

• when you link offers with the same thumbnail:

  

• when you link offers with different thumbnails (from different files, with different resolution or watermarks):

An example of automatic offer linking into a multi-variant offer (offer variant)

Automatic offer linking in the Obuwie (shoes) category.

The seller lists many offers of the same sneakers model in different colors and sizes. We will link all of the offers of white sneakers in sizes 36, 37, 38 and 39 into one multi-variant offer (offer variant). Meanwhile, we will link all of the offers of red sneakers in sizes 36, 37, 38 and 39 into another multi-variant offer (offer variant). The process applies to all the colors and patterns.

In the Variants editor tab, you can combine offers linked automatically with the Kolor/Wzór (Color/Pattern) parameter.

How to check which offers were automatically linked

You can check that in the Wielowariantowość (Variants editor) tab. On the list of your multi-variant offers, you will see which offers we have linked for you – such offers have the Oferta połączona automatycznie (Offer linked automatically) label under its title.

In order to link these offers by the Kolor/Wzór (Color/Pattern) parameter, check the box next to the selected offers and click [Połącz] (Link) on the bar at the bottom of the page.

After selecting a multi-variant offer which you want to link to another offer by the Kolor/Wzór (Color/Pattern) parameter, you will see only those offers that you can link to a given multi-variant offer. You will not see offers which you cannot link to a given multi-variant offer.

You can filter offers by the way they are linked. The wszystkie (all) value is set by default, but you can change it to automatycznie (automatically) or ręcznie (manually).

Yes, you can create and manage multi-variant offers (offer variants) through the Allegro API.