Tracking Backyard Breeders on Ebay

Step-by-step Instructions

June 2013

IntroductionEvery day puppy sellers post approximately 40 free ads on Ebay (Kijiji) Classified Ads in the Detroit area. A 2012 study showed many of them were unlicensed potential backyard breeders with multiple litters and breeds.

Objectives:

Report any unlicensed breeders to the

local authorities.

Log ads on a daily basis before the ad is removed or expired

Classify the type of seller (home, hobby or backyard)

Identify who they are (name, address, phone).

Goals

Identify neglectful backyard breeders.

Identify all licensing violations.

Ensure all backyard breeders are known by authorities.

Ensure all backyard breeders have an animal welfare check.

Logging and Reporting Suggestions

1. Gather ads from one source (i.e.Ebay) for at minimum three to six months to identify multiple litters and active sellers.

2. Divide logging up between four volunteers. Each log for an assigned week.

3. Consolidate ads into a “Reporting Tool” that stores seller profiles and kennel licenses.

4. Use Pivot Tables to generate reports by Animal Control areas (cities or counties).

5. Provide reports to Animal Control.

6. Or file individual complaints.

Step 11) When opening the workbook, press the 'Enable Macros' button from the

pop-up window, if you plan to copy and paste from Ebay.

Step 22) Open Internet Explorer. The built in macro will not work if content is copied

using other browsers. Go to http://detroit.ebayclassifieds.com/

Step 33) Go to Pets > Dogs & Puppies > Breeder/Owner

Step 4 (Copy & Paste Method)a) Ads are listed in a Gallery View.

Now, you can either copy and paste the ad contents or skip to manual entry (Step 5)

To copy and paste, switch to the 'List View‘.

Step 4b)Highlight all ads on

the page (approximately 50).

One page usually includes one days' worth of ads.

Do not copy the Sponsors Link ads.

To copy, highlight all the ads by placing your cursor at the end of the last ad. Include the date and location of the ad.

Step 4b) continued…

To highlight, press the ‘Shift Key’ to hold the highlighting as you scroll up.

To include the first ad, click to the left of the first photo.

Step 4c) To copy choose

Edit > Copy from the menu or press (Ctrl + C).

Step 4d) Go to the ‘EbayAdLog’

worksheet and select the first empty cell in column K.

Step 4e) To paste, choose

Edit > Paste from the menu or press (Ctrl + V).

Change view to 50% to more easily select and delete photos.

Step 4f) Remove the photos by

clicking on (selecting) each one and hitting the ‘Delete Key’.

Notice that the picture has small circles on each corner indicating it is selected.

Step 4g) To move the ad

content into the appropriate columns, place your cursor in the first cell in column K with ad content.

Do not click on the link. Use the arrow keys to move into the cell without initiating the hyperlink.

Initiate the Macro by pressing (Ctrl+Shift+L).

Wait while the macro moves the cells.The screen will flicker.

Scroll up to the top.

Step 4The following columns will be populated:

Location Advertising

Price

Ad Summary

Ad Comments

i) Delete the first two blank rows.

Select the two rows by putting your cursor on the row header and right mouse clicking, select Delete.

Go to Step 5 for manual entry for remaining content.

Step 55) Open each ad individually and log the remaining ad information.

Step 5a) Collect the following information:

Phone Number As Listed

Posted By Name

Name On Ad

Address

Facebook Link

Email on Ad

Website Link

Offered By

Age

Category

Breed Type

Registered Since Date

Number of Puppies

Step 5a) continued…

For the phone number, collect all text including names, all numbers and whether it is a cell phone or home phone.

Using the copy/paste method ensures data is transferred correctly.

Step 5 – Example AdPhone Number As Listed: <not listed>

Posted By Name: Facebook User

Name On Ad: <not listed>

Address: Hazel Park, Mi 48030

Facebook Link: <not provided>

Email on Ad: <not listed>

Website Link: <not listed>

Offered By: Owner

Age Category: Baby

Breed Type: Chihuahua

Registered Since Date: 10/2011

Number of Puppies: 1

Step 5b) Update the following columns related to the phone number for each ad, if provided. Use the following formatting for each phone number (xxx) xxx-xxxx.

Often sellers will include comments or instructions for calling (i.e. "text only", "home", "cell", "call after 5 pm". Included comments in the Phone Comments columns.

Phone 1

Formatted

Phone 2

Formatted

Phone 3

Formatted

Phone 4

Formatted

Phone1

Comment

Phone2

Comment

Phone3

Comments

810-566-1234 Text only

Step 5c) Update the 'Date Posted'column. Use the prefix of the ‘Location Advertising’ column.

Date Posted: 5/28/2013

Step 5d) Optional: Flag ads by entering a '1' in the following columns.

Step 6Save any concerning photographs into a MS Word File.

a) Flag any alarming photos by entering a description of the photo and items of concern in column W ‘ Alarming Photos (Saved)’.

Step 6b) To copy the screen to the clipboard, press Shift+Print Screen.

c) Paste into a MS Word document by pressing Edit > Paste or (Ctrl+V).

d) Save the file.

Step 7Repeat the next day to collect new ads posted.

Step 8

Alarming photos.

Multiple ads including multiple breeds and litters.

Advertise out side of their area or state so the buyer can not see conditions.

Advertise the popular small breeds and mix breeds as designer dogs.

" Designer Dog", "Teacup", "Hypo Allergenic", "Tiny", "Teddy Bear" "Parti" , "Ready to go“

Do not use contracts.

Do not belong to a breed club.

b) OPTIONAL: Flag potential backyard breeders in column AJ.

Step 9

Many backyard breeders do not list a phone number.

Use Ebay’s email feature to contact breeder.

Ads expire. Collect identification within 14 days.

Collect seller name, phone number and address, if possible.

Cell phone numbers can not be linked to a name and address easily.

Try to collect address informationvia email correspondence with the seller.

OPTIONAL: Collect missing phone numbers for potential backyard breeders for

identification process.

Hidden ColumnsThe following columns have formulas and are formatted. They will automatically populate the cell and format the content. If the formula is missing, copy and paste from the prior cell.

‘Added to SellerProfileLog’This column is used to track which sellers have been added to the SellerIDLog including profile information. The SellerIDLog is a hidden worksheet used for those consolidating ads or by the Animal Control Staff.

‘Count’This column is for running reports. Each ad should have a 1 in the cell.

‘Month’, ‘Year’, and ‘Phone Prefix’.These columns have formulas and are formatted. They will automatically populate the cell and format the content. If the formula is missing, copy and paste from the

prior cell.