Product data quality: Clear facts for Swiss households

Mandatory fields and units: Mandatory fields are those you always need: measurements, material, included parts and energy info when relevant. Use explicit units like cm or kg; avoid vague terms like ‘large’. Clear units affect shipping, storage and whether the item fits at home, so they should never be missing. A practical detail: specify ‘40 cm diameter’ rather than just ‘40’. This tiny clarity avoids misreadings during ordering or pickup. Also note parts such as cables, adapters or spare batteries. These details prevent the common mismatch where the product is right but a crucial accessory is missing. It helps to use an attribute schema — a short list of required fields by category, for example dimensions, weight and material. The schema keeps listings comparable and reduces errors. Once set, it becomes a quick checklist before publishing new items or updating feeds.

Variants, measurements and specs: Variants are the usual source of confusion: size, colour or connector type. Label each variant clearly and attach a short note on how it differs. For clothing, add a size chart; for electronics, name the voltage. These short facts prevent wrong deliveries and save time at pickup. Consider a concrete mini‑situation: a buyer orders a stroller adapter marked ‘universal’. If no mounting width is given, the adapter may not fit. Listing the adapter’s width and the connection type would have made the choice immediate and avoided the return process. Technical specs belong in short, standard fields. Use concise entries like ‘IP rating: IP44’ or ‘Battery: 2×AA’. These are technical terms, but present them plainly. Explain one term briefly if needed, then use the short label afterwards to keep descriptions clean and consistent.

Keep data fresh as habit: Keeping product information current is a daily habit, not a one‑off. Pick a cadence to check core attributes before busy periods: dimensions, variant lists and shipping weight. Small updates now avoid larger issues later and make the customer experience steadier. At goods receipt, complete a short template: measure, photograph with a ruler and note included parts. For households, such photos often give confidence faster than lengthy descriptions. Platforms like OpenDeal provide fields where these facts fit neatly and remain visible. Quick checks pay off: are units present, is the package weight clear, is the variant labelled? Tackling these questions reduces queries and returns. Over time, accurate listings lead to smoother handovers, fewer surprises and a calmer post‑purchase experience for buyers and sellers.