Articles on: SKU Manager (Ai Analysis)

Building Your AI Analysis

Create and refine prompts, display templates, and custom columns


Table Of Contents



What You’re Creating


You’ll be building two components outside of uBuyFirst using an AI assistant, then bringing them back into the application:


Component

What It Does

Where It Lives in SKU Manager

Prompt

Instructions telling the AI how to analyze listings

AI Prompt tab

Display Template

HTML that formats results in External Panel

AI Display Template tab


The prompt outputs JSON data → The template displays it visually.


Once set up, your AI project becomes your ongoing workspace — you’ll come back here to make enhancements, add features, and fix issues using feedback traces.


Before You Start


☑️ SKU Manager configured — Python installed, API key set up, Fields to Send profile created (see Quick Start Guide)


☑️ AI assistant account — Pick one:


  • ChatGPT — We have a Custom GPT with documentation already loaded ([link from support])
  • Claude — Free at claude.ai, Pro recommended
  • Gemini — Free at aistudio.google.com


☑️ Know your products — What you’re searching for, what qualifies, what disqualifies


Step 1: Set Up Your AI Project


~10 minutes, one-time setup


Option A: ChatGPT (Easiest)


We have a Custom GPT with all documentation pre-loaded.


  1. Get the link from support


  1. Open the Custom GPT


  1. Skip to Step 2 — you’re ready to go


Model recommendation: Use GPT-5.2 or 5.1 with Thinking or Pro mode enabled for complex prompts.


Option B: Claude


Create the Project:


  1. Go to claude.ai


  1. Click “Projects” in the left sidebar


  1. Click “Create Project”


  1. Name it: SKU Manager - Prompt Builder


Add Knowledge Files:


  1. Get the SKU Manager Project Package (link from support or Google Drive)


  1. Click “Add to Project Knowledge” (or the + icon)


  1. Upload ALL files from the package


📸 [Screenshot: Claude project with knowledge files uploaded]


Add Project Instructions:


  1. Find the Project-Instructions file in the package


  1. Copy the entire contents


  1. In Claude, click gear icon (Settings) → Project Instructions


  1. Paste and save


Model recommendation: Use Claude 4.5 Sonnet with Extended Thinking enabled when building prompts.


Option C: Gemini

  1. Go to aistudio.google.com


  1. Create a new project


  1. Upload all files from the SKU Manager Project Package


  1. Add the project instructions to the Instructions field


Model recommendation: Use Gemini Pro (thinks longer) for advanced prompt building.


What’s in the Knowledge Files?


The files teach your AI assistant about:


  • How prompts and display templates connect — field names, JSON structure, what needs to match
  • Fields to Send — what data comes from eBay listings
  • Custom AI Columns — optional grid columns for quick decisions
  • Working examples — reference implementations to learn from
  • The Feedback/Trace system — how to take your feedback and make targeted fixes


This means your AI assistant can:


  • Create new prompts from scratch
  • Build matching display templates
  • Come back later and make modifications based on your feedback
  • Know whether a change needs the prompt, the template, or both


Note: These files may be updated over time as features evolve.


Step 2: Generate Your First Prompt & Template


~30-60 minutes


Start the Conversation


In your AI project, start a new chat. The goal is to describe what you’re looking for in natural language — like you’re explaining your buying process to someone.


Start simple:


I want to create a new prompt and display template.

I search for [SEARCH TERM] and see [TYPES OF PRODUCTS] in the results.

When I'm going through listings, here's what I'm looking for:
- [What makes something a yes]
- [What makes something a no]
- [Things I can only tell from pictures]
- [Things I need to read in the description]

Describe Your Mental Process


Think about how YOU decide whether a listing qualifies. Tell the AI assistant:


  • Product identification — “I’m looking for [specific brand/model], not [other things that show up]”
  • Condition requirements — “It needs to be [sealed/working/no damage]”
  • Visual inspection — “From pictures, I’m checking for [cracks/missing parts/box damage]”
  • Description details — “In the description, I look for [keywords/red flags]”
  • Different tiers — “I’ll pay $X for [condition A] but only $Y for [condition B]”


Example Conversation


For Test Strips:


I want to create a prompt and display template.

I search for "OneTouch Ultra test strips" and I'm trying to buy sealed, 
undamaged boxes with good expiration dates.

When I look at listings, I check:
- Is it actually OneTouch Ultra (not Verio or other models)?
- Is the box sealed? Any tears or damage I can see in photos?
- What's the expiration date? I need at least 6 months out.
- How many boxes are they selling? I want the per-box price.

From pictures, I'm looking at box condition and trying to read expiration 
dates if they're visible. Some sellers don't show everything clearly.

Let's start simple — just help me identify the right products and flag 
any obvious damage.

What Your AI Assistant Will Do


Based on your description, it will:


  1. Ask clarifying questions if needed


  1. Generate a prompt with proper JSON structure


  1. Generate a matching display template


  1. Make sure field names align between both


Your initial goal isn’t perfection — it’s getting the full round-trip working. You can refine it after you see real results.


Step 3: Load Into SKU Manager


~5 minutes


Save the Prompt

  1. Copy the prompt your AI assistant generated


  1. In uBuyFirst, go to Data tab > Get Data (External Data panel)


  1. Click “AI Prompt” tab


  1. Click “Add” to create new profile


  1. Name it clearly: [Product]_Prompt_v1


  1. Paste the prompt


  1. Click Save


📸 [Screenshot: AI Prompt tab with prompt pasted]


Save the Display Template

  1. Copy the HTML template


  1. Go to “AI Display Template” tab


  1. Click “Add” to create new profile


  1. Name it: [Product]_Template_v1


  1. Paste the template


  1. Check the preview — you should see the layout structure


  1. Click Save


📸 [Screenshot: AI Display Template tab with preview]


Step 4: Create Your Filter (in uBuyFirst)


~5 minutes


This is what triggers your AI to run. You set this up in uBuyFirst, not in your AI project.


  1. Close External Data panel


  1. Go to Home > Filters


  1. Click “New Filter”


  1. Configure:


  • Type: Select AI ✅
  • Name: Something clear like AI - [Product] Analysis
  • AI Prompt: Select your prompt profile
  • AI Display Template: Select your template profile
  • AI Fields to Send: Select your fields profile
  • Condition: What triggers it
  • For all results: Title is not blank
  • For specific items: Alias contains "[keyword]" or Title contains "[model]"


  1. Type: Select AI ✅


  1. Name: Something clear like AI - [Product] Analysis


  1. AI Prompt: Select your prompt profile


  1. AI Display Template: Select your template profile


  1. AI Fields to Send: Select your fields profile


  1. Condition: What triggers it


  • For all results: Title is not blank
  • For specific items: Alias contains "[keyword]" or Title contains "[model]"


  1. For all results: Title is not blank


  1. For specific items: Alias contains "[keyword]" or Title contains "[model]"


  1. Make sure Enabled is checked ✅


  1. Click Save


📸 [Screenshot: Filter configuration with AI type selected]


Step 5: Test It1. Return to Data > Get Data (External Data panel)


  1. Click “Stop Script” then “Start Script” to refresh


  1. Run a search that matches your filter condition


  1. Click on a listing


Working? You should see your formatted analysis in the External Panel.


Not Working? Check:


  • Filter enabled?
  • Filter condition matches your search?
  • Field names in template match prompt output? (case-sensitive!)
  • API key configured and billing active?


Improving Your Prompt Over Time

When AI Gets Something Wrong


Use the Feedback/Trace System in SKU Manager:


  1. In the External Panel, click Submit Feedback on the problem listing


  1. A popup appears — describe the issue in natural language


  • “This should have been flagged as damaged”
  • “It missed that this is a lot of 3”
  • “The model identification was wrong — it’s actually an X not a Y”


  1. “This should have been flagged as damaged”


  1. “It missed that this is a lot of 3”


  1. “The model identification was wrong — it’s actually an X not a Y”


  1. Click Submit — this saves everything:


  • Your prompt and settings
  • The listing data and pictures
  • All field data that was sent
  • Your feedback notes


  1. Your prompt and settings


  1. The listing data and pictures


  1. All field data that was sent


  1. Your feedback notes


  1. Go back to your AI project and start a new chat:```

I have feedback on my [PRODUCT] prompt. The AI got something wrong.


[Paste the contents of the feedback/trace files]


Here's what happened: [your notes]


. Your AI assistant will:

* Diagnose what went wrong
* Show you a BEFORE/AFTER comparison
* Output an updated prompt or template (or both)

2. Diagnose what went wrong

3. Show you a BEFORE/AFTER comparison

4. Output an updated prompt or template (or both)

5. **Apply the fix** in SKU Manager and re-test with the same listing
### Adding Features Later

Once basics work, go back to your AI project:

My [PRODUCT] prompt is working. Now I want to add:

  • [New feature, e.g., price calculations]
  • [New feature, e.g., custom columns for the grid]


Your AI assistant knows what changes need the prompt, the template, or both.

---
## Quick Reference

| What You Want | Where to Go |
| --- | --- |
| Create/edit prompt | Your AI project (ChatGPT/Claude/Gemini) |
| Load prompt into app | SKU Manager > AI Prompt tab |
| Load template into app | SKU Manager > AI Display Template tab |
| Set when AI runs | uBuyFirst > Home > Filters |
| Report issues/feedback | External Panel > Submit Feedback button |

---
## Adding Custom Columns (Optional)

Custom columns let you see key AI decisions **in your results grid** — without opening the External Panel for each listing.

### Why Use Both?

| Where It Shows | What It’s For |
| --- | --- |
| Display Template | Detailed analysis in External Panel — full reasoning, all the data |
| Custom Columns | Quick decisions in results grid — “Can Return: Yes”, “Buy: No” |

Many users include the same key values in **both** places:

* Columns for quick scanning and filtering
* Template for the full picture when you click in

### How to Add Columns
1. **In uBuyFirst**, go to **AI Columns** tab and create your column profile

2. Define the exact column names (e.g., `Can Return`, `Original Owner`, `Buy Decision`)

3. **Go back to your AI project** and say:

I want to add custom columns to my prompt.

Here are the exact column names I created:

  • Can Return (values: Yes / No)
  • Original Owner (values: Yes / No)
  • Buy Decision (values: Buy / Research / Pass)


Update my prompt to output these columns.


**Important:** You must tell your AI assistant the **exact column names** — it can’t read them from a screenshot. The names in your prompt must match exactly what you created in uBuyFirst.

### Columns Enable Additional Filters

Once you have AI columns, you can create **additional filter actions** based on the results:

* Highlight rows where `AI Can Return = Yes`
* Remove/hide rows where `AI Buy Decision = Pass`
* Color-code based on confidence levels

This lets AI do the first pass so you focus on what matters.

---
## Include Reasoning in Your Prompts

When building prompts, ask your AI assistant to include **reasoning and source attribution** in the output. These sections explain back — in natural language — how and why the AI arrived at its analysis.

This helps you:

* Understand WHY the AI made a specific decision
* Identify which field values may have caused an unexpected analysis or conflict
* Debug issues faster when you submit feedback traces
* See exactly which fields and photos informed each conclusion

### What Good Output Looks Like

**Detailed Reasoning** (natural language explanation):

The phone is identified as an iPhone 15, 256GB, Factory Unlocked based

on the title, description, and model fields. Return eligibility is 'Yes'

as the seller has a 'Returns accepted / 30 day' policy and the device

is fully functional, despite cosmetic flaws which are disclosed. The

'Original Owner' status is 'No' — the seller is a registered business

with high feedback (2098) and professional product photos, strongly

indicating a reseller rather than an individual.


**Source Attribution** (field-by-field citations):

Model, Storage, Carrier: Title, Model field, Description, Network field.

Defects: Description, Photos 2-4.

Can Return: Returns field, Description.

Original Owner: SellerName, SellerBusiness, FeedbackScore, Photos.


When you submit feedback traces, this information helps you (and your AI assistant) pinpoint exactly what data caused the issue and where to fix it in the prompt.

**Ask your prompt builder:**

Include a detailed reasoning section that explains in natural language

how you arrived at each major conclusion. Also include source attribution

showing which fields and photos informed each decision.


---
## Tips for Success1. **Start simple** — Get basic identification working before adding price calculations or columns

2. **Describe your thinking** — The more you explain your mental process, the better the prompt

3. **Pictures matter** — Tell the AI what you look for in photos (damage, labels, condition)

4. **Test with real listings** — See how it performs before tweaking

5. **Use feedback traces** — Don’t guess at what went wrong; capture the actual data

6. **Include reasoning** — Makes debugging much easier when something’s off

7. **Version your work** — Save as v1, v2, etc. before making big changes
---

**Questions?** Live Support at [ubuyfirst.com](https://ubuyfirst.com/) or email su*****@*******st.com

_For the full AI Columns setup walkthrough, see the complete SKU Manager Setup Guide._

Updated on: 26/01/2026

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