eBay

community_team · ‎10-12-2021

--Final Update, October 28--

The category changes announced in our Fall Seller Update have been completed.

Now that all category changes are complete, while you might still see some adjustments to searches, it is okay to update or edit your listings without concerns of losing data or having it moved again.

We appreciate your feedback on this roll-out. We'll continue to adjust the process based on the input we’ve received here, and we'll take all of these suggestions into consideration for future updates.

As this project is now complete the post is being locked from further comments.

Resources and observations

We’ve heard from you that updating your Item Specifics in time for the February 2022 requirement date may be a challenge.

A useful tool that may help is located in the Seller Hub under Listing>Active. There is a drop-down box labeled ‘Download’ which will generate an Excel document for ‘Missing Required or Recommended Item Specifics’. You can read more about this tool here.

Should you come across any inaccuracies within the new Item Specifics we ask that you report those directly to sdsupport@ebay.com so our team can investigate. Outside of that, please share suggestions as to changes you'd like to see going forward here, selecting the Categories and Item Specifics option.

---Update as of October 19th---

We apologize for this delayed update. Thank you for your patience while our teams worked to finalize category changes.

All listings have been moved to their final destination categories. You may now proceed with checking your categories, revising items, and updating item specifics where needed.

Some item specifics have been renamed, and the value you originally provided has been copied over to the new item specific, so you don’t need to re-add these item specifics. We encourage you to update your listings with item specifics that are showing as “Required Soon.” These will become required on February 22, 2022.

All other item specifics are either Recommended or Optional. Learn more about item specifics.

Some categories were retired and replaced by product-based categories. You and your buyers can still find the items you’re looking for. Simply browse to the product category of your choice and use the filters to refine your search.

More information about key category changes:

Dolls & Bears. The categories based on Brand/Material/Theme/Character/Franchise/Product Line/Type of doll have been retired. Former categories have been replaced by left-hand navigation filters in the new Dolls & Doll Playsets category. You can access the filters by browsing to the product category of your choice and using Brand/Vintage/Material/Theme/Character/Franchise/Product Line/Type filters to refine your search.

Pottery & Glass. The categories based on Brand/Origin/Production Style/Production Technique have also been replaced by filters. You and buyers can now filter by the Brand/Origin/Production Style/Production Technique/Time Period Manufactured.
Postcards. The categories based on Location/Theme/Subject have been retired and replaced with two main categories for Topographical and Non-Topographical postcards. The former categories have been replaced by left-hand navigation filters in the two new main categories. For example in Topographical Postcards, you can filter by Country and Region.

Jewelry & Watches. The categories based on Main Stone and Metal Type have been retired and replaced by product-based categories under Fine Jewelry. Use the filters for Main Stone and Metal to refine your search.

---Update as of October 14th---
The work continues on this move and is progressing according to plan. We are on track and anticipate all category changes for your listings to be complete by end of day tomorrow (10.15). Thank you for your patience while our teams implement these changes.

---Update as of October 13th---

We continue to work through this change and thank you for your patience as our teams work through it. We wanted to provide answers to some top concerns and questions:

Why are Gallery Plus fees being charged for items that were previously free?

We determined that a technical issue impacted a small number of listings, which resulted in incorrect charges (including Gallery Plus, subtitles, and insertion fees) for some sellers. The issue has been fixed and we will be crediting impacted sellers as quickly as possible. No calls to Customer Service are necessary as credits will be issued automatically.

The eBay Standard Envelope shipping option is grayed out and I can’t select it. When will the issue be resolved?

The eBay Standard Envelope shipping option issue resulted from the category changes update and has been resolved. eBay Standard Envelope is now available in applicable categories if your item meets the established criteria.

Should I edit my listings if they’re in the wrong category, have been moved to another category, or have wrong or missing item specifics?

No. Recent category changes require updates to many thousands of servers and data changes to nearly every aspect of our platform. This level of adjustment takes time, which is why we asked for your patience while the process runs. We expect most data updates to be completed within 48 hours, but can they take up to a week (i.e., through Oct. 19). After that, if you have an item specific in mind that you think would work well for your listing, please consider adding it as a custom item specific.

Why isn’t my item coming up in search?

The category change update is still in process. We anticipate search issues will resolve when we complete most data updates during the next 24-48 hours.

There are more item specifics now than ever before. Do I need to fill in all of them?

No. Item specifics that you have already filled in will be maintained as the category moves are completed during the next week. In addition, new soon-to-be-required item specifics are being added and will become required by Feb 22, 2022. As always, the more item specifics you fill out, the better visibility your listing has to buyers.

For Parts & Accessories, when will fitment/compatibility charts start working again?

There was an issue with parts compatibility not working properly as the category changes rolled out that has been resolved. You should now be able to see the options to add fitment compatibility when editing your listings.

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We’re updating some of our categories and item specifics to make your listings easier to find.

Starting October 12th, you’ll see updates to the following categories. Learn more about category changes →

Collectibles & Art

Jewelry

Musical Instruments

Parts & Accessories

Sporting Goods

As these updates go into effect, you may see temporary impacts to your listing experience or to the visibility of listings in the affected categories.

This is a result of listings transitioning to the updated item specifics and category structures. Your affected listings should return to normal within 48 hours, though you may see irregularities on some listings for up to a week. We recommend checking your item specifics and categories in affected listings after these updates are complete.

These updates also include new item specifics in the above categories, which will be required February 22, 2022. Starting today, these item specifics will be available as you list, with the “Required Soon” tag. Learn more →

Keep an eye on this page over the coming days—we’ll be sharing up-to-date information on affected categories and listings, and answering any questions you have.

sweetstuff12 · ‎10-25-2021

Good luck on the call back....still waiting for days here!

newlifeforoldstuff2 · ‎10-25-2021

"Just my $.02, but if my vintage item is New Old Stock, I categorize it as New. The question is not when it was made, but whether it's been used by anyone yet."
Listing as new when is it NOS may get you lost money and item when they claim it NAD, has shelf wear, etc.
New means new, not NOS. NOS can have wear and that may not be what someone is looking for.

newlifeforoldstuff2 · ‎10-25-2021

Listing as new when is it NOS may get you lost money and item when they claim it NAD, has shelf wear, etc. It will not matter that you say that in the description. I saw someone complaining about losing an item and the money for exactly that just a couple of days ago.
New means new, not NOS. NOS can have wear and that may not be what someone is expecting.
When it was made can make a difference to many.

a_c_green · ‎10-25-2021

@newlifeforoldstuff2 wrote:
"Just my $.02, but if my vintage item is New Old Stock, I categorize it as New. The question is not when it was made, but whether it's been used by anyone yet."
Listing as new when is it NOS may get you lost money and item when they claim it NAD, has shelf wear, etc.
New means new, not NOS. NOS can have wear and that may not be what someone is looking for.

New means New indeed. New Old Stock means unused (regardless of age). If given the choice between New or Used for my New Old Stock item, I will of course choose New every time. I do, though, give either an actual or at least approximate date for when it was made when possible.

Now, of course there may be shelf wear on the outside packaging, if any -- actually I think it's fair to say that there is usually shelf wear on old packaged items -- but I routinely call that out in both photos and description where needed, and that has never been a problem for me.

dollyhodge · ‎10-25-2021

Errrm....ebay has pretty much destroyed the Bear category under Dolls and Bears with these ridiculous specifics...e.g., eye color? No bear collector would look for that. NONE. Maybe glass eyes would be a better category. Anyway, I was wondering...maybe the geniuses at ebay can correct the SPELLING of a category in the Bears category???? It's BEARLY THERE, not BARLEY THERE. Sheesh.

rob_roark · ‎10-25-2021

Guys … You absolutely Killed the Antiques - Collectible market .. You need to do more research before you cut off potential customer - seller bridges in categories.

I cant even find my own posted items as a customer. I know you hate to admit but someone made a bad decision in category changes and I’m sure you are hearing about it.

vivabe · ‎10-25-2021

I suggested that the Topographical and non-topographical might be meant to match UK Item Specifics. I used eBid in UK for a (short) while and their postcards categories were topographical and non-topographical and then many sub-categories.

As for "circulated" I am not sure. I actually think that UK use "posted", like France....

1786davycrockett · ‎10-25-2021

Well, at least ONE thing is for sure --

The timing is perfect for an eBay HALLOWEEN HORROR!!!

urbanpeddler · ‎10-26-2021

I have figured out what happened and have updated my listing on all that had "required coming soon", however it keeps on telling me in tasks (suggested actions)

that certain listings require item specifics. I cannot add anymore! Please give us the option and ability to ignore said listings.

newlifeforoldstuff2 · ‎10-26-2021

"but I routinely call that out in both photos and description where needed, and that has never been a problem for me."

I talked to someone just a couple of days ago who lost an item and the money for doing just that. Clicked "new" then put nos, shelf wear, etc. in the description. They lost the dispute. ebay said new was new. NOS did not meet the guidelines and putting shelf wear, etc. in the description/photos did not matter.

I view it as just another thing overlooked by ebay that is causing issues for buyers and sellers alike and doubtful they will do anything about it.

jasoheat_0 · ‎10-26-2021

update ........WRONG its even harder , this comes from a seller/buyer . 80% of the items i am looking to buy , i go elsewhere as it is too FRUSTRATING to find on ebay ............

fern*wood · ‎10-26-2021

@newlifeforoldstuff2 wrote:
"but I routinely call that out in both photos and description where needed, and that has never been a problem for me."
I talked to someone just a couple of days ago who lost an item and the money for doing just that. Clicked "new" then put nos, shelf wear, etc. in the description. They lost the dispute. ebay said new was new. NOS did not meet the guidelines and putting shelf wear, etc. in the description/photos did not matter.
I view it as just another thing overlooked by ebay that is causing issues for buyers and sellers alike and doubtful they will do anything about it.

I also enter New for NOS, but if a buyer files a case I pretty much know I will lose, but if I enter Used I feel I would lose too. I don't really feel the reason a buyer files matters at all. So I enter my details with what I feel is the clearest for buyers to understand when they shop. I don't worry about it being some detail like that as the reason I might lose, I just know I lose and need to handle the return/refund if a buyer isn't happy. Fighting these returns is why a seller would lose the item and money.

newlifeforoldstuff2 · ‎10-26-2021

As I said, NOS is an issue that ebay has failed to address. Just one of many, many issues.

For me, if it is vintage nos, then it is going in the vintage category with no condition.

Almost everyone has had to spend ridiculous amounts of time updating listings due to the poor nature of how these latest changes were done.

I truly feel for those who rely on ebay for income. I do not and do not sell much here anymore, so it does not really matter to me.

pauls-parts · ‎10-26-2021

I think what most people don't understand about the BBB is that even though they may not do anything. The business that the complaint is filed against it will loose its "A" rating. So Yes it would be a great idea to file a complaint with the BBB. They have to respond or loose their credit rating. If enough people file then they may do something. Though the BBB can't make them. The rating is on their response to complaints. Not on resolved or unresolved problems.

Currently:

9,638 complaints in the last 3 years.

4,770 complaints in the last 12 months.

So you can see eBay is getting worse as far as complaints instead of better. I encourage everyone to jump on the BBB website to see for yourself.