Category changes and item specifics updates

[wastingtime101]

I just started to go through the lists and these updates are massive. The June file is 122 pages and the post-June file is 587 pages.

Every time eBay does category changes it completely wipes out our item specifics. So please tell us, will that happen this time or has eBay found a way to keep our item specifics filled in when the category is changed or merged?

It's one thing to do a few IS updates, add some new ones, etc... it's another to have all of our IS completely wiped out so they need to be re-entered.

[abfabvintage]

@wastingtime101 

1. Hi, yes, same thing happening to me. Mid summer 2018 they changed categories and item specifics and totally wiped out my IS...but good for me I use a 3rd party listing program so was able to recreate. My request is when they have the Cat or IS changes, they leave the active listings alone and I can fix the issues when I go to relist. 

2. Another thing, a few months ago they finally added Condition to Pottery & Glass (New/Used). They did not auto add it to my running items, but when I went into the active item to add the condition, it wiped out that Condition block of all data. I use that block for a mini-description of my item. Again, having my 3rd party I was able to cut and paste from my program and reinsert it. Before they added the Condition, that block was there, but when you revise and insert the Condition, it gets wiped out. Good thing I only have a minimal amount listed. Feel sorry for those who have hundreds.

3. Lastly, in the new Update they state ebay will decide where your item belongs when they do the IS/category updates while your item is active (I believe that is what it said)...No...I am the only one who can decide where it belongs.  I do not need 400 pages of IS, what I need is a summary of just what they changed for whatever period rather than searching through thousands of IS entries. i.e., if they do category or IS updates say month of April, give me just a sort summary of exactly what changed. I asked a Blue for this information a while ago and still no information. Rant over lolol.

[Anonymous]

Why is this the only seller update forum where eBay employees are not answering questions? Can you please help with that alan@ebay?

[abfabvintage]

General Comment:

On reading through this update again: when eBay does their category updates and moves your item into a different category that you originally selected on your active items, there is a note in the update to keep in mind some of the category changes will/may incur additional fees? So as I am reading this...ebay, without seller notice, will change your category with the possibility the ebay change may cause you more fees? This can't happen...and what mechanism will be used to notify the seller of same? What...when they receive their invoice? My take would be an email notification while your item is active so I have the choice to end the item. Someone tell me I am reading this inventory update incorrectly?  This also means I have to babsit my items on a daily basis.

[abfabvintage]

@Anonymous 

Hi, bigger. Am replying to you since I just read another thread on this topic where the OP called in @shipscript.

I have known for a while about this IS tool, but I need my questions answered as I posted here on this thread above. Again, I do not need hundreds of pages of information. I want to know when ebay does an update for example say in April or whatever, I only have to view those changes and not the entire IS dictionary (or category).  I use a 3rd Party to list my items, on the last IS/Cat changes, I asked them if they could tell me what the ebay developers had sent him...their answer was they only get codes to update, not narratives and I would need to have ebay get me that information. 

[Anonymous]

Hello all,

Thanks for your question. When we update the update the Item Specifics in a category we will map the old values to the new ones, and the existing Item Specifics are attached to the listing, not the category. So though we may change the format there is no need for you to make changes to your listings unless we have added completely new fields or closed a list.

So for example if we change the recommended Item specific from  ‘Character’ to ‘Main Character’ there is no need for sellers to update. We will have recognized this change as a synonym and all listings using the old value will be picked up in the filters.

As for us moving your listings during category changes and incurring fee changes. Sellers are of course in control of their own listings, and can move their listings post category changes to whatever they decide is the best fit. However when we are removing categories we need to either end or redirect the existing listings and redirecting is generally less impactful for sellers. We try to redirect to the best remaining category, whilst informing sellers of our decisions through the SR so you can edit your listings if you feel it is necessary. Occasionally this will result in a fee difference, which we call out on this page: here

I hope this helps address your concerns,

C11nBlue

[coffeebean832]

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@Anonymous wrote:

So though we may change the format there is no need for you to make changes to your listings unless we have added completely new fields or closed a list.

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@Anonymous- When you add new categories or close out categories then you will be wiping out our item specifics?

[wastingtime101]

@Anonymous 

My question about item specifics wasn't related to IS changes like changing Character to Main Character.

My question was about when the actual categories are changed, merged, etc and the listings are redirected to a new category. In the past that action has always wiped out all of our IS instead of carrying them over. Please advise if that will happen this time or if eBay will preserve our IS in the new category.

[abfabvintage]

@Anonymous 

Thank you for your reply. Couple of questions:

So when an active listing is running and eBay automatically changes a Category (or even an IS), we will be notified through SR? I have no clue what SR means? So my point still is: eBay does the automatic revisions then the seller still has to babysit their listings to see just what ebay revised? Tell me if I am reading your statement incorrectly.

Secondly, I requested that we be notified ahead of the proposed changes so we would know what listings we have active will be affected. I suggested as an example: say ebay makes changes during the month of April, I want only a narrative summary of just what areas were revised without, again, babysitting my listings. 

My 3rd party lister told me when he gets the developer updates regarding this topic, he only gets coding to upgrade and cannot tell me just what eBay changed for that particular period of time.

I have also printed out your list. It would be helpful to me to refer to the narrative name of the category first rather than the code number since I never put in code numbers. Thank you for your help. Hopefully you can reply before Alan closes this thread.

Oh, sorry. So you move my item to what eBay feels is appropriate and it did generate more fees. So I go in after the ebay change, put it where I feel it is more appropriate, how does that affect the fees? 

[abfabvintage]

@coffeebean832 

Hi, when they did updates to cats/IS last year, it wiped out my data. Granted, I use my 3rd party lister, AW, and when my guy did the upgrades it also wiped out the information in my program when I went to relist. But last year, I think, they waited until your listing ended for the changes to go into effect. I think that is what happened. So now I have to print out my page 1 of the active listing knowing it could be wiped out at a later time.