Spring Seller Updates I fear have caused an issue when bulk editing

[okie1304]

I attempted to bulk edit the Ebay Category field in a few items this morning, all had their item specifics in place, always have made sure to use this section...but when i changed categories all those Item Specifics were removed. I called Ebay and their "FIX" was to cut and paste all the missing Item Specs back in???? REALLY, making more needless work again for Sellers.  BTW the only edit to cause this scenario is the change to a category, everything can be edited with no harm to Item Specifics.   Anyone else?? It's got to have something to do with the new Quick Fix Item Specifics just brought out yesterday...right?

[dtexley3]

---

@okie1304 wrote:

I attempted to bulk edit the Ebay Category field in a few items this morning, all had their item specifics in place, always have made sure to use this section...but when i changed categories all those Item Specifics were removed. I called Ebay and their "FIX" was to cut and paste all the missing Item Specs back in???? REALLY, making more needless work again for Sellers.  BTW the only edit to cause this scenario is the change to a category, everything can be edited with no harm to Item Specifics.   Anyone else?? It's got to have something to do with the new Quick Fix Item Specifics just brought out yesterday...right?

---

This has been going on since the changes to Item specifics last year.  If you change an items category Item specifics will be lost.  There is a tool out there that will help created by the user @shipscript  that allows you to back up your item specifics before changing categories.  A little late now, but for any future changes it might be a good idea to find and bookmark the tool.

[dhbookds]

when i changed categories

That's because categories don't have the same item specifics.........

[shipscript]

@okie1304 

There are two tools on this page that can help you prepare for changes to category Item Specifics:

http://www.isdntek.com/ebaytools/

This bulk scanner will allow you to archive the item specifics that already exist and should be run before you (or eBay) make a category change.
https://www.isdntek.com/ebaytools/ItemSpecificScanner.htm

This tool will help a seller create new item specifics in bulk for an affected category by providing quickly-selectable droplists of options. Spreadsheets are much faster to populate than opening individual listings. The spreadsheet-formatted results can be bulk uploaded to eBay through eBay's File Exchange:
https://www.isdntek.com/ebaytools/ItemSpecificsEditor.htm

eBay is subsidizing this third-party tool from the UK until the end of April 2020.  I haven't looked at the tool, but it states that it can determine which item specifics are missing from listings and might be able to retrieve missing info from other parts of your listing (probably similar to the way eBay prepopulates the item specifics from your title). The tool will produce a spreadsheet for upload to eBay's File Exchange.

https://www.optiseller.com/landingpage-aspect-finder-usa

[okie1304]

Mine do...I was in the same main category and wanted to use a more accurate subcategory. Doesn't change the product Brand or MPN at all...

[okie1304]

Odd since CS said there were no reports of my issue...I rarely change categories anyway, but found the results odd, just didn't change anything and kept the listing in tact.

[okie1304]

thanks, but not what I was looking for....

[dhbookds]

what cat was it in and which one did you want to change it to?

[okie1304]

Was in other horse wear #139591 needs to be in horse boots #85260.   I can change categories, that's not the issue...the issue is it removes my item specs which do not change.

[okie1304]

I wonder if I change categories in File Exchange then upload, if that action will also wipe out my Item Specifics?