How do you move listings between store categories?

[shipscript]

A seller in the new store format with 15K listings would like to know how to move listings in bulk between categories and reduce the number of store categories.  Is this a  @dollybeauty  question?

[dollybeauty]

Sure.

The method to do this would depend on exactly what they are trying to do. If it is to move all items in a category, just rename the category on the Manage Categories link - https://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?StoreCategoryMgmt&StoreCategoryMgmt=&guest=1&ssPageName=STRK%...

If they wish to move just some, they would have to create the new category(s), using the above page, then they would have to use the BEAR editor to edit the listings, changing the store category to the new. This can be complicated if the items are being combined from two source categories or if they are being split among two new.

The big advantage to using the BEAR editor, is that the seller can see the names of the categories and is less likely to end up with a mess.

TurboLister will produce an export file with the category numbers. FileExchange can then be used to change the numbers in bulk. This is error prone for most to accomplish. Please repost if you wish this info.

Tips for complicated moves.

Rename a category 'Old stuff' (or whatever), then create the new cat with the above page. The items in 'Old stuff' can now be moved at leasure.

All stores have a 'Other' category. This can be used as a placeholder category to store items.

You will not be able to delete a category that has items in it.

Items can be in two categories at one time.

[shipscript]

@dollybeauty

I've provided this thread link to the seller, so you may address the seller.

"...then they would have to use the BEAR editor to edit the listings, changing the store category to the new."

This sounds like a reasonable method for moving a batch of listings from one store category to another existing store category (in fact it is the same as for the legacy store). I assume BEAR (ebay's Bulk Edit and Relist tool) is still limited to 200 items at a time.  After the move, the old and empty category would be deleted.

Is it a straightforward operation to select listings by store category before invoking eBay's bulk editor? 

[dollybeauty · Accepted solution]

Dear seller,

The link above, to manage your store categories, is your key to doing a reorganization of the items in your store.

First, find a store category that you wish to change, and rename that category. Example...old category = Widgets. Rename that category Zwidgets. Now create two new categories, Red widgets and Blue widgets.

Now look to the right, on the Zwidgets category and click on the '# of listings' in that category. This will bring up an Active listings page, with only the items in the Zwidgets category. Note that if you scroll to the bottom of the list, you can select to display 200 items, at one time, on that page.

Select the Blue widgets in that list, then click on the Edit button on top, then click on 'Edit selected' in the drop down box that appears. Note that this drop down box will allow you to edit more than 200 items (up to 500). Do not let this confuse you. Just stick to the 200, until you get the hang of this process.

On the next page, select all, then click on the 'Edit fields' button. In the box that appears, click on Categories.

Change the Store category to the new 'Blue widgets' category and click on 'Save and close'. Then click on 'Submit changes', then click on 'Confirm and submit'.

The items will be moved to the new Blue widgets category immediately, and will disappear from the Active listings page. Repeat the process with any/all of the items on that page, moving items into the correct category, until the page is empty.

Now click on the Back arrow of your browser to return to the Category page. Now delete the Zwidgets category, as it will be empty (it will display 0 for the '# of listings').

More to follow.

[dollybeauty]

Sorry, this discussion board has an Edit time limit, I type slow and correct a lot, while I am performing the steps, to see if I have it correct. So I have to break things up.

The above will allow you to split a category into two new categories.

If you are combining categories, the process is the same, except that you do not need to rename the original category, just move items from the one to be deleted to an existing category. As they are moved, they will be deleted from the old. When the old is empty, you can delete that category from the Manage categories page.

Here is where you can get some power. When combining categories, even though the Active listings page only shows you 200 items, you can actually move 500 at a time, as long as you are moving them all into the same category.

15K listings? Bad news...Yes this will take some time. Good news...Don't worry, you can take a break at any time, and come back to where you left off.

Notes...

Subcategories can have the same name in different main categories.

Example...

The main category, Widgets can have a Lefthand Widget subcategory, and a Righthand Widget subcategory.

The main category Zwidgets can have a Lefthand Widget subcategory, and a Righthand Widget subcategory.

You have to move the items out of the subcategories, first, before you can delete the subcategory, and all subcategories must be empty, before you can delete the main category.

Empty categories do not have to be deleted. Empty categories will not display on your store page.

[headlinesports]

Thank you for these instructions.  Will give it a try.