Updates are happening to some item specifics and category structures

[community_team]

--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. 

[abfabvintage]

It was Bain Capital and the beginnings of the ebay downfall started in 2008 with Don Is A Hoe.

[skeletonstore]

When do we get our sales back?   

[abfabvintage]

They have no knowledge base in any category unless it is some new in box where they don't have to have any smarts even to the point having sellers use photos (not their own) from the manufacturer's product pages. 

[abfabvintage]

And not using their labels. And not using their promoted whatevers. And not buying here. Still trying to mimic Amazon AND Walmart.

[abfabvintage]

It took them 3+ months from October 15, '19 through Jan 2020 to fix the last major failure and they STILL didn't fix everything. People need to look at what happened in 2019. Mirror image but with different cats (clothing). Same seller comments, same same.

[skeletonstore]

I increased my promotional rate(I could use another word but will refrain)over the past few days and my views nosedived so I do not see how anything was fixed or improved.  Your drop down menu is ridiculous.  You should really cater to calendar events.  If it's Christmas season,  place the Christmas category at the top.  Why?  It's only a 700B a year business and dwarfs most if not all of the categories you have listed.  It's October,  You SHOULD have had Halloween at the top of the menu.  It's a $10B a year business that doesn't get anything near the press Christmas does and of course is not revolving around gift$.  Just as Linus. I also noticed you're no longer rewarding sellers for selling multiple items.  At least that's the case with me.  I sell a couple items and my search standing goes down.  That makes no sense.  In Halloween why do you only promote certain brand names but at the same time insist we add a brand and only have like 5 options or less?   That item specific makes no sense.  I see others mentioning vintage Halloween.  Well  you don't even give us the option to add the old item specific(era). Have you outsourced the job to the Philippines?  Or are you only hiring people with absolutely no business experience?   I mean zilch,  not even a lemonade stand because they were afraid another kid might have an allergic reaction and just didn't want to chance it.  It smells like woke which is another word for broke.  This site is woke broke.  It's devoid of common sense.  I wonder how small the logo will be on those amazon vans?   Post office should open their eyes because they will lose a ton of revenue if and when it happens but then again soon amazon will purchase the post office,  in cash.  Not long after there will be 4 branches of government;  legislative, judicial, executive,  and amazon.  Alexis veto that bill.     

[abfabvintage]

Glad you think it is fixed, today is the 16th and my Plate is still listed in cups and saucers? OR do WE sellers have to go in and fix ourselves? Yesterday tried to revise my plate to Plate. Told me to change category? 

[sagelakescollections]

I have pottery bookends for sale that are now in the vase subcategory. There is no bookends subcategory, and no "other" subcategory for anything that doesn't fit it the subcategories available. There are bookends available in home decor and collectibles, but the item specifics are completely different. I spoke to someone in support who told me they are working on possibly adding more subcategories...by the end of the month. Joy.

[uffdahhhpostcard]

Ok, no update on the progress since Thurs Oct 14th.  What is the current status?

Also,  if this is "according to plan" and "...on track..." I would hate to see the results if things did not go according to eBay's plans..............

[maaland]

I think this is a lost cause.  Ebay rarely, if ever, rolls back changes once they're made.  Eliminating subcategories in "dolls" and other categories was a disastrous decision.

[abfabvintage]

LOL. "According to plan" in ebay speak is "destroy what sort of worked." They touch one thing and it also destroys other parts of their program not even related to their cat changes. Charging people for Gallery fees that were free or charging sellers who never even opted for that from the git. Invoices messed up, shipping messed up. My stuff still not fixed. They have basically destroyed pottery and glass just like they did clothing in 2019. 

[abfabvintage]

Oh, they rolled them back in Oct 2019 when enough sellers screamed loud and clear and then took over 3 months to attempt fixes which are still not fixed to this day.

[mightymouse]

Ok so I sell dinnerware. I will by a brand say Mikasa and then list the items. I can no longer do that. I now have to list only plates, bowls etc. Non of the IS carry over from listing to listing like they did before. Most of the IS that we used before are now in optional. Who cares how a dinner plate is made? My choices are fused glass, hand blown glass or pottery?? All the IS from the old listing are at the bottom of the page and now has remove above them, but they are required at the top of the listing. Before this I could list a full dinnerware set as items in less that 20 minutes now it takes about 10 minutes per listing, just like it did back in the 1990's. You need to fix the listing so we can do it faster again and put the current IS where they need to be. With 1300 listing to fix I looks like I will have just the right amount of time to list 5 items a week or ship out 5 sales a week now. Thanks for the extra work.

[toy_flex]

Great !

[mrdutch1001]

If Trump bought it he would be playing whack a mole with all buyers & sellers ...because he's a racist & a bully!