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.

duffy4444 · ‎10-18-2021

@wwii_buff2011 wrote:
For required IS, seller must still enter some character string. If a required IS field remains empty, seller will continue to see that listing as requiring Item Specifics.

The question is come February 22 when these required IS fields become mandatory, will the eBay data base accept all the "N/A", "None", Does not apply, "0" in a required dimension field.....

That's why I said that the seller RUNS THE RISK of having their listing removed if the required IS box remains empty. We simply don't know yet what eBay will do come Feb 22, or if eBay AI bots will accept "does not apply" or something similar populating the box.

All I can say is that earlier this year I put in a few "does not apply" or "see listing details" to some of my required IS boxes, and they have remained up for many months now... This is just another example of the big guessing game as to what eBay will do or accept, and is one of the chances we take when eBay is less transparent or predictable nowadays.

Cheers, Duffy

jb-glass · ‎10-18-2021

I can only hope someone from eBay will read this.

I sell in the pottery and glass section, with a focus on depression era glassware. This change is very negative for both me, and my buyers. Many depression glass buyers would simply browse their subcategories and find new pieces they may not know even exist. Larger patterns are full of rare pieces and Under this new system said pieces will be harder to find.

For example, I recently listed a “Nut Bowl” of the Royal Lace pattern. This is a very rare, very specific bowl. None even appear in ebays recent completed listings. Unless a Royal Lace buyer specifically types in Nut Bowl, it will be lost in the mess that is the current category.

Another example is a piece I recently bought but have not yet listed. It is a “Florentine” Condiment Tray. A very obscure piece most people probably won’t know exists, and thus won’t know to search for it.

On the issue of the selling experience, this was not at all handled well. The lack of communication on this regard is quite honesty insulting. No major notice this change took place and then no major notice not to edit our listings. I have been hoarding my listings for multiple hours a day since this change took place not knowing they would be “fixed”.

Another issue is the fact that each of the new Bowl, Plate etc categories have entirely differ t specific sets. In some categories, Jeannette is an option under maker, while in other categories it is not. Patterns are in some but not others. It makes it very hard for anyone collecting a pattern to find what they are looking for.

I can only hope this change is reversed or fixed. I understand somewhat the idea at play here but in many categories, it has greatly hurt both the selling and buying experience. It was always fun for me as a collector to browse the Depression Glass categories to see new, interesting pieces I did not know exist or only had passing mentions in the books. This new change forces buyers to type in very specifically what they want, effectively eliminating “Window Shopping” and making it harder to find, buy, or sell rare pieces.

I regret the fact that I’m needing to look for other options, as pre-change eBay was the best by far for my field of selling, but now the main thing that gave eBay a edge In that

mmwalzer · ‎10-18-2021

These two categories make no sense:

Pottery & Glass - Cookware - Dinnerware & Serveware - Plates

Home & Garden - Kitchen, Dining & Bar - Dinnerware & Serveware - Other Dinnerware & Serveware

It makes more since to make them:

Pottery & Glass - Dinnerware & Servewear - Plates

Home & Garden - Kitchen, Dining & Bar, Cookware

somanypostcards · ‎10-18-2021

Looking for Halloween postcards. Go to Collectibles -> Postcards & Supplies -> Postcards -> Non-Topographical Postcards, then filter by Country/Region of Manufacture. Select Turkey.

Another ugh from me.

mmwalzer · ‎10-18-2021

One of us is a complete idiot and it isn't me! You just keep on being confident and see where that takes you.

I am glad you think we are working with you, but that would have required eBay to get some input from the people that actually sell on eBay.

mmwalzer · ‎10-18-2021

Great advice if we actually knew when the "transitioning" was going to end. Unfortunately Ebay is no longer sending updates.

xvoodoomanx · ‎10-19-2021

eBay Standard Envelope still not an available option when listing Postcards.

Tough to sell a $9.99 post card when the only Delivery Option is First Class Shipping of around $4.00

dakotatreasurehunter · ‎10-19-2021

The item specifics for my 5100+ postcards have not copied over yet. Shouldn't it be done by now?

valeries_trunk · ‎10-19-2021

IT HAS BEEN A WEEK NOW. WHY THE DEAD SILENCE FROM EBAY? WHY ISN'T THIS FIXED? IT IS MORE OF A DISASTER THAN WE KNOW!

wrong66 · ‎10-19-2021

I'm sure eBay, in its infinite wisdom, knows that you can't cook in the dark. So, obviously, lamps become cookware. Makes sense, right?

itsjustasprain · ‎10-19-2021

@community_team wrote:
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.

@community_team : We are long overdue for an update here please. This is not a post-and-run forum. It's been 5 days since your last update on the progress involving cleaning up the migration mess - during which time you have posted the same article on using Ebay earnings to pay for shipping labels twice in a row 3 days apart over in the Shipping tips area. Can we please focus on updating the Community here?

04mary28 · ‎10-19-2021

I believe they have destroyed the Doll Category by putting millions of dolls in one category. I buy and sell vintage Barbie and it is now impossible for me (and my customers) to find what I'm looking for. I used to be able to go to the Vintage Barbie category and just browse, but no more! Even with the item specifics, trying to do a search is worthless because what comes up is mostly NOT what I am looking for. Since these changes happened, I have had very few viewers and only ONE watcher, and NO sales. I hope this hurts eBay's pocketbook as much as it is hurting sellers!

pratercollectibles · ‎10-19-2021

Why would anyone list any fixed price GTC listings until you tell them which item specifics you are suddenly going to require in which categories?? That's just nuts. It's not like on unique listings you can simply bulk edit item specifics.

tealt · ‎10-19-2021

@valeries_trunk wrote:
IT HAS BEEN A WEEK NOW. WHY THE DEAD SILENCE FROM EBAY? WHY ISN'T THIS FIXED? IT IS MORE OF A DISASTER THAN WE KNOW!

Does make you wonder, doesn't it?

Of course, this is eBay--which is infamous for stumbling, glitch-plagued roll outs of major site changes.

From the OP, posted on the 12th,

"We expect most data updates to be completed within 48 hours, but can they [sic] take up to a week (i.e., through Oct. 19)."

Today is the 19th. By midnight tonight will my items be easier for buyers to find? Do I see swine circling my house?

mightymouse · ‎10-19-2021

your item specifics are still their but they renamed them so now require you to replace then in a different spot. They could not even get that right. (if you look at a listing you will see them their, but not in the required box, that's because they are at the very bottom of the page in added item specifics)