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. 

[velvet@ebay]

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@ekmadonna wrote:

I just ended an item, a small pottery creamer. it is sitting in my unsold listings and now I have a $1.00 GALLERY FEE CHARGE ON MY ACCOUNT? How is this even possible. My listing is showing it was listed in POTTERY and GLASS--COOKWARE, DINNERWARE, SERVERWARE-PLATES! Never in a million years would I list a pottery creamer in PLATES! I have never seen this category before and now I am being charged a GALLERY FEE for ENDING this listing that I never listed in this category to begin with. The listing was running for over 30 days and there was no charge when I originally listed it? what is going on?

---

Hi @ekmadonna! This was determined to be a technical issue impacting a small number of listings, and has now been fixed. We will be crediting impacted Sellers as quickly as possible - no calls to Customer Service are needed, as this will be done automatically.

[velvet@ebay]

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@dhbookds wrote:

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@uffdahhhpostcard wrote:

I just put my 23,000 active postcards on "vacation" and won't relist another 10,000 until this gets ironed out.  Had 3 sales already today where the eBay Standard Envelope is not working so have to use a high priced option.  

@community_team   What about the Standard Envelop not working?

---

@community_team 

---

Hey @dhbookds! We're aware and anticipate everything returning to normal once the item specifics/category updates complete. We appreciate your patience during this process!

[creations-bg]

I just looked at the fine print of all the category changes on the announcement link...they are "retiring" almost 90% of any subcategory that will enable buyers to find our items. For instance "Barbie" is now gone, "Fenton" is now gone, "Art Glass" is gone, it get's WAY worse when you look at the link. I really don't know what to do at this point and feel for sellers with much higher inventory than me. Well, there goes any profit for this quarter, buyers will leave in droves, quickly followed by sellers.

[ckimodog]

Honestly, I would wait...this is a big mess right now and your items may not have the appropriate categories attached to them.  Wait a few days and then try again.  Ok?  You're a new seller and should trust the advice of the veteran sellers who post here on a daily basis.  ☺

[andnowitsmine]

Here is the perfect example.

Searching "Antique Doll" in the Pre-1930's Doll Category used to give you focused results.

Now, searching "Antique Doll" in the Dolls & Bears Category (the only doll category now) gives you 500,000+ of nonsense.

There is no browsing anymore. There is no focused searching. Serious collectors can be very, very specific on what they're looking for, and sellers don't always list their antiquities correctly, and many are one of a kind. It's impossible to search for antiques in this new scheme. 

[jeff-second-chance-silver]

The changes to the item specifics under jewelry are 100% the worse decision made by ebay. They make zero sense and will only cause confusion. Im guessing the person behind that idea is clueless to jewelry. 1000000`s of listings need to be redone which means drops in sales. In my 5 years of selling on ebay I NEVER had anyone ask the depth of a stone. Maybe on 5 occasions they asked the height. The best part is those are the item specifics under FASHION jewelry. Most people consider fashion jewelry garbage. Now if a 14k gold ring has a cubic zirconia setting it has to go under fashion....TOTALLY SENSELESS, but a 14k gold ring with a piece of colored glass can go under Fine jewelry. WAKE UP. Its totally backwards. All these new pointless item specifics will only cause sellers MORE time to list which will mean less production which will lead to higher prices. Did the government design these new updates????? I alone will need to update 6000-7000 listings as the information does not transfer. I can only imagine the aggravation other sellers will deal with. Not only that Im pretty sure potential buyers will be constantly asking..." Is this ring solid 14k gold cause you have it under Fashion Jewelry?" Any jewelry that is made up of Precious Metals should be listed under Fine Jewelry NOT Fashion Jewelry. Fashion jewelry is where plated cheap jewelry belongs. The category should not be dictated by the stone. A cubic zirconia or lab created gem is more desirable then colored glass, but colored glass can go under Fine jewelry.  LOLOL Your dropping the ball if these new 100% pointless, senseless policies remain. Who even comes up with such idiotic ideas??????  Doesnt anyone in society think anymore????? These new updates will definitely affect sales and only lead to confusion.  These changes need to be reconsidered.      

[thumbiana]

Eliminating the category for Antique Photographs will make it very difficult for buyers to easily find my items. What's the point!

[ckimodog]

I feel sorry for the CS agents...Ebay probably didn't give them any notice either about these abrupt and  ridiculous changes.  

[silvercat151]

Easier to find? I sell art and collectibles mainly. You've taken away all my carefully thought out item specifics.  You've moved all the things that help people find things - how can a rare Waterford Crystal decanter end up in household - bowls for example? Most things seem to be lumped into HUGE general categories that don't really have anything much to do with what I'm selling, but do make it harder for them to be seen by people looking for them. All the  views on my items have vanished and they are all at 0. I have to waste time redoing everything and hope it sticks, though the categories my things NEED to be in have gone. Why do you think this is in ANY way helpful to buyers or sellers?

[silvercat151]

I'm just watching your video you put up this morning. I feel your pain!

[spinach-eater]

Ebay - when are you going to fix  standard envelope  not working for postcards?  There has been zero updates or notifications.

[randysauto01]

I don't know why your results popped up so much different than mine. I didn't go to a category, I just went to the  search bar at the top, didn't select a category...I just typed in the words Antique Dolls Pre-1930's and hit search.  There was one page that popped up, and every listing there is describe as a pre-1930's doll.

[ginasthisandthat1939]

So you are saying ebay will credit the $44 monies owed for the gallery plus charges that were taken from my 10/13 payout? I do not have to contact customer service?

[randysauto01]

Do you mean these?

[denisevanpattendolls]

I typed "Antique Doll" into the search bar just to see what happened. Within the first page of results I got not 1, or 2, but THREE  listings for swimming flippers for Barbie dolls, a "llama eye mask" for an American Girl Doll, a straw hat for a doll, a slated doll bench, some antique dolls, a 1985 Galoob doll. a Madeline doll, a doll pattern, a Rainbow Surprise, a doll magazine...I could go on.

If you try to "drill down" on what is left of the categories on the left, it is even WORSE.

So a customer here to browse "newly listed" or "ending" ANTIQUE DOLLS, the main way many collectors shop eBay, now has no way to do it with the category gone.

This is so bad I'd be laughing, except it effects my business and my hobby so severely.

This is a disaster for all the collector and hobby categories; I hope eBay can recognize this and go back to the way it was; no categories for new consumer products is just fine and should be treated differently.