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.

denisevanpattendolls · ‎10-18-2021

@mmwalzer wrote:
Okay I am trying to fill in the item specifics they require. I am selling a 1971 Ken doll outfit. Here are just a few of the item specifics they want me to fill out:
Hair Color
Eye Color
Complexion
Item Height
What do any of those have to do with what I am selling?
Because they are telling us these Item Specifics are required, we are trying our best to fill them out. This is causing us to fill on specifics that are not appropriate causing our items to come up in searches that they don't belong in. Ebay just STOP IT!!

I agree. I just went to list a Fashion Royalty Integrity Doll. This is a modern fashion doll from about 10 years ago.

Almost all of the “drop down” possible item specifics were a complete waste of time, especially the ones that “conveniently” are check boxes. Here is one that is especially a stupid waste of time—“Signed By”. Here is what that looks like:

Albert Marque? ALBERT MARQUE? This is AI gone amok. There are I think 25 Albert Marque dolls in the ENTIRE WORLD. very rare. They are not on eBay. They are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Reproductions of these dolls are sometimes sold on eBay, but they sure ain’t signed by Albert Marque. I have sold thousands and thousands of dolls and I have never sold an Albert Marque doll, and neither will 100% of the sellers on eBay.

Every single doll I sell on eBay, since its one big lumped up category, I will have to see “Albert Marque” (and the other poorly chosen item specifics presented—I’ve never sold a doll signed by any of the other “check boxes” for dolls either) and it is so ludicrous; it reminds me of how ill-thought out and incompetent the item specifics for dolls are. They cannot replace categories in their current form.

xvoodoomanx · ‎10-18-2021

Lololol

dhbookds · ‎10-18-2021

just IGNORE the IS that don't apply to your item......... presumably they will apply to others......which is the reason they are there..........

xvoodoomanx · ‎10-18-2021

As I've mentioned throughout this thread, these updates/specifics are SO nonsensical there must be some reasoning behind it.

eBay cannot be this ignorant. It is a multi-billion dollar company.

denisevanpattendolls · ‎10-18-2021

@dhbookds wrote:
just IGNORE the IS that don't apply to your item......... presumably they will apply to others......which is the reason they are there..........

The whole point of my post was to show that eBay AI has given the choice of an item specific (prominently) that will apply to NO doll EVER.

Going down the list..Anne Renee. There are currently ZERO dolls by “Anne Renee” (never mind SIGNED by her) whoever that is, for sale on eBay right now, out of at least 1 million listings. So, why is that in an item specific on the FORM? Bad AI, that is why.

It does not inspire confidence.

valeries_trunk · ‎10-18-2021

WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET AN UPDATE AS TO WHAT IS HAPPENING? IT HAS BEEN A WEEK! ARE THINGS SO BADLY MESSED UP THAT EBAY CANNOT EVEN KEEP US POSTED?? Yet they sure took out my store subscription fee for the month ahead. Why should I pay for something that is not working?????

duffy4444 · ‎10-18-2021

@mmwalzer wrote:
Okay I am trying to fill in the item specifics they require. I am selling a 1971 Ken doll outfit. Here are just a few of the item specifics they want me to fill out:
Hair Color
Eye Color
Complexion
Item Height
What do any of those have to do with what I am selling?
Because they are telling us these Item Specifics are required, we are trying our best to fill them out. This is causing us to fill on specifics that are not appropriate causing our items to come up in searches that they don't belong in. Ebay just STOP IT!!

First, determine if the item specifics are "required", or merely "recommended". If they are "required" and are ridiculously unnecessary or not applicable to your Ken outfit, just enter "Does Not Apply". If they are merely "recommended" and are not applicable or come under a normal person's understanding of stupid, juvenile, or unnecessary for a buyer to use in a search, save the time and your sanity by leaving them blank.

Then, make sure you can put as many details in your item's main title as you can, for the benefit of the buyer who knows what he/she wants without having to browse thru all the hundreds or thousands of unrelated listings that would otherwise come up in the search results.

Think in terms of what is important to a buyer who is browsing... that's the only way I can make any sense out of how to handle this train wreck. Even then, I'm not expecting a continuation of the healthy sales I used to have before this idiotic, totally unnecessary, and very badly timed rollout.

This current disaster not only adds a major insult and headache for sellers, but also totally screws up the eBay search engine results. That's the other half of this disaster for the average buyer who only wants a simple way to see what's available and purchase what looks good to them... or in other words, the original fun of logging into and enjoying eBay that now appears to be a thing of the past.

Cheers, Duffy

dhbookds · ‎10-18-2021

@duffy4444

just enter "Does Not Apply"

Ebay has said to just ignore the IS that don't apply...........you don't have to enter anything.........and that makes sense........

northdakota3 · ‎10-18-2021

Thanks so much for the changes...now I can't find anything I want and have to wade through thousands of unrelated posts when I do search for something. Put the doll categories back so I can find what I want! Who was the braniac that says this will make it easier to find things? If sellers want buyers to buy they have to find the items they want. I am so frustrated I am about ready to give up on ebay and try some other sites. You are not the only one in the world, just the most fee happy and customer unhelpful!

d-k_treasures · ‎10-18-2021

@denisevanpattendolls wrote:
@mmwalzer wrote:
Okay I am trying to fill in the item specifics they require. I am selling a 1971 Ken doll outfit. Here are just a few of the item specifics they want me to fill out:
Hair Color
Eye Color
Complexion
Item Height
What do any of those have to do with what I am selling?
Because they are telling us these Item Specifics are required, we are trying our best to fill them out. This is causing us to fill on specifics that are not appropriate causing our items to come up in searches that they don't belong in. Ebay just STOP IT!!
I agree. I just went to list a Fashion Royalty Integrity Doll. This is a modern fashion doll from about 10 years ago.

Almost all of the “drop down” possible item specifics were a complete waste of time, especially the ones that “conveniently” are check boxes. Here is one that is especially a stupid waste of time—“Signed By”. Here is what that looks like:

Albert Marque? ALBERT MARQUE? This is AI gone amok. There are I think 25 Albert Marque dolls in the ENTIRE WORLD. very rare. They are not on eBay. They are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Reproductions of these dolls are sometimes sold on eBay, but they sure ain’t signed by Albert Marque. I have sold thousands and thousands of dolls and I have never sold an Albert Marque doll, and neither will 100% of the sellers on eBay.

Every single doll I sell on eBay, since its one big lumped up category, I will have to see “Albert Marque” (and the other poorly chosen item specifics presented—I’ve never sold a doll signed by any of the other “check boxes” for dolls either) and it is so ludicrous; it reminds me of how ill-thought out and incompetent the item specifics for dolls are. They cannot replace categories in their current form.

Is that 'Add' block in there so doll sellers can add the IS that should have been prepopulated by ebay, but are making the sellers build their database?

_____________________________
"Nothing is obvious to the oblivious"

mightymouse · ‎10-18-2021

Just talked to CS and tried to list a waterford lamp. It defaulted to cookware. Boy are things great. LOL

duffy4444 · ‎10-18-2021

@dhbookds wrote:
@duffy4444

just enter "Does Not Apply"

Ebay has said to just ignore the IS that don't apply...........you don't have to enter anything.........and that makes sense........

In saying to enter "Does Not Apply", I was referring to the IS that is "required", and not the ones that are only "recommended". If a person does not put something in the "required" box, they run the risk of having their listing removed in a few months.

d.clawed · ‎10-18-2021

I wonder if they will be brave enough to have an open forum for the Wednesday discussion? The Community Team is probably drawing straws right now to see who gets to fall on this sword. Or, maybe they will think this is the perfect time to trot out the “shipping team” and obliterate all “non-related” topic questions. (Not that we don’t love you shipping team!)

Rome is burning.

duffy4444 · ‎10-18-2021

Seeing my frustration and waste of a week so far by playing whack-a-mole with my current screwed up listings, my wife has informed me that Hades will freeze over before she becomes a seller on eBay... She's headed over to Etsy with her craft business.

wwii_buff2011 · ‎10-18-2021

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.....