Updates are happening to some item specifics and category structures

[community_team]

We announced in our most recent Seller Update that we’ve revised some categories and item specifics to help make your listings easier to find on eBay and by external search engines. 

Starting today, you’ll see updates to the following categories:

Business & Industrial (Sinks)

Collectibles & Toys 

Electronics (Cameras)

Health & Beauty (Covid tests)

Home & Garden

Parts & Accessories (Wheels & Tires)

Sporting Goods (Golf & Cycling)

Watches

During this transition, your listing experience could be temporarily impacted, as well as the visibility of your listings.  You may notice some item specifics changing names, listings moved to different categories, or some listings temporarily not appearing in searches. 

Any affected listings should return to normal within a week, though some effects to listings’ visibility in searches may continue for up to three weeks. 

Once these changes are complete, we recommend checking your listings in the above categories to see if any were affected.  Learn more about category changes → please scroll down the page to see the links for the specific category changes.

We understand these updates will take extra time and may cause some frustration, but our goal is to help you increase your listings’ visibility and sales. 

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. 

[jeff-second-chance-silver]

So we should expect sales to drop even lower as they have with every single change ebay has made in the past? 

[jeff-second-chance-silver]

So untrue. Every single change ebay has made has drastically affect sales in a bad way. 

[jeff-second-chance-silver]

How can you say these changes will not impact sales? This forum as well as other off ebay forums are blowing up because sales totally disappeared. The only thing impacting the drop off is the changes. 

[partfinds]

I started new thread but people just come here and read and post instead. I don’t think she stays here 24h and takes down names on the fly. I hope that they will look into the issue as more people is affected.

[milsm81]

I apologize if my post does not align with this chat--- I'm actually not sure if my issue is related to the category change update or not.  I saw both the result/symptom for sellers based on the recent update--- and a result and pain point has been a decline in sales. I'll reach out directly to Ebay and raise my issue. Obviously, folks are frustrated- and I appreciate those that are tracking down any part of the issue to help.  Have a great day. 

[sharpedge44]

Yes I've had drastic a drop in sales in May.

sharpedge44

[greengorn]

Ebay, please undo the updates.  No one is getting any views or sales.

[Anonymous]

It seems that the "watchers" has disappeared.  Used to be that I could see how many people were "watching" each auction.  I do not see that now.  thank you - fishladyd

[Anonymous]

my sales went down too !!  

[domin-tomas]

I know one thing, I wont be renewing my store this July. I can't see paying for something and getting nothing in return. Just doesn't make good business sense. If anything ebay should be giving us a certain percentage off our stores for services not rendered.

[b86fiero]

Back to the original topic:

Will auction listings be affected by suppressed visibility?  Visibility for auctions is crucial in attracting multiple bidders and getting a decent price for an item. 

Will auction listings be affected more so or less than BIN listings in visibility? 

Will auction listings be given preference in any way?  Will compensation be given to sellers whose eBay caused lack visibility results in low selling price or no sale?

-----

Edit: A reply to your question can be found here. 

[b86fiero]

Seasonal Merchandise:

Will visibility of seasonal merchandise receive preference over year around everyday type merchandise?  

(If buyers can't find kids water wings or their favorite brand of sun block they will buy elsewhere).

[abfabvintage]

EVERY TIME they fiddle with IS and categories my listing program goes bust. Last time they did this some ebay brainiac with no pottery/glass experience put my tea cups into plates. Had to go in and revise 30 listings. There is no reason on this god's earth to keep changing just to change. Fixed my program, now need to do it again. Unbelievable. Making these changes like almost every 2-3 months does nothing to bring buyers here. Absolutely nothing. 

[b86fiero]

I don't really expect an answer for this question:

Regarding eBay Store operators with multiple lines of merchandise, when one category is suppressed in visibility will eBay increase visibility or promote their merchandise in other categories to help mitigate financial hardship?      

[abfabvintage]

Look, my 3rd party listing program requires that your developers give my Guru the FINAL version, not some half A piece meal revision. Last time you did this we had to revise the program and it took weeks to fix. And even some other 3rd parties were down for weeks. These are sites we pay for out of our pocket.

I HAVE SAID IT BEFORE...DO NOT TOUCH EXISTING LISTINGS. And, yes, I know with GTC they roll over every 30 days. With that being the case you need to figure out how to do that with a better plan. This is nothing but a BIG waste of my time that occurs way too many times during the year. All these ebay "fixes" still does not bring buyers to this site. It is a big 'ole mess. Been doing this for 21 years and it ain't my program, it is the developer/tech team that have no clue what or where things belong. There is no oversight of a retail or vintage expert that oversees this. Sorry, but not sorry. Yeah, obviously I am mad. Boiling, actually.