"Does not apply" no longer required for items without UPC in certain categories

[coffeebean832]

According to the eBay announcement- In certain categories, UPC product identifier will show as a required field with no “Does Not Apply” option. If you do not have a UPC, please leave the field blank and do not insert random numbers.

Does this mean we should remove does not apply from all of our existing listings that use this in the UPC field? Is there a list of the "certain categories" published anywhere?

Why is it suddenly recommended to leave the field blank when previously it was required to enter does not apply? I'm guessing it has something to do with Google not liking does not apply on all those listings.

[ersatz_sobriquet]

And/Or ebay trying to narrow down where things belong. Don't want vintage no upc or NOS items in certain categories. May become if it's not a collectible then listing a used newer item is impossible. 

[coffeebean832]

Clothing is one of the categories affected. Clothing brands like J Crew, Anthropologie and others use only internal numbers on their tags- UPCs are not available.

[dhbookds]

do not insert random numbers.

I'm guessing that's the real announcement.  People think they have to have something and stick a number in. 

[krys888]

YAY! Its about time! When they required that we click that “does not apply” button on every single item, I was quick to call CS to complain about it! I am soooo glad we  can just skip that button now!

[gwzcomps]

I always found it annoying when trying to sell new computer parts that never had a UPS because they weren't retail items.