2012 Spring Seller Update
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Category, Item Specifics and Catalogue Updates
Upcoming changes to categories, item specifics and catalogues
Category, item specific and catalogue updates will be released this spring to provide a more intuitive buying and selling structure, eliminate redundancies, and improve the shopping experience on eBay.
Use one of the following eBay tools to help update active listings:
Tips and tools to edit listings
Why does eBay make category and item specific changes?
What categories are being changed?
What item specifics are being changed?
What listing tools are available to help update my listings with these new category updates?
I use a third party listing tool through Channel Advisor (or another Certified Provider). Do I have to do anything to ensure my listings comply with the new category, item specific or catalogue updates?
What happens to my listing if my category now has subcategories after eBay makes changes?
What happens to my listing if my category is merged with another category?
What happens to my listing if my category is merged into its parent category?
What happens to my listing if my category has been renamed?
What happens to my listing if my category is moved to another parent category?
What happens to my listing if my category is moved to a different main category?
How will changes to category IDs affect my multi-quantity listings?
What happens if my listing is moved to an undesirable category after you have made category changes?
How do my listings get matched to the filters on the search results page?
What happens if the updated item specifics don’t match my current custom item specifics?
How do I edit my listing when the item specifics in my category change?
I am using item specifics, but they aren’t showing in the filter options on the results page. Why is this happening?
How will category updates affect my fees?
When will my listings be required to adopt item specifics?
What other classification changes are planned for Toys?
Why are these changes being made in the Toys category?
Highlights
2012 Category, Item Specific, Catalogue Updates
Best Practices
Frequently Asked Questions
2012 Category, Item Specific, Catalogue Updates
Best Practices
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlights
- Category, item specifics and/or catalogue updates will affect the following categories:
- Clothing, Shoes & Accessories
- Coins
- Computers & Networking
- Consumer Electronics
- Motors
- Jewellery & Watches
- Home & Garden
- Tickets
- Toys
- Item specific updates will be available starting in February through May. Category updates will occur May 1, 2012.
- Buyers are using item specifics in the left navigation to search for items. Use the new and recommended item specifics as soon as the new values are available February through May to help buyers find your items.
- If you sell in these categories, click the links in the chart below for more details.
- For the full list of all category updates, click here.
2012 Category, Item Specific, Catalogue Updates
Please click “Get More Details” to see how these updates apply and impact you.
| Clothing, Shoes & Accessories |
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| Get More Details | Get More Details | |
| Coins & Paper Money |
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Adding improved options for certification status and grade in Coins: US. |
| Get More Details | Get More Details | |
| Computers & Networking | Reduction in the number of categories across most sections of Computers & Networking. Full category structure consolidated, simplified and flattened. Some category additions to improve the selling and buying experience. Creation, standardization and tailoring of Item Specifics everywhere. | Standardizing and tailoring of custom item specifics in all categories. |
| Get More Details | Get More Details | |
| Consumer Electronics |
Reduction in the number of sections in Consumer Electronics. Full category structure consolidated, simplified and flattened. Some category additions to improve the selling and buying experience. Creation, standardization and tailoring of Item Specifics everywhere. Category adjustments throughout Consumer Electronics (except Wholesale Lots) include:
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Standardizing and tailoring of custom item specifics in:
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| Get More Details | Get More Details | |
| eBay Motors |
Parts & Accessories:
Vehicles:
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Converting from eBay-defined Item Specifics to Custom Item Specifics in the following areas:
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| Get More Details | Get More Details | |
| Home & Garden |
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Item specifics will be updated in the following categories:
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| Get More Details | Get More Details | |
| Jewellery & Watches | Category adjustments in Watches only. | Tailoring and introduction of custom item specifics in Watches. |
| Get More Details | Get More Details | |
| Tickets | No category updates in Tickets | Fill out the “Date” field (mm/dd/yyyy) and use the Tickets catalog whenever possible to help buyers find your listings. |
| Get More Details | ||
| Toys | Category adjustments in Action Figures | Item specifics will be updated starting in March across Toys so sellers can define items by Brand, Gender, Age Level, Theme, and Year |
| Get More Details | Get More Details |
Use one of the following eBay tools to help update active listings:
- Bulk edit functionality inside My eBay
- Selling Manager/Selling Manager Pro
- File Exchange
- Turbo Lister
- Category and item specifics are updated every 24 hours. To manually update, go to the “Refresh” tab and select “Update eBay Categories and Item Specifics”.
- Blackthorne
- Updates are not automatic. Click on “Tools” then “Check for Program Updates” for updated categories and item specifics.
Tips and tools to edit listings
Best Practices
- Use item specifics where available to help buyers find your items fast.
- Adopt the eBay catalogue where available and/or required.
- Continue to fully describe your item in the body of your listing, and make sure this description is consistent with the item specifics values you choose.
- Provide plenty of photos that complement the description.
- Whenever possible, even if you can't list your item with the catalog, include unique product identifiers like UPC, GTIN, and ISBN. Buyers using these identifiers within eBay search, off-eBay search engines, and using mobile applications will be able to find your listing.
- Learn more best practices for listing with the catalogue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions for Category, Item Specific and Catalogue Updates:
Category updates/changes on eBay bring a more intuitive search and buying structure, eliminate redundancies, and improve the shopping experience on eBay.
Start using the new/revised categories when available on May 1. View a completed list of category updates here:
http://pages.ebay.ca/sellerinformation/news/categorychanges.html
http://pages.ebay.ca/sellerinformation/news/categorychanges.html
View a complete list of item specific updates here:
http://pages.ebay.ca/sellerinformation/news/itemspecific.html
Start using new and recommended item specifics as soon as the new values are available starting in February.
http://pages.ebay.ca/sellerinformation/news/itemspecific.html
Start using new and recommended item specifics as soon as the new values are available starting in February.
You can use the following tools to edit existing listings:
- Bulk edit functionality inside My eBay
- Selling Manager/Selling Manager Pro
- File Exchange
- Turbo Lister
- Category and item specifics are updated every 24 hours. To manually update, go to the “Refresh” tab and select “Update eBay Categories and Item Specifics”.
- Blackthorne
- Updates are not automatic. Click on “Tools” then “Check for Program Updates” for updated categories and item specifics.
No. Channel Advisor and other Certified Providers should update their tools with the new category structure. If not done, eBay will automatically map new listings to the new categories. Once the Certified Provider has updated their category structure, it is recommended you use the new category as opposed to the old category ID.
All listings in this case will be moved to ‘Other’. You will need to relist in the appropriate category. Please use the correct item specifics for better visibility of your item on the search results page.
Your listing will automatically move to the new category. This means that the item specifics may differ from the previous category. Please make sure you update your listing using our suggested item specifics for higher visibility on the search results page.
Your listing will automatically move to the new category. This means that the item specifics may differ from the previous category. Please make sure you update your listing using our suggested item specifics for higher visibility on the search results page.
If a category is renamed, nothing will change in the listing. You don’t have to do a thing.
Your listing will automatically move to the new parent category. Typically, the fee will remain the same.
Your listing will automatically move to the new category. The fee will remain the same until the listing ends. When you relist, your listing will be charged the fees associated with the new main category.
Active multi-quantity listings will be moved to the correct category for you. Please make sure you have the latest version of Turbo Lister or other third party tools to ensure the category IDs reflect the latest changes.
You will need to relist in a category that is better suited to your item.
The listing gets matched if you use an eBay suggested item specific and value. However, not all eBay suggested item specifics appear on the search results page—some item specifics are only shown on the view item page, e.g. ‘Exact Colour’ in ‘Clothes, Shoes & Accessories’. Additionally, if you create your own item specific or own item specific value, it will not show on the Search Results Page, but will be shown on the View Item Page.
We advise you to use the recommended item specifics whenever possible, since custom item specifics are not matched to the left navigation on the search results page. Please consider revising your listing using the recommended item specifics to make it easier for buyers to find your item.
For single listings, select the listing you want to revise in My eBay, and then click the ‘Edit’ button. From the ‘Actions’ menu, select ‘Edit listings’ individually. For multiple listings; select the listings you want to revise, then click on the ‘Edit’ button. From the Edit drop-down menu at the top of the page, select Item specifics. From the drop-down menu at the top of the next screen, select Edit listings in bulk. Make the changes you want in the grid, then click the ‘Save and Close’ button once you’re finished.
The listing gets matched only if you use an eBay suggested item specific and value. If you add your own custom item specifics and values, they will not show on the left hand navigation.
Generally, moved categories will absorb the fees of the new parent category. In cases where the category has been merged with a category of a different pricing, the listing will retain its pricing until it ends. When the item is relisted, it will inherit the pricing of the new parent category.
For this category update, items being moved from Clothing, Shoes & Accessories (Bibs) to another category will see a 1% increase in Final Value Fees. For specific fee information, please see our fee chart.
For this category update, items being moved from Clothing, Shoes & Accessories (Bibs) to another category will see a 1% increase in Final Value Fees. For specific fee information, please see our fee chart.
Frequently Asked Questions for Toys Category and Item Specific Updates:
Starting in February 2012, new item specifics for Toys will be developed. Sellers will not be required to adopt the item specifics, but will be highly encouraged to do so; given the added visibility it gives your item when buyers are searching for Toys according to item specifics.
Toy sellers now have four new suggested item specifics to add to their listings: Gender, Age, Character/Theme, and Brand. Start using these items specifics now—buyers often look for these critical pieces of information, and buyers will soon be able to filter search results by these item specifics.
Gender, age, character/theme and brand are the most important descriptions buyers consider when shopping for toys. Buyers will soon be able to filter their search results by these item specifics. To enable this, sellers need to provide accurate information about these aspects when creating their listings.