2012 Fall Seller Update
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Category, Item Specifics and Catalog Updates
Upcoming changes to categories, item specifics and catalogs
Category, item specifics and catalog updates will be released this fall to provide a more intuitive buying and selling structure, eliminate redundancies, and improve the shopping experience on eBay. As a result, fees may be reduced in some categories.
Use one of the following eBay tools to update your listings:
Tips and tools to edit listings
Category Removals
Which categories are being changed?
When can I start listing in the new or revised categories?
Which item specifics are being changed?
When can I start using the new and recommended item specifics?
I use a third party listing tool through ChannelAdvisor (or another Certified Provider). Do I have to do anything to ensure my listings comply with the new category, item specific or catalog updates?
Can I get guidance on what item specific changes are impacting my listings?
What happens to my listing if my category now has subcategories?
What happens to my listing if my category is merged with another category or parent category?
How will changes to category IDs affect my multi-quantity listings?
What happens if my listing is not moved to the most appropriate category?
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?
What categories will be discontinued?
Why are these categories being discontinued?
What is the last date I can list in these categories?
What items will be prohibited?
How will sellers be affected?
Will my existing listings in these discontinued categories be removed?
What should I do if everything I sell on eBay now falls into the prohibited items list?
Will my insertion fees be refunded if my category is discontinued?
Will eBay remove other categories in the future?
Highlights
Fall 2012 Category, Item Specifics, Catalog Updates
Best Practices
Frequently Asked Questions for Category, Item Specifics and Catalog Updates
Frequently Asked Questions for Category Removals
Link to Item Specifics Page
Fall 2012 Category, Item Specifics, Catalog Updates
Best Practices
Frequently Asked Questions for Category, Item Specifics and Catalog Updates
Frequently Asked Questions for Category Removals
Link to Item Specifics Page
Highlights
- Category, item specifics and/or catalog updates will affect the following categories:
- Art
- Business & Industrial
- Camera & Photo
- Clothing, Shoes & Accessories
- Coins & Paper Money
- Computers/Tablets & Networking
- DVDs & Movies
- Home & Garden
- Jewelry
- Motors Parts & Accessories
- Music
- Musical Instruments & Gear
- Specialty Services
- Toys & Hobbies
- Everything Else
- Please reference our fee chart to understand how these updates may affect your fees.
Existing Category Moving to New Top Level Category Fee Update Everything Else > Education & Learning (and most sub-categories) Home & Garden No change in Fees Home & Garden > Home Decor & Accents > Photo Frames & Display > Digital Photo Frames (79654) Cameras & Photo Reduced Fees Home & Garden > Bath > Shower Radios (103427) Consumer Electronics Reduced Fees Home & Garden > Home Decor & Accents > Wall Decor > Crosses (38234) Collectibles No change in Fees
- Category eliminations - Due to a large number of misclassified items and eBay policy violations, some categories will no longer be available on eBay starting the first week of September. Starting on August 30, 2012, attempts to list items in these categories will be blocked.
- The following items are also being added to the prohibited items list: advice; spells; curses; hexing; conjuring; magic; prayers; blessing services; magic potions; healing sessions; work from home businesses & information; wholesale lists, and drop shop lists.
- Item specifics updates will be available starting June 2012. Category updates will occur during the second week of September 2012. Please refer to your Listing improvement recommendations on optimal listing visibility. This can be accessed through Selling Manager and Selling Manager Pro’s Summary page.
- Google Product Search is now requiring the inclusion of unique identifiers for items listed in many categories. The best way to ensure your listing contains the information required by Google Product Search is to list your item with the eBay catalog whenever there’s a product match. If listing with the eBay catalog isn't possible, fill out the item specifics for Brand, Model, UPC, ISBN, EAN, Color, Size, Gender and/or MPN wherever they are available.
- Buyers are using item specifics in the left navigation to search for items. Use the new and recommended eBay item specifics as soon as the new values are available (starting in June 2012) to help buyers find your items.
- For the full list of all category updates, click here.
Fall 2012 Category, Item Specifics, and Catalog Updates
Please click “Get More Details” to see how these updates apply and impact you.
| Art |
Discontinued categories:
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No updates taking place in September |
| Get More Details | Get More Details | |
| Business & Industrial |
Discontinued categories:
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Introduction and updates to item specifics in:
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| Get More Details | Get More Details | |
| Cameras & Photos | Minor category changes | Updates to recommended values. |
| Get More Details | Get More Details | |
| Clothing, Shoes & Accessories |
Look for changes in the following areas:
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No updates taking place in September. |
| Get More Details | Get More Details | |
| Coins & Paper Money | Minor category changes | No updates taking place in September. |
| Get More Details | Get More Details | |
| Computers/Tablets & Networking | 12 new categories under iPad/Tablet/eBook Accessories. | Introduction and updates to item specifics across multiple categories |
| Get More Details | Get More Details | |
| Consumer Electronics | Minor category renames | No updates taking place in September |
| Get More Details | Get More Details | |
| DVDs & Movies | Reduction in the number of categories and improved design. | Improvements in recommended item specifics and refinements for buyers. |
| Get More Details | Get More Details | |
| Everything Else |
Discontinued categories:
|
No updates taking place in September. |
| Get More Details | Get More Details | |
| Home & Garden |
Look for changes in the following areas:
|
Introduction and updates to item specifics across multiple categories. |
| Get More Details | Get More Details | |
| Jewelry & Watches |
Look for updates in the following areas:
|
Introduction and updates to item specifics in:
|
| Get More Details | Get More Details | |
| Motors Parts & Accessories | Minor category changes. | Minor item specifics updates. |
| Get More Details | Get More Details | |
| Music | Reduction in the number of categories and improved design. | Introduction and updates to item specifics across multiple categories |
| Get More Details | Get More Details | |
| Musical Instruments & Gear |
Look for changes in the following areas:
|
Introduction and updates to item specifics in:
|
| Get More Details | Get More Details | |
| Specialty Services |
Discontinued categories:
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No updates taking place in September. |
| Get More Details | Get More Details | |
| Toys & Hobbies | Minor category renames. | No updates taking place in September. |
| Get More Details | Get More Details |
Use one of the following eBay tools to update your 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.
- List with the eBay catalog 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 will be able to find your listings using these identifiers by searching within eBay, on search engines, and using mobile applications.
- As of September 10, 2012 sellers will be required to list their items with the eBay catalog in more Consumer Electronics categories, whenever there’s an exact product match. Listing your item with the eBay catalog provides the consistent information needed to deliver a better shopping experience and helps interested buyers find your item.
- If you don't use the eBay catalog to list an item with an exact match in the catalog, your listing will receive limited exposure on the search results page and may be subject to a range of actions, including removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Category, Item Specifics and Catalog UpdatesCategory Removals
Category, Item Specific and Catalog Updates:
See a complete list of category updates.
Start using the new/revised categories when available the second week of September 2012.
See a complete list of item specific updates for September 2012.
Start using new and recommended item specifics as soon as the new values are available starting in June 2012.
No. ChannelAdvisor and other Certified Providers typically update their tools with the new category structure. If not, eBay will automatically map new listings with the old category IDs to the new categories. Once the Certified Provider has updated their category structure, use the new category as opposed to the old category ID.
Yes. Check Selling Reminders on the My eBay All Selling page or the new Listing Improvement section of the Selling Manager summary page to see where you have not adopted item specifics in your listings. You can then easily edit those listings in bulk. Remember, using item specifics in your listings improves the discoverability of your items to buyers.
If subcategories are added, your listings will be moved to the one with the best fit. When you relist these items, you will need to list in the appropriate category. Be sure to use the correct item specifics for better visibility on the search results page.
If your category is merged with another category, your listing will automatically move to the new category. If the item specifics differ from the previous category, you’ll need to update your listing using our suggested item specifics for higher visibility on the search results page.
Your 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.
If your listing is not moved to the most appropriate category, you will need to relist in a category that is better suited to your item.
We recommend that you use the eBay-recommended item specifics whenever possible, since custom item specifics are not matched to the left navigation on the search results page. Revise your listing using eBay-recommended item specifics to make it easier for buyers to find your item.
To edit a single listing, select the listing you want to revise in My eBay, and then click the ‘Edit’ button. From the ‘Actions’ menu, select ‘Edit listings’. To edit multiple listings, select the listings you want to revise, and 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, and then click the ‘Save and Close’ button.
If you add your own custom item specifics and values, they will not show on the left hand navigation. When buyers use the filters, your listing only gets matched if you use an eBay-recommended item specific and value.
Generally, moved categories take on the fees of the new parent category. In cases where the category has been merged with a category with different fees, you will be charged the fees for the original category until the listing ends. When you relist the item, you pay the fees for the new parent category. When a Good Til Cancelled listing is up for renewal, it will look at the parent category it belongs to and apply the new pricing. See the fee chart for details.
Discontinued Categories:
Below is the current list of the categories to be permanently removed with the 2012 Fall Seller Update.
| Discontinued categories |
| Everything Else: Metaphysical: Psychic, Paranormal > Readings |
| Everything Else: Metaphysical: Psychic, Paranormal > Spells, Potions |
| Everything Else: Metaphysical: Tarot Readings |
| Everything Else: Advertising Opportunities |
| Everything Else: Memberships |
| Specialty Services: Advice & Instruction: Business & Computer |
| Specialty Services: Advice & Instruction: Lessons & Tutoring |
| Specialty Services: Advice & Instruction: Other |
| Specialty Services: Advice & Instruction: Diet & Fitness |
| Business & Industrial: Businesses & Websites for Sale > Advertising Inventory |
| Business & Industrial: Businesses & Websites for Sale > Home-Based Businesses |
| Art: Direct from the Artist: Digital Art |
| Art: Art from Dealers & Resellers: Digital Art |
| Home & Garden: Inside the Home: Food & Wine: Recipes |
Transactions in these categories often result in issues between the buyer and seller that are difficult to resolve. To help build confidence in the marketplace for both buyers and sellers, eBay is discontinuing these categories and including the items on the list of prohibited items. The Digital delivered goods policy already covers all goods that can be downloaded from a website or received by email and includes requirements that items be listed in the Everything Else>Information Products category using only the Classified Ad format. By removing the Digital Art and Recipes categories we will be consistent in our enforcement of this existing policy.
The last date you’ll be able to list in these categories is August 30, 2012.
Items that will be prohibited include: advice; spells; curses; hexing; conjuring; magic services; prayers; blessings; Psychic, Tarot, Reiki, and other metaphysical readings & services; magic potions; healing sessions; work from home businesses & information; wholesale lists, and drop ship lists.
The last date to list in these eliminated categories will be August 30, 2012 and sellers will no longer be able to sell these items on eBay. Sellers who continue to try to list prohibited inventory will risk having their items removed and could have their accounts suspended or removed.
You will need to remove any listings in these categories by the time the policy is enacted during the first week of September. eBay will terminate any listings not voluntarily removed or sold the first week of September.
You will have until the first week of September to sell or remove any existing listings. If you sell digital images, digitally delivered goods, and wholesale lists, you can list them in Classified Ad format in the Everything Else>Information Products category. You will no longer be able to list or relist the rest of the items and any remaining listings will be removed.
If your listing was submitted and ended by eBay for any reason before August 30, your fees (including optional feature fees) will be refunded within 48 hours of the item being ended. You can see the refund in your Seller Account page.
If you remove a listing that will be prohibited in September and it was not listed as one of your 50 free listings per month, contact Customer Support for a refund of your insertion fees (not including optional feature fees).
If eBay removes a listing in September when a category is discontinued, your insertion fee (not including optional feature fees) will be automatically refunded and the listing will not be counted as one of your 50 free items for the month of September.
If you remove a listing that will be prohibited in September and it was not listed as one of your 50 free listings per month, contact Customer Support for a refund of your insertion fees (not including optional feature fees).
If eBay removes a listing in September when a category is discontinued, your insertion fee (not including optional feature fees) will be automatically refunded and the listing will not be counted as one of your 50 free items for the month of September.
Other categories may be removed and items prohibited in the future if they are inconsistent with the spirit of eBay policies or impact the trustworthiness of the marketplace.