Inventory optimization

Category changes, expanded item specifics guidance, new item specifics listing requirements in certain categories, and vehicles package pricing update.

What you need to know

  • Category changes
  • New item specifics recommendations and requirements
  • Simplified pricing options for cars and trucks

Category changes overview

Category changes to create a more intuitive shopping experience

Starting this fall, category changes including additions, removals, and renames will go into effect. Category updates will create more intuitive buying, selling, and search experiences and bring eBay into closer alignment with industry-standard classifications. The updates will also help international buyers find your items.

If you listed an item in one of the below categories and your listing is impacted by these changes, eBay will automatically move your listing to the most relevant category.

Changes effective October 15, 2019

  • Business & Industrial
  • Cameras & Photo
  • Cell Phones & Accessories
  • Clothing, Shoes & Accessories
  • Computers/Tablets & Networking
  • Consumer Electronics
  • Home & Garden
  • Toys & Hobbies
  • Video Games & Consoles


Changes effective January 28, 2020

  • Home & Garden
    • Kids & Teens at Home
    • Bath
    • Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living
    • Wholesale Lots
    • Home Improvement
  • Pet Supplies
  • Baby
  • Crafts

View impacted categories for more information. As a result of the changes to the category structure, if your listing is moved to a different category, you may experience a change in the fees (either an increase or decrease). Learn more.

List your items in “best fit” categories

Review your listings to make sure that they are located in “best fit” categories. If they are not in the “best fit” categories, use these eBay tools to revise your items:

  1. Listings tab in Seller Hub
  2. Bulk edit functionality in My eBay
  3. Selling Manager/Selling Manager Pro
  4. File Exchange

If you are using an off-eBay listing tool, be sure to use the new category tree to select the best category for your item so that revisions or relists done through the application result in the item moving to the desired location.

Category changes FAQ

Updates to categories will create more intuitive buying, selling, and search experiences and bring eBay into closer alignment with industry-standard classifications.

Item specifics updates overview

Item specifics updates that help buyers find your listings

We’re continuing to make it easier for buyers to find your listings quickly and easily by providing you with targeted guidance about item specifics that matter most to buyers. Item specifics describe the item you are selling, such as brand, make, model, size, color, and style. If you do not include item specifics when you list, your listings may not appear in natural and filtered search results.

We’re adding hundreds of new item specifics across several categories. Item specifics are surfaced in order of importance (e.g., frequency of use by buyers in search). Some item specifics are already required when you create a new listing or revise an existing listing in the Home & Garden category. Starting October 15, 2019, additional item specifics will be required. If you do not fill out the required item specifics, your listings will not successfully publish. Affected categories include Toys, Fashion, Home & Garden, Collectibles, and Media & Gift Cards. In early 2020, we’ll introduce new requirements in Electronics, Home & Garden, and Fashion.

We strongly encourage you to fill out the recommended item specifics. Complete and accurate item specifics can increase the visibility of your listing in eBay search results, Google search, and Google Shopping, and help your buyers find exactly what they are looking for.

In addition, we’ve enhanced our listing tools to help you derive the most benefit from using item specifics. Now when you create a new listing, you will see recommendations for trending item specifics and search terms frequently used by buyers. Starting in October, we’ll add indicators that will make it easier for you to identify listings that could benefit from additional item specifics. We will also provide single and bulk capabilities on the Active listings page in Seller Hub to help you add them.

Screenshot of item specifics in the listing flow, divided into Required and Recommended sections

Example of Required and Recommended item specifics in the listing flow.

See how many searches your item appears in as you add item specifics.

Learn more about key item specifics in other categories.

Item specifics updates FAQs

Buyers shopping in these particular categories rely heavily on item specifics to find the inventory they’re seeking. We continue to analyze buyer traffic across the site and evaluate the item specifics buyers provide in all categories.

We evaluated item specifics that buyers frequently use to find and purchase items in the Toys, Fashion, Home & Garden, Collectibles, Media & Gift Cards categories. Based on our evaluation, we now recommend or require item specifics that matter most to buyers when you list in those categories.

In Seller Hub, you can find out what item specifics are required and recommended when you list or revise your items. In addition to the required item specifics, we encourage you to fill out as many recommended item specifics as you can by selecting “Add your own item specific.” We’re also working with third-party tool providers to audit how much visibility they are giving to item specifics, including required item specifics, in their tools.

If you do not provide recommended or required item specifics, your listings may not be displayed in filtered results when a buyer uses filtering features and left-hand navigation. In addition, failure to provide relevant item specifics may lower the placement of your listing in the search results page. We prioritize item specifics that are most often used by buyers and present the most-filtered values to help you sell your items.

By the end of September, you will see selling reminders on your My eBay All Selling page or the new Listing Improvement section of the Seller Hub summary page. You can easily edit those listings in bulk.

We are rolling out item specific requirements by categories. Look for the prompts in Seller Hub and in your listing flows when you renew your listings. To view the most current list of item specific requirements by category visit our Seller Center Pages.

To edit a single listing:

  1. Select the listing you want to revise in My eBay.
  2. Click the “Edit” button.
  3. From the “Actions” menu, select “Edit listings.”

To edit multiple listings:

  1. Click the “Edit” button.
  2. From the “Edit” drop-down menu at the top of the page, select “Item specifics.”
  3. From the drop-down menu at the top of the next screen, select “Edit listings in bulk.”
  4. Make the changes you want in the grid, then click the “Save and Close” button.

Vehicles package pricing overview

Simplified pricing options for cars and trucks

Starting in October 2019, listing vehicles in Cars & Trucks in eBay Motors will be faster and easier with simplified package pricing. If you list six or fewer vehicles in Cars & Trucks during a calendar year, you will have the ability to select from three pricing options that include bundles of assorted features for auction and fixed price listings.

Screenshot of premium, plus, and basic pricing options

Simplified pricing options will include listing upgrade features (such as the reserve price and gallery plus features in the Premium option) in an all-inclusive fee.


Simplified pricing option for high volume vehicles sellers

Also starting in October 2019, high volume sellers (i.e., sellers who list more than six vehicles during a calendar year) in the Cars & Trucks category may purchase the Premium option for $95 for auction and fixed price listings. The $95 Premium option fee will include the insertion fee plus feature upgrades displayed below.

Screenshot of the Auction and Fixed price premium package options selection screen.

The Premium package option will be available to high volume vehicles sellers in the Cars & Trucks category for both auction and fixed price listing formats.

 

Reserve price increase for some eBay Motors categories

Starting September 18, 2019, the advanced listing upgrade fee for a reserve price for items up to $75,000 will increase from $40 to $49 for auction listings in the following eBay Motors categories:

  • Cars & Trucks
  • RVs & Campers
  • Commercial Trucks
  • Motorcycles
  • Boats
  • Powersports
  • Other Vehicles & Trailers

Learn more about vehicle listing fees on eBay Motors.

Vehicles package pricing FAQs

We’re simplifying the vehicle listing process by offering streamlined pricing packages that bundle features for ease of listing.

Yes. If you list or relist more than six vehicles in the Cars & Trucks category in a calendar year, you will become a high volume seller and you will only be offered the $95 Premium package option, unless you list your vehicle through the business tool. Package fees vary depending on the number of vehicles you list in a calendar year, which starts on January 1 and ends on December 31. Each time you submit a listing, or relist your item, it counts as one listing. Learn more about low volume and high volume sellers.

Two factors determine whether you’re a low or high volume Motors seller:

  1. The date on which you first list a vehicle on eBay
  2. The number of vehicle listings and relists you create in that calendar year

If you list (or relist) up to six vehicles in a calendar year, you’re considered a low volume seller; anything more than that makes you a high volume seller. Once you become a high volume seller, you’ll keep that status permanently, year after year. The fees you’ll pay will depend on factors such as your status, listing features selected and your vehicle’s price. Learn more.

We’re streamlining our listing options to create a better experience for our sellers. We’ve bundled certain features to make it quicker and easier for you to list on eBay. You will still be able to take advantage of the previous advanced listing upgrades through the business tool.

Yes. You will still be able to customize your listings with key features within the listing flow, such as describing your vehicle in detail and adding up to 24 photos.

We’re launching industry-standard pricing package options that bundle certain features to simplify the listing experience and provide transparent pricing. Our pricing package options will include fees for popular features to assist first-timers, low volume, and some high volume sellers with their listings. You will still be able to take advantage of the previous fee options and advanced listing upgrades through the advanced tool.

Feedback