Item specifics updates

What you need to know

  • We’re adding new item specifics in some categories. These item specifics won’t be required until early 2022, but you’ll be able to add them to your listings starting 12 October.
  • You’ll see some changes to category structures and item specifics names when we release new item specifics.

What are the benefits of item specifics?

Adding item specifics is an important way to make sure buyers can find your listings. These descriptive keywords tell a buyer about your item and help make sure your listings show up in a buyer's search results both on eBay and on external search engines. 

When you add more item specifics, your listings have a better chance of matching what buyers are searching for.

New soon-to-be-required item specifics will be available on 12 October

We’re adding new item specifics in the below categories. The new item specifics will be required in early 2022 and will be available for you to add as you edit or create new listings starting 12 October.

Collectibles & Art

Jewellery

Musical Instruments

Parts & Accessories

Sporting Goods

You’ll see these item specifics tagged as Required Soon, to let you know that you’ll soon be required to add them to affected listings. You’ll also see more updates as these item specifics become available, including the date they’ll be required. We strongly recommend adding new Required Soon item specifics to your listings as soon as they’re available.

Changes to categories and item specifics names

As we introduce new item specifics in certain categories, you’ll also see updates to the structures and item specifics names in those categories. These updates are based on input from industry experts to make listings in these categories easier for buyers to find.

In the week following our 12 October release of new item specifics, you may see changes to the structure and item specifics names in the categories listed above. We’ll automatically adjust your affected listings to reflect these changes. Learn more about category changes.

Tools to help you find and update missing item specifics

You have a number of tools and features to help you find and update missing item specifics:

  • Download/Upload file. Available in the Seller Hub Active Listings page, this tool allows you to download an Excel file of your listings, identify and update missing item specifics in bulk, and re-upload the file to apply the changes.
  • Task reminders in Seller Hub and My eBay. If you have listings missing Required, Required Soon, or Recommended item specifics, you’ll see corresponding tasks in Seller Hub, or corresponding modules in My eBay Selling Overview.
  • Quick filters. If you have listings missing Required, Required Soon, or Recommended item specifics, you’ll see quick filters on your Seller Hub Active Listings page. These quick filters show you all listings missing those particular item specifics.
  • Required Soon feature. When you create a new listing or revise an existing one, you’ll see indicators above item specifics that will be required soon. These will include the date the item specifics will become required.
  • Edit item specifics in bulk. When you add item specifics on the Seller Hub Active Listings page, you can select multiple listings and click the “Add item specifics” button. This will load all your selected listings into a pop-up window where you can add any missing item specifics.

Next steps

Make sure to add as many item specifics as you can when you create listings. When you see new item specific requirements in a category you sell in, we recommend you add them to your existing listings as soon as possible.