New eBay mandatory item specifics for October

In the last eBay Seller Release, they reminded seller of new mandatory Item Specifics due to come into effect on the 15th of October.

The new mandatory Item Specifics will apply to any new or revised listings in:

• Home, Furniture & DIY
• Clothing, Shoes & Accessories
• Jewellery & Watches
• Toys & Games

If you haven’t already updated your Item Specifics in these categories it’s time to do so before the peak season is in full swing. If you don’t act, then you won’t be able to revise your listings and that means when you replenish stock in Q4 it won’t be a two minute job – you’ll be forced at that point to tinker with Item Specifics just to keep the sales flowing.

eBay have yet to sell sellers on completing product attributes, hence the increasing mandatory Item Specifics. It should be a no brainer as for instance eBay say that ‘furniture listings with “size” Item specific filled in, sell 56% better than those without and on average, listings in Fashion categories with Item specifics filled in, sell 47% better than those without‘. If eBay had to explained that sales increase this dramatically in a compelling manner, the question has to be asked why you’re not already completing Item Specifics of your own volition? It’s also worth asking if everyone completes the mandatory Item Specifics will that take away the edge for sellers who already have added them to their listings?

Regardless of whether eBay should be using a stick or a carrot, the increase of mandatory Item Specifics is likely to continue for the near future and we are expecting more to come in 2020, starting with the Electronics, Home & Garden and Clothing, Shoes & Accessories. With eBay’s past pattern, if theses are to be announced in the Spring Seller Release we expect notice 8 weeks prior, which will also give an indication of when the Spring Seller Release will be launched.