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To help get your listings found on search results, we’re making it possible for you to specify your own item specifics when the current choices don’t cover your item.  Follow these best practices for when to use the available choices and when to customise.

What is the difference between an “item specific” and a Value”?
An item specific is the type of detail you are including, such as colour, size or condition.  The value refers to the actual detail that describes your item.  For example “colour” is an item specific.  The values under the item specific could include blue, green, red, pink.  Under the item specific “size”, values could be small, medium and large.

How are Custom Item Specifics different from eBay Item Specifics?
Custom Item Specifics differ from eBay Item Specifics in three main ways:

1. With Custom Item Specifics, you can enter customised names and values. The most popular names and values will be used in the left-hand “Refine Searches” navigation menu to help buyers refine their searches. Under the old eBay item specifics, custom user-entered values could not be used in finding.
2. With Custom Item Specifics, eBay can pre-fill item specific values for you based on the category and the keywords in an item title.
3. The lists of names and values shown in the Sell Your Item flow may change within a given category based on the title of a seller’s item. eBay will try to populate the Custom Item Specifics names and values with the options most likely to correspond to the keywords in the title of the item being sold. So if you are listing a blue pair of trousers, you may see different options for the Colour item specific to someone who is selling a pair of green pants in the same category.

Why does the list of possible values change from day to day in the same category?
Because Custom Item Specifics are a mix of eBay-recommended names and values and popular names and values from other sellers in the category, it’s possible that values may differ from day to day as the popularity of individual values change. Also, Custom Item Specifics may not display all possible values in the drop-down boxes for each name. Based on the keywords in an item title, only the values that are most likely to be used will be shown.

The list of item specifics does not include an important element of the item I am selling. What should I do?
If the list of available Custom Item Specifics does not appear to be complete in a given category, you can use the “Add your own item specific” link to add your own custom name and value. Your custom item specific will appear on the View Item page of your listing and be used in title and description search. If enough other sellers use the same item specific you added, it will begin to be recommended in the Sell Your Item flow to other sellers.

The value list doesn’t have the right values in it for the item I am selling. What should I do?
If eBay has not provided a value that properly represents the item you are selling, you can enter your own custom value for most item specifics. However, the best practice is to use eBay item specifics recommended in the Sell Your Item flow, as long as they accurately describe your item.

For example, say eBay offers a Custom Item Specific called “Colour” that has value choices of: red, green, blue, pink and yellow. If you are selling a cornflower blue blouse, select the existing “blue” option rather than entering “cornflower.” You can include “cornflower” in your item title or description. By using the existing “blue” value in your Custom Item Specifics, your item is more likely to be found by buyers who use the left-hand navigation of the search results page to refine their search results.

Conversely, if you are selling an orange blouse and eBay has not provided a value for “orange” you should enter a custom value for “orange.” While “orange” may not be used in finding for this item, if enough other sellers enter “orange” and enough buyers buy items with this value, it will be available for refining searches in the future.

How are Custom Item Specifics used in search?
All Custom Item Specifics that you have created will appear on the View Item page for each of your listings. All names and values on the View Item page will also be included in title and description search. The most popular names and values used by sellers in each category can be included in the “Refine Search” section of the search results page.

Note: Currently, only certain categories will display Item Specifics on the “Refine Search” section of the search results page. 

How do I know if the Custom Item Specifics I entered on my item will be used in search?
The Custom Item Specifics we recommend are the most likely to be used in search. The best thing to do is to use the item specifics recommended by us in the Sell Your Item flow as long as they accurately describe your item.

For example, say eBay offers a Custom Item Specifics called “Colour” that has value choices of: red, green, blue, pink and yellow. If you are selling a cornflower blue blouse, select the existing “blue” option rather than entering “cornflower.” You can include “cornflower” in your item title or description. By using the existing “blue” value in your Custom Item Specifics, your item is more likely to be found by buyers who use the left hand navigation of the search results page. 

Conversely, if you are selling an orange blouse and eBay has not provided a value for “orange” you should enter a custom value for “orange.” While “orange” may not be used in finding for this item, if enough other sellers enter “orange” and enough buyers buy items with this value, it will be available to search in the future.