Using Metafields to store eBay item specifics

This feature lets you add eBay item specifics as metafields in Shopify using an automatically generated form inside Bonify Custom Fields. The form adapts to the selected eBay category, grouping fields into Required and Recommended. When all required fields have valid values, the product is marked Ready for listing.

The key advantage of using this feature is that there is zero setup on the merchant’s part to collect valid data — all requirements, formats, and allowed values are built in.

Values are saved to Shopify metafields, allowing connector apps like Marketplace Connect — or any app that can map Shopify metafields to eBay item specifics — to sync your data directly to eBay.

How it works

  1. Choose an eBay market (e.g., EBAY_US).
  2. Set the Market Category using one of three methods:
    • Type the category ID directly.
    • Browse the eBay category hierarchy.
    • Search by category name or keyword.
  3. Bonify Custom Fields automatically creates form fields for all item specifics required and recommended by eBay for that category.
  4. Fields are grouped as:
    • Required values — must be completed before the item can be marked “Ready for listing.”
    • Recommended values — optional, but improve search visibility and buyer confidence.
  5. Enter values directly in the form.
  6. When all required values are complete, the Status updates to Ready for listing.

Variant specifics vs. item specifics

When selling on eBay, there are two different types of data fields:

  • Variation specifics — These are used to define product variants (e.g., Size, Color) and are created automatically in Shopify as product options. They control how buyers choose between variants on an eBay listing.
  • Item specifics — These are descriptive fields required or recommended by eBay categories (e.g., Brand, Size Type, Department, Material) and are what Bonify Custom Fields manages for you.

Bonify Custom Fields is focused exclusively on item specifics. Variant data already lives in Shopify and is automatically available to connector apps like Marketplace Connect, which handle mapping those options to eBay’s variation specifics. Because of this, you do not need to enter or manage variant specifics in Bonify Custom Fields, and it is safe to ignore them in this context.

In short: use Bonify Custom Fields for item specifics (attributes required by the category schema), while your connector app will continue to handle variant specifics automatically from Shopify product options.

Field controls

  • Each field displays the item specific name.
  • The app’s form fields follow eBay’s data requirements exactly — if an item specific allows multiple values or has suggested-but-not-required values, it will always work as expected without any additional setup.
  • Field Settings at the bottom allow you to toggle individual fields on or off if they aren’t relevant to your product or if you want the app to ignore the field because its value comes from another source.

Example workflow

  1. Select EBAY_US as the market.
  2. Search for and select Animation Art, Cels (1371) as the category (you could also browse or enter the ID).
  3. The Item Specifics section appears with:
    • Required values (if any for the category).
    • Recommended values such as Brand, California Prop 65 Warning, Character/Story/Theme, and Year.
  4. Fill in the applicable values — for example:
    • Brand: Disney
    • Character/Story/Theme: Bambi
    • Year: 2025
  5. Once all required fields are completed, the Status changes to Ready for listing.

Mapping to a connector app

  1. Locate the namespace and key — next to each field’s title in Bonify Custom Fields, you’ll see the metafield namespace and key in brackets.
    • Example: Brand [ebay_us.brand] → namespace: ebay_us, key: brand.
    • These are the exact identifiers used when mapping metafields in your connector app.
  2. In the connector app, find the mapping interface for item specifics.
  3. Map each Shopify metafield (e.g., ebay_us.brand) to the matching eBay item specific.
  4. All data collected via the app is compatible with eBay’s API and uses simple text fields in Shopify to avoid formatting issues.
  5. The app ensures all values comply with eBay’s allowed values and formatting rules, reducing the risk of listing errors.
  6. Note: It is not recommended to edit the data outside of the Bonify Custom Fields app, as doing so may affect data integrity.
  7. Run a test sync to verify values appear correctly on eBay.

Import and Export

Bonify Custom Fields supports bulk import and export of eBay item specifics, making it easy to review or update data at scale.

Exporting item specifics

  • Go to the Export Product Fields page.
  • (Optional) Enter a notification email to be alerted when the export is ready.
  • Under eBay, select:
    • eBay Market — e.g., EBAY_US.
    • eBay Categories — select one or more categories to include in the export.
  • (Optional) Check Only export eBay fields to limit the export to eBay-specific metafields.
  • In Additional Settings, you can:
    • Choose specific metafield namespaces to export.
    • Include product variants (slower).
  • Click Export to CSV.
  • If you select a category, the export will include that category’s item specifics as columns — even if no values are set.

Importing item specifics (recommended workflow)

  1. Add some data manually in the Bonify Custom Fields eBay interface for at least one product.
  2. Export your eBay data using the steps above.
  3. Modify the exported CSV with the changes or additional values you need.
  4. Import the CSV back into the app using the upload form.
  5. During import, the app will check all values against eBay’s data requirements and flag any issues before saving changes.
  6. Once imported successfully, your updates will be visible in the eBay tab for each product and will count toward the Ready for listing status.

Tips

  • Always choose the most accurate eBay category to ensure the correct item specifics appear.
  • Optional specifics can help improve your listing’s visibility and conversion.
  • Use Field Settings to hide specifics that don’t apply or to have the app ignore fields populated from another source.
  • Bulk export before making major changes so you have a backup of existing values.
  • Using the recommended export–edit–import flow ensures your CSV format matches exactly what the app and eBay expect.