Unable to add item on eBay API due to Item Specific Type missing

Question

We are getting the following error when calling the eBay AddItemRequest API

The item specific Type is missing. Add Type to this listing, enter a valid value, and then try again.21919303

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<AddItemRequest xmlns="urn:ebay:apis:eBLBaseComponents">
  <RequesterCredentials>
    <eBayAuthToken>XXXXXXXXXXX</eBayAuthToken>
  </RequesterCredentials>
  <ErrorLanguage>en_US</ErrorLanguage>
  <WarningLevel>High</WarningLevel>
  <Item>
    <Title>test-800</Title>
    <Description>test 800</Description>
    <PrimaryCategory>
      <CategoryID>176971</CategoryID>
    </PrimaryCategory>
    <StartPrice>200</StartPrice>
    <CategoryMappingAllowed>true</CategoryMappingAllowed>
    <ConditionID>1000</ConditionID>
    <Country>US</Country>
    <Currency>USD</Currency>
    <DispatchTimeMax>3</DispatchTimeMax>
    <ListingDuration>GTC</ListingDuration>
    <ListingType>FixedPriceItem</ListingType>
    <PictureDetails>
      <GalleryType>Gallery</GalleryType>
      <PictureURL>https://eznetcrm.net/img/eZnetLogo.png</PictureURL>
    </PictureDetails>
    <PostalCode>32746</PostalCode>
    <ProductListingDetails>
      <UPC></UPC>
      <BrandMPN>
        <Brand>HP</Brand>
        <MPN>845418-B21</MPN>
      </BrandMPN>
      <IncludeStockPhotoURL>true</IncludeStockPhotoURL>
      <IncludePrefilledItemInformation>true</IncludePrefilledItemInformation>
      <UseFirstProduct>true</UseFirstProduct>
      <UseStockPhotoURLAsGallery>true</UseStockPhotoURLAsGallery>
      <ReturnSearchResultOnDuplicates>true</ReturnSearchResultOnDuplicates>
    </ProductListingDetails>
    <Quantity>5</Quantity>
    <ItemSpecifics>
      <NameValueList>
<Name>Brand</Name>
<Value>HP</Value>
  </NameValueList>
  <NameValueList>
<Name>MPN</Name>
<Value>845418-B21</Value>
  </NameValueList>
    </ItemSpecifics>
    <ReturnPolicy>
      <ReturnsAcceptedOption>ReturnsAccepted</ReturnsAcceptedOption>
      <RefundOption>MoneyBack</RefundOption>
      <ReturnsWithinOption>Days_30</ReturnsWithinOption>
      <ShippingCostPaidByOption>Buyer</ShippingCostPaidByOption>
    </ReturnPolicy>
    <ShippingDetails>
      <ShippingType>Flat</ShippingType>
      <ShippingServiceOptions>
        <ShippingServicePriority>1</ShippingServicePriority>
        <ShippingService>USPSMedia</ShippingService>
       <ShippingServiceAdditionalCost>0</ShippingServiceAdditionalCost>
        <ShippingServiceCost>0</ShippingServiceCost>
      </ShippingServiceOptions>
    </ShippingDetails>
    <Site>US</Site>
  </Item>
</AddItemRequest>

We are trying to add an item using the above XML through eBay APIs but are unable to do so. What we are doing wrong in XML format? Also, we have added specific data as we got an error.

Answer 1

When adding ItemSpecifics, you will need to check if there are any ItemSpecific entries that are mandatory for your CategoryID. This can be checked from the GetCategorySpecifics API.

In your case, the category ID is 176971 and in the XML payload, there are two existing ItemSpecifics: Brand and MPN. As suggested by the error message you are getting and confirming from the GetCategorySpecifics API on eBay, it is evident that you need to add an ItemSpecific with the name Type within your ItemSpecifics. After doing that, your ItemSpecifics should look like this:

  <ItemSpecifics>
     <NameValueList>
        <Name>Brand</Name>
        <Value>HP</Value>
     </NameValueList>

     <NameValueList>
        <Name>Type</Name>
        <Value>CustomTypeNameHere</Value>
     </NameValueList>

     <NameValueList>
        <Name>MPN</Name>
        <Value>845418-B21</Value>
     </NameValueList>
  </ItemSpecifics>

You can verify the call using the VerifyAddItemResponse API once you add the Type ItemSpecific.

In general, to figure out what ItemSpecifics are needed for a given CategoryId, you can refer to the following documentation (Listing with Required Item Specifics. However, very briefly, to determine which item specifics are required, call GetCategorySpecifics to retrieve the item specifics recommendations for the category you're listing in. In the response, look for these fields for each recommendation:

• This item specific name is required for the category: Recommendations.NameRecommendation.ValidationRules.MinValues
• You can only use one of these values that eBay has defined (as returned in the response): Recommendations.NameRecommendation.ValidationRules.SelectionMode=SelectionOnly