CategoryID column is blank
The CategoryID column is present in the file but all values are empty.
What is this issue?
The CategoryID column is present in the file but all values are empty.
CategoryIDWhy eBay rejects this
Without a CategoryID, eBay may place listings in an incorrect or default category, reducing buyer visibility.
eBay-specific note
eBay CategoryIDs are numeric codes from eBay's category taxonomy. Find the ID by browsing eBay to the correct category and looking at the number in the URL (e.g., /b/.../{id}), or by using the eBay Category Lookup API. Using the wrong category ID causes listings to be placed in the wrong section or rejected entirely.
Examples
| Bad value | Good value | Note |
|---|---|---|
invalid_option | (see valid values above) | Exact spelling required |
Fix in StriveFormats
Upload your CSV to StriveFormats to detect this issue across all rows, with clear line-by-line reporting.
Fix in Excel
- 1In Excel, click the column letter for the CategoryID column.
- 2Press Ctrl+H. In 'Find what', type the invalid value -- in 'Replace with', type the correct accepted value -- Replace All.
- 3The accepted values are: the allowed values listed above.
- 4To prevent future errors, add a dropdown: select the column, go to Data > Data Validation, choose 'List', and enter the valid options separated by commas.
- 5Save as CSV (Comma delimited).
Fix in Google Sheets
- 1In Google Sheets, select the CategoryID column.
- 2Press Ctrl+H. Find the invalid value -- Replace with the correct accepted value -- Replace All.
- 3Accepted values: the allowed values listed above.
- 4To add a validation dropdown: select the column, go to Data > Data Validation, choose 'Dropdown (from a list)', and enter the valid options.
- 5Go to File > Download > Comma Separated Values (.csv).
Prevent it next time
- --Copy-paste allowed values directly from the official template to avoid typos.
- --Use Excel Data Validation or Google Sheets Data Validation to restrict the column to a dropdown of allowed values.
- --Check the platform's official documentation for the current list of allowed values -- they can change.
How StriveFormats detects this
StriveFormats checks the CategoryID column against the exact list of accepted values for eBay. The comparison is case-sensitive -- any casing variation or typo is flagged as an invalid value.