Simplify Adding Custom Items (No Category or Manufacturer Required)

When customers add a custom item to their quote, the current flow forces them to pick a category and sometimes even a manufacturer. This step adds friction and can be confusing — especially when the category doesn’t really match the item or when the condition descriptions shown afterward aren’t relevant.

In reality, all we really need from the customer is:

• The item name, and

• Their condition description

The category and manufacturer don’t provide any value for us in this scenario, and we’re not using category-specific condition ratings. Because of that, asking customers to pick these fields creates unnecessary barriers and disrupts an otherwise smooth experience.

For example, if someone wants to add a “Sony ECM-B1M shotgun mic,” they shouldn’t have to:

1. Search for a category

2. Choose one that may or may not fit

3. See condition ratings that aren’t relevant

Ideally, the experience should be as simple as typing the item title, adding the condition, and submitting it — just like when a customer selects “I can’t find what I’m looking for.”

Removing this step would make the process much faster, clearer, and friendlier, reducing frustration and helping more customers complete their quotes.

What I’m asking for:
Please remove the required category/manufacturer fields for custom items and allow customers to submit them with only the item name and condition.