diff --git a/src/pretix/control/forms/item.py b/src/pretix/control/forms/item.py
index 8c527cc3bf..d6a81870c8 100644
--- a/src/pretix/control/forms/item.py
+++ b/src/pretix/control/forms/item.py
@@ -226,6 +226,8 @@ class ItemCreateForm(I18nModelForm):
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         self.event = kwargs['event']
         self.user = kwargs.pop('user')
+        kwargs.setdefault('initial', {})
+        kwargs['initial'].setdefault('admission', True)
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
 
         self.fields['category'].queryset = self.instance.event.categories.all()
diff --git a/src/pretix/control/templates/pretixcontrol/events/create_foundation.html b/src/pretix/control/templates/pretixcontrol/events/create_foundation.html
index c8bfca40a2..6ee9e0c741 100644
--- a/src/pretix/control/templates/pretixcontrol/events/create_foundation.html
+++ b/src/pretix/control/templates/pretixcontrol/events/create_foundation.html
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@
 {% block form %}
     {% bootstrap_field form.organizer layout="horizontal" %}
     <div class="form-group">
-        <label class="col-md-3 control-label">Event type</label>
+        <label class="col-md-3 control-label">{% trans "Event type" %}</label>
         <div class="col-md-9">
             <div class="big-radio radio">
                 <label>
-                    <input type="radio" value="" name="{{ form.has_subevents.html_name }}">
+                    <input type="radio" value="" name="{{ form.has_subevents.html_name }}" {% if not form.has_subevents.value %}checked{% endif %}>
                     <span class="fa fa-calendar-o"></span>
                     <strong>{% trans "Singular event or non-event shop" %}</strong><br>
                     <div class="help-block">
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
             </div>
             <div class="big-radio radio">
                 <label>
-                    <input type="radio" value="on" name="{{ form.has_subevents.html_name }}">
+                    <input type="radio" value="on" name="{{ form.has_subevents.html_name }}" {% if not form.has_subevents.value %}checked{% endif %}>
                     <span class="fa fa-calendar"></span>
                     <strong>{% trans "Event series or time slot booking" %}</strong>
                     <div class="help-block">
diff --git a/src/pretix/control/templates/pretixcontrol/item/create.html b/src/pretix/control/templates/pretixcontrol/item/create.html
index c34dfade21..c19fb8314e 100644
--- a/src/pretix/control/templates/pretixcontrol/item/create.html
+++ b/src/pretix/control/templates/pretixcontrol/item/create.html
@@ -14,9 +14,94 @@
                 {% bootstrap_field form.internal_name layout="control" %}
             </div>
             {% bootstrap_field form.copy_from layout="control" %}
-            {% bootstrap_field form.has_variations layout="control" %}
+
+            <div class="form-group">
+                <label class="col-md-3 control-label">{% trans "Product type" %}</label>
+                <div class="col-md-9">
+                    <div class="big-radio radio">
+                        <label>
+                            <input type="radio" value="on" name="{{ form.admission.html_name }}" {% if form.admission.value %}checked{% endif %}>
+                            <span class="fa fa-user"></span>
+                            <strong>{% trans "Admission product" %}</strong><br>
+                            <div class="help-block">
+                                {% blocktrans trimmed %}
+                                    Every purchase of this product represents one person who is allowed to enter your event.
+                                    By default, pretix will only ask for attendee information and offer ticket downloads for these products.
+                                {% endblocktrans %}
+                            </div>
+                            <div class="help-block">
+                                {% blocktrans trimmed %}
+                                    This option should be set for most things that you would call a "ticket". For product add-ons or bundles, this should
+                                    be set on the main ticket, except if the add-on products or bundled products represent additional people (e.g. group bundles).
+                                {% endblocktrans %}
+                            </div>
+                        </label>
+                    </div>
+                    <div class="big-radio radio">
+                        <label>
+                            <input type="radio" value="" name="{{ form.admission.html_name }}" {% if not form.admission.value %}checked{% endif %}>
+                            <span class="fa fa-cube"></span>
+                            <strong>{% trans "Non-admission product" %}</strong>
+                            <div class="help-block">
+                                {% blocktrans trimmed %}
+                                    A product that does not represent a person. By default, pretix will not ask for attendee information or offer
+                                    ticket downloads.
+                                {% endblocktrans %}
+                            </div>
+                            <div class="help-block">
+                                {% blocktrans trimmed %}
+                                    Examples: Merchandise, donations, gift cards, add-ons to a main ticket.
+                                {% endblocktrans %}
+                            </div>
+                        </label>
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+
             {% bootstrap_field form.category layout="control" %}
-            {% bootstrap_field form.admission layout="control" %}
+
+            <div class="form-group">
+                <label class="col-md-3 control-label">{% trans "Product variations" %}</label>
+                <div class="col-md-9">
+                    <div class="big-radio radio">
+                        <label>
+                            <input type="radio" value="" name="{{ form.has_variations.html_name }}" {% if not form.has_variations.value %}checked{% endif %}>
+                            <span class="fa fa-fw fa-square"></span>
+                            <strong>{% trans "Simple product" %}</strong><br>
+                            <div class="help-block">
+                                {% blocktrans trimmed %}
+                                    This product is available in only one variation.
+                                {% endblocktrans %}
+                            </div>
+                            <div class="help-block">
+                                {% blocktrans trimmed %}
+                                    This can't be changed later.
+                                {% endblocktrans %}
+                            </div>
+                        </label>
+                    </div>
+                    <div class="big-radio radio">
+                        <label>
+                            <input type="radio" value="on" name="{{ form.has_variations.html_name }}" {% if form.has_variations.value %}checked{% endif %}>
+                            <span class="fa fa-fw fa-th-large"></span>
+                            <strong>{% trans "Product with multiple variations" %}</strong>
+                            <div class="help-block">
+                                {% blocktrans trimmed %}
+                                    This product exists in multiple variations which are different in either their name, price, quota, or description.
+                                    All other settings need to be the same.
+                                {% endblocktrans %}
+                            </div>
+                            <div class="help-block">
+                                {% blocktrans trimmed %}
+                                    Examples: Ticket category with variations for "full price" and "reduced", merchandise with variations for different sizes,
+                                    workshop add-on with variations for simultaneous workshops.
+                                {% endblocktrans %}
+                            </div>
+                        </label>
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+
         </fieldset>
         {% if form.quota_option %}
             <fieldset>
diff --git a/src/pretix/control/templates/pretixcontrol/item/index.html b/src/pretix/control/templates/pretixcontrol/item/index.html
index 949890f12d..453a2a6453 100644
--- a/src/pretix/control/templates/pretixcontrol/item/index.html
+++ b/src/pretix/control/templates/pretixcontrol/item/index.html
@@ -10,13 +10,56 @@
                 <div class="tabbed-form">
                     <fieldset>
                         <legend>{% trans "General" %}</legend>
+                        {% bootstrap_field form.active layout="control" %}
                         {% bootstrap_field form.name layout="control" %}
                         <div class="internal-name-wrapper">
                             {% bootstrap_field form.internal_name layout="control" %}
                         </div>
                         {% bootstrap_field form.category layout="control" %}
-                        {% bootstrap_field form.active layout="control" %}
-                        {% bootstrap_field form.admission layout="control" %}
+
+                        <div class="form-group">
+                            <label class="col-md-3 control-label">{% trans "Product type" %}</label>
+                            <div class="col-md-9">
+                                <div class="big-radio radio">
+                                    <label>
+                                        <input type="radio" value="on" name="{{ form.admission.html_name }}" {% if form.admission.value %}checked{% endif %}>
+                                        <span class="fa fa-fw fa-user"></span>
+                                        <strong>{% trans "Admission product" %}</strong><br>
+                                        <div class="help-block">
+                                            {% blocktrans trimmed %}
+                                                Every purchase of this product represents one person who is allowed to enter your event.
+                                                By default, pretix will only ask for attendee information and offer ticket downloads for these products.
+                                            {% endblocktrans %}
+                                        </div>
+                                        <div class="help-block">
+                                            {% blocktrans trimmed %}
+                                                This option should be set for most things that you would call a "ticket". For product add-ons or bundles, this should
+                                                be set on the main ticket, except if the add-on products or bundled products represent additional people (e.g. group bundles).
+                                            {% endblocktrans %}
+                                        </div>
+                                    </label>
+                                </div>
+                                <div class="big-radio radio">
+                                    <label>
+                                        <input type="radio" value="" name="{{ form.admission.html_name }}" {% if not form.admission.value %}checked{% endif %}>
+                                        <span class="fa fa-fw fa-cube"></span>
+                                        <strong>{% trans "Non-admission product" %}</strong>
+                                        <div class="help-block">
+                                            {% blocktrans trimmed %}
+                                                A product that does not represent a person. By default, pretix will not ask for attendee information or offer
+                                                ticket downloads.
+                                            {% endblocktrans %}
+                                        </div>
+                                        <div class="help-block">
+                                            {% blocktrans trimmed %}
+                                                Examples: Merchandise, donations, gift cards, add-ons to a main ticket.
+                                            {% endblocktrans %}
+                                        </div>
+                                    </label>
+                                </div>
+                            </div>
+                        </div>
+
                         {% bootstrap_field form.description layout="control" %}
                         {% bootstrap_field form.picture layout="control" %}
                         {% bootstrap_field form.require_approval layout="control" %}
diff --git a/src/pretix/control/templates/pretixcontrol/items/index.html b/src/pretix/control/templates/pretixcontrol/items/index.html
index baddf1985c..8bb342f7b6 100644
--- a/src/pretix/control/templates/pretixcontrol/items/index.html
+++ b/src/pretix/control/templates/pretixcontrol/items/index.html
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@
                             </td>
                             <td>
                                 {% if i.var_count %}
-                                    <span class="fa fa-list-ul fa-fw text-muted" data-toggle="tooltip" title="{% trans "Product with variations" %}"></span>
+                                    <span class="fa fa-th-large fa-fw text-muted" data-toggle="tooltip" title="{% trans "Product with variations" %}"></span>
                                 {% endif %}
                             </td>
                             <td>
diff --git a/src/pretix/static/pretixcontrol/js/ui/hidequota.js b/src/pretix/static/pretixcontrol/js/ui/hidequota.js
index 7c7c8c3f54..0d78bb314f 100644
--- a/src/pretix/static/pretixcontrol/js/ui/hidequota.js
+++ b/src/pretix/static/pretixcontrol/js/ui/hidequota.js
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@ $(document).ready(function () {
   );
 
   function toggleblock() {
-    $("#new-quota-group").closest('fieldset').toggle(!$("#id_has_variations").prop('checked'));
+    $("#new-quota-group").closest('fieldset').toggle(!$("[name=has_variations][value=on]").prop('checked'));
   }
 
-  $("#id_has_variations").change(toggleblock);
+  $("[name=has_variations]").change(toggleblock);
   toggleblock();
 });
diff --git a/src/pretix/static/pretixcontrol/scss/_forms.scss b/src/pretix/static/pretixcontrol/scss/_forms.scss
index b161d13e92..742815abb9 100644
--- a/src/pretix/static/pretixcontrol/scss/_forms.scss
+++ b/src/pretix/static/pretixcontrol/scss/_forms.scss
@@ -439,9 +439,9 @@ table td > .checkbox input[type="checkbox"] {
   }
 }
 .form-horizontal .big-radio {
-  border: 2px solid #ccc;
+  border: 1px solid #ccc;
+  border-bottom: 0;
   padding: 0;
-  border-radius: $border-radius-base;
   label {
     padding: 15px 15px 15px 30px;
   }
@@ -449,9 +449,15 @@ table td > .checkbox input[type="checkbox"] {
   .help-block {
     margin-bottom: 0;
   }
-}
-.form-horizontal .big-radio:not(:last-child) {
-  margin-bottom: 15px;
+  &:first-child {
+    border-top-left-radius: $border-radius-base;
+    border-top-right-radius: $border-radius-base;
+  }
+  &:last-child {
+    border-bottom-left-radius: $border-radius-base;
+    border-bottom-right-radius: $border-radius-base;
+    border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc;
+  }
 }
 .accordion-radio {
   display: block;