Just your honest opinion, please?

[frecklesfinery88]

Family member saw a Youtube eBay show. Seller said he never leaves description for items unless it has a defect. Because 8 out of 10 buyers do not read description and only look at a couple photos.  Would you as a seller agree with this?

We would just like opinions because we feel that we should give the best description possible. As a buyer, I look and read. But, our daughter who is a reseller says we might be wasting our time.  Hmmm...just a mid-week question.

Thanks for your impute

[ittybitnot]

Just replying  to the end of the discussion in general.  

I am OLD school.  When I sold here I always made a description.  Long ago descriptions were "searchable" as a matter of form,  so it was to one's advantage to call that antique dinnerware piece a plate, later a dish, or platter if that applied as well.  Later on, if your buyer complained and filed some sort of "SNAD" complaint, a seller was not accountable if the said complaint was documented in the description text and shown in the photos.   So thus the tendency to be accurate and complete.  (Don't even think the title/description search even works anymore on the advanced search form). 

I think if BUYERS were required to ship back items on their own dime, they may start reading those descriptions. LOL... Now there is no need, just pick a lie and get a label to send (at least something) back.  That is how it was. Less drama, and less lying because you didn't read and see that doll was missing a leg. 

As others have said,  no description, no sale.  Use an AI description, that does not address size, material, condition issues, etc. NO SALE..... UNLESS

the buyer is lazy and not informed.  Bought plenty of those "nice spoon, see pics" $10 listings with only that for the description.  This is because I saw what it was, bought it for $10, and flipped that 'nice 19th century Tiffany soup spoon' for a couple of hundred as soon as I got it delivered.  I might even have done the same if it was touted as a "must have" and a "conversation starter that brought joy to my entire family"   So there is that...LOL. 

[inhawaii]

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@frecklesfinery88 wrote:

 Would you as a seller agree with this?

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No.

Not having a description is ridiculous.

[yuzuha]

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@frecklesfinery88 wrote:

Family member saw a Youtube eBay show. Seller said he never leaves description for items unless it has a defect. Because 8 out of 10 buyers do not read description and only look at a couple photos.  Would you as a seller agree with this?

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Absolutely not. I sell many items with small flaws. Never once have I had a single buyer complain because I always fully detail the flaws in the title, description AND photos. They know exactly what they are buying and so it doesn't bother them that the item isn't perfect because they had that knowledge before they ever made the purchase.

[itsjustasprain]

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@frecklesfinery88 wrote:

Wow, well as I stated I didn't post to get critiqued.  I wish that  you that were looking were shoppers! Haha

We do our very best to provide accurate information and photos. We always are happy to answer questions as well.

I hope this topic added to your day and it was fun.

Thanks

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Oh I assure you that I am a shopper and I would buy any of your items if they fit my needs. Your photos are also good - better than a lot I have seen.

The topic here looked like it was morphing a little from whether descriptions are worth the effort (yes - definitely) to whether AI is helpful for writing descriptions (mostly no) so I just browsed a few and only wrote about the sample problems I saw because the problems I saw are quick fixes but also could result in a Not As Described return if the buyer does not spot the inconsistencies between the AI-generated text and the photos. 

[johnrj1226]

My bad  meant for the OP.    Relax

[dbfolks166mt]

     A lot of drivers don't stop at stop signs either but like the YouTuber they do so at their own risk. No description just adds to the potential for NAD claims. 

[dogofwar777]

I never buy an item if there is no description. Sometimes pictures don't show everything and defects could be hidden. I bought a book once based on pictures and no description and when I got it, there was mold along the side that the seller didn't take a picture of. I got my money back, but refuse to buy anything without a decent description.

[714ricki]

I always write a description for my listings. Use it as an extension of your photos & listing title. The description also helps to reduce the amount of general inquiries from potential buyers. Of course, there are buyers who don't read the descriptions.  However, I prefer to have a description in the listing. 

[redlinear]

Some days it seems like NOBODY reads descriptions.
Some days it seems like EVERYTHING you sold is being returned.
   But, that's just how it seems.
I have an Insane Amount of competition (MILLIONS of listings) that basically have no description.
Every time I check any of those sellers "sold" items.  I leave wondering why they even bother attempting to sell on eBay.  Their number of sold items is pathetic.
And the reason is, No descriptions.  

[steve_stuff]

"never leaves description"

We love all 'no description' sellers and hope that ever seller who lists the same things as us would stop writing descriptions. Same reason we love others using AL. And the ones who think that 'condition is used' or 'condition is good' or 'see photos' is a description.

And the one's who have the original box in the photo but never mentions it in the description or title. Love them.

We love the sellers who answer question like "Can't tell from the photos and not stated in title or text - All different or are there duplicates?" with "All are vintage" [real question/reply]

And the ones who never reply? Love them.

We love all sellers who are lazy or just 'do things wrong' - less competition

[chariot_badges]

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@my-cottage-books-and-antiques wrote:

@frecklesfinery88 

Sellers are a diverse group, with diverse goals and diverse business models. One size doesn't fit all. That's true of writing descriptions as well. 

And, in my case, I'm a small seller of vintage and used stuff. If I were selling other stuff, or if I had other goals, etc, I might feel differently about writing descriptions. But since you asked about our personal opinions....I write what I please. LOL Many of my listings have pretty short descriptions. Some are longer. I have a 30 day free return policy, so I don't spend a lot of time worrying about whether a buyer read the full description before buying or not (or examined the photos carefully). If they decide to return it, they will, regardless of what they actually read or didn't. Yes, it is doubtless more "efficient" to leave the description blank (or do as many sellers do, simply repeat the title) But like I said, I'm a small seller and , while being efficient is generally a good thing, I don't feel a lot of pressure to be as efficient as say, an Amazon warehouse.

Here's a description I wrote the other day, because I felt like writing it that way. I could have kept it much shorter. The information about the tea room and the funny Silent Cal story won't prevent an INAD. Will they help make the sale? Maybe. Maybe not. I don't worry too much about that. If it helps, great. If it doesn't...well, my time is my time, and if I choose to spend a bit of extra time on the description, that's my choice. 

"Colorful hand decorated transferware souvenir plate with a floral border and central motif of the " Home of President Coolidge Plymouth Vermont". The mark on the bottom indicates this was made by Adams Pottery, in Staffordshire England and marketed as Old English Staffordshire Ware, imported to the USA by JonRoth for Ruth M. Aldrich of Plymouth, Vermont. Ruth operated the nearby Top of the Notch Tea Room & Gift Shop, where this was undoubtedly purchased by a traveler in that more genteel time. (probably the 1930s or 1940s.)

President Calvin Coolidge  (served 1923 - 1929) was known as "Silent Cal" , legendary for his dry wit and his frugality with words. My favorite example, although some claim it is apocryphal, is this: his wife recounted that a young woman sitting next to Coolidge at a dinner party confided to him she had bet she could get at least three words of conversation from him. Without looking at her, he quietly stated " you lose. "

Condition: very nice condition, with some light overall crazing, but I see no chips, cracks or other issues. I would not hesitate to give this as a gift."

Like I say, that might not get read at all. And, if it is read, it might not move the reader to buy. Was it a good use of my time? Well, that's just it....it's MY time, I'm not on the clock at ebay corporate headquarters, so I'll do as a I please. LOL

My advice: do as you please. Whatever works for you is fine.

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I didn't read it all myself.

Fell asleep half way through, I dreamt of better days ... 

[adamcartwright]

I think the answer depends on both what you're selling and whether you're a "do unto others" person or not.

[adamcartwright]

I would be very wary of YouTubers.

[itemresa]

My honest opinion:

Never base your business decisions on what you see in a YouTube video. At best a YouTube video might cause you to ask a question you'd never ask, usually they're just a bunch of misinformation posted by folks who don't know it's misinformation.

[chapeau-noir]

Got to agree with the above two posts. Online selling "advice" has got to be one of the more misinformed and ego-driven so-called 'information' sectors on YT, specializing in gross generalization.

At any rate, I don't care if someone thinks "nobody" reads descriptions - these individuals "Nobody" and "Everybody" do a lot of heavy lifting, but who are they, really? Never met 'em. The fact is, some will read descriptions and some won't. Not my problem - I write a description anyway.