SO MANY ADS WITH BLURRY PHOTOS, ADS SHOWING ONLY FOLDED UP ITEMS, LAYING RULERS NEAR SOMETHING!!! ...AND FAULTY AI DESCRIPTIONS AND IDENTIFICATIONS
Summary: sharokeith expressed frustration with eBay sellers who don't provide clear photos and accurate descriptions for their items. They suggested the ability to rate ads based on quality without making a purchase and criticized the use of AI for composing listings. The discussion touched on issues with seller communication and excessive emails from eBay. Participants offered various perspectives, with some suggesting ignoring bad listings, not leaving feedback if unwanted, and other practical advice. Others pointed out the challenges of changing seller behaviors on such a large platform and the potential for buyers to be blocked by sellers.
I've been a happy buyer for many years. I'm currently collecting some vintage fabrics for a project. I love ebay! We get to find stuff we could spend years looking for with feet on the ground. I've purchased about 10 pieces of fabric for my project so far, from various sellers. Online shopping is an act of faith. BUYERS need to post CLEAR photos showing FULL IMAGES of items. I don't need to see a whole 10 yards opened out and photographed, but 2 of those yards would be good. Some sellers show this cutsie swirled up image that totally obliterates the print on the fabric and any flaws. Some just show folded up yardage and a close up of a few sections.
I know laying a ruler near a print shows the scale, but in many other type ads sellers just lay a ruler down NEAR SOMETHING in multiple photos to let us guess the measurements? Are modern sellers unable to read rulers, yardsticks and tape measures? You could say, just don't buy from them, but if you are looking for specific things and that ad has it - I have to write and ask and try not to include my frustration in my requests for actual measurements, additional photos showing the whole item IN FOCUS, or at least a significant section of yardage that is easy for them to open up and photograph. I look through hundreds or thousands of ads to find specific things.
TOO MANY Sellers seem to have no concern for buyer convenience in finding their ads, reading descriptions and studying photos. BLURRY PHOTOS ARE INSULTING AND A WASTE OF TIME AND ENERGY - when they have something you are looking for. Writing to sellers and waiting 2 days, sometimes, for an answer HURTS THEIR BUSINESS. A complete ad means a buyer can be satisfied with what is presented in the ad, feel confident, not have to politely ask for information that should have been included. And, guess what? When buyers hit a brick wall of lack of information and have to wait for an answer, we go look at other ads and see if we can do better - find what we want from a seller that understands what buyers need to see.
AI RANT: AI is incapable of distinguishing FALSE INFORMATION from FACTS when it searches for data. AI scans photos and attempts to compile facts from shapes similar to other shapes. AI has no concerns for honesty or accuracy in "ITEM DESCRIPTION FROM THE SELLER" and sellers seem to fail to read and understand ebay's disclaimer: "Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing." Sellers seem to believe everything AI composes for their ad is gospel and that they, the seller, has no responsibility to research and veryify facts. Sadly, false AI descriptions are filling the internet, but it is possible to research and ads should not have unverified information. THAT PROTECTS SELLER & BUYER.
SUGGESTION: If ebay wants to dump the responsibility of training sellers on buyers, at least give us the ability to RATE THE ADS, WITHOUT BUYING. I'm suggesting a 1 - 5 star rating for the quality of the ad and multiple choices - NO COMMENTS. Tick boxes: blurry photos, no measurements, conflicting details and descriptions, item only partially photographed, shipping too high, photos don't match title, maybe more. When I expressed my disagreement with having to leave feed back I was very angrily chewed out by a seller cursing me and cussing at me. If I don't leave negative feed back sellers keep their 100% positive status, right? I do leave feed back if the seller really messed up with poor packaging and something arrives broken and I have to message them several times, take time to photograph and send report, start a return.... If they own their responsibility and do the right thing, I leave positive feedback with a note that there was a problem, but seller handled it quickly and professionally.
ALSO: Shopping on ebay has become exhausting with so many failures on seller's parts to clearly describe their items with accurate words, measurements and photos. I chatted in a Seller forum the other day expressing my disappointments with ad quality. A seller was concerned about buyers that don't leave feedback. I HATE LEAVING FEED BACK. The page for it is primative and time consuming. I suggest giving all seller's 5 star POSITIVE feedback unless the seller has a complaint and leaves that feed back.
AND GOOD GOD! I DON'T NEED AN EMAIL EVERYTIME A PURCHASE JUMPS A HURDLE IN THE PROGRESS FROM SALE TO DELIVERY. Sometimes I buy 10 things in a week. THAT'S 50 EMAILS!!!!!!! or more. That's one of the reasons I don't have time to bother with feedback.
pickapaper
·3 weeks agoSorry to tell you this but all of the things you are complaining about are not going to change. eBay is not going to "train" or "oversee" 18 Million sellers selling more than 2 Billion items. And buyers rating a seller's ad? You are joking, right?
You need to be aware that sellers can block a buyer from buying from them for any reason. (One of the few benefits that sellers have.) If you ask a seller too many questions or they see the negatives you have left for others, many will not want to deal with you. If you are put on a seller's BBL and send them a follow-up message, they will not see it, thus you will receive no reply.
simba6
·3 weeks agoWon't help the items to sell.
christworks
·3 weeks agoQuestion: How does one announce they are a problem buyer without saying they are a problem buyer?
Answer: They post a long, angry rant in a public forum full of sellers, many of whom scroll anonymously.
I find it ironic that you are here to moan about the quality of listings from sellers, but your post is full of grammatical and spelling errors. I could teach you, as you seem to think eBay teaches sellers, but I don't have time for that.
Then there is all the screaming. WHEN YOU TYPE IN ALL CAPS ONLINE IT IS CONSIDERED YELLING. I don't know who you are yelling at, but they aren't here. You seem to like to type in all caps with you leave feedback as well. Your poor, angry, bitter attitude was noted by me as I read through the feedback you have left sellers. One seller responded that they refunded you and allowed you to keep the item, yet you still sent them angry messages along with an angry feedback.
I was going to offer some thoughts on your post here, but there are people who are more worthy of my time. Plus, I like being around joyous people.
lady_madonna
·3 weeks ago@sharokeith
Savvy buyers can choose to refrain from purchasing items when the listing does not show clear and explicit photos of the item being sold and if the description does not accurately describe the item concisely. Just move on.
If you "hate leaving feedback", then don't do it. You are not required to do so.
Not sure what the several emails from Ebay regarding the status of your order has to do with leaving feedback. There is no correlation.
sharokeith
OP3 weeks agoLOOKING AT AND DELETING UNNECESSARY EMAILS IS JUST MORE WORK FOR ME CREATED BY EBAY. I DON'T MINDLESSLY BUY. IF I WONDER WHERE AN ITEM I PAID FOR IS, I CHECK TRACKING FOR MY PURCHASES. IF SOMETHING HASN'T SHIPPED FOR TOO LONG OR HAS MISSED THE DELIVERY DATE, I LOOK INTO IT. EBAY SENDS AN EMAIL WHEN I PURCHASE, WHEN ITEM IS AWAITING SHIPPING, WHEN TRACKING IS AVAILABLE, IF PROJECTED DELIVERY DATE CHANGES, WHEN THE CARRIER HAS MY PACKAGE OUT FOR DELIVERY, AND WHEN IT ARRIVES. I DO APPRECIATE AN EMAIL WHEN AN ITEM IS IN MY MAIL BOX OR OUTSIDE MY HOUSE. BUT THE OTHER 6 ARE UNNECESSARY.
I KNOW I DON'T HAVE TO BUY FROM SELLERS WITH BAD ADS, BUT IF THEY HAVE THE THING I'M LOOKING FOR, I JUST MIGHT.
SELLERS SEEM TO BE JUDGING BUYERS BY IF THEY GIVE FEED BACK OR NOT. THAT'S STRANGE. MY MONEY IS GOOD AND I HAVE NO HISTORY OF FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT DAMAGE OR LOST SHIPMENT. IF I WIN AN AUCTION, I ALMOST ALWAYS PAY IMMEDIATELY. (NOT YELLING. CAPS ARE EASIER FOR ME TO READ WHEN I PROOFREAD.)
roccotacodad54
·3 weeks agoFeel better now?
pickapaper
·3 weeks ago"I KNOW I DON'T HAVE TO BUY FROM SELLERS WITH BAD ADS, BUT IF THEY HAVE THE THING I'M LOOKING FOR, I JUST MIGHT."
If a buyer has an item you want to buy, buy it. If is arrives and you are happy with it, great. If not, file a claim and send it back for a refund. I know you said that is a "huge inconvenience" for you to have to return something, but that's the way it works.
"SELLERS SEEM TO BE JUDGING BUYERS BY IF THEY GIVE FEED BACK OR NOT. THAT'S STRANGE. MY MONEY IS GOOD AND I HAVE NO HISTORY OF FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT DAMAGE OR LOST SHIPMENT."
Why is it strange? Sellers sometimes want to know who they are dealing with and feedback is a good way to see. A good example is the feedback you left for the seller who made a mistake with what she sent you. It was a mistake, not intentional. She apologized and gave you a refund and let you keep the items yet you couldn't let it go. I believe her when she said you kept messaging her with uncalled for messages. What seller wants to deal with that?
janet9988
·3 weeks agoYour suggestions are just falling on deaf ears. Ebay is not on these boards to see your post.