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AI descriptions are truly awful
While some people may think AI descriptions are useful, to me as a buyer they're a red flag, suggesting that the seller is either lazy or know next to nothing about the item being sold. The cheesy 50s advertising language ("experience the thrill of...", "a must-have item", "buy one today") and the repetition of tired phrases from item to item ("sleek design", "vintage gem") are often at the expense of anything sensible relating to them item—like, for instance, does it actually work? In one bound some sellers have leapt from the uselessly brief "Condition is Used" (duh) to the uselessly inflated blather produced by AI. If you can't describe it yourself, how can you expect me to buy it?
85 comments
kh-vince
·2 years agoHi everyone,
Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.
Thank you for understanding.
sextons-sweet-deals
·2 years agoWhen I see an AI description listing, I move on.
It tells me the seller is lazy and reminds me of those late-night TV con adds which I just don't understand how they are even allowed.
southern*sweet*tea
·2 years ago***Please read this post with the heavy sarcasm that is intended***
I mean come on, y'all! AI makes the mundane sound so exciting!
Which would you rather see:
Get your hands on these high-quality Rustler jeans, perfect for any casual occasion. The relaxed fit and straight style provide maximum comfort, while the dark wash denim fabric gives off a stylish and trendy vibe. These jeans come in size 40 with a waist size of 40 inches and an inseam of 29 inches, making them a great fit for most men. The zipper closure and pockets are a few of the many features that make these jeans a reliable and practical choice. Crafted in Mexico with top-quality materials, these jeans are sure to make a lasting impression. Don't miss out on the chance to add these Rustler jeans to your wardrobe today!
OR
All the puffery and unnecessary wording makes those jeans sound sooooo exciting and desirable! Isn't that what it's all about? Who wants just the plain facts anymore?
lotzofuniquegoodies
·2 years ago@southern*sweet*tea
Almost got whopped in the head with a case of grains of salt reading your post. 🤣 Totally agree. Much rather option 2 than the dribble drabble of AI generated double speak. Tongue in cheek is the only way to travel on eBay...Fully by the seat of your pants!!!
-Lotz
<~~Calls em as he Tea's em!!! Ooops...sees em!!!
PS. Were you making reference to Dragnet?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgYbogp1Ha0
az93
·2 years agoAnd yet the items sell. Go figure.
packitonmyback
·2 years agoLoathe.
I am so sick of reading the same sales pitch summary when I just want facts about the item.
Ugh. It's gross, it's demeaning, it's impersonal and lacks any credibility from my point of view.
Please don't make me read a commercial about the item.
Please just tell if it's clean, new, old, whatever.
einthedatadog
·2 years agoThe issue I have is I don't go shopping on eBay looking for something I don't already know the basics about. I want to know as many details about the exact copy of something I'm looking to buy. I want details about condition, etc.- I don't need to be sold on the product as an idea, I need to be sold on the the individual one I'm looking at pics of.
istell
·2 years agoJust the facts, ma'am. That's all I want when I'm reading descriptions. I don't want all that useless, flowery language.
elan14
·2 years agoSo true, at times the AI diction and understanding of the item being sold is ridiculous. As said before, sellers should read the AI description of their item before listing, if not, they either don't understand or are too lazy to do it themselves.
lotzofuniquegoodies
·2 years ago@elan14
Proof reading them before committing to eBay would be the safe responsible thing to do. Vs taking a chance and risk the potential for INAD's. The old garbage in....Garbage out scenario!!
-Lotz
simba6
·2 years agoI hope it does not leave out space age and jet age ?
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoOne thing that I noticed about the AI pulling from IS's, it also pulled from my seller-created IS (which normally would not show up in search - I have it for buyer convenience), which is the measurements. It seems to read any IS whether it's written into the system or just seller created.
a_c_green
·2 years agoI imagine it would, though I think it also gives preference to the seller's Item Specifics over those it pulls from elsewhere. I've seen some listings where the IS values were wildly wrong (I think the seller did a Sell Similar on some other completely-different item of his own), and the AI description he called up cheerfully described them with those equally-wrong values as well.
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoYes, the IS and the title are where it gets its data. I just thought it was interesting that even those IS's that are NOT recognized by eBay are still picked up by AI.
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoI have no idea of this is real or not, but it cracked me up (I suspect it isn't because of the grammatical error of "it's").
(Narrator: Not grammatical error, author is hallucinating) 
itsjustasprain
·2 years agoLOL! Actually the contraction is correct in that usage although adding the word "that" before it would be better. It certainly does sound like real AI (is that a thing?) that might have picked up some false-positive comments by mistake. Definitely shows that you should only use AI as a starting point and not a crutch.
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoYou're right - I re-read. I must have been 'hallucinating' lol. I see so much awful spelling now that I see it everywhere and immediately thought "Aaaaaaaaaaah! More apostrophe abuse!"
"That" would have made the meaning more clear, yes.
But!
Here's a thing. I tried a sample listing. Here is the title:
Cheap Brand Awful Sweater Really Pilled Frumpy with Holes All Over It Smelly
Here is my description:
This is a perfectly awful sweater that I got at Target. It's just full of holes and has pilling and some kind of nasty sticky stuff down the front. It also smells like dead rats.
Here is the AI description:
This black sweater from Target is a versatile addition to your wardrobe. The chunky-knit, V-neck pullover with long sleeves is perfect for all seasons. It measures 46" at the bust, 62" at the hip/hem, and 31" in length from the shoulder, making it a regular fit for a size M. The knit fabric is made up of a blend of Elastomultiester, Polyester, Animal Hair, Alfa, Guanaco, and Acrylic materials. This sweater is perfect for those who want to add a cozy and stylish touch to their outfit without worrying about the condition. The sweater has a solid pattern and can be worn to any occasion. It's a great deal for those looking for a cheap brand sweater.
RELENTLESSLY positive!
lotzofuniquegoodies
·2 years ago@aramatic I'm the same way. It has turned the kazillion eBay listings into listings that rarely stand out because all listings are starting to look the same vs Heyyyyy, that sounds like something worth purchasing because seller has put effort into the process. Do the words "good enough" seem fitting going forward to what we are seeing/finding as the new way for "some" to create a listing? Even the revised built in spellchecker in the listing tool is very flawed. I routinely type words that are not words in any stretch of the imagination. Did AI add them because someone saved that as real?
Thanks for the example @chapeau-noir . Describes the "flaws" of eBay AI perfectly.
Does anyone still remember the olden days of eBay. Reminding it to myself makes me very older. Mind you eBay has made me feel older all by itself.
👴
When sellers were supposed to describe to the best of their ability, describe any flaws, imperfections and/or missing parts. And buyers were supposed to read those details because hitting the buy now or bid was a commitment. Both of those concepts have basically flown out of the window. I'm sorry AI or see pictures are not an actual description. Just like I changed my mind or found a better price are reasons to back out. Hey, just sayin!!
-Lotz
eBay today....Hairless tomorrow!!!
Disclaimer: I did not add Heyyyyyy to the dictionary in case anyone was worried!!
rockyroadtradingpost
·2 years agoI agree that they sound like word salad -- like a resume written by a resume service -- but don't write them off so quickly.
I had a valuable item that wasn't selling, despite many views. I changed my description to the AI description, and it sold pretty quickly.
strugglinlikeyou
·2 years agoWay too syrupy for me. Instantly recognizable as AI. Does a collector need to be told it will be a nice addition to their collection?
Reminds of Elaine and Mr. Peterman on Seinfeld pounding out their marketing drivel.
I keep my descriptions bare bones and to the point.
mrsimpulsive
·2 years agoYou're 100% correct. I have been using the AI description because I have carpal tunnel syndrome and can't constantly type up my descriptions. It's bad enough that I can only post 3 listings per day if I'm lucky.
I may have to find another AI assistant.
dhbookds
·2 years agoI don't like AI and won't use it.............but have to say there are probably an equal number of absolutely poor seller generated descriptions (or none at all)..............
itsjustasprain
·2 years agoTrue. Having an AI description (that you also have not even bothered to proofread after clicking the button) is just another category of bad listing. I am already seeing AI descriptions in the items I search for the most starting to form into an amorphous blob that says the same thing for the same product each time.
This is an obvious outcome when you do not write anything yourself and instead lean on AI to look back over all the past descriptions of the same item. As the percentage of AI-written descriptions for that item grows higher and higher it will be harder for AI to say anything different about this latest listing.
Good God people... If you cannot be bothered to write the slightest details about whatever it is you are selling then AI is not going to save you from yourself.
vintagecraze50
·2 years agoYeah, It’s dangerous for a novice seller not knowing Exactly WHAT TO PUT IN THE ITEM SPECIFICS section before using the AI desrciption. You must put ALL the important specifics of the item so that the AI picks it up describing the item.
vintagecraze50
·2 years agoI have to edit them if I use them. Some important aspects of the item need to be added for me. Many people in my category of fine jewelry are not using them very well. They are setting themselves up for not as described if they do not know what they are dealing with and add the specific that are necessary.
dollocity
·2 years agoI'm not lazy. LOL Know why i tried it on a few? I was hoping the dumb ai would like me better and start showing my items. Ha 🙂
nicholas12
·2 years agoI think ai descriptions have a place for certain listings such as new in the box items The buyer knows what they are getting and could care less about the description. I personally deal in vintage and used items where the description is as important and necessary as the photos. I refuse to buy or list an item with ai.
selsa84
·2 years agoAgree. Also most sellers using them don't put any item condition in the listing. Funny how the al always seems to say" a must have for any collector". Purchased 6 or more items where the seller has used the ai description and most where in bad bad condition.
steve_stuff
·2 years ago'ai' is still in it's infancy.
I can't wait till it advances to puberty and gets an attitude, and starts writing descriptions like 'whatever' and 'see the uploaded photos, that's what there there for' or "I'm not hungry!" and "LEAVE ME ALONG!!"
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoI've been playing with the AI descriptions and notice that they use the same phrasing and word order for just about every piece of clothing I list with a few IS details punched in.
toomuchstuffagain35
·2 years agoNot to mention the "must-have"s and the "highly sought after"s and such phrases.
itsjustasprain
·2 years agoYes - 'must-have' in particular. The AI bot used on Ebay here seems to have a major fixation with that phrase.
selsa84
·2 years agoSaw an ai description for a 1998 penny (literally worth one cent) and it said it was a must have. Pathetic
tightwad_kid
·2 years agoThere AI is truly horrible and almost comical. I can not use it to sell and cringe when I see many of the others listings.
simba6
·2 years agoKeeps me from looking at their items.
Makes you wonder how students think they can turn in that pablum as a term paper?
anglophile62
·2 years agoWhen you have woke idiots as professors, who likely worship at the AI alter, anything goes as long as it's PC, woke and uses multiple pronouns.
itsjustasprain
·2 years agoWhat is your understanding of what the term 'woke' means?
luckythewinner
·2 years agoIMHO sales for listings with AI descriptions - or the lack thereof - will inform sellers whether they are useful or not.
prof_in_pa
·2 years agoTotally agree. If I use it all, I will keep the first sentence or two which identifies the item and a few specifications and then delete the remaining 500 words of flowery generic garbage that reads like advertising from China " this toilet plunger will bring joy and excitement to your entire family"
ittybitnot
·2 years ago" this toilet plunger will bring joy and excitement to your entire family"
@prof_in_pa
That is soooo funny! Perhaps add " a must have stylish addition to your toilet plunger collection"....
I used to think there was some college course that taught "double speak" or "corporate speak" i.e. how to talk in big words and nonsense for a half hour or so and say absolutely nothing.... now nobody has to sign up for that course, they can just use the computer?? Every time I read the speeches and Q & A responses from the ceo... I think AI.
reallynicestamps
·2 years ago500 words of flowery generic garbage that reads like advertising from China " this toilet plunger will bring joy and excitement to your entire family"
Better than a poop knife.
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoI bought a step stool that annihilated my family with joy and excitement - Uncle Bob had to be taken to the hospital for an almost lethal case of the hiccups. Without AI, we would never have realised the power inherent in inanimate household objects! We're really looking forward to that plunger.
batvette
·2 years agoThis thread needs 100 thumbs up
It insults my intelligence as a buyer. It thinks I know nothing about the product already, or need a sales pitch to buy it. Im already here looking at it, dont waste my time telling me why I need it when YOU dont even seem to know. Its so bad as a buyer I certainly wont use it as a seller.
As said it suggests the seller is lazy, knows nothing about the product, or wont provide their own description because its faulty and they think they can baffle me with **bleep** instead.
steve_stuff
·2 years agoJust saw our first AI (Absolutely Illiterate) description - after I stopped laughing I copied and put here -
"Own a piece of music history with this rare and collectible XXXX soundtrack from 1970. This first pressing LP features various artists and includes the iconic film score/soundtrack for your listening pleasure. The record is made of high-quality vinyl and has been graded as Excellent (EX), while the cardboard sleeve is in Very Good Plus (VG+) condition.
The record label is XXXXX Records and the record size is 12". It comes with a black color and a DJ copy. The inlay, sleeve, and release title are all in excellent condition. The aspects of this LP are as follows: Speed - 33 RPM, Type - LP, Format - Record, and Genre - Soundtracks & Musicals. Don't miss the chance to add this gem to your collection."
Forget about the fact that the seller didn't think that song titles or band names were important enough to type out, or even take a photo of the label ...
Nobody talks like that - nobody writes like that - nobody 'thinks' like that.
ed8108
·2 years agoAI creating a desire for the item leading the buyer to expect they will experience pride of ownership & additional happiness within their life by the ownership & possession of this item.
ed8108
·2 years agoReadings in Consumer motivation & behavior can be valuable in helping you to construct different appeals to use in attempting to attract more buyers
toomuchstuffagain35
·2 years agoBut isn't that really all Marketing 101 is about?
ed8108
·2 years agoI would suggest going beyond 100 & 200 level marketing readings & university courses with particular focus on what will likely be of greatest benefit for you.
toomuchstuffagain35
·2 years agoAnd some of the greatest salesmen have never taken a single marketing course.
Go figure.
ed8108
·2 years agoLike it or not, Ebay AI described items will be in your future
anglophile62
·2 years agoHopefully not because I purchase from humans not bots.
25kenwood
·2 years agoMy concern is the unnecessary lengthiness of these descriptions. I don't read descriptions that are more than three sentences long myself. Buyers are going to miss pertinent information related to actual item condition if there is too much content to sift through. Maybe they would be fine for new items.
sfau
·2 years agoI have used a couple because they are kind of funny -but I always have my own as well.
redlinear
·2 years agoAll this is based on the pretext that buyers actually read listings 😂
anglophile62
·2 years agoMany of us do....and will refuse to buy from a seller who doesn't take the time to write a decent listing, provide useful pics and respond to questions.
dwise3671
·2 years agoThe AI descriptions are indeed terrible. They provide no value. They are also often wrongly describing the item, which is a problem. Over hyped is an understatement with these descriptions. For example, my spouse wants to make a quilt from old bed sheets. The condition of some of these sheets on eBay is pretty gross. The AI descriptions really make it sound like you’re going to get a better product than is pictured. Setting the seller up for a return and a negative feedback.
pennpicker
·2 years agoNoticed a painting yesterday with an AI description. Displays normal wear and exhibits no condition issues. Final sentence of AI description says, "Damaged but still a find!"
steve_stuff
·2 years agoWe love AI - would never use it - but we love it and hope that ever seller who lists the same things as us would use it.
We love AL just as much as we love the sellers listing the same things as us, who think that 'condition is used' or 'condition is good' or 'see photos' is a description.
Or "Steven King IT book" is a title and no need to check any IS not mandated.
Or the one's who have the original box in the photo but never mentions it in the description or title.
Or the record seller who lists a copy of 'Hey Jude' and doesn't check the IS for single or album.
The sellers who don't use the style/model numbers, like most boot sellers. Do you have any idea how many 'Justin brown cowboy boots size whatever' there are up for sale?
The boot sellers who think cowboy boots have laces.
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 in our categorizes who do things wrong as they make us look so much better.
4pawsup*
·2 years agoThe few sample ai descriptions for the category i sell were great. I enjoy writing my own descriptions for the items i sell but i have to say the history that was added to the few sample descriptions i saw were really good.
There is a place for them if they are used as a tool to add to your own description. I would not use them as the sole description of my items. JMO
lux.ra_14
·2 years agoTwo excerpts from an AI book description I just read:
"Published by Penguin Publishing Group in 1969, this book has a weight of 320.7 ounces and is written in English."
"This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys an entertaining and informative read."
The first is inaccurate, and the second is generic and meaningless. The book was actually published by Viking and weighs a whole lot less than 320.7 ounces (20+ pounds!)
marnotom!
·2 years agoIn fairness, Viking is now an imprint of the Penguin Group, so I can see where that information came from.
tightwad_kid
·2 years agoWell stated. Its like saying batteries not included and then saying how good the batteries are.
dhbookds
·2 years agoif buyers don't like the description........presumably they won't buy the product........
but have to say.........many descriptions today are one line........"This is a used x and works fine"...... and they ain't fine either.
treasuresfromtanya
·2 years agoI hate the thought of AI dipping it's fingers into anything or everything. Photography isn't real, writing isn't real...we are human and if someone cannot write their own descriptions...then they shouldn't be selling something online sight unseen. I don't know what to believe anymore, nothing is real and this blows! & it's only going downhill from here. It's false, it's fake and it will take over.
linda7913
·2 years agoI am for computers helping us do our tasks, but the key word is "helping" not doing things for us that we should be doing ourselves. I will always write my own descriptions, figure out my own creativity, etc. When we embrace AI, do we really know what we're doing? Are we giving up our humanity or humanness (if that's a word?)? Maybe not right now while AI is in its infancy, but how about years later when the machine has "learned?" Right now, we can tell when something is AI written, but there may come a time when we can't tell. Then what?
As I say, I like computers, but I have worked with them since DOS was a thing. Before Windows. So, I see them as an aid, but I am still in command of what they do.
b86fiero
·2 years agoI understand your concerns. I agree, AI should be an assistant, not a dictator.
Have you read the novel "Crucible" by James Rollins? Lots of scientific facts about current iterations of AI woven into a thrill ride of a story about AI advancing beyond what humans have programmed into it. Once AI is smarter than all humans will it deem humans inferior? Then what happens? AI is already militarized and engaging perceived enemies.
anglophile62
·2 years agoI think it's called "Skynet".
inhawaii
·2 years agoHave you tasted the IA "flavored" Coke? Yuck!
toomuchstuffagain35
·2 years agoIowan Coke is different? Do tell?
steve_stuff
·2 years ago"Iowan Coke is different? Do tell?"
Actually back in 1973 when I went to college there it was and most likely still is - Just like the ones in CA and the ones here in New Mexico - at least to the cans I got in Brooklyn. It's the locally bottling with local water. The only thing that's the same in any can/bottle of coke is the syrup.
byrd69er
·2 years agoNo, but I've snorted some.
theteamsetguy
·2 years ago@inhawaii ,
Rumor has it the AI flavored Coke goes well with gummy pickles from Gedney’s. You might want to bundle a few cans of it with the pickles.
deltilogical
·2 years agoIts not an AI. They can't even get the search right; they have not rolled out an AI. We're supposed to get all excited and dizzy because they said "AI".
ajs_coins_and_alchemy
·2 years agoOkay ...
Whats worst in your eyes. You can rank them if you like...
A) Nothing (blank description)
B) Repeated Title
C) AI Description
Let's be honest, someone who writes their own meaningful, carefully crafted, descriptions is unlikely to hand it over to AI very easily. At the "quality" or lack thereof currently found in AI descriptions now, seller will opt to continue writing their own. I think AI descriptions are ALTERNATIVES to blank descriptions or repeated titles....
ittybitnot
·2 years agoWhats worst in your eyes.
@ajs_coins_and_alchemy
At least with the "nothing" or "repeated title" or even the 'nice item see pics' (non)description I can employ the back button a lot sooner. The A1 version simply wastes my time reading the drivel only to find it is a 'nothing' statement anyway that never addresses size, material, condition (anything that makes it NOT mint), etc.
On a lighter side, you may want to see Post #13 Here:
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/AI-generated-titles-and-descriptions/td-p/34061076/page/2
Or another all time favorite Post #26 Here:
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Using-AI-For-Description/td-p/34038088/page/3
itsjustasprain
·2 years ago@shipscript gets my Post of the Year nomination for that one. 😂 Direct link to #26 here:
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Using-AI-For-Description/m-p/34040429#M2291627
marnotom!
·2 years agoDon't forget Chinglish descriptions. Those can be just as off-putting as AI.
And, yes, using AI is a seller's choice, and it will be up to the market to decide whether or not these sellers have made a wise choice. Agree that AI descriptions were likely devised to be an alternative to just about anything except a well-crafted human-generated description.
tightwad_kid
·2 years agoI go with C.
I cringe over the AI description.
inhawaii
·2 years agoI agree.
Nothin' like a good ole human description.
itsjustasprain
·2 years agoI would say that AI descriptions are simply introducing a new form of 'awful' to add to the other ways that a listing by a bad seller makes it bad.
Once I realize that I am reading an AI description (which I realize maybe 5 words into the first sentence) then I basically ignore whatever its saying and look to the photos to try and judge if the thing is worth buying. The content of the AI description seems to be mainly sucked from the Item Specifics so I will look at the IS entries as well as the photos. But finding an AI description is generally a red flag that the seller cannot be bothered to put any effort into accurately describing his product.
I dont need an essay - especially if its just endless babble.
anjofak
·2 years agoHumans are antiques.
hcarlyon
·2 years agoI’m really having trouble with AI descriptions.
I will not buy anything that has AI descriptions because they are so awful and suggest the sellers do not consider it important enough to include a proper description and condition of the item being sold.
Sort it out eBay.
zero29zero
·2 years agoebay's AI pitchman reminds me of a parrot that only knows a limited number of words & phrases and keeps mindlessly squawking them out over & over & over & over again
toomuchstuffagain35
·2 years agoBut...but...AI is a "must have"
byrd69er
·2 years ago....or maybe compared to pulling the string on the back of a doll?