New eBay Explore AI Powered Recommendation Feed

Heads up - eBay's got a new AI tool in the wild and this one could have some interesting impacts on sellers!

I first saw it when browsing the UK site (which is why these screenshots are for UK), but even though there is not a yet a link in the navigation on the .com home page, I was able to extrapolate the link structure and find it is live on the US site as well and it works pretty much the same way there as in UK.

https://www.ebay.com/explore

First, you choose an interest to personalize your feed - for now only clothing categories are available, but eBay says new interests across Home Decor, Collectibles and more are coming soon.

Once you've selected an interest, eBay populates a page with items discovered using AI.

Notice there are no titles or seller details shown, only a price and in some cases a brand name. ðŸ‘€

It's not entirely clear what would cause the brand name to appear for some items and not others, as all the examples I looked at had the brand name item specific filled in on the listing page.

None of the results shown during this testing were labeled as "sponsored" so it would seem eBay is not yet including Promoted Listings ads in the feature, or if they are, they are not properly designated as such as legally required.

If you click on an item, it does not take you to the item page - it displays a quick view pop up window instead. (Side note - also interesting to note that in the UK, the quick view pop up only has a view details button and does not allow the buyer to go directly to checkout without looking at the listing, unlike the US...maybe a regulatory requirement difference?)

All of the thumbnails displayed in eBay Explore also have the "search visually similar" icon in the lower left corner, and clicking that icon will display more results that also do not show any titles or seller details.

So what do y'all think about the lack of title and seller info and the Quick View pop up?

I can see how this might potentially be useful for buyers to browse and discover items but I have to admit I personally don't really like that it pretty much strips sellers of the benefits of brand recognition for their stores or the ability to stand out with good titles or feedback rating showing in results. ðŸ˜’

valueaddedresource

5 View listings

Posted 2 years ago·Last reply 2 years ago

23 comments

valueaddedresource

OP2 years ago

5 View listings

FYI for those following along - I'm seeing Explore shown in the most recent android app update and, while they aren't directly linking to it on the desktop home page again yet, it does appear the previous link for the US has been reactivated.

https://www.ebay.com/explore

@mcdougle4248 you'll be happy to see they have now included the option to set preferred sizes for shoes, tops and shirts, coats and jackets, dresses and skirts, and pants and jeans.

The Visually Similar search could still use some work - obviously still relying heavily on other things being similar (brand, style etc.) rather than machine learning image recognition tech actually identifying things that really do look similar.

For example, aside from all being the same brand and style, there's quite a bit of visual difference in the colors and patterns it suggested for these leggings.

mcdougle4248

·2 years ago

8476 View listings

@valueaddedresource

Giving the option to set sizes is a great addition. I plugged my sizes in and the search returns are much better.

broto_64

·2 years ago

0 View listings

Only thing I've ever found interesting when ebay implements new methods is reduced sales.

valueaddedresource

OP2 years ago

5 View listings

Interesting update - not sure when it happened, but it looks like eBay has now killed the links to the US and Canada versions of this feature.

It's still live on the UK site though. https://www.ebay.co.uk/explore

valueaddedresource

OP2 years ago

5 View listings

Interesting observation - today all items I'm seeing on both the US and UK versions are showing the brand in the main results (or unbranded/unknown/handmade if that's what is designated in item specifics).

So maybe yesterday it was still "learning" or I just caught it mid roll out.

Also played with choosing more than 1 interest.

And discovered something that might be of particular interest to clothing/accessories sellers who use mannequins - the "visually similar" functionality is obviously zeroing in on that somewhat unique bust and the result is all of these suggestions are from the same seller....do with that information what you will. ðŸ˜‰

mcdougle4248

·2 years ago

8476 View listings

@valueaddedresource

I had a little time this morning, so I did some more exploring. I also see the brand displayed in the main results.

I successfully added and removed interests several times without getting the Oops error for the entire duration of time spent looking. Also worth noting, there were significantly fewer puffer jackets and heavy sweaters displayed. Maybe AI learned that my location and/or previous clicks showed that I am not interested in these items. I also saw more of the specific brand of item that I clicked on several times yesterday (Reformation).

Unfortunately, clicking on a different Reformation dress than the one I saw yesterday, I found it to be also out of stock.

Screenshot 2024-04-27 070507.jpg

I may have missed it, however, I did not see anywhere on the main (first) page a place to indicate the sizes I am interested in. So, the results show a variety of sizes that will not work for me. Have you found a way to indicate the sizes you are interested in?

mcdougle4248

·2 years ago

8476 View listings

@valueaddedresource

I tested it out using your link. I choose Casual to start. The first thing I noticed is many of the items shown were fall and winter. Lots of puffer jackets and heavy sweaters. I did see one dress that caught my eye and when I clicked on it found it to be out of stock ðŸ˜’

Then I clicked Update Interests and switched to Classic. That was it end of exploring. I saw this and refreshing the page did nothing.

Screenshot 2024-04-26 125008.jpg

I understand this feature may not be ready for "prime time", so not surprised by the error.

I think it could be useful for buyers. Especially, for those like me who love to window shop. There was a nice selection of clothing, handbags, and shoes in the little bit that I saw, even if many were out of season. I think I would have bought the dress I clicked on if it were in stock.

valueaddedresource

OP2 years ago

5 View listings

@mcdougle4248 wrote:
@valueaddedresource

I tested it out using your link. I choose Casual to start. The first thing I noticed is many of the items shown were fall and winter. Lots of puffer jackets and heavy sweaters. I did see one dress that caught my eye and when I clicked on it found it to be out of stock ðŸ˜’

Then I clicked Update Interests and switched to Classic. That was it end of exploring. I saw this and refreshing the page did nothing.
I understand this feature may not be ready for "prime time", so not surprised by the error.

I think it could be useful for buyers. Especially, for those like me who love to window shop. There was a nice selection of clothing, handbags, and shoes in the little bit that I saw, even if many were out of season. I think I would have bought the dress I clicked on if it were in stock.

@mcdougle4248 yep, I got that oops message a couple times too but refreshing did fix it for me...and I'll admit it did make me wonder if some of the other "oops" we've been seeing around here the last week or so could be related to eBay trying to add this functionality into the mix with unintended technical consequences.

Great observation about the seasonality and yikes on the out of stock! That would definitely be something the AI should be able to catch and know not to display since that's not likely to be a positive buyer experience.

ittybitnot

·2 years ago

18 View listings

even if many were out of season

@mcdougle4248

Just to add a bit of levity, can you expand on "out of season". Do you mean fashion from three years ago? OR

not suited to the weather? LOL....where I live there is basically one climate...hot or hotter. Though we had more than the usual reprieve from the normal "hotter" of late, it is likely attributed to climate change (previously known as global warming, except for the fact we could turn off the Air Conditioners in February for a few days) .

I am moving soon to an area that actually has REAL seasons with leaves that fall off trees, and snow. I have no idea what the "fashion" is going to be, and wondering if I should buy those plastic red lobster flip flops on AZ before they cut out the presentation of "non-seasonal" items....LOL. The photo below is not accurate. From actual observations of vehicles that have traveled here from across the state, it is likely Lovebug Season.

Carry on.

valueaddedresource

OP2 years ago

5 View listings

That's a great point too @ittybitnot - I also got a lot of heavy sweaters and puffer jackets when I tried the US one and didn't think about it at the time but being logged in with a Florida zip code....yeah the bot should have been smart enough to figure that one out regardless of season.

Also 1000% on love bug season. ðŸ˜‚

chapeau-noir

·2 years ago

Closing soon!6589 View listings

@ittybitnot wrote:
even if many were out of season

@mcdougle4248

Just to add a bit of levity, can you expand on "out of season". Do you mean fashion from three years ago? OR
not suited to the weather? LOL....where I live there is basically one climate...hot or hotter. Though we had more than the usual reprieve from the normal "hotter" of late, it is likely attributed to climate change (previously known as global warming, except for the fact we could turn off the Air Conditioners in February for a few days) .

I am moving soon to an area that actually has REAL seasons with leaves that fall off trees, and snow. I have no idea what the "fashion" is going to be, and wondering if I should buy those plastic red lobster flip flops on AZ before they cut out the presentation of "non-seasonal" items....LOL. The photo below is not accurate. From actual observations of vehicles that have traveled here from across the state, it is likely Lovebug Season.

Carry on.

ðŸ˜‚

We have two seasons: Rainy and Construction.

mcdougle4248

·2 years ago

8476 View listings

@ittybitnot

I mean not being suited to the weather.

I live in SE Arizona, near the Mexican border. With an elevation of 4,600 ft above sea level, none of the seasons bring extreme weather. Today it is 73Â°. Earlier in the week it was in the 80Â°s. I have been running around in shorts and short sleeves all week.

chapeau-noir

·2 years ago

Closing soon!6589 View listings

Upper 40s and raining here (NW Washington State) yesterday and the temp has gasped and heaved its way to mid-50s today - we're still wearing sweaters and jackets, but our weather doesn't really match anybody else's as it tends to be pretty much always the same, and it can be tough to figure out seasonal wear.

mcdougle4248

·2 years ago

8476 View listings

@chapeau-noir

I lived in Olympia, WA for three years back in the early 80's. It was beautiful. So lush and green. Most likely because there was some form of precipitation almost every day lol.

chapeau-noir

·2 years ago

Closing soon!6589 View listings

@mcdougle4248 wrote:
@chapeau-noir

I lived in Olympia, WA for three years back in the early 80's. It was beautiful. So lush and green. Most likely because there was some form of precipitation almost every day lol.

Olympia is a nice city! Famous for having bats in the "belfry" of the governor's mansion. Great bike riding down to the bay, though the back roads can get slimy with moss (similar to here).

b86fiero

·2 years ago

50225 View listings

Is this similar to "shop the look" ?

valueaddedresource

OP2 years ago

5 View listings

@b86fiero wrote:
Is this similar to "shop the look" ?

@b86fiero it is similar, but slightly different functionality.

Shop The Look is initially only available in the app experience and it theoretically works by showing you pictures of a "look" (full outfit on a person) with hot spots on the images that allow you to tap the hat the person is wearing, or the purse they are carrying, or the shirt etc. to shop similar items.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Announcements/Introducing-Shop-the-look-eBay-curating-personalized-outfits/ba-p/34398886

Explore starts with an "interest" rather than a look, then recommends a wide variety of things it thinks fit that interest with no obvious way that I saw to narrow it down to hats, purses, shirts etc. and than once you see something in the initial feed you like, you can see more items like that with the visually similar search function.

I'm assuming that there may be machine learning built in as well so that over time if you use it it learns what kinds of things you like and automatically personalizes the feed more - it appears you do have to be logged in to access that page so clearly it's dependant on being able to access your account data and history.

b86fiero

·2 years ago

50225 View listings

Depending on what a browsing buyer is shown, they could walk away if it took too long before they saw something they wanted.

Might be ideal for those who enjoy surfing the inventory.

chapeau-noir

·2 years ago

Closing soon!6589 View listings

@b86fiero wrote:
Is this similar to "shop the look" ?

I wondered that, too, looking at the original cluttered flat-lays, but I think it's individual items trying to match a specified interest as @valueaddedresource says.

hartungcards

·2 years ago

976 View listings

You lost me at, "eBay's got a new AI tool."

valueaddedresource

OP2 years ago

5 View listings

@hartungcards wrote:
You lost me at, "eBay's got a new AI tool."

@hartungcards believe me, I totally get it....but at the same time, eBay is going to plow ahead with this stuff regardless of what we think so I figure even if it makes you roll your eyes, it's good to know what is happening on the site so you can be aware of the impact it may possibly have on your business.

brightlightbookseller

·2 years ago

24784 View listings

Very wary of anything like this generally, but if it ends up driving sales to us as a seller I won't be mad. I guess there's likely going to be no way to know if it hurts or helps, though.

valueaddedresource

OP2 years ago

5 View listings

@brightlightbookseller wrote:
Very wary of anything like this generally, but if it ends up driving sales to us as a seller I won't be mad. I guess there's likely going to be no way to know if it hurts or helps, though.

@brightlightbookseller yeah it will be difficult to tell and I definitely don't think eBay will miss out on the opportunity to monetize it with Promoted Listings for very long, which could muddy those waters even more.