When will eBay fix the phone app so buyers see the description?
Summary: electrola_man expressed frustration over prospective buyers not reading product descriptions on eBay, particularly on the mobile app where they are not easily visible. Participants discussed similar issues across different platforms, noting that many buyers often rely on images without checking written details. Suggestions included using HTML for short descriptions or requiring buyers to confirm they've read descriptions, though some doubted these would be effective. There was also criticism of eBay's prioritization of ads over seller information. Overall, sellers are concerned about buyer behavior and eBay's interface, impacting effective communication about product details.
I am really frustrated by all of the questions from prospective buyers that show they are not seeing my descriptions. I carefully write descriptions to tell about function of my items. Then I get questions that were answered in my description. I know these buyers are on the phone app and that they don't see the description by default, but have to tap on something to make it show up. Why is this the case? How can we get across to eBay that this is a big problem that they should be able to solve pretty easily?
christworks
·1 week ago@electrola_man You would get the same questions even if the description was right in front of them. eBay no longer prioritizes the descriptions because their data shows enough buyers don't actually read it to put it in a place where ads could go. This is why they are okay with you putting a buch of AI fluff in the description. While I don't genearlly do that, I rarely write a description. I copy/paste my title and condition statement and move on to the next listing. Frankly, you are probably spending way too much time "carefully writ[ing] descriptions."
As far as buyer questions, if they can be answered somewhere in the listing, I generally ignore the questions and buyers normally go onto the block list. There are exceptions. If a buyer is asking about a part number or whether something is compatible with their item, I normally will research that for them since I don't list in the listing every possible item a part may be compatible with.
electrola_man
OP1 week ago · EditedThe problem is that every item I sell is unique because there are so many things to consider as far as condition. Just yesterday I got a question from a prospective buyer about if the flash works on the camera he was looking at. Had he read the description, he'd have seen I tested it and said it worked. Ultimately he bought it, but it took several rounds of questions that were in the listing to begin with. I'd like to be able to overlay text on some sample photos, such as, "Sample photo taken with this camera," but as I understand it, it is not allowed to do that. I don't spend that much on my listings because I have boilerplate templates set up and I just add the specific comments I need to, but it is so frustrating to have buyers have access to the info they need without realizing it is right there. As to ads, I hate that. Why should my listing have to support ads for competitive merchandise?
christworks
·1 week agoI sell cameras as well. A picture is worth a thousand words as they say. You can (and should) do a demo video showing the camera and flash working. I take photos of the flash in action. While the technical eBay rule is that nothing digital can be placed over images, it helps to understand that the reason behind that rule is due to eBay sellers adding watermarks and marketing to the images. They worry sellers will use that as a means to take business off the site. The other reason is that Google indexes eBay photos..for certain the main photo but secondary and third photos can be indexed as well.
When I have a flaw in an item that does not show up well in the photos I will add an arrow or draw a circle around it. I do try to avoid any text, but if you search through my 1700 listings you'll probably find one or two photos where I added text to explain a flaw. Am I supposed to do that? No. Am I going to eBay jail for it? No. Am I advising you to do that? No. I am saying I've never seen anybody come here and complain that they got into trouble because they had text, even marketing text, on their photos. It's a rule. How well it is enforced, it doesn't seem like it is. It's kind of like there are so many people speeding on the interstate that the cops let the ones going 10 over get away so they can focus on those going 15 over. Any sort of coloring outside the lines I do in this area I keep confined to photos that are in photo slots further down.
Some of your cameras are on the expensive side as are mine. I don't mind if someone asks a question about a $400 item, even if the answer is in the listing. They are going to be better customer service out of me a question about a $10 item. My time is valuable and it is worth money to me. I want to have less than 5 minutes spent on a $10 item, including listing and packing it. I'm not going to spend 10 minutes answering a question or going out to the garage to pull an item to find out the answer to the question. Not happening. I'd rather lower the price until it is gone or pull it and donate it than to spend more time on it, and then the person never buy. That brings me to my next point: In my experience, the vast majority of people who ask questions never buy, even if they admit it is the item they need. Or, after you answer, they want to low-ball you down. I prefer to deal with people who are ready to buy and show it by buying, but on an expensive item, I will scan their feedback to make sure they aren't a nutcase and then I'll spend a reasonable amount of time helping them. If they dont' buy, they get blocked.
As far as the ads, I don't lose sleep over it. eBay is a business and they want to make money. One reason why selling fees have not gone up like shipping rates is because eBay has developed other revenue streams. I'll gladly take the ads on my page in exchange for selling fees staying put.
electrola_man
OP1 week agoOh, and yes, that AI fluff is just that. Absolutely worthless as far as anything I sell. Just embarrassing nonsense.
vintage-apex
·2 weeks agoYou can add some simple HTML and make a short description which will appear on the listing page for mobile users. When making your listing check the box above where you have written your description which says "Show HTML Code" Then drop down a few line and put something formatted like this:
<div vocab="https://schema.org/" typeof="Product" style="display:none">
<span property="description">
Buck 110 "America's Original" Commemorative Set is a special piece of Buck Knives history, marking a major transition in Buck’s manufacturing. The "Idaho" stamp (the outline of the state of Idaho on the blade tang) was used exclusively in 2005. This mark commemorates the company’s relocation from El Cajon, California, to Post Falls, Idaho. Knife is NOS in mint condition and is starting to form a light patina on brass bolsters to show off its vintage status. The brass bolsters could be lightly polished with some Brasso using a micro fiber cloth if you prefer a shiny like-new look.
</span>
</div>
zakstreasuretrove
·2 weeks agoYou know those user agreement things that you must click OK or check a box that 'acknowledges' that you have at least been presented with the EULA before you can install a program or something. Maybe have buyers check a box that says they read the description before they are allowed to buy. I doubt that would actually make a difference and I'm not sure how that would be enforced concerning INAD's, but maybe a small percentage of those people might actually read the description and that would be a marginal improvement. Or it would just annoy buyers and make almost no difference.
If there's an issue with one of my items, I generally try to put it in the description if possible by writing READ DESC. or in my case, since I sell a lot of golf clubs, NEEDS NEW GRIP is pretty common. It at least prompts the potential buyer to dig a little further or just ignore my listing and save me a headache in the future.
electrola_man
OP1 week agoI know it can be an issue even if the info is presented. Some people just won't put forth the effort. Some are just terrible with technology. Still, the reality that it is specifically hidden really annoys me, and I believe a lot of the questions I get wouldn't get asked if what I carefully wrote was just shown to prospective buyers by default.
bdmh-enterprises
·2 weeks agoDon't worry, the vast majority of buyers don't read the description even when it's right in front of them...
cityslickercreations2004
·2 weeks ago"How can we get across to eBay that this is a big problem that they should be able to solve pretty easily?"
Good luck.
Several years ago, there was a huge change in how listings were presented to buyers. Picture, price, shipping and the description. Why, oh why, would you separate the buy (picture/ price) portion from the description??
IMO, those "see similar" and "inspired by your browsing" ads just indicate the end of the listing.
chapeau-noir
·2 weeks agoThe app isn't very good overall - like the site itself, it's so cluttered with ads and other rubbish that our listings pretty much drown in it.
duffy4444
·2 weeks ago · EditedIt's not just the phone app. The same thing happens on a desktop/laptop. I have the same problem with buyers that only see the photos and don't go to the effort to simply scroll down and see the extensive description that answers their questions.
Impulsive or simply human nature... I don't know.
I usually message them back and gently encourage them to read the description for the answers to their questions. This also helps to prevent getting an INAD because of the customer not being diligent before jumping into a purchase.
Cheers, Duffy