eBay is making changes. Input please?

[kellyscolorstudio]

Hi everyone...hope the weekend is going well! We received this email from the "Finding Team" on eBay, and we thought we should start a thread in here for EVERYONE to have a say, share your thoughts and opinions, and communicate your concerns. They want to hear from us by the 18th, so...talk about how you feel about this, then we'll think about putting up a poll and see where we stand as a group. Then we'll report back to them and let them know how ACEO feels about these changes as a whole. Hi Everyone - We have some ideas we would like to implement and would appreciate your feedback. Thanks in advance for your time and assistance MarniSue PM Finding Team Proposed Changes to Art Category and IS in early 2008 The Classification team has been getting a lot of great feedback from emails and the discussion boards about improving the experience in Art. We’ve come up with some suggestions and we’d like to consult with you before making any changes. Our team will be reading and responding to threads for until January 18th. Here’s our proposal: Removing the “Self-Representing Artists” and “Self-Representing ACEOs” categories. We’ve heard from many self-representing artists about the placement of SRA and ACEO categories. Sellers are telling us they need to list in two categories (such as SRAs and Paintings) in order to get the proper exposure. Our proposal changes the way we identify an SRA or ACEO piece: instead of using categories, we’ll use Item Specifics. So a seller would choose one category (like Paintings) then use Item Specifics to describe the listing as either an SRA piece, an ACEO, or both. Buyers would still be able to search specifically for works by Self-Representing Artists or ACEOs by selecting from the new Item Specific values on the search results pages. Effects of the proposed changes 1) No need to list an SRA painting (for example) in two categories. 2) No need to search in two categories for an SRA painting. 3) Buyers who want to see all SRA paintings, or all paintings that are not SRAs, will be able to do so easily. 4) Buyers would not be able to browse through an all-ACEO or an all-SRA category. 5) Buyers would not be able to browse through categories that do not contain ACEOs & SRAs. More updates for Item Specifics in Art We’ve been hearing that the Item Specifics in Art are redundant and illogical. We’ve come up with a proposal to improve them. Here’s an overview of our suggestions: 1. Size values will be added. 2. An option to identify a piece as Signed. 3. Certificate of Authenticity values: Yes, Available Upon Request, or No. 4. Prints. Available choices for Type of Print would be based on whether the seller identifies the piece as an original or a reproduction. 5. Remove the value “Original Listed by Artist.” Instead, describe the seller as follows: Listed By Self-Representing Artist Gallery, Agent, or Collector Other We’ve posted a mock-up of our suggestions so you can see them in action. The Mockups are for Art Prints, but all the proposed changes (except for Print Type) will be implemented in Paintings, Drawings and Folk Art. Listed by, Signed and Certificate of Authenticity will be implemented for Photo Images, Posters & Sculpture. To see how these changes would look in the category structure and access links listing of all the Item Specifics changes, please see here: http://pages.ebay.com/categorychanges/ProposedArtChanges.html Proposed Changes (SYI view): http://pages.ebay.com/categorychanges/ProposedArtChanges/PrintsISNew3.html Proposed Changes (Product Finder view): http://pages.ebay.com/categorychanges/ProposedArtChanges/PrintsISNew2.html Example of how to define SRA & ACEO in Item Specifics in SYI flow: http://pages.ebay.com/categorychanges/ProposedArtChanges/PrintsISNew1.html Current Item Specifics In SYI (for reference): http://pages.ebay.com/categorychanges/ProposedArtChanges/PrintsISCurrent.html Have a look! What we’d like to hear from you by January 18th: Do you see any issues with the proposed changes? What do you like about the proposed changes? Has anything been overlooked? -- Kelly :-x My ebay listings: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZkellyscolorstudio Read Jeanne's ACEO Guides! Click on "links" on the left! -- Edited by kellyscolorstudio at 01/05/2008 5:30 PM -- Edited by kellyscolorstudio at 01/23/2008 9:35 PM

[houseofjohnson]

so far, I got the idea that the SRA and the ACEO's will be options in the Item Specifics. I was under the impression that those two categories were going bye-bye and the other categories were getting updated to allow for more clarification. I can get behind those changes. But I sure wish there was a way to try it on before committing, ya know?? Some more Information for you guys to check out-- Here are some links to the proposed changes in various categories: DRAWINGS category LINK: http://pages.ebay.com/categorychanges/ProposedArtChanges/Drawings.html PAINTINGS category LINK: http://pages.ebay.com/categorychanges/ProposedArtChanges/Paintings.html PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES category LINK: http://pages.ebay.com/categorychanges/ProposedArtChanges/Photos.html PRINTS category LINK: http://pages.ebay.com/categorychanges/ProposedArtChanges/Prints.html -- JDanni
House of Johnson Gifts

[loveschalice]

Nooo please don't take away SRA. I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for that catagory. I've yet to sell or even try to sell a thing but I go and look in that catagory and learn from all the artists that I can be sure are here...online and somehow feel more tangilble than just a painting by so and so....... you get what I'm trying to say. I hope. Anyway I want to list in that catagory some day that is our artist community and I don't go look at the anoymous people stuff and frankly don't want to. As long as I can go look for ACEO's because that is all I'm interested in right now I will be happy but I want to do it in SRA. KellyAnn

[zeegallerie]

I am not in favor of the SRA going away, I agree about the ACEO catagory as I use it in my title anyway. The SRA is where I have been listing and have been very sucessful. I don't want my art lost with the repo's Zeegallerie

[lmoart]

I think adding the SIZE value would be great! Buyers interested can easily look in the specifics section instead of spending time looking through the individual listings were it can be noted in variable places. As for sellers, if interested we can omit sizes in the listing title or subtitle which have character limits or additional fees. Linda

[sue-jim]

The Chinese rip-off painters were actually stealing images from popular listings, doing a huge painting (production line method in a factory setting) from an ACEO image, selling it cheap (& not painting it until after it sold). Would these changes include any addressing of that issue or would we be thrown in amongst 'em and buried by those? I don't know if these were being listed under SRA or not (don't see how they would fit, but they lied about the rest of the authenticity). I do like SRA category - to me it represents a group of independent artists. Anyone who feels their art isn't getting enough viewing there and wants to be in painting category can list there instead of SRA. I guess I feel like it's a safer pool to be in instead of swimming in the one with all the big sharks. CoA - I don't see the need for these - if I send out a signed original, that should be obvious. On my prints of photos I write all the info on the back of each one. Why send an additional piece of paper? Yet, as someone mentioned, if eBay lists it in the specifics, people will assume your art isn't "authentic" if you don't send one. Sue

[dafffy]

I'd hate to see SRA go away as a catagory. I have enough trouble finding my own paintings as it is already. I don't really get what the positive is for getting rid of SRA and ACEO catagories. They're catagories because there are so many people who fit it.

[daughterofgaia]

A couple of notes: 1. Most people don't know how to use keywords properly. Otherwise why, according to pulse, is "art" one of the most common search terms in the Art category?? 2. These changes would leave photographers out in the cold. There aren't that many people who search under the Photography category, but if they see a nice photo under SRA realize that they can be as nice as paintings. 3. eBay should be made aware that anybody can type up a COA, even if they stole the art. 4. Where on earth does this leave digital art? Can anybody find it? And where would collage and assemblage artists list? And I'm sure there are other categories I'm forgetting right now. May -- http://ripenessredux.blogspot.com -- Edited by daughterofgaia at 01/05/2008 7:23 PM

[sue-jim]

I just looked at the Photographic changes...my ACEO digital photography would be stuck in "1950-now" and type of print would be "other" (the listed types are all ones that would go with prints made from film cameras - hasn't eBay heard about the digital age?). That would be a nightmarish situation. Sue

[cecibeau]

I would hate to see the SRA category go. It suits me very well. I do mostly Mixed Media and Collage and neither would fit under Paintings of Drawings.... There doesn't seem to be a category for either of them in this "new" system.

[graciemaeallen]

I am going to give you one collectors opinion. I like to search under ACEO and then I further filter. I did not like the two categories. I personally only purchase originals, but all media. I dislike the Art categories and no longer go there as it is so cumbersome to find what you want. I have majorly downsized and ACEO fit perfect in my "new world", I do not care about COA's. I take my first art lesson since the 1970's next week and I am so excited. I doubt I will ever post anything (I have made jewelry for 4 years and enjoy just gifting it). Thank you all for your beautiful work. It is a joy to view and a bigger joy when I am able to purchase. Graciemae

[ij-fineart]

Why eBay is asking artists where to list not asking the users how to find particular art piece? This sounds like changes/mistakes eBay made in 2004 in art categories.

[birdbluffstudio]

I do not want the Self Representing ACEO category dropped. No one can find me under the SRA category so I'm okay with that being deleted but please do not drop the Self Representing ACEOs category. When these categories get so big that no one can find you, like the SRA category is now, then it is a good idea to drop it. I love the separate category and I use it all the time. You can see your work on the newly listed page and it is not buried behind 200 featured plus listings. The ACEO categories are a nice healthy size and many member do go through the front door on ACEOs. If you make them search by media, for example, then they might never find something new and unique. Many of the customers that buy on ebay might not know they like watercolors, for example, because they've only seen one style of watercolors. If they search all ACEOs then they will find more new artists. People are creatures of habit. Some will search with the same words over and over again without trying something new. If they see an entire category of ACEOs then they might take more ventures with thier purchases. One vote for not ending the Self Rep ACEO category here! -- Edited by birdbluffstudio at 01/05/2008 7:49 PM

[houseofjohnson]

I think there are categories for MIXED MEDIA and DIGITAL ART...but, not sure how specific they are. Here is another LINK that I found: http://pages.ebay.com/categorychanges/ProposedArtChanges.html I sure don't think this is a cure all, but if you have suggestions for your particular art to be seen, share them with us. We can try to get heard on this. Yeah Sue---I'd have to agree; seems like a crazy nightmare! Is the digital art category better for what you do? Gosh---seems so confusing right now.?:| -- JDanni
House of Johnson Gifts

[daughterofgaia]

One problem is that even if there was a category somewhere for digital art (or for collage or assemblage for that matter), people only search in the SRA category for all of the above. Also, I think it helps to have a category that lets you know you're getting art from an artist's own hand, rather than possibly getting a repro that has passed through many hands. -- http://ripenessredux.blogspot.com

[forestfaeries]

I have a feeling that we are going to "get lost" in the larger Paintings category. Skilled buyers won't have a problem finding us, but the new ones will. I still know lots of people who have asked me to show them how to buy things on Ebay. They are usually people who don't use computers very much. When left to their own devices, they simply go to the category that they think might suit them and then search for their item. Now, they can browse the categories and see a separate one for Self-Representing Artists. That gives them the option to look through our work without sorting through the huge mess on the paintings category. Many of these people are not sophisticated enough in their computer use to start using Item Specifics to filter out their searches. I've tried to help several people and they don't want to have to do this.