AI descriptions

[gagline]

I've been selling and buying on eBay since 1998, In those years, nothing has annoyed me more than the recent introduction of AI and sellers who only use the AI to describe their item. It's the epitome of laziness and is a disservice to buyers. Especially when they only post one or two photos with no mention of potential condition issues. As a buyer, we shouldn't be made to have to contact the seller and ask multiple questions about things that should already be mentioned in the description. Lazy.

[fbusoni]

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@gagline wrote:

As a buyer, we shouldn't be made to have to contact the seller and ask multiple questions about things that should already be mentioned in the description. 

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Agree 100%.  As I noted in a recent post, folks come to eBay precisely because they don't want to engage in discussion with, or have to cajole information from a seller.  

The silver lining here is that those of us who sell here and who avoid AI like the plague will ultimately benefit from the proliferation of AI on this platform.  

I'm actually thinking about mentioning somewhere in my storefront "About" section that I do not use AI in my descriptions.  😉

[gosimus]

@gagline 

< sellers who only use the AI to describe their item [annoy me] >   

I agree, with the caveat that "only" is the operative word in the statement.  I'm not a seller, but I think what I'd do is start with the AI description, then modify it to include information the the buyers want to see.  That might be an unattainable ambition, if the process happens to exclude the possibility of such customization. 

[gagline]

Yup. I've experimented with AI. But if it's too cheesy sounding, I won't use it. I have used it a couple of times but I always add my own description which includes complete condition info and dimensions when appropriate.

[fbusoni]

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@gosimus wrote:

@gagline 

< sellers who only use the AI to describe their item [annoy me] >   

I agree, with the caveat that "only" is the operative word in the statement.  I'm not a seller, but I think what I'd do is start with the AI description, then modify it to include information the the buyers want to see.  That might be an unattainable ambition, if the process happens to exclude the possibility of such customization. 

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Oh, it's attainable alright.

The only question is whether one wants to waste 10 minutes undoing all the feel-good and superfluous gobbledygook that any sentient, intelligent being would doubtless find objectionable once AI has done its work.

[gosimus]

@fbusoni 

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@fbusoni wrote:     The only question is whether one wants to waste 10 minutes undoing all the feel-good and superfluous gobbledygook that any sentient, intelligent being would doubtless find objectionable once AI has done its work.    

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I disagree that it's the only question.  I can think of at least one more; namely, would one prefer to waste ten minutes and the number of dollars lost in processing a buyer's "not as described" return because the item's description was inadequate? 

I can't bear witness to eBay's AI, having not used it, but google's AI is concise, inclusive, and understandable.  Whenever I use it to help me compose a forum answer, I almost always just copy and paste it; it's that good. 

[roccotacodad54]

   "As a buyer, we shouldn't be made to have to contact the seller and ask multiple questions about things that should already be mentioned in the description."

   Yea, I don't even bother asking anymore on listings with AI and/or only 1 or 2 photos. After replies like "Look at the pictures" or "Read the description" from some sellers I just quit asking and either buy or not. Usually not unless it's an item I find very hard to find. 

   If I purchase anyway (rare) on a gamble they aren't hiding something and they are, they find out via the MBG that they should do a better job in the future. Hopefully anyway............

[tobaccocardyahoo]

The function has been designed and implemented by people who see the description as classic catalog marketer's "fluff".

Many Ebay buyers and sellers have a negative attitude toward catalog marketer's "fluff" and see it as a lack of content and to be ignored. Since Ebay's strength is not in selling brand new, in production, commodity product and requires more content than AI can provide, it fails to satisfy key demographics of Ebay members.

Unfortunately, none of the internet marketplaces show any greater understanding than Ebay, it is likely that most Ebay listings and listings on competitive sites will see the effect of Gresham's law.

Only the surviving old fogies like me will notice or care when all of the listings emulate the AI listings.

This is not a problem with AI, this is a problem with inadequate human intelligence.

[fbusoni]

@roccotacodad54 

Reminds me of something that I see often when I am "selling one like this."

The title might be something like "Rolling Stones Silver Anniversary Album EUC."

Then, in the fields below:

Artist:  See listing title

Band:  See listing title

Record length: See listing title

Condition: See listing title

And on and on.  

And these are the sellers who cannot figure out what they don't sell anything here. 

[mudshark61369]

@tobaccocardyahoo,

"This is not a problem with AI, this is a problem with inadequate human intelligence".

That was almost correct, but it should have been

This is not a problem with AI, this is a problem with inadequate human intelligence programing AI.

[roccotacodad54]

   Both I think.