eBay

kenpsj · ‎08-13-2024

I think eBay encourages keyword spamming, otherwise why would they allow hundreds of keywords on an item. they do this in my opinion to try to sell more items, when actually this practice is dishonest and very annoying to the buyer who has to scroll thru hundreds of items and multiple pages just find what they are looking for at the end of their search. Many times I have given up on a search because i don't have time to scroll thru hundreds or sometimes thousands of items looking for a specific item. Another reason I think eBay encourages this practice is because I have made multiple complaints about certain sellers who do this consistently and eBay does nothing about it because eBay thinks this brings them in more revenue from sellers. I encourage buyers/shoppers on eBay to take the time and file complaints on these sellers. Hopefully eBay will wake up, curb this practice, and make shopping on eBay enjoyable again.

chevymontecarlo88 · ‎08-13-2024

@kenpsj wrote:
I think eBay encourages keyword spamming, otherwise why would they allow hundreds of keywords on an item. they do this in my opinion to try to sell more items, when actually this practice is dishonest and very annoying to the buyer who has to scroll thru hundreds of items and multiple pages just find what they are looking for at the end of their search. Many times I have given up on a search because i don't have time to scroll thru hundreds or sometimes thousands of items looking for a specific item. Another reason I think eBay encourages this practice is because I have made multiple complaints about certain sellers who do this consistently and eBay does nothing about it because eBay thinks this brings them in more revenue from sellers. I encourage buyers/shoppers on eBay to take the time and file complaints on these sellers. Hopefully eBay will wake up, curb this practice, and make shopping on eBay enjoyable again.

With listings that i have issues (bad pictures, spamming, misleading titles ect.) when viewing i just ignore and move on. It can be annoying but it gives me a reason why i will not purchase from them.

Personally i have no issues with finding what i want in Ebay and even Google.

What specific items are you searching for that are giving you thousands of these results?

- Roasting id

bja2409 · ‎09-03-2024

I think you are 100% correct, ebay does allow it and enables it. They allow too many characters in all the item specifics categories. They should limit the amount of characters like they do in the text box for reporting a seller. Reporting does no good, ebay just wants more sales but are aggravating potential buyers like me from buying items. Everyone who sees a listing that has keyword spamming included should use the link that has "have one to sell?" and copy that listing. Maybe some day ebay will get it, but I doubt it!

mudshark61369 · ‎09-03-2024

@kenpsj,

Perhaps if you write out an example of a spammed keyword title telling us what the actual item is, or post an item number of one of the listings, we can tell you how to report it using the available characters in the text box.

Often ebay does not pay attention to just one report, it takes several reports from different members. However, if the proper reason for report is chosen and a short clear sentence written out, one report will get an item pulled.

"THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FOOLPROOF, BECAUSE FOOLS ARE SO DARNED INGENIOUS!" (unknown)

mudshark61369 · ‎09-03-2024

@kenpsj,

I wrote my last reply just before brewing my 2nd cup of coffee. While brewing it some things occurred to me that may help reduce the number of keyword spammed listings you see. If your page sort is Best Match or Price: lowest.. change it. Those searches return a lot of results by chinese sellers, who break any ebay rule they feel like it to the tops of results pages. Then on a search results page click on U.S. only in the left column filters.

I shop using Time: ending soonest, which allows me to see auctions that may not have shown up in previous searches, and can also help when making offers. However, much of what I buy are One Of items, not items in very crowded categories. Still that filter does push many of the china based sellers items back down the pages, when searching for widely available items.

"THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FOOLPROOF, BECAUSE FOOLS ARE SO DARNED INGENIOUS!" (unknown)

bja2409 · ‎09-05-2024

While those tips do help, most people don't want to or know how to go through those extra steps to search for an item. People want "good" fast results or they look somewhere else. Amazon is no better. I have had people complain to me that my item was buried down 500 or more results in the pages.

I have already copied my exact listing title and have a hard time finding it with ebay's search engine.

Tell people to use a bootlean search and they will look at you like "What?, I'm not searching for boots".

And the use of AI isn't making things better, yet. It things just because I viewed something, that is all I am interested in. I use Google and Google lens more and more to find what I want. Plus I own a little bit of Google's stock, LOL.

gosimus · ‎09-05-2024

@bja2409

< most people don't want to or know how to go through those extra ... People want "good" fast results or they look somewhere else >

There will be the same or similar issues on "somewhere else" sites that are comparable to eBay. While we do welcome third parties to benefit from our advice to members, and sometimes couch our advice in language applicable to third parties as well as to the OP, the bottom line is that, in a given thread, we are advising the OP, the Original Poster. If you don't want to go through those extra steps, then you're free not to; but you shouldn't be surprised if your eBay experience doesn't improve. BTW, the term is Boolean search, not bootlean search, but the "I'm not searching for boots" comment was funny.

bja2409 · ‎09-05-2024

Thanks, I always thought it was bootlean. Bottom line is ebay allows keyword spamming by allow to many characters in item specific subcategories. Anyone who used every year and ever vehicle part in there item specifics is manipulating ebays searching capability.

gosimus · ‎09-05-2024

@bja2409 wrote:
... ebay allows keyword spamming ...

They don't "allow" it so much as that certain sellers engage in it despite its violating policy. I've come across lots of keyword spamming in my days on eBay, and I always report it when I find it. I don't check back to see whether or not my reporting had an effect, because the lack of immediate action by eBay annoys me, as it does other users who report violations seemingly to no avail.

At the risk of giving instructions to wannabe keyword spammers, I'll relate that I've seen instances of insidious, blatant keyword spamming, where scores of unrelated keywords were inserted in the listing, using a white font on a white background. You can't see them, but the search bot finds them.

bja2409 · ‎09-06-2024

Here is a good example of keyword spamming and there are many others just like this seller.

Check out the item specifics, no item needs this many words to relate to this item.

Shorten the allowable characters in these specifics and "EBAY" can do their part in controlling spamming to a certain degree.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/286024384938

https://www.ebay.com/itm/285989461336

anniescloset-3 · ‎09-17-2024

It drives me crazy! I joined eBay in 2001 and sold for years. eBay used to value integrity in listings but I think you're right. I just took the time to report a few listings for keyword spamming and got an email that their system had automatically determined my report was invalid.

The result: it's pretty much impossible to find what you are shopping for on eBay. I used to buy things every week. But now I have to sort through tons of listings that aren't what I'm shopping for.

Today I looked for a pair of women's overalls in a particular size. Results: a man's shirt, dresses, distressed jeans, pants & top separates--sure, some overalls but a very high percentage of clothing items that could not possibly be construed as overalls, especially after clicking to sort by lowest price. It's insane.

Bottom line: I almost never buy on eBay anymore because the investment of time to just locate what I want makes it a time-consuming and incredibly frustrating experience.

eBay: limit how many descriptors that can be used in a title! Review reports when they come from a user with a high feedback count. You are forever making changes to the system, but I rarely find those changes improve things for either shopper or seller!

eburtonlab · ‎09-17-2024

eBay could certainly do more to limit keyword spamming in item-specifics, or punish sellers caught engaging in this insidious practice.

Until that happens, keyword spamming is unstoppable.

Unless, of course, you know the ONE WEIRD TRICK that stops keyword spammers dead in their tracks. A secret that shadowy forces absolutely don't want you to know:

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Item-Specifics-keyword-spamming/m-p/34456904/highlight/true#M48...

But it's a secret -- whatever you do, don't tell anyone!

tbm3fan · ‎03-19-2025

Keyword spamming really ticks me off. In the very early days I could search "dodge polara chrome trim" and get maybe 100 hits since it is a specific item. Today I get 1800 hits and 90% don't even have one of those words in the title. So I buy very little off eBay anymore as it is too much trouble. They could solve it in Advance Search by adding another search category saying "search title" above the search title with the all encompassing description. Been nice knowing you eBay but I don't have the time or patient to play your games anymore outside a handful of very trusted sellers who let me know ahead of time.