Fault in iPhone app summary description of item

[raymatsell]

When an item has a long description the iphone app seems to randomly take sentences from the middle of the full description to display on the first summary screen. This can make odd reading, and can actually create a bad impression of the item that would put someone off buying and make them look elsewhere. I have attached a screenshot showing the full description with the sentences highlighted that have been chosen for the summary screen and a screenshot of the  the summary screen. On this occasion it is not doing too much harm but it has created an odd impression on the first screen you see it you click on the item. 

[raymatsell]

Problem loaded if the other image after using Markup ....here it is....

[berserkerplanet · Accepted solution]

That is not really a technical issue - it is a problem the seller needs to fix.

eBay grabs something from the description to create a "short attention span" blurb for mobile users and doesn't always do it right depending on the description content.

There is an HTML tag method for the seller to specify exactly what 800 characters of content get placed there instead of the random eBay bot pick, but if the seller can't be bothered to optimize their listing content for mobile, then what you see is what you get.

https://pages.ebay.com/sell/itemdescription/customizeyoursummary.html

[raymatsell]

Thank you for explaining that. However your phrase “if the seller cant be bothered” is a little insulting. Personally, having been designing software since the 1980s I’d see this as something that requires a low priority fix if I was trying to design easy to use software and services, that maximise sales for the customer and thus maximise revenue for eBay. It’s not critical but it’s not optimal if it requires extra user effort to fix it.

But thanks for taking the time to reply.

[berserkerplanet]

It is the way eBay laid it out in the Seller Updates and announcements, has been as it is for over 2 years, and the way eBay is handling it.

I agree with you that it could be better, but those paying attention to the overall picture around here realize that this is about number 243 on the list of outright broken functions and other poorly designed software routines, and a "fix" isn't likely unless it is an unintended consequence of another software rollout.

I haven't "bothered" to fix mine yet, and I accept the consequences.

[raymatsell]

Thanks for the response. Regards. Ray

[raymatsell]

Just to add that the HTML in the link you gave has sorted it out. I did the chnages on a PC, and it did take a while for the update to filter through to the live listing picked up on my mobile, but it is looking more sensible now.

It's curious how eBay have programmed it to pick sentences out of the main description seemingly at random for the summary on mobile devices, and as it potentially affects eBay's on income as a % of sales, you think they'd fix it, but as we've said it is probably a low priority.

Thanks again for your help.

[berserkerplanet]

Glad it helped and you got it fixed.

I didn't dig, and assumed your were posting here with your buyer hat on. Now that I realize you were posting with both buyer and seller hats on, I see why you got a little insulted. Sorry.

[raymatsell]

No worries. I've reviewed some of my other listings too and some of those have weird descriptions...some are ok but I have more to fix!