eBay

rfmtm · ‎09-22-2017

eBay is putting a another line under the title in the search results. It appears this information comes from the Item Specifics.

The problem is, on an Item Specific with a drop down menu of presets, when you enter a custom entry, eBay randomly displays one of the presets and not your entry. This only happens when the item turns up in a search, if you open the listing, everything is correct.

This of course is completely misleading buyers with incorrect information when they search for an item. In my case (on my selling ID) it displays the wrong size for the item. Certainly a reason I am now seeing lower sales.

These are all long running fixed price listings with no UPC code or prefill info used to create them. I have tried different revisions from removing the Item Specific, to selecting a different one from the drop down menu, then waiting a day to check again. The incorrect information remains.

It does not affect all my listings, and now I see the same problem on other seller's listings as well. Need to figure this out soon. Be better to have nothing inserted than the wrong information. Actually just be better if eBay left your listings alone, period.

syedmhaq · ‎09-22-2017

@rfmtm wrote:

eBay is putting a another line under the title in the search results. It appears this information comes from the Item Specifics.

The problem is, on an Item Specific with a drop down menu of presets, when you enter a custom entry, eBay randomly displays one of the presets and not your entry. This only happens when the item turns up in a search, if you open the listing, everything is correct.

This of course is completely misleading buyers with incorrect information when they search for an item. In my case (on my selling ID) it displays the wrong size for the item. Certainly a reason I am now seeing lower sales.

These are all long running fixed price listings with no UPC code or prefill info used to create them. I have tried different revisions from removing the Item Specific, to selecting a different one from the drop down menu, then waiting a day to check again. The incorrect information remains.

It does not affect all my listings, and now I see the same problem on other seller's listings as well. Need to figure this out soon. Be better to have nothing inserted than the wrong information. Actually just be better if eBay left your listings alone, period.

@rfmtm can you please share the listing ID for the problem you're referencing?

rfmtm · ‎09-22-2017

@syedmhaq Can you give me a private address to send you an example?

readabouthorses · ‎09-22-2017

@rfmtm @syedmhaq

Are you talking about that line that appears right under the title in almost every search? The one that has a condition: it might be Brand New, New (Other) or Pre-Owned. And sometimes there is more information along with this condition.

I'm seeing it in magazine back issue listings where if the seller chooses Like New for their item condition then in the Search it shows New (Other). These magazines are not new as some are from the 1980s and have defects so they cannot be New (Other).

This started showing up in all my Searches around the end of August. At first it was just the condition but now I'm seeing more information being added to some listings in searches that might be a model number, or size or stuff.

rfmtm · ‎09-22-2017

Yes, that is exactly the issue. Seems eBay randomly places information under the title. Some of it is correct, some is not correct.

Also whether right or wrong, it is still sometimes confusing for buyers when there is no heading to identify what the information represents. Of course when it is wrong, it is completely misleading.

wpt05 · ‎09-25-2017

Hello @rfmtm

I wanted to follow up with you since I was unable to help you with your original question on 9/18.

Did you send a private message to @syedmhaq with an example?

Are they looking into this?

rfmtm · ‎09-25-2017

wpt.......... Yes, I sent an example listing of mine and others with the same problem. It was Friday, so doubt much got looked at. Hope to hear something back this week.

Would think others will start having a problem too. However, if you don't actually search for your own listings, you'd never see it, except if you notice another seller with the issue. Although buyers think it the seller putting the second line in, when it is really eBay messing up the listing.

wpt05 · ‎09-25-2017

@rfmtm

That must be very frustrating. I hope you get it fixed soon.

Fyi, if you want to direct a message toward somebody you can use the (at symbol) followed by their screename. So I can write [(at symbol) rfmtm] @rfmtm and you will be notified immediately. So you can use (at symbol) wpt05. Otherwise I may not see your reply.

rfmtm · ‎09-25-2017

Most that use the boards have enabled email alerts, which I think is the default. So by doing the @ as well, we end up with duplicate alerts. Still great to get someone's attention not already on the board though.

rfmtm · ‎09-26-2017

@syedmhaq Sent you an example last week as requested. Any progress?

Now some new things are showing up. Some sellers are putting their website address in the Item Specifics and eBay is putting that under their item title. So now not only do I lose business to incorrect information, but buyers are diverted to buy the listed item off eBay.

rfmtm · ‎09-27-2017

More problems, besides incorrect data and website addresses showing up under the title. I just noticed even when the data is correct, it's often incomplete.

For instance, I was looking for a network switch and due to eBay only putting the first part of the speed (10/100) and not displaying the full Item Specific (10/100 to 1000). I didn't see what I wanted so went and bought on another site.

So no wonder so many of us have low sales, eBay is not only misleading buyers away from our listings, but away from eBay altogether.

rfmtm · ‎10-02-2017

@syedmhaq Is there any update on this problem? Seems many others sellers are also being affected, but most don't even realize it yet.

Sellers wonder why they are losing sales, when their listings to them look ok. Just that when a buyer searches, do they get misguided into thinking the item is something that it isn't, thanks to eBay adding incorrect information.