ShipScript has been an eBay Community volunteer since 2003, specializing in HTML, CSS, Scripts, Photos, Active Content, Technical Solutions, and online Seller Tools.
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As you say, the page functions correctly outside of eBay.
So let's take a look at the page that eBay delivers.
https://vi.vipr.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemDescV4&item=142987179259
The delivered page is wrapped in eBay codes, including table code. As you may know, a <table> does not function the same way as a <div> because a table cell will expand in deference to the size of hard content within, whereas a div can constrain the size of included content.
Instead of stating a width:1000px and then a max-width:100%, state your dimensions the opposite way: width:100% and then max-width:1000px. This will will make that hard content "soft" for the table.
Include eBay's table around your code during development to make sure you capture all of those issues.
As you say, the page functions correctly outside of eBay.
So let's take a look at the page that eBay delivers.
https://vi.vipr.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemDescV4&item=142987179259
The delivered page is wrapped in eBay codes, including table code. As you may know, a <table> does not function the same way as a <div> because a table cell will expand in deference to the size of hard content within, whereas a div can constrain the size of included content.
Instead of stating a width:1000px and then a max-width:100%, state your dimensions the opposite way: width:100% and then max-width:1000px. This will will make that hard content "soft" for the table.
Include eBay's table around your code during development to make sure you capture all of those issues.
I've set my forum preferences to be notified on topics where I have responded. I'll usually take a look unless it's a runaway thread.
The image sizes don't come into play for fit because they are sized by the CSS code for the gallery. Their size would, however, affect load times. For instance, let's look at these two images, one on eBay and one externally hosted.
eBay's photo is 902px × 997px @ 136 KB:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/yzQAAOSwfB9b1aKg/s-l1600.jpg
The external photo is 800px × 800px @ 381 KB:
https://image.ibb.co/nPmpVq/02b.jpg
eBay's slightly larger photo is less than half the load time because it has more compression.
When a listing will be posted as "good til cancelled", I like to suggest uploading the photos to eBay and then using eBay's photos down in the description. That way the photo is already cached in the visitor's browser when they load the listing, and eBay does their best to compress. However, this is a manual operation not suitable for automated listing processes.
Some sellers specifically include their own hosted photos to get around eBay's compression, sharpness, and size constraints, and know that their buyers will tolerate the lag and load.
No pinging protocol here. If you want my attention, just tag me. Then I know you are asking me a question. Otherwise, I may return to post that has a new comment, but might not get to it for a while.
"Are load times really an issue these days?"
Fiber would be splendid, but I doubt that the majority of users have access to fiber. I suspect most are on shared cable. I am on a local Wi-Fi tower. Speeds vary, and can become quite slow during some times of the day or year (depending on sun angle, air quality and moisture, cloud ceiling, and various other unknowns like the height and species of grass near the tower). I also have tried a verizon cellular hotspot and an ATT cellular hotspot. Quality depends on line-of-site to a cell tower, where speed degrades as signal strength erodes. I suspect environmental issues also affect signal quality on those because they use radio signals just like the wi-fi tower uses a radio signal. The cellular connections also tend to throttle. I have no idea about throughput speed because all I see are the speeds between my computer and the router in my office (300Mbps), but not from the router to the tower, which would be considerably slower. Also, my Internet connections through the airwaves can go from great to klunky at any time for no apparent reason.
Those on landlines would have a more stable connection, aside from throttling.
You're very welcome. Learning new tools can be quite a treat until we hit a wall. I was glad it was something I could solve.
