eBay

popblox · ‎04-23-2022

I tried to list a doll this morning, and, while researching comparisons, I noticed that the total items shown didn't match the total search results. It showed there were 6 results, but only 1 was shown:

I thought maybe it was a "clear your cache", etc. issue, so I did all that and got the same result. Then I tried searching from a private window, where the same search yielded accurate results. Incidentally, I had several items to list and this happened with every item I searched, so it wasn't a one-off.

Another member posted here about how ad blockers are preventing promoted listings from appearing in search, and the results were accurate after I disabled AdBlock.

However, all my listings are promoted, I've used chrome with AdBlock as an extension for years, I research comps routinely, and sponsored listings have never been "hidden" like this, nor have the number of results been noticeably different from the number of listings shown.

I don't know if this is a change with AdBlock and/or chrome and/or eBay, but I do know that my sales have been down dramatically for about 2 months. I've previously accepted this fate as just part of the business, but if promoted items aren't appearing in searches for people who use ad blockers (literally everyone I know), it's safe to say that's going to affect sales.

velvet@ebay:

This certainly seems like an issue that eBay needs to address immediately, especially with the constant emphasis on promoted listings. Sales for everyone using promoted listings are being lost every single second.

popblox · ‎04-24-2022

@optimus.prime wrote:
I just went into Advanced Settings on AdBlock Plus and turned off the ABP Filters option. My listings then show, even on sponsored listings. Try it yourself.

I think @eburtonlab has really looked into this. And I greatly appreciate it.

Yes, I can get the listings to show under those circumstances.

Unfortunately, I doubt the majority of buyers with AdBlock are going to make it to this forum seeking a solution for viewing listings they don't even know exist 😔

popblox · ‎04-24-2022

@eburtonlab wrote:

Ad blockers have rules in place to catch various kinds of ads that take steps to hide the fact that they are ads -- those are the anti-circumvention filters.

It seems that those anti-circumvention filters are now blocking some eBay listings that are not sponsored at all, hiding those listings from appearing in eBay search results for any user using that ad blocker in the default configuration.

Ok, gotcha - thank you for explaining all that.

So, assuming that neither eBay or AdBlock makes the next move to actually fix this problem within a reasonable time frame, would you happen to have any suggestions for those of us bearing the brunt of their ongoing pissing contest?

eburtonlab · ‎04-24-2022

So, assuming that neither eBay or AdBlock makes the next move to actually fix this problem within a reasonable time frame, would you happen to have any suggestions for those of us bearing the brunt of their ongoing pissing contest?

If we can figure out what exactly is being caught by those filter rules, it may be possible for sellers to take some steps to avoid including that information in the listing -- by not promoting the listing (if that is the issue) or not including whatever keyword or tag causes the problem.

But ultimately the problem is somewhere between eBay and the developers of those ad blocking rules. One or the other will have to address the issue at some point.

optimus.prime · ‎04-24-2022

Personally, I don’t think it’s something we can control as sellers. There is very little wording in my descriptions and titles in the first place. Furthermore, I don’t use any words that could be associated in any way with “Ad Words”. I still think it’s something in ebays coding pushing up good sellers.

I have to assume ebay is aware of this issue. I really wish they’d say ANYTHING to acknowledge it.

After reading your post, it sounds like eBay puts a lot of effort into avoiding this. Unfortunately they obviously can’t control AdBlock. It’s definitely in ebays best interest to fix this.

Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for AdBlock. What do they care if ebay sellers are getting blocked by their users? But, I am really hoping they are the ones to fix it. Because I think it would be far easier for them to change their coding then ebay. But, it’s not something we can rely on, obviously.

Not really sure what to do at this point. I guess wait on AdBlocks response to the problem ticket you created. And hope ebay says literally ANYTHING about this.

eburtonlab · ‎04-24-2022

Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for AdBlock. What do they care if ebay sellers are getting blocked by their users?

Ad Block, Ad Block Plus and the other ad blocking services, along with the developers of the rules and lists they require have an interest in providing a useful product that individuals are willing to use and ultimately pay for (through donations, mostly).

An ad blocker that does not block ads, or one that blocks things that it should not block, is not as useful as one that works correctly. Some users may ultimately switch to different ad blockers or different filter lists to avoid the ones that do not work as advertised. Ad Block or Ad Block Plus may decide not to use a particular filter list at all or use a different filter list as a default if one list is causing problems and cannot be fixed.

The filter lists themselves represent the combined work of many developers creating various rules and exceptions. If there was not some incentive to produce good working rules, those lists would not exist at all.

domin-tomas · ‎04-24-2022

So true, I was looking for baby bibs and I got mostly burping towels and keychains.

gottasellemall69 · ‎04-24-2022

Good plan, hopefully someone sees it, if anything it may help increase visibility so buyers know to disable that ruleset on eBay at least (one can dream, right? xD)

Give a man a fire, he'll be warm for a night.
Set the man on fire...

eburtonlab · ‎04-24-2022

So true, I was looking for baby bibs and I got mostly burping towels and keychains.

How were you searching? There is an entire category dedicated to bibs and burp cloths. A search for baby bib should be steered into that category, and provide something like 44,000 results. From there you can narrow your results further by choosing "bib" from the Type filter on the left side of the page, or by putting one or more of your search terms in quotes:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=baby+bib&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&rt=nc&Type=Bib&_dcat...

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=baby+%22bib%22&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&rt=nc&Type=Bib...

From there you can narrow further by material, brand, color, condition, or other criteria.

This is a separate issue than the problem mentioned in the original post.

popblox · ‎04-24-2022

@eburtonlab wrote:
Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for AdBlock. What do they care if ebay sellers are getting blocked by their users?

Ad Block, Ad Block Plus and the other ad blocking services, along with the developers of the rules and lists they require have an interest in providing a useful product that individuals are willing to use and ultimately pay for (through donations, mostly).

Excellent point. It sounds to me like the most effective way to combat this issue is to handle it the "2022" way, which is leaving detailed, accurate, and public reviews for AdBlock. Seeing how this service is literally taking money out of my pocket, I can't think of a better reason to post a review.

optimus.prime · ‎04-24-2022

Upon more testing, the AdBlock issue is fully blocking Best Buy and Sony. Wow.

Side by side comparisons with AdBlock ABP filters on vs off is comical. It’s seeming to block nearly all Top Rated Sellers.

The good sellers are being punished.

Knowing Best Buy and Sony are being block, gives me a bit of peace of mind. There is no way eBay isn’t aware of this issue. Best Buy sales had to have dropped significantly like all of ours have around the same time.

This was just a quick test. I sell electronics so that’s why I looked at these results.

eburtonlab · ‎04-24-2022

It might be worth contacting Ad Block or Ad Block Plus to see how they respond before going ahead and posting a review. Save that as an option if there is no response.

backpacktreasures · ‎04-24-2022

I see the point of view from Ad Block's persepctive. But I get the feelling that this is a new recent issue with ebay. So either Ad Block has strengthened their filters and ebay is not aware of it or ebay with its recent updates and changes to promoted listings has removed something that used to be there. Either way, listings are not being seen and therefore ebay is not getting fees from sales that are not happening.

optimus.prime · ‎04-24-2022

Again, for everyone to keep an eye on AdBlocks response to this issue

https://github.com/abp-filters/abp-filters-anti-cv/issues/946

Thanks to @eburtonlab for creating the issue on GitHub. Feel free to share you perspectives on the issue in the comments on that issue thread.

popblox · ‎04-24-2022

@eburtonlab wrote:
It might be worth contacting Ad Block or Ad Block Plus to see how they respond before going ahead and posting a review. Save that as an option if there is no response.

I couldn’t find a support email for AdBlock, so I submitted a ticket with links to this thread, as well as your github post, here:

https://help.getadblock.com/support/home

Also, I want to add that I thought AdBlock & AdBlock Plus were the same company. They aren’t - AdBlock Plus has 50 million users worldwide, and AdBlock has 40 million. At any rate, search results are hidden entirely by AdBlock, but it appears the issue is limited to FireFox with ABP (as tested by @wastingtime101).