mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999
Good afternoon everyone and welcome to the Weekly Chat with eBay Staff. We don't have a specific topic this week, so feel free to share any general buying or selling questions you may have!
The chat thread will remain open until 2 PM PT, at which point we'll close thread from additional responses. After that time, we'll continue to work on responding to any queries that might still be unanswered.
To post your question, click Reply in the lower right corner of this post, type your question, and hit submit between 1-2 PM Pacific Time. The format of our chat mirrors the format of our Community Discussion Boards, where each post will appear in the thread chronologically. The Community Team will work review each question as it comes in, and will quote the original question in our reply. This quote and the reply will appear later in the thread, so just keep scrolling down to see our answers.
@vrykalak wrote:Hi @coinslabz26 - there is not a way to exclude mutli-variation listings from your search results. If you are aware of specific sellers who do this you can do an advanced search to remove them, but definitely a lot of work and not 100% effective by any means.
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Some time ago, in this chat, the idea was proposed that "variations" had to be the same price...like different colors or sizes of shirts.
People seemed to like that idea, that it would solve the problem being discussed.
How about implementing that requirement?
That would have a significant impact to many sellers that use the variations within the rules Ebay has set forth for us. Like in fragrances. A listing for a particular fragrance has sizes in the listing. But each size is a different price. Or in beads, often times the number of beads being purchased will have different prices, not just color or size. I could go on, but there are many valid reasons to have different prices within a variation listing.
@pursesbrasplusmore wrote:
- The June 12, 2020 ebay seller update on Google Shopping stated pics need to be 800 x 800 pixels. Is this ebay’s new guidelines for all clothing? I’ve always read 1600 on the longest side. I sell mostly clothing and my pics are mostly closely cropped rectangles. If I need to change a long dress into a square, how would I do that? It completely distorts the picture. Also, is this for the main photo only, or for all ie. 5-10 photos in each listing? Please clarify.
- On sending watchers offers, my send offer list has some that say 0 watchers, but when I click on them say 1 interested. I do not want to annoy watchers that aren’t watching my items. Which is it? 0 or 1?
1. That's a great question! I'm going to look into this more and get back to you.
2. Hmm that's strange. I'd love to look at an example to see if there may be an issue that I can get reported. If you want to tag me in a thread with an example then I'll take a look 🙂
@vrykalak wrote:
Hi @coinslabz26 - there is not a way to exclude mutli-variation listings from your search results. If you are aware of specific sellers who do this you can do an advanced search to remove them, but definitely a lot of work and not 100% effective by any means.
----
Some time ago, in this chat, the idea was proposed that "variations" had to be the same price...like different colors or sizes of shirts.
People seemed to like that idea, that it would solve the problem being discussed.
How about implementing that requirement?
Hi @vrykalak - variations exist to allow members to sell similar items with minor variations, you're correct. However, as you can imagine, not all variations end up costing the same, or having the same price point. For example, a red shirt may be more popular and harder to source at the same price and availability as the same shirt in blue. That's a reason why we don't require that variations be identical.
Thanks!
@papermoneyforme wrote:
@mam98031 wrote:
@papermoneyforme wrote:
@coinslabz26 wrote:
@gwzcomps wrote:
@coinslabz26 wrote:
Is there any way of removing multi quantity item listings from search results filtered by price plus shipping lowest first?
Example. If I need to search ebay for a 32GB Memory card and filter by "price plus shipping lowest first" I will see results "$10 to $50" and it will be like a 1gb card that is $10 and $50 for the 32GB card. Obviously the 1GB card for $10 was not part of my search. There are even worse results where I could be searching for a bike and see price $5 to $500 where $5 is the bike horn and $500 is the bike, yet it still shows that as a lowest price because of that horn option.
How do I remove those results from my search?OMG I hate that and it is abused so badly. With the memory card search the best you can do is this for your search terms:
32gb sd card -1gb -2gb -4gb -8gb -16gb
That of course is assuming you are looking for a SD card. The problem is you do run the risk of filtering out a good deal. Maybe someone is selling a 32GB memory card bundled with a 16GB card for $2 less than the going rate. That search I supplied would remove that listing.
That was just one example of many. I face this every time I look for something. Everything I look for has this type grossly miscategorized type of results. I used memory cards as an example because it is easier to understand.
Because Ebay allows these types of bait and switch listings
They are NOT "bait and switch" listings. That would imply that sellers allow you to order a certain item, pay for it and then ship you something you did not order and that has a lesser value. That is beyond insulting and is totally ridiculous.
Variation listings are extremely useful tools for sellers and when used properly gives buyers the opportunity to see all their options on a particular product. I've used them for years and I'm not "bait and switch" seller.
Now there are sellers that misuse the privilege of being able to use a variation listing and when that happens they should be reported for breaking the rules. But when it is for a particular item like a memory card or Tshirt that comes in different sizes and colors. That is an appropriate use of a variation listing.
But when a seller throws in an unrelated item because it is less expensive, that is wrong and should be reported. Or if the listing is for completely unrelated items. If you want to stop them, report them so that Ebay has an easier time of locating listings that violate policy.
Reporting has become a joke and nothing happens as has been posted many times on these boards.
Sorry to say but with what just happened internally with Ebay, I have little faith in much that Ebay says or does and all the secrecy it uses is becoming absolutely uncalled for.
I don't mean reporting someone else's post but to report the listing. That you wouldn't see anything about on the boards. And Ebay isn't going to report to you what they did when you reported a listing. But you have a valid point and prior to all era of the Pandemic, I too would agree, we would report listings and nothing seemed to have ever happened. That was certainly my experience. But in recent months that has seemed to change. However keep in mind that just because we report a listing doesn't mean that Ebay will agree with us on the reason and may or may not do anything to the seller or their listing. It is a case by case basis.
What happened in Ebay didn't "just happen" it was almost a year ago. We are just finding out about it, that is certainly true and is very concerning to be sure. But likely nothing could be said until indictments were handed down. That seems pretty standard stuff to me not that anyone was trying to keep info from us but that the FBI was trying to get their case built. So while you may feel it is "uncalled for", I'm betting the FBI would have a different opinion.
@gwzcomps wrote:
What are the rules for "like" items in variation listings? I have seen it heavily abused in the CPU/Processors category. They will take stuff like a low end i3-2100 and put with more desirable newer processors like an i5-3470, i7-3770, i5-4570, etc. All so they show up lower on the higher priced CPUs.
Or even worse mix desktop and server processors in the same variation claiming the server processor can be used in a desktop with unsupported modifications.
I'm going to have to defer this to someone on the Chat team. I haven't been able to find the written policy on this for awhile. I should still exist, but I'm not sure how to find it anymore.
Here is what I've found, but I think there is better info out there, I just haven't been able to locate it.
https://pages.ebay.com/mc/en-us/sellerinformation/growing/variation.html
@mtgraves7984 wrote:
Am I able to list one that is saved in my 'Drafts' yet? Nothing to do with covid. Thanks!
It's ANSELL Versatouch Gloves-#23 201-P57BL-Blue-XL/10-Food Service/Industrial-EEUC.
Hi @mtgraves7984 - Check your email for more detail on this particular subject. Thanks!
