Problem: Variety pic NOT Main Pic coming up. SELECT is not default on view!!!

[girlnhouston]

Some of my listings, example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lace-Top-Sheer-Thigh-High-Stockings-In-Your-Choice-of-6-Colors-Reinforced-T...

are defaulting to a single variety option, not the main photo with the many varieties showing. Select should be the default with the Main Photo in view. This have been a problem for some time, but have not seen another post. HELP! My potential buyers will only see one color or pattern or whatever at first glance at some of my listings. I have tried to remove and reload the main pics and it made not difference. 

[dollybeauty]

That is a bit strange...One item I looked at, the main displayed image is the second in the list. On another, the main image was the 6th or 14th (looks the same to me).

In both instances, if you use the left scroll icon (<), the variety image is listed as the first, and displays first, but then the other image is displayed right away.

Let's ask our member image expert - @shipscript  Maybe they can explain what is going on here.

[girlnhouston]

I have now removed and replaced all the pics on some listings and it appeared to be fixed, with the main pic showing and the select option visible. I've gone away and come back after a couple of hours and it's back to what it was before. Some random pic from the variety, not the main pic appears. I am SO frustrated!!!!!!!

[shipscript]

@girlnhouston

@dollybeauty

You are probably seeing the results of a Best Match display. eBay will surface product that is the most popular or best fits other requests. In the past, if the search term included a color, Best Match would return the variation that matched that color. That confused sellers who expected the master image to appear in search. Now I believe the Best Match algorithm is reaching even further and is displaying the variation that is best suited for Best Match without using a variation (like color) in the search phrase.  If you search by some other order, like ending soonest instead of Best Match, I suspect the default master record will appear instead of a variation.

[dollybeauty]

@shipscript

I was not looking at this OP's item via search, but from their store page. It should show the main image when the item is clicked on from the store page, yet I get the same results as the OP.

[girlnhouston]

Yes, the error is seen from the store page direction or the item number direction, or url. Variety (Main) photo pops up for a second and then one specific variation displays. There is definitely a glitch. I have removed and re-uploaded ALL pics on some listing and it seems to clear the problem temporarily. But I check back later and the Variety pic is not the default pic. 

[shipscript]

@dollybeauty

@girlnhouston

Thanks for the clarification. I looked further into the store.

It looks like the seller items display and the store items display are performing differently.  When I hover the links on variation listings in seller search, the generic URL displays, whether "Best Match" or "Newly Listed" order is chosen.

Looking at store results, the links on variation listings include a variation number (as does the link in the OP), thereby hardcoding a color selection into the link. The top of the store has a search order option. When I change between "newly listed" and "best match", the variation changes to a different color.  Therefore, it appears that search order is picking up the variation that matches that sort parameter, such as the most recently added variation or the most popular variation. The master image is the main image in the search, as it should be, but the underlying link is not.

This looks like a bug that eBay should address.

[girlnhouston]

shipscript, is this something you can report to get it resolved or do I need to contact eBay directly?

[shipscript]

@girlnhouston

Yes, I will post this to eBay staff when they return next week. 

[dhbookds]

@shipscript

Google said something about not wanting the "combined" picture option.....ie the 12 colors as the gallery pic last wk at open.........wonder if that could have anything to do with it........

[shipscript]

@dhbookds

That could be a very real possibility. I'll ask.

[girlnhouston]

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@dhbookds wrote:

@shipscript

Google said something about not wanting the "combined" picture option.....ie the 12 colors as the gallery pic last wk at open.........wonder if that could have anything to do with it........

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I hope that is not the case. Otherwise my potential buyers are only going to see the one (color or pattern) and maybe move on without viewing the variety I offer. 

[girlnhouston]

Problem has still not been resolved! Losing my patience.......

SO many complaints from other sellers and I guess I have just been very lucky in my time as eBay seller with tech issues. 

Could we get this resolved before I close up shop. 

[shipscript]

@girlnhouston

The problem was sent yesterday to the team in charge of that feature.

[girlnhouston]

Thank you! Much appreciated.