That makes no sense. Nobody just types in "Painting". They use search perimeters, whether typed in as words or by left side boxes. The fact is that now, no matter what one puts into the search bars, ebay may, and does, choose to show them what they want them to buy. This is giving preferential service to the SELLER, not helping the buyer, and to a degree, is also price fixing. Next time you are searching for something, go to "Best Match" and compare it to "Lowest price" and see if the best match has more items. If it does, then which "Lowest Price" offers are being ghosted.
I'm just as concerned about this from the buying perspective as the selling. I find it very difficult to find what I want now, mostly comic books, due to the search perimeters being wiped and/or changed every few pages. I'm also tired of constantly having "International" turned back on after I turned it off. Why are they doing that? Because higher shipping costs, means higher FVF.
Last thing I'll say on Promoted Listings is that it's hard enough getting someone to get onto my listings, ebay then providing them a scrolling window of similar items by OTHER SELLERS, is just reprehensible behavior IMO, a real stab in the back. If you can't see how this is just a way to control "Click Through" rate, to manipulate the algo that will choose whether or not your items even get scene, then you are just blind. Simply blind.
IMO, everything about the promoted listings manipulation is the worst of technocracy, and the system will be used to refine what, how, and for what price things are sold on ebay as determined by corporate CEO's who rub elbows with the like, who mainly want to sell new goods, and control the profit made off of used, vintage or antique items.
This is market control, akin to price fixing, it is only the beginning, and it will get worse IMO. But who knows, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it'll get better.
