Are Description Even Relevant In 2021

[retromech]

Sometimes I feel like I'm wasting time and energy basically repeating the same information that I placed in the title and condition description fields. Additionally on mobile people rarely seem to view the expanded description. Are they Relevant in 2021.

[fern*wood]

I have definitely cut back my descriptions from the early days.  I used to offer a detailed history of items when possible and sometimes made joke attempts (not a good idea it turns out), but I do still enter some description.  I want to give buyers more than one opportunity to see any issues or to understand what they will be receiving.  

When I buy, I want to see some type of description.  The thing I don't want to see are TOS with meaningless personal rules/threats that were very prevalent in the early days. 

[slideshopper]

AMEN

[whgamer]

Why would it not be relevant to have description of item(s)?

Describe your items as it should be done. If buyers don´t read it , that is their fault, not yours. Get in your description and maike sure it is added, no matter what.

It will even save you a lot of headache, when some people may message you, and it saves people the time of messaging you.

And to lazy people there is only one thing to say: Sorry Mister, but did you not read the Description in the listing?

There is a reason for Description being available to use. Use it for all of what it´s worth.

[luckythewinner]

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@retromech wrote:

Sometimes I feel like I'm wasting time and energy basically repeating the same information that I placed in the title and condition description fields. Additionally on mobile people rarely seem to view the expanded description. Are they Relevant in 2021.

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If it is taking you a lot of time and energy to cut and paste your title and condition into your description, you are not working efficiently. It should only take a few seconds to craft these into readable sentences. 

That aside ... 

IMHO you cannot discount the benefit of having a simple, focused, and accurate description.

Adding just a simple phrase like "downsizing my collection" or " I picked this up years ago" or "great example of blah blah blah (music genre, fashion taste, historical era. etc.) can quietly convey the idea that you are an interested and engaged seller and not a lazy flipper who could not be bothered. 

[powell-memorabilia]

If you are just repeating the title info, and that's (basically) it, yes, you are wasting your time, but that copy and past just takes a few seconds.  You don't have a lot of listings, so this shouldn't be a huge time killer.

Regardless, I see a couple of listings that can definitely use better descriptions.  In one of your 'Clue' games, you indicate that the set isn't complete, but almost is, yet you don't let the buyer know what might be missing.  That's not only aggravating for the buyer - who has to hunt through your photos to hope to discover what isn't there (which can't be easy), but also sets you up for an easy INAD complaint.  

[johnny8174]

If your description is a repeat of your title, then you're not describing properly

[m_pthisandthat]

I am on the side of providing a complete descrition on this issue. I feel the more the complete the description you give the less chance you have with an unhappy buyer. I try to describe the item I am selling in detail. On many of my listings I include some history related to the item and its manufacturing. My feeling is that because the buyer can not do touchy feely with the item the indepth description helps the buyer reach a level of comfort with their purchase. 

[dhbookds]

Depends on how many people you want your items to appeal to..........

Some don't care/ can't/won't read

Some do care

So you eliminate the "do cares" without a description.............

[tealt]

I always copy-paste my condition text into the description along with a more understandable version of the title.

As mentioned above, repeating those bits of information may help a buyer understand what I'm selling.

I also fill in and add as many item specifics as seems reasonable. 

Most items I sell can have either a mark or a signature, or not.  If there is a mark or a signature it can be complicated and needs to be either very clearly photographed or quoted in the description.

[iart]

Usually we need decent descriptions for what we sell.

Even if buyers don't read the description it will help in any dispute. It can be used to convince buyers that they are incorrect about assumptions and also used as evidence for ebay. We've had a couple bad feedbacks removed because the comments didn't match the description.

[brwil85]

Yes descriptions are relevant and important to many buyers.

The problem is only about 65% of buyers are functionally literate (they can write their name but get stuck on big words like literate). 

35% of buyers are genuinely unable to read your descriptions. 

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

if someone has actually clicked through to your listing, well, they are a looker you want to convert into a buyer. The description gives you an opportunity to convert them. HOW you use that opportunity, or even IF you use that opportunity, is up to you. 

[divwido]

After filling out all those endless item specifics-no.

[divwido]

don't guess eBay would llike 'it looks like the pictures'.