eBay

nexusexcalibur · ‎05-23-2022

I have had consistently lots of views on my items. Brand new listings, or renewed listings. These past 2 weeks, I listed new and renewed items, hundreds, and have "0" zero to 1 view on each listing. Mostly "0". Whereas, these same items renewed, or brand items I have consistently listed would have multiple views to dozens within days of listing it.

Has EBAY put in a punishing algorithm to smaller sellers, despite long history with EBAY? I cannot explain, as this seems SUDDEN, and I have NEVER had this low of a volume listing views as an experienced seller for many years.

bitbeat · ‎05-23-2022

"Importantly, the actual traffic from potential buyers to listings isn’t changing. We’re just updating what types of traffic we count as page views to more accurately show views by potential buyers."

Welcome to the party, pal!

If these 'views' are true, then we aren't reaching buyers OR everyone is scared to death to spend any money.

pburn · ‎05-23-2022

@nexusexcalibur wrote:
Has EBAY put in a punishing algorithm to smaller sellers, despite long history with EBAY? I cannot explain, as this seems SUDDEN, and I have NEVER had this low of a volume listing views as an experienced seller for many years.

eBay has recently changed their approach to displaying views and is now showing views from people within the last 30 days. How is that punishing? Don't you learn more from that information than having it display a bunch of views from bots over the lifetime of the listing?

Exactly what does a high-views number get you if it's comprised of bot-views from six months ago?

nexusexcalibur · ‎05-23-2022

I renew my listings ever 30 days to avoid misleading "lifetime" listing views or being pushed down the later of older listings. And this renwed listed, plus brand new ones would always get a decent number of views and watchers.

So your point of bot-views from six months ago, does not apply in my question/statement as I am specifically talking about new and renewed listings. I find it hard to believe that listings were comprised of 95%-99% (now 100%) assumption they were all BOTS... I have 0 views and barely 1 on several listings. This change, although in theory may be good, but has caused something else.

annadryl · ‎05-23-2022

I much prefer the real-world numbers. My biggest selling item had about 45 "watchers" so I sent out a discounted offer to them. Didn't sell ONE! Most of those folks probably haven't even logged in for months. I have no need for stats from last year...

stainlessenginecovers · ‎05-23-2022

The issue is the 'rolling 30 days'. Although getting rid of the 'bots' for views was a great idea (as they were fake), ROLLING doesn't do anyone any good.

If on April 1 you had 10 views, it would show '10' on May 1st (really 10 more but for example sake)

But, on May 2nd, it would show 0 views because those 10 dropped off (assuming nobody looked on April 2nd; or 10 less but for example sake)

It's now very hard to also track (write down) the 'watch number' and then look at it again 1 day, 2 days, 7 days later to see how many have looked at that item in the past 7 days.

donsdetour · ‎05-23-2022

@nexusexcalibur wrote:
I renew my listings ever 30 days to avoid misleading "lifetime" listing views or being pushed down the later of older listings. And this renwed listed, plus brand new ones would always get a decent number of views and watchers.

So your point of bot-views from six months ago, does not apply in my question/statement as I am specifically talking about new and renewed listings. I find it hard to believe that listings were comprised of 95%-99% (now 100%) assumption they were all BOTS... I have 0 views and barely 1 on several listings. This change, although in theory may be good, but has caused something else.

The views and watchers (watcher can happen with out views) tell you what is going on with your item.

What is messed up is the items being seen, This is not and was not caused by the views: but the search and or indexing and rating system eBay uses in the search.

Now you can see the results of such with the views..and watchers..

pburn · ‎05-23-2022

@nexusexcalibur wrote:
This change, although in theory may be good, but has caused something else.

What is the "something else" you think this change in the view reporting has caused? Do you think that eBay changing from showing bot-views has caused humans to not view your listings?

Could this be part of the explanation? I have a number of saved searches, and I receive an email when a newly listed item meets my criteria. That would produce a bot-view, would it not? And if I recognize the listing as being one I've received an alert on month after month after month, the likelihood of my continuing to actually view that listing is diminished immeasurably. As a buyer, I'm actually put off by sellers who list the same old thing as a brand new listing month after month. It smacks of desperation to me.

wolfplayers · ‎05-23-2022

I'm with you here. I'm not that bothered about the BOT views being filleted out but I'm definitely not convinced that this new approach is not affecting true views. Hardly any views, zero watchers and zero inbox enquiries all of a sudden cannot be a coincidence. Also, as silly as this may sound to some, there's a psychological affect on the seller when you see no signs of action on your items which makes want to take your business elsewhere.

yuzuha · ‎05-23-2022

@pburn wrote:
As a buyer, I'm actually put off by sellers who list the same old thing as a brand new listing month after month. It smacks of desperation to me.

Same. If I've already looked at the item when it was first listed and decided I didn't want it for whatever reason, the last thing I want is having it shoved back in my face over and over when I run my saved searches. That's a guaranteed way to assure that I'll NEVER buy from that seller.

deltilogical · ‎05-23-2022

I have to assume my '0' view item is not appealing to the buyers - or my description is inadequate - or price too high to attract a further look.

I'm not blaming Ebay for that.

personally, I am not buying much of anything these days, so I am grateful other people still are.

tealt · ‎05-23-2022

@donsdetour wrote:
@nexusexcalibur wrote:
The views and watchers (watcher can happen with out views) tell you what is going on with your item.

What is messed up is the items being seen, This is not and was not caused by the views: but the search and or indexing and rating system eBay uses in the search.
Now you can see the results of such with the views..and watchers..

Hmmm...

Granted, I am a micro seller (and folks are outdoors, and there's inflation, and my items are not "hot" or necessities, etc, etc), but... going on three weeks with not one sale does make me wonder.

Maybe eBay Search algorithm/bots didn't get the message that low views no longer indicate an item is dull/uninteresting/unworthy of being displayed to potential buyers?

[I'd hate to think that eBay Inc has made a conscious decision to hide items from micro/small/hobby/casual sellers of non-hot, non-necessary items.]