Community Team Question Store Billboard Change or Test or?

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

devon@ebay 

I recently looked at some ebay storefronts, including my own (Using a PC and Chrome, in case that matters)

I created a store billboard ages ago. And I have a video of sorts, and an "About" description on the About tab page.

Now, imagine my surprise and confusion, when, with no announcement and no explanation within the store help pages or the "Edit Store" page, my previously static billboard now scrolls, showing first my actual billboard image, then a clickable link to a pop up if my store video, and then partial text of my About description and a button to link to the whole thing.

Now, I actually like the scrolling billboard idea. But....

Seriously, once again, despite our never ending pleas, no announcement? And in the middle of Q4?

OK, that said, a couple points: 

1. There appears to be no seller choice here. I see nothing that indicates I can choose a static billboard OR a scrolling billboard. This seems to be scrolling, period. (At least, if the seller has a video and/or an About text description). Why no choice?

2. My video was made as a slideshow, and the slideshow photos have had their dimensions altered to fit the pop up video size. So, tops and bottoms of some of the items are cut off in the pop up video, which is not the look I want. 

3. Obviously, there is a character limit for the text in the final video, and since as sellers, we have no warning about this, it cuts off the text abruptly. If ebay indicated the character number, we could probably revise the "About" text to fit better.

So, what's going on here?

Is this a test? Is it an unannounced change that is in a gradual roll out? 

Are we going to be given any information about this? 

Not advertising my store, just an easy link to my store front for those who want to see the scrolling Billboard at the top of the page (might not work in all browsers): 

https://www.ebay.com/str/mycottagebooksandantiques

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

@moretreasures4you  That's why I usually try to mention the browser I'm using when asking about this "what the heck is this?" sort of stuff that ebay delights in springing on us with no notice whatsoever. 

I'm convinced that ebay thinks we sellers actually enjoy playing long extended guessing games rather than dealing with boring old announcements that would save us time and energy.

Or maybe ebay just enjoys watching us do all the guessing, while they sit back and laugh? But that would be cruel, and I'm sure ebay isn't cruel....at least, I hope not.

Hopefully we'll get an answer soon. If not, the November Seller Check In is coming up on Thursday, maybe they'll lift the curtain on the mystery at that time. I'd prefer sooner, but I've learned ebay will do, what ebay will do.

[afinedoll]

I didn't know about the scrolling feature until I saw your post.

Checked and indeed my store has that feature here, also.

I've not created a video for it, didn't reallyknow I could do that, will check that out later.

And yes, the lack of announcement is really bad, eBay needs to communicate better.

I wonder though if there are arguments inside eBay itself on how to handle new features.

May the better person win!

Off to check out your store, love books and antiques!

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

devon@ebay 

Well, as magically as the scrolling billboard appeared, it has now just as magically and mysteriously vanished!

So, I'm guessing this was either a test, or an unannounced change that is terribly glitchy.

Could you try and find out which one it was?

Please. It is Q4. It would be nice to believe ebay is willing to make some effort to keep us informed of things.

[devon@ebay]

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@my-cottage-books-and-antiques wrote:

devon@ebay 

I recently looked at some ebay storefronts, including my own (Using a PC and Chrome, in case that matters)

I created a store billboard ages ago. And I have a video of sorts, and an "About" description on the About tab page.

Now, imagine my surprise and confusion, when, with no announcement and no explanation within the store help pages or the "Edit Store" page, my previously static billboard now scrolls, showing first my actual billboard image, then a clickable link to a pop up if my store video, and then partial text of my About description and a button to link to the whole thing.

Now, I actually like the scrolling billboard idea. But....

Seriously, once again, despite our never ending pleas, no announcement? And in the middle of Q4?

OK, that said, a couple points: 

1. There appears to be no seller choice here. I see nothing that indicates I can choose a static billboard OR a scrolling billboard. This seems to be scrolling, period. (At least, if the seller has a video and/or an About text description). Why no choice?

2. My video was made as a slideshow, and the slideshow photos have had their dimensions altered to fit the pop up video size. So, tops and bottoms of some of the items are cut off in the pop up video, which is not the look I want. 

3. Obviously, there is a character limit for the text in the final video, and since as sellers, we have no warning about this, it cuts off the text abruptly. If ebay indicated the character number, we could probably revise the "About" text to fit better.

So, what's going on here?

Is this a test? Is it an unannounced change that is in a gradual roll out? 

Are we going to be given any information about this? 

Not advertising my store, just an easy link to my store front for those who want to see the scrolling Billboard at the top of the page (might not work in all browsers): 

https://www.ebay.com/str/mycottagebooksandantiques

---

Hey @my-cottage-books-and-antiques! Let me reach out to a few Product teams to see if I can get any insight that can be shared on this!  

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

Thanks devon@ebay  I'm guessing it was a test, but it would be nice to have that confirmed (if so) and also it would be nice to know what the intentions are going forward.

[wastingtime101]

And it's officially past the test phase. Saw this on my store home page today.

Although ... I'm not finding a way to manage the feature on my Edit Store page. 🤔

Scratch that: Found it! It's on the Tell your story tab.

@my-cottage-books-and-antiques @mcdougle4248 

[valueaddedresource]

Looks like you can now use AI to help write your store description too - is that new as well?

[wastingtime101]

I don't have AI description option @valueaddedresource . Checked 2 different stores.

[valueaddedresource]

Thanks @wastingtime101 I guess that answers that question 😂

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

@wastingtime101 

Thanks.

I also see we can now use ebay's Magical AI to write our store descriptions.

I assume this is the same Magical AI responsible for pulling a tie of mine today (which has been listed for more than a year). A mens neck tie in the mens accessories>ties category, with photos of the tie, with item specifics and description clearly stating "made in USA". Alas, the tie design featured a photo montage of cigars. Hapless fool that I am, I had noted in the description---knowing that these are a favorite of cigar puffers ---the cigars are from Cuba.

Well, bless Magical AI's little heart (or maybe these are still just good old fashioned unmagical bots), but sure enough, with the sort of deep learning insight that the human mind is incapable of, the bots removed my listing because those cigars---if they had been cigars, and not merely photos of cigars on a tie, but why nit pick?---those cigars were Cuban cigars, and thus in violation of the embargo. Thanks to the vigilance of ebay's crackerjack enforcement team, Americans will be safe from neckties bearing images of Cuban cigars!

[wastingtime101]

Not necessarily @valueaddedresource . I feel like I've seen it before on others' screenshots. Could be wrong though. My brain feels like it's operating at 50% today so don't trust what I say. haha

I know that's not supposed to happen to AI bots and word on the Community street is I am one. Guess I need some reprogramming and a reboot. 🤖😂

Maybe it doesn't show AI description on mine since I've had descriptions in there for years.

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

@wastingtime101  I get a pop up that allows me to click for carousel or regular, but clicking carousel does..... nothing. 

And so, the tech led reimagination of ecommerce continues apace....

Hopefully they will get this working soon, so we can take it for a test drive.

[wastingtime101]

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@my-cottage-books-and-antiques wrote:

Hapless fool that I am, I had noted in the description---knowing that these are a favorite of cigar puffers ---the cigars are from Cuba.

---

You know better than to mention Cuba on eBay. 😉

I'd appeal with human customer service to get the violation removed from your account. But I would not relist the tie even if appeal is successful.

[wastingtime101]

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@my-cottage-books-and-antiques wrote:

@wastingtime101  I get a pop up that allows me to click for carousel or regular, but clicking carousel does..... nothing. 

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What do you expect it to do @my-cottage-books-and-antiques ? It's not interactive. It's a selection between carousel (moving) or standard (static). That's it. No customization option.

[jerseyboymusic]

Do you think this Devon guy is still looking into this since November 26th?