eBay

itccosmetics · ‎07-22-2017

Hi Everyone,

Does adding the UPC to listings, change your sales at all?

Or....I even read where listings aren't visible in Google searches if the UPC isn't included.

I appreciate any and all advise and/or answers.

Brenda Sue

syedmhaq · ‎08-10-2017

@timemachine777 wrote:

@syedmhaq wrote:

@bubbleman2010 wrote:

What a dull life someone must lead to search ebay for a item by the bar code...

Scanning a barcode using a mobile phone is a very quick and convenient way of finding the exact product you're looking for. Doing a keyword search might return a number of similar products that you may not be interested in.

eBay is becoming the filter king. So, lets see...Most people I know, say hey...check out this new product I've been using. You have to get one. So, I go on line and do a keyword search, and I get a hit from everyone except eBay. Huh...Nobody on eBay must sell this great product everyone is raving about?

But, wait eBay sellers do carry the product. Your friend should have told you the product bar code, and not the product name. eBay...now the new experience. Home of the visual and bar code search. Can't-see-me on Steroids. Just one word...Brilliant.

We're only requiring sellers to provide barcodes so we can link all listings of the same product together. We are not expecting most buyers to search by barcodes. Buyers will continue to look for items via keyword search.

syedmhaq · ‎08-10-2017

@timemachine777 wrote:

@d-k_treasures wrote:

@timemachine777 wrote:

@syedmhaq wrote:

@bubbleman2010 wrote:

What a dull life someone must lead to search ebay for a item by the bar code...

Scanning a barcode using a mobile phone is a very quick and convenient way of finding the exact product you're looking for. Doing a keyword search might return a number of similar products that you may not be interested in.

eBay is becoming the filter king. So, lets see...Most people I know, say hey...check out this new product I've been using. You have to get one. So, I go on line and do a keyword search, and I get a hit from everyone except eBay. Huh...Nobody on eBay must sell this great product everyone is raving about?

But, wait eBay sellers do carry the product. Your friend should have told you the product bar code, and not the product name. eBay...now the new experience. Home of the visual and bar code search. Can't-see-me on Steroids. Just one word...Brilliant.

And your friend needs to save the box so he can give you the barcode ....... yep - brilliant!

Hey honey, I need to buy some things on eBay today. I going to get 174980018443, 394826600001, 439700337155, and I need 3 333672999013, and a couple of those 933878701100's, and didn't you say you needed a couple of 777119303036's? Oh, BTW...What else do you need? I think 878786200015 would look great on you.

Again, just to clarify. We're asking sellers to provide UPCs, not buyers.

So the scenario would be more like:

Hey honey, I want to sell my Canon DLSR camera.

Ok, list it on eBay and don't forget to put in the UPC so your item shows up in all the experiences and can sell faster and at the best possible price.

Thanks honey. You're the best.

dtexley3 · ‎08-10-2017

@syedmhaq wrote:
As far as I know, and my knowledge does not include facebook ebay talk, no one has ever said what happens when a UPC that has been reissued to another item is entered (as has been mentioned here a zillion times) and/or what happens when the seller purchases her/his own UPCs? How does ebay use these in this rich experience?

Does ebay have a richer experience planned for those buyers who are seeking items that have "Does Not Apply" in the UPC field? I know I sell a lot of those dna items so the buyers are finding them. Somehow. Currently.
You are right that there are some bogus or recycled UPCs out there so UPC is not a 100% reliable way to identify a unique product. But the relative percentage of those bogus UPCs is really small.
We are also creating richer experiences for non UPC based products as well. What kind of products are you interested in? I can point you to the new experiences for those products.

Have you actually read (and addressed) the concerns of those where eBay's "new buyer's experience" UPC system rejects the UPC on the retail package? There's several of those threads out there with absolutely no response from you or any other eBay staff. What about the companies that use/used the same UPC for dozens of similar items (Legos, hotwheels etc)? Again no feedback, guideance or acknowlegement. Posts regarding reissued UPCs that cause listing category issues (Legos, etc)? Again, none have had any response. Just venting my frustration when I see eBay staff post rainbows and bubblegum about "buyer experience" when there are multiple examples of issues that are not being clearly addressed.

I use the UPC scan on some items when I'm out purchasing, but for the most part keyword search is the only way to go. Too many item either don't have a UPC, or the UPC is not recognized/allowed by eBay right now to be truely useful.

Member of the Grumpy Old Man crew

syedmhaq · ‎08-10-2017

@timemachine777 wrote:

@syedmhaq wrote:

@itccosmetics I would highly recommend that you include the UPC whenever available.

eBay is building rich new buying experiences that depend on sellers providing UPCs and as many aspects as possible.

When you provide this information your listings will show up in these new experiences.

e.g. your listing for Clinique Foaming Soap :

http://www.ebay.com/itm/172809013167

currently doesn't show up on the Clinique Foaming Soap product page:

https://www.ebay.com/p/clinique-foaming-sonic-facial-soap/691132882

But if you provide the UPC, then your listing will show up in these new experiences.

Did you know that almost all people can only remember 5 to 7 digits, and their ability to remember multiple sets of large numbers that they commonly use is extremely limited. Due to this reason, phone numbers are broken into 3 sets. The common area code for your state, central office prefix for your area in your town, and line number which is unique to your home.

The reason I point this out is because even though bar codes are broken down also. They contain 12 digits, and people would not be able to store these numbers in memory. Maybe a few that are used a lot will take hold, but not a lot. Most people can not tell you their bank account number, which is also 12 digits. An CC numbers are 16. These would be seen a lot, and repeated a lot over the phone, yet people struggle to remember them.

So with that said. How does eBay and it's brilliant team of innovators expect people to memorize the thousands of product numbers to match the thousands of products that they are familiar with by name and use from time to time?

When it comes to Linguistics our brains treat words totally different then number symbols. Everyone would have to be trained as an infant to recognize a string of digits as a specific object. In other words...037000003120 would be - Cavity Protection Liquid Gel Toothpaste- Cool Mint, forever.

So you would need to memorize every UPC for every single tube of tooth paste out there to know them apart. This way you would be able to just look at a string of 12 digits, and without really thinking about it, know what it means, like a 12 letter word. How many different shirts are out in the world?

At the risk of being redundant. We're not asking buyers to know or memorize any UPCs. Only sellers are being encouraged to provide UPCs so we can group items that are the exact same product.

syedmhaq · ‎08-10-2017

@palmbeachclosets wrote:

Perfect when you run out of toner for your printer or your favorite cosmetics or even Mike & Ikes...just scan and boom there's your product.

However, when it comes to my handbag shopping, i can browse ebay by keyword search all day because im not sure what i want til i see it.

@palmbeachclosets how do you like our new Handbags experience?

https://www.ebay.com/b/Handbags-Purses/63852/bn_739474

syedmhaq · ‎08-10-2017

@d-k_treasures wrote:

@syedmhaq wrote:

@sharingtheland wrote:

However in most cases they will not show up in the new richer buying experiences being developed by eBay.

Over time more and more buyers will be using these new richer experiences and you wouldn't want your items to be missing from there.

I'm confused; remind me again, please: What exactly is the new richer buying experience?

As far as I know, and my knowledge does not include facebook ebay talk, no one has ever said what happens when a UPC that has been reissued to another item is entered (as has been mentioned here a zillion times) and/or what happens when the seller purchases her/his own UPCs? How does ebay use these in this rich experience?

Does ebay have a richer experience planned for those buyers who are seeking items that have "Does Not Apply" in the UPC field? I know I sell a lot of those dna items so the buyers are finding them. Somehow. Currently.

You are right that there are some bogus or recycled UPCs out there so UPC is not a 100% reliable way to identify a unique product. But the relative percentage of those bogus UPCs is really small.

We are also creating richer experiences for non UPC based products as well. What kind of products are you interested in? I can point you to the new experiences for those products.

Seriously? After 3 years of the last use, a UPC can be recycled. So how can you say it's a relatively small percentage?

Just because it can be recycled, doesn't necessarily mean it will get recycled.

And I agree that UPC is far from perfect as a unique product identifier. But it's the best available system right now.

syedmhaq · ‎08-10-2017

@dtexley3 wrote:

@syedmhaq wrote:

As far as I know, and my knowledge does not include facebook ebay talk, no one has ever said what happens when a UPC that has been reissued to another item is entered (as has been mentioned here a zillion times) and/or what happens when the seller purchases her/his own UPCs? How does ebay use these in this rich experience?

Does ebay have a richer experience planned for those buyers who are seeking items that have "Does Not Apply" in the UPC field? I know I sell a lot of those dna items so the buyers are finding them. Somehow. Currently.

You are right that there are some bogus or recycled UPCs out there so UPC is not a 100% reliable way to identify a unique product. But the relative percentage of those bogus UPCs is really small.

We are also creating richer experiences for non UPC based products as well. What kind of products are you interested in? I can point you to the new experiences for those products.

Have you actually read (and addressed) the concerns of those where eBay's "new buyer's experience" UPC system rejects the UPC on the retail package? There's several of those threads out there with absolutely no response from you or any other eBay staff. What about the companies that use/used the same UPC for dozens of similar items (Legos, hotwheels etc)? Again no feedback, guideance or acknowlegement. Posts regarding reissued UPCs that cause listing category issues (Legos, etc)? Again, none have had any response. Just venting my frustration when I see eBay staff post rainbows and bubblegum about "buyer experience" when there are multiple examples of issues that are not being clearly addressed.

I use the UPC scan on some items when I'm out purchasing, but for the most part keyword search is the only way to go. Too many item either don't have a UPC, or the UPC is not recognized/allowed by eBay right now to be truely useful.

I actually do look for posts where users are pointing out issues with UPCs and reach out to help them. If there are specific posts that I've mised or particular UPCs that are giving you trouble, please point them out to me. I'll really appreciate it.

palmbeachclosets · ‎08-10-2017

The new handbag experience looks great. As long as i am Able to see a lot of the pre-owned designer bags i am happy. Ebay has the best selection of designer handbags by far.

d-k_treasures · ‎08-10-2017

@syedmhaq wrote:
@d-k_treasures wrote:
@syedmhaq wrote:
@d-k_treasures wrote:
@syedmhaq wrote:
@bubbleman2010 wrote:
syedmhaq so you're saying if a seller doesn't enter the bar code the listings will not be shown to buyers? By title 237 items,by bar code 33 items so 204 listings are being paid for to be advertised,but aren't being shown to the buying public?
@bubbleman2010 buyers can still get to listings without UPCs through regular search on ebay.com. However in most cases they will not show up in the new richer buying experiences being developed by eBay.
Over time more and more buyers will be using these new richer experiences and you wouldn't want your items to be missing from there.
You meant to say "forced into these new experiences'", right?

@d-k_treasures we feel confident that users will love these new experiences a lot more than doing a regular search.
e.g. compare the following two experiences and let me know which one you like better.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=Handbags
https://www.ebay.com/b/Handbags-Purses/63852/bn_739474

@syedmhaq

Neither. But I wouldn't buy a handbag, either. And they both look the same. Bunch of photos. No seller info. At least the first one defaults to ending soonest, the other is probably BM(literally and figurativly)

Let's pick one of my categories to try - pre-war trains or antique toys, auctions only.

Oh - and in some cases, you ARE forced into the pages of photos. You have to search for something like 'a', then you get the normal list, then you can remove 'a' and go on about your business.

Can you try the following experiences and let me know what you think?
https://www.ebay.com/b/N-Scale-Model-Railroad-Locomotives/69812/bn_1648481
https://www.ebay.com/b/Vintage-Antique-Cast-Iron-Toys/721/bn_1916533

@syedmhaq

It's just plain awful.

The first thing I do when I get these garbage pinterest type pages is to change to list view. Then I have to search for 'a' or something, then remove the 'a' or whatever to get back to the page view that I WANT to see - which includes my peferences like seller, etc., and also the correct category view on the left hand side.

So no, don't expect me to ever use these pages. I have to see it over at etsy that way, and I don't like it there either, but at least there I only get charged 3.5% and can accept and send checks and money orders.

_____________________________
"Nothing is obvious to the oblivious"

bubbleman2010 · ‎08-10-2017

syedmhaq on your test for cast iron toys if you click on the cast iron motorcycles you are shown a total of 56 if you do a advanced seach for cast iron motorcycle you are shown 190. In the new buying experience are buyers only being shown a select amount of items you have a 144 listings being paid for that are not being shown to the buying public...

syedmhaq · ‎08-10-2017

@bubbleman2010 wrote:

syedmhaq on your test for cast iron toys if you click on the cast iron motorcycles you are shown a total of 56 if you do a advanced seach for cast iron motorcycle you are shown 190. In the new buying experience are buyers only being shown a select amount of items you have a 144 listings being paid for that are not being shown to the buying public...

@bubbleman2010 when you do a search for "cast iron motorcycle", you get a lot of items that are not exactly cast iron motorcycles that's why you get a much higher number of results. e.g.

You get a wheel for a cast iron motorcycle:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/replacement-spoke-wheel-for-Hubley-motorcycle-and-other-vheicles-/1125022736...

You get a replacement head for a cast iron motorcycle:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hubley-replacement-head-for-cast-iron-motorcycle-/202003177361

You get a "Hubley Cast Iron Motorcycle" as opposed to "Cast Iron Motorcycle":

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HUBLEY-CHAMPION-CAST-IRON-MOTORCYCLE-BIG-7-WITH-RUBBER-WHEELS-1930s-VERY-NIC...

You get a "Vintage Cast Iron Motorcycle" as opposed to "Cast Iron Motorcycle":

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cast-Iron-Patrol-Motorcycle-Vintage-Reproduction-/162600242236

And so on and so forth...

d-k_treasures · ‎08-10-2017

@syedmhaq wrote:
@bubbleman2010 wrote:
syedmhaq on your test for cast iron toys if you click on the cast iron motorcycles you are shown a total of 56 if you do a advanced seach for cast iron motorcycle you are shown 190. In the new buying experience are buyers only being shown a select amount of items you have a 144 listings being paid for that are not being shown to the buying public...
@bubbleman2010 when you do a search for "cast iron motorcycle", you get a lot of items that are not exactly cast iron motorcycles that's why you get a much higher number of results. e.g.
You get a wheel for a cast iron motorcycle:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/replacement-spoke-wheel-for-Hubley-motorcycle-and-other-vheicles-/1125022736...
You get a replacement head for a cast iron motorcycle:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hubley-replacement-head-for-cast-iron-motorcycle-/202003177361
You get a "Hubley Cast Iron Motorcycle" as opposed to "Cast Iron Motorcycle":
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HUBLEY-CHAMPION-CAST-IRON-MOTORCYCLE-BIG-7-WITH-RUBBER-WHEELS-1930s-VERY-NIC...
You get a "Vintage Cast Iron Motorcycle" as opposed to "Cast Iron Motorcycle":
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cast-Iron-Patrol-Motorcycle-Vintage-Reproduction-/162600242236

And so on and so forth...

And that's what you want to see when you search for cast iron motorcycle.

In what reality would 'vintage' or a manufacturers name(like Hubley or Champion) not make it a 'cast iron motorcycle'?

And yes - sometimes you want to see parts also, since if you you enter too many words, you get less and have to search differently. If I searched for 'cast iron motorcycle figure', that figure could be a full figure, large or small, or just a head, depending on the motorcycle.

_____________________________
"Nothing is obvious to the oblivious"

phcd1 · ‎08-10-2017

@syedmhaq wrote:
@timemachine777 wrote:
@syedmhaq wrote:
@bubbleman2010 wrote:
What a dull life someone must lead to search ebay for a item by the bar code...
Scanning a barcode using a mobile phone is a very quick and convenient way of finding the exact product you're looking for. Doing a keyword search might return a number of similar products that you may not be interested in.
eBay is becoming the filter king. So, lets see...Most people I know, say hey...check out this new product I've been using. You have to get one. So, I go on line and do a keyword search, and I get a hit from everyone except eBay. Huh...Nobody on eBay must sell this great product everyone is raving about?

But, wait eBay sellers do carry the product. Your friend should have told you the product bar code, and not the product name. eBay...now the new experience. Home of the visual and bar code search. Can't-see-me on Steroids. Just one word...Brilliant.
We're only requiring sellers to provide barcodes so we can link all listings of the same product together. We are not expecting most buyers to search by barcodes. Buyers will continue to look for items via keyword search.

@syedmhaq You said "... buyers can still get to listings without UPCs through regular search on ebay.com. However in most cases they will not show up..." and NOW you say "Buyers will continue to look for items via keyword search". What use is that if the item does not show up? Hows that going to improve the buying experience?

phcd1 · ‎08-10-2017

@syedmhaq wrote:
@timemachine777 wrote:
@d-k_treasures wrote:
@timemachine777 wrote:
@syedmhaq wrote:
@bubbleman2010 wrote:
What a dull life someone must lead to search ebay for a item by the bar code...
Scanning a barcode using a mobile phone is a very quick and convenient way of finding the exact product you're looking for. Doing a keyword search might return a number of similar products that you may not be interested in.
eBay is becoming the filter king. So, lets see...Most people I know, say hey...check out this new product I've been using. You have to get one. So, I go on line and do a keyword search, and I get a hit from everyone except eBay. Huh...Nobody on eBay must sell this great product everyone is raving about?

But, wait eBay sellers do carry the product. Your friend should have told you the product bar code, and not the product name. eBay...now the new experience. Home of the visual and bar code search. Can't-see-me on Steroids. Just one word...Brilliant.
And your friend needs to save the box so he can give you the barcode ....... yep - brilliant!

Hey honey, I need to buy some things on eBay today. I going to get 174980018443, 394826600001, 439700337155, and I need 3 333672999013, and a couple of those 933878701100's, and didn't you say you needed a couple of 777119303036's? Oh, BTW...What else do you need? I think 878786200015 would look great on you.

Again, just to clarify. We're asking sellers to provide UPCs, not buyers.
So the scenario would be more like:
Hey honey, I want to sell my Canon DLSR camera.
Ok, list it on eBay and don't forget to put in the UPC so your item shows up in all the experiences and can sell faster and at the best possible price.
Thanks honey. You're the best.

Many UPC's are custom for large big box retailers (like Costco and Sam's Club etc). In your scenario, entering the most common UPC for the Canon DSLR camera means the search would overlook those "special packaging" offers.

timemachine777 · ‎08-10-2017

@syedmhaq wrote:
@timemachine777 wrote:
@syedmhaq wrote:
@bubbleman2010 wrote:
What a dull life someone must lead to search ebay for a item by the bar code...
Scanning a barcode using a mobile phone is a very quick and convenient way of finding the exact product you're looking for. Doing a keyword search might return a number of similar products that you may not be interested in.
eBay is becoming the filter king. So, lets see...Most people I know, say hey...check out this new product I've been using. You have to get one. So, I go on line and do a keyword search, and I get a hit from everyone except eBay. Huh...Nobody on eBay must sell this great product everyone is raving about?

But, wait eBay sellers do carry the product. Your friend should have told you the product bar code, and not the product name. eBay...now the new experience. Home of the visual and bar code search. Can't-see-me on Steroids. Just one word...Brilliant.
We're only requiring sellers to provide barcodes so we can link all listings of the same product together. We are not expecting most buyers to search by barcodes. Buyers will continue to look for items via keyword search.

But Wenig wants to move the site away from keyword search. That's also one of the big problems with Cassini. It's not a keyword driven search engine. It's data point driven.