Find Similar items Now On Listing Photos

[mcdougle4248]

I just noticed that there is now a "Find similar items" button on listing photos.  I checked about six of the listings that came up after clicking on the button, and none of the 30 or so listings were from the same seller as the original listing. 

IMHO, this is going too far.

[chapeau-noir]

I understand the need to make a profit, but that is a nasty, sneaky idea. What happens if we fill up all 24 image slots? They create a whole new 25th for this turkey of an "innovation"?

[valueaddedresource]

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@mcdougle4248 wrote:

@valueaddedresource 

It was gone from the pages I was looking at for a few minutes, then it came back for a few minutes and now is gone again.  The cat cannot decide if it wants to stay in or get out of the bag 🤣

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@mcdougle4248 Schrödinger's view similar items button. 🤣

[wastingtime101]

Didn't Etsy do something like this a few months ago, then get rid of it due to seller backlash?

Seems like most of the "more like this" results aren't very similar to the shoes you're looking at @mcdougle4248 .

[valueaddedresource]

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@chapeau-noir wrote:

I understand the need to make a profit, but that is a nasty, sneaky idea. What happens if we fill up all 24 image slots? They create a whole new 25th for this turkey of an "innovation"?

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@chapeau-noir unlike Etsy's current attempt at a similar sneaky idea, eBay isn't actually inserting an additional "image" spot for this - it's just a clickable button overlaid on top of the main image display "box" if that makes sense.

[mcdougle4248]

@valueaddedresource 

I am not going to open the box to check on the cat.  At least not for the next hour or so 🤔

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

As I said, probably still a test. 

[valueaddedresource]

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@wastingtime101 wrote:

Didn't Etsy do something like this a few months ago, then get rid of it due to seller backlash?

Seems like most of the "more like this" results aren't very similar to the shoes you're looking at @mcdougle4248 .

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@wastingtime101 yep, a few months ago Etsy did something very similar with a "view similar items" overlay on seller images and you're right there was major backlash to it.

More recently they have tested a different approach and instead of taking over the seller image, they added an "image" after all the seller provided pictures that is basically just a black square with clickable buttons for multiple related search terms/phrases.

That one has also been met with backlash - it seems like both platforms are currently running frog boiling tests to see just how much they can turn up the temp before sellers hop out of the pot. 

[mcdougle4248]

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@wastingtime101 wrote:

Didn't Etsy do something like this a few months ago, then get rid of it due to seller backlash?

Seems like most of the "more like this" results aren't very similar to the shoes you're looking at @mcdougle4248 .

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Sorry, I do not know about Etsy's endeavors with this technology.

You are correct, most of the shoes that came up after clicking on the button were not visibly similar to the original listing I was looking at.  They were all the same brand though.  I can do a better job using the filters already provided on the search page to find what I am looking for.

[chapeau-noir]

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@valueaddedresource wrote:

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@chapeau-noir wrote:

I understand the need to make a profit, but that is a nasty, sneaky idea. What happens if we fill up all 24 image slots? They create a whole new 25th for this turkey of an "innovation"?

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@chapeau-noir unlike Etsy's current attempt at a similar sneaky idea, eBay isn't actually inserting an additional "image" spot for this - it's just a clickable button overlaid on top of the main image display "box" if that makes sense.

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I was kind of joking, but yes, I see they'll obscure our own image with their redirect, going Etsy one better, and course it's not possible to embed a hyperlink in eBay's photo hosting so we can't short-circuit that. I haven't been able to test this as it hasn't come up in my own searches and can only hope that the redirect opens in a new tab as is usual so the buyer's search isn't lost altogether.

ETA: This frog hopped out of Etsy's pot when they forced through that ridiculous 12% penalty fee on people grossing more than 10k a year - and if you make that much in ONE year, you're stuck for life.

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

@chapeau-noir  The "Similar" page opens as a new page...as far as I can see, there is not anyway to click "back" to the view item page, you need to close the "Similar" page or go the tab beside it (which will be the original View Item page.)

ebay never seems to tire of finding new ways to divert buyers from our listings. 

[valueaddedresource]

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@chapeau-noir wrote:

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@valueaddedresource wrote:

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@chapeau-noir wrote:

I understand the need to make a profit, but that is a nasty, sneaky idea. What happens if we fill up all 24 image slots? They create a whole new 25th for this turkey of an "innovation"?

---

@chapeau-noir unlike Etsy's current attempt at a similar sneaky idea, eBay isn't actually inserting an additional "image" spot for this - it's just a clickable button overlaid on top of the main image display "box" if that makes sense.

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I was kind of joking, but yes, I see they'll obscure our own image with their redirect, going Etsy one better, and course it's not possible to embed a hyperlink in eBay's photo hosting so we can't short-circuit that. I haven't been able to test this as it hasn't come up in my own searches and can only hope that the redirect opens in a new tab as is usual so the buyer's search isn't lost altogether.

ETA: This frog hopped out of Etsy's pot when they forced through that ridiculous 12% penalty fee on people grossing more than 10k a year - and if you make that much in ONE year, you're stuck for life.

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@chapeau-noir that's an interesting question - when I tested it, the redirect did open in a new tab but I have my eBay search settings purposely set to "open item page in new tab" and my browser settings are generally set to open links in new tabs as well, so I'm not sure if that is a factor or not.

It's gone now for me but if it comes back I'll play around with it some more and see if that changes if I change either eBay search or browser settings.

[chapeau-noir]

@valueaddedresource  Etsy implemented 'open in new tab' as a site setting a couple of years ago when I still sold there. Uproar on the forums, but I thought it was a great idea. AFAIK, eBay also has this as a global setting, so I'm hoping they retain this.

[valueaddedresource]

Interesting - on the original listing I was testing on, the overlay is still gone but there is now a scrolling ad carousel row for "visually similar sponsored items" that wasn't there earlier.

 

So maybe they are trying a few different things.

[chapeau-noir]

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@valueaddedresource wrote:

Interesting - on the original listing I was testing on, the overlay is still gone but there is now a scrolling ad carousel row for "visually similar sponsored items" that wasn't there earlier.

 

So maybe they are trying a few different things.

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"Throw some more of that spaghetti at the wall, Jamie, and see if any of it sticks".

[valueaddedresource]

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@chapeau-noir wrote:

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"Throw some more of that spaghetti at the wall, Jamie, and see if any of it sticks".

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@chapeau-noir - exactly! Certainly makes you wonder what the Chief Growth Officer and Chief Business and Strategy Officer are actually doing to earn their comp packages for sure.