eBay

mcdougle4248 · ‎07-07-2023

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 · ‎07-07-2023

@valueaddedresource wrote:
@chapeau-noir wrote:
"Throw some more of that spaghetti at the wall, Jamie, and see if any of it sticks".
@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.

I know. 😞 Honestly, I like selling here, but when people being paid inflated salaries do something that even a humble former editor and hack writer with plus/minus marketing skills knows is a bad idea, it doesn't do much for my confidence in our leadership.

“The illegal we do immediately, the unconstitutional takes a little longer.” - Henry Kissinger

"Wherever law ends, tyranny begins" - John Locke (Don't get distracted).

mcdougle4248 · ‎07-07-2023

@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.

I am not seeing this on the listing I screenshot in my OP.

I notice in your screenshot that they are using Sponsored listings.

valueaddedresource · ‎07-07-2023

@mcdougle4248 wrote:
@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.
I am not seeing this on the listing I screenshot in my OP.

I notice in your screenshot that they are using Sponsored listings.

@mcdougle4248 yep, it's just one of the various rows of PL now on that listing.

From top to bottom on the page right now for my view of that particular listing (with ad blocker off) it goes:

images/seller info

scrolling ad row - Similar sponsored items

scrolling ad row - Related sponsored items

item specifics

description

seller feedback module

scrolling ad row - Visually similar sponsored items

scrolling ad row - Sponsored Items from Top Rated Sellers

scrolling ad row - Explore related sponsored items

scrolling row organic/not sponsored - People who viewed this item also viewed

25 more ads under Find more sponsored items

my-cottage-books-and-antiques · ‎07-07-2023

@valueaddedresource

And I'm sure at eBay HQ they are saying: "Commendable restraint, Ads Team! We wouldn't want you over-doing things!"

chapeau-noir · ‎07-07-2023

@my-cottage-books-and-antiques wrote:
@valueaddedresource

And I'm sure at eBay HQ they are saying: "Commendable restraint, Ads Team! We wouldn't want you over-doing things!"

scrolling ad row - Similar sponsored items

scrolling ad row - Related sponsored items

scrolling ad row - Visually similar sponsored items

scrolling ad row - Sponsored Items from Top Rated Sellers

scrolling ad row - Explore related sponsored items

scrolling row organic/not sponsored - People who viewed this item also viewed

25 more ads under Find more sponsored items

Click to see seller's photos and description

“The illegal we do immediately, the unconstitutional takes a little longer.” - Henry Kissinger

"Wherever law ends, tyranny begins" - John Locke (Don't get distracted).

ten_o_nine · ‎07-07-2023

HAHA, the only thing missing is the item. LOL

natoman777 · ‎07-10-2023

So, it is not cool, but what can you do? I know when I go to purchase on eBay I look for the best price, but also a reliable seller, and sometimes it is based on location and shipping time. All we can do is list and take good photos and do our best to ship fast and provide good customer experience. I have never paid for promoted listings and don't think I ever will.

mcdougle4248 · ‎07-10-2023

@natoman777

What can you do?

You can continue to share your thoughts here on these Community Boards. Sometimes eBay developers look at these threads. I know this because recently I have had interactions with eBay developers here on the Boards after posting.

Respond to feedback/survey requests. If you get a message in your eBay message box asking for feedback or to take a survey about a recent listing, take the time to respond. Those responses are read. I am not saying that action will necessarily be taken based on your feedback, just that your voice will be heard.

natoman777 · ‎07-10-2023

@mcdougle4248

What you say is correct. I have done all of those things and will continue to. Unfortunately, I only remember one thing being changed so far in all the years I have been on eBay. When they updated the site a year or two ago the photo up loader didn't work correctly on PC's. Myself and many others complained about it as it was taking away precious time in listing. After about 5 months it was fixed.

I think eBay is most concerned about making money. Which makes sense...it is what all of us seller are concerned about as well. I am not a fan of what they are doing with the similar items function being on our listings. I am very doubtful they will change it. If you know how to navigate eBay you can already do this through searches. Keep on Keeping on...

my-cottage-books-and-antiques · ‎07-10-2023

I do think ebay does give some consideration to Board comments and other seller statements. However, I think it's important to always remember: ebay is a data driven company, and if ebay is testing this and seeing that buyers are buying a lot from these new "similar" pages, that is likely to outweigh seller opinion. If the data indicates buyers don't even click on the little link....ebay might drop it, and those who objected can feel like their objections were heard.

readabouthorses · ‎07-10-2023

I view eBay as just a big ole online newspaper so what they are doing violates so many "rules of advertising" that I learned from the many years I spent in marketing and advertising working at TV station, advertising for The Ohio Art Company, advertising for Record Bar and also printing my own newspaper.

You just don't put competing ads so close together! It would be like you taking out a whole page ad in a newspaper and then the newspaper taking it upon themselves to insert all your competitors small ads within the big page ad you ordered.

Which brings up a question ... just how much of our listing page is ours? The constant encroaching of competition makes our "share" smaller and smaller.

And eBay seems to not care who they are putting in there. I hate looking at a listing for a magazine only to see half of the "eBay suggestions" are abusing Media Mail to ship their magazines!

my-cottage-books-and-antiques · ‎07-10-2023

@readabouthorses "Which brings up a question ... just how much of our listing page is ours? The constant encroaching of competition makes our "share" smaller and smaller."

Frankly, I long ago gave up thinking of the listing page as "my" listing page.

I still like to think of my store homepage as "my" store, but it's probably just a matter of time before the AdsTeam proves that to be just a fanciful illusion.

moosie-goosie · ‎07-12-2023

WOW! Just looked at some sandals and realized just how many OTHERS are posted on the listing page.

55 (FIFTY-FIVE) other sellers sandals and shoes in various sizes and brands not related to my simple two word search (brand/size).

10 are placed BEFORE the original sellers item specifics / description area. These 10 are "sponsored items".

The next 45 are placed below the original sellers specifics/description...

5 - from "top-rated sellers"

35 - more "sponsored items"

5 - "people who viewed this item also viewed"

mam98031 · ‎07-12-2023

@mcdougle4248

All I can do is shake my head and wonder how Ebay expects small sellers to survive much less thrive when our listings are covered almost head to toe with other seller's listings. This is a real head scratcher to me.

mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999