Interesting Observation ; Only Promoted Listings Showing

[desertratmotosports]

So sales slowed down past few weeks right, no big deal.  Some times it consumer confidence fluxuations, weather, events, seasons, etc...  Since I'm full-time business as some of you are or even serious part-time I keep a keen observations on listing performance and competition.  It's common for me to search my own products logged in and not logged in.  I used the promoted listing feature on most products at a low rate, pay to play I guess.  I get a few sales via this system, but not consistent, no big deal. 

This is where it gets interesting.  So a drop in sales(20%) and a uptick in promoted listing sales, that's odd usually it is linearly correlated (Mathematics background, yes I use stats with my business).  I do a search of products that are using the promoted listing system and turns out, only the promoted (Sponsored) listing shows up in the search results.  The native listing are nowhere to be found.  So I conduct a search of items that are not apart of the promoted listing program.  These listings show up as normal and none of which are apart of the rolling blackout.  While it's no secret and apart of the user agreement that eBay can control when listings can be shown.  Kind of irks you at first, but it's their business and service, I'll give them that part.  However, eliminating all my native listings and only showing promoted listings to ensure conversion of the promoted listing program is....a bit sketchy and dabbling a grey area of fleecing your sellers.

Thoughts? Not intended to bash eBay by this post.  I never been done wrong by CSR and I have conducting many sales through eBay.  I mean, from a business perspective, if this is how it's going work, would it behoove of me to cancel promoted listings?

[tunicaslot]

When I searched just now:

Goal Zero Sherpa 50: Results best match yours is #19 of 46.

Goal Zero Guide 10: Results best match yours is #10 of 52.

When I searched  Goal Zero Sherpa 50 - 5 minutes ago - OP was #4 of 46

In 5 minutes he dropped 15 places. I also am confused as to why there appears to be a difference in ranking depending what area of the country you search from.

[desertratmotosports]

Yeah I have a Sherpa 50 Solar Kit, which is not on promoted listings, that shows up.  But the Sherpa 50 (non kit) is. 

[gracieallen01]

Personally, I think a big part of the problem is that folks (sellers) want to believe - or live in the wishful world - that ebay is what it was before JD and the subsequent upheaval.

ebay has left that part of their history behind and hasn't looked back.  They aren't inclined to look back, either.  It is nothing more than the future myth of the beginnings of ebay - those long-past, mist-shrouded days of yore.

It's been 15 years or better since ebay started playing free and loose with the function of the platform in their bid to make themselves a 'name' in the industry.  If it doesn't work one way, it will work another.  Meg admitted it, long ago, when she said that a monkey could drive this train.  The platform is on auto-pilot whilst they play with their beta tests, AI and what-not.  Whatever happens to the platform, it will continue on its path, through the help of the sellers - those who wish things would be different or those who want things to be different or those who don't care if things are different and for those who want ..... .  Take your pick, as there are plenty of all to go around.

ebay has their backs covered with their multitude of 'at our sole discretion' clauses throughout their TOS, they have their business plan of monetizing every aspect of the platform for the BOD and the other stockholders.

I think the real question is whether it is worth it to the individual to use it.

Just my 2 cents worth - your mileage may vary.

[bubbleman2010]

If you're paying for promoted listings thats just money down a rat hole.  A search of Goal Zero Guide 10 Plus Solar Kit there are 20 items listed and you are in 19th place when search is defaulting to best match. Only 14 like item sales over a 90 day period in solds tells me the buying pool for those interested in such items is very slim on ebay I would guess the bulk of buyers never think about looking on ebay to purchase....

[tunicaslot]

gotta agree with you grace! I have friends here that are not TRS Plus - that do not have same day or 1 day shipping - that are not part of the GSP and have few Free Shipping listings - and they are selling as much if not more than I am in the same category and I have all of the above because I thought it would increase my visibility.

It's the luck of the draw - I was hot last month - this month not so much. We never know what algorithms they use for visibility and probably never will.

[bubbleman2010]

But on the flip side if you search for PS90 URBAN-SENTRY Hybrid One you are #1 out of 11 but 90 day sales show 5 sales again very thin market and ebay has to slice up the sales to different sellers so they can keep the nickels and dimes flowing into their coffers....

[desertratmotosports]

Well some of the items in that niche have literally fallen off the radar.  Like a facuet being turned off.  The promoted listing program wasn't too bad when it was working and made several conversion from it monthly.  You only pay the rate you agreed to and when an item sells.  Otherwise it's free advertising.  However currently, it's broken severly at the moment.  Native or original listings which are normally included in a specific search (so technically you could see your listing twice if you scan enough) are gone.  The original listing usually sold more because it would cycle to the top if an inventory was low, frequent sales, or item was ending.  I don't get that anymore.  I'm pulling the plug on it if it's not fixed in few days, I'm just curious if the original listing will reappear. 

[gracieallen01]

---

@tunicaslot wrote:

gotta agree with you grace! I have friends here that are not TRS Plus - that do not have same day or 1 day shipping - that are not part of the GSP and have few Free Shipping listings - and they are selling as much if not more than I am in the same category and I have all of the above because I thought it would increase my visibility.

It's the luck of the draw - I was hot last month - this month not so much. We never know what algorithms they use for visibility and probably never will.

---

Strike the world 'probably'.

I have a gut feeling that if the properties of the various algorithms were ever made known, and their manner of use, there might be some sleepless nights for some people.

[bubbleman2010]

ebay needs to restrict the listings from commodity item sellers,but as long as they are profiteering from the millions of items that go unsold everyday they don't care and run with the more the merrier which results in everything from A to Z having a glitch or problem and some sellers getting a piece of pie and others only getting a smell of pie...

[coolections]

Nope, no kool-aid here. If I was interested in buying those items I saw them and I would have click buy it now like any other of the millions out there on Ebay. Looks like there are just no buyers out there wanting your stuff. It is not Ebay hiding your stuff like kool-aid drinkers like to think. People see your stuff.  Sorry but it looks like the items are just not in that much demand. I didn't go back and check the prices low to high (which almost every buyer on Ebay does), but that could be another reason for you not getting sales if others' are asking less.

[desertratmotosports]

I'm not complaining about the number of sales, but merely a mechanism of measuring the issue.  It's the issue of promoted listings feature.  In other words, If I sold a million or 1 a month, that's not the hiccup.  The issue is if you utilitze promoted listings, you lose your original listing which some times (depending on frequency of sales, price, inventory, quantity remaing) cycles to top of search.  Only the pomoted listing is seen, meaning any conversion made will result in promoted listing fee.  Where as before, you had two listings that would show up.  One listing was your original and if you opted to promote that listing, a second listing would arise in a search depending on key words being used.  At some point, that changed.  Ok, recap.  Sales not the issue.  Promoted listings only showing sponsored ad and not your original listing...that is the question. 

[bubbleman2010]

You are thinking that everything on ebay works correctly,but in reality it is as close to a duct tape and baling wire operation as a person can get. Since sales aren't your concern no sense in going into details about how you can swing sales into your favor over the other chucks selling the same wares. You just have to be happy don't worry and live with the table scraps ebay tosses your way....

[desertratmotosports]

I agree. Not being greedy, but it's other sellers I did a search on, it's behaving the same way on.  It's not a me issue, but a seller issue.  I'm done with it, I did a post thinking other sellers would notice if they used that feature that there was an issue with it. 

Update: I turned off one of the promoted listing campaign to test it on a line of products.  15 min later, original listings are back and near the top.  So I just flipped the switch to off on the rest of my products.   

[bubbleman2010]

ridger no matter what the seller issue and no matter who you talk to at ebay nothing much will ever change. In the end you find yourself chasing your tail like a dog and ebay will always play the trump card don't find the place to your liking just close your account. They are in the business of selling dreams making the system work correctly as insuring a seller is getting what they've paid just isn't in the cards...

[desertratmotosports]

Well I do like eBay as a buyer and seller.  I have had great success over the years with them.  I didn't mean to make the post an issue of turning success on ebay, because I really do believe growth can happen on eBay for anyone starting off.  Their are some controlling things that do occur, which I learned as I went along.  However, sometimes you wonder how much further can these crazy variables go.  Well, I switched it off until it's fixed.  The listings that had some time to refresh in the system are now showing the original are now being competively shown.  I wish you the best buddy, some hard truths today, some of us experienced sellers already knew, but I got carried away thinking the game wasn't capable of changing.