Is this considered keyword search manipulation (violation)?

[bigdeals.etc]

Example: I want to sell coffee grounds

In the title I obviously would use the word "coffee". But what about including commonly misspelled versions of a word? Would it be an ebay keyword search violation if I included the words "cofee", "coffe", "covfefe", "cofe" in the title?

[1tuna]

if I was trying to sell coffee I might be using keywords like mocha java espresso latte beans decaffe

I am not sure what keywords other use for coffee

[soh.maryl]

When you say you want to sell coffee grounds, you don't mean actual coffee grounds, as in what's left in the basket after the water has run through, do you?

And, if you do, what would that be used for? 

[chapeau-noir]

Agree with @1tuna  - unless the mispelling/variant spelling is common, I'd stick to popular synonyms for keywords, particularly the coffee variety (Colombian, single-source, etc.) and grind type (espresso, pour-over, coffee maker, etc.).  As a determined and shameless coffee lover, I will tell you that this is what your coffee hound is going to be looking for.

ETA: It's not keyword manipulation because you're not tagging another brand or a descriptor that's been trademarked.

[bigdeals.etc]

---

@soh.maryl wrote:

When you say you want to sell coffee grounds, you don't mean actual coffee grounds, as in what's left in the basket after the water has run through, do you?

And, if you do, what would that be used for? 

---

Hahaha. I'm not actually wanting to sell coffee. Heck, I don't even drink coffee. I just chose a hypothetical item that is a word which can be often misspelled.

[glasser]

I am not sure a misspelling is a violation per se maybe if misspelling a brand to lure people in. That said, have you searched by misspellings to se if others do it. And I believe in some instances eBay offers corrected misspellings either in results or a recommendation.

There may be better words to use to attract customers than misspellings might make your listings seem a bit weird.

[soh.maryl]

So I guess I was supposed to figure that out from your post?  

[powell-memorabilia]

@bigdeals.etc 

Covfefe might trademarked 🙂

that might be grounds for a suit.  Just let that idea percolate.

[chapeau-noir]

---

@soh.maryl wrote:

When you say you want to sell coffee grounds, you don't mean actual coffee grounds, as in what's left in the basket after the water has run through, do you?

And, if you do, what would that be used for? 

---

We use ours for composting - great for the tilth! 

But apparently this was a theoretical example (which is OK) - my previous advice still stands - variant spellings are not keyword spamming, but if you used a bunch of other brand names, or other type names, it would be - they need to be about the specific item you are selling.  Also, I'd use only really common variant spellings - just a random bunch of misspelt words takes up space better used elsewise.

[bigdeals.etc]

---

@powell-memorabilia wrote:

@bigdeals.etc 

Covfefe might trademarked 🙂

that might be grounds for a suit.  Just let that idea percolate.

---

I see what you did there.

Yea as I was typing I just remembered that misspelling. 🙂

I heard of this tactic in another selling channel. Granted it's a bit different since they have a section for keyword tags (not shown to buyers) separate from actual title. Just curious if it would be a violation if a seller uses misspellings when they aren't able to come up with other words to fill up the character maximum. That's all.

[bigdeals.etc]

---

@chapeau-noir wrote:

---

Also, I'd use only really common variant spellings - just a random bunch of misspelt words takes up space better used elsewise.

---

You just reminded me of this scene, Lol.

[chapeau-noir]

@bigdeals.etc   This reminds me of the ancient commercial for Heinz Ketchup with Fred McMurray doing the voice-over.  He pronounced it 'cat-sup' - I was just a little kid and couldn't figure out what 'catsup' was except it looked just like ketchup.

[coffeebean832]

I think including a bunch of common misspellings looks unprofessional and isn't necessary. With that said- I don't think it's technically a KWS violation, however we've all seen crazy takedowns by eBay, so who knows for sure? There are several phrases in the below policy that eBay could argue if they took down the listing for a slew of spelling variations in the title-

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-policies/search-browse-manipulation-policy?id=4243

[eunster1313]

Search manipulation policy

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-policies/search-manipulation-policy?id=4243&st=12&pos=4&q... 

[magicjohnsonsvariety]

---

@bigdeals.etc wrote:

---

@chapeau-noir wrote:

---

Also, I'd use only really common variant spellings - just a random bunch of misspelt words takes up space better used elsewise.

---

You just reminded me of this scene, Lol.

---

So funny.

Only thing I tried long ago was spelling "Stereo Receiver"...both ways...Receiver & Reciever. 

I first noticed a lot of sellers spelling it Reciever...there are actually 179 sales where the seller spelled it incorrectly.

Possibly because they fell asleep in class during the lesson about i before e except after c.

So I thought, if some sellers are spelling it wrong, then surely some buyers are typing it wrong. So, yes, using different common spelling can be helpful I suppose in some situations.