Item Specifics

[bbcardzman]

I used to think item specifics were a good thing for everyone but it seems like it's just getting to be one big hassle. Hardly anyone reads anything, most of the stuff doesn’t have anything to do with your item, and a lot of specifics you can’t change anyway so you have to enter stuff that isn’t correct.  Not sure what can be done but I don't think it is really helping many sellers or buyers. I get questions all the time about items that can easily be read in the specifics. Is this hidden or does it just not show up on the phone app?

[luckythewinner]

Hardly anyone reads anything

Item specifics are not just for reading - item specifics are structured data that is considered in search, and also to give buyers the ability to narrow down listings by item specifics (or filter them out if they lack that item specific). 

For instance, you have an HP 902 XL Cyan cartridge listed. 

If I search "HP 902 XL Cyan" I see yours at $13 as #2 in a "Newly Listed" search, right before another one at $11.52. 

If I then check the "Genuine/Original" filter at the left, I see yours at $13 but I do not see the one at $11.52. He loses out because he chose a different 'Type' item specific. 

But if I add the Manufacturer's part number to the search "HP 902 XL Cyan T6M02AN"  I see the one for $11.52 but I do not see yours. You lose out because you omitted the 'MPN' item specific. 

None of the above examples has anything to do with the buyer "reading". 

[chevymontecarlo88]

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@bbcardzman wrote:

I used to think item specifics were a good thing for everyone but it seems like it's just getting to be one big hassle. Hardly anyone reads anything, most of the stuff doesn’t have anything to do with your item, and a lot of specifics you can’t change anyway so you have to enter stuff that isn’t correct.  Not sure what can be done but I don't think it is really helping many sellers or buyers. I get questions all the time about items that can easily be read in the specifics. Is this hidden or does it just not show up on the phone app?

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Item specifics are good and should be completed and accurate. Especially if someone is presenting an item as Brand New or may have compatibility issues as @luckythewinner has suggested.

The issue you bring up about buyers not reading is legitimate and I would guess many buyers just read titles or view photos. (generally, and of course some categories are better than others) Yes those who purchase on cell phones may have issues scrolling or reading with how small the fonts can be.

One of the issues you can find with specifics is that many times you will find incorrect information that will open the door to INAD returns. Especially within the Musical Instrument categories where i can almost find an error on most listings. Sometimes it is the fault of the seller (using sell similar with corrupt data) and sometimes the fields of the item being sold don't apply and force the seller to make up or add a specific that can be misleading/incorrect. The way the system is set up to add item specifics is clunky and part of the problem. (needs improvement)

Expecting buyers to understand that and not ask basic questions that are described in the listing will never stop even if the item specifics are perfect. IMHO (Unless eBay takes away the message option which will not happen) For those of us that do read the listings descriptions/item specifics would benefit from them being accurately listed. IMHO

edit- spelling

[meme6253]

It may be structured data, But it was structured very poorly, Just as the OP pointed out many specifics do not even belong there, Others you need to lie just to fill them in, It was a good idea,But it failed on execution & has never been corrected.

[caldreamer]

If you're making a purchase on a cellphone EBAY hides all the information (that is why customer's ask stupid questions).   Customers can get to your information, but it takes a lot of digging when using the phone.

I only fill in item specifics that are pertinent to the product and help the customer know exactly what they are getting.

[toysaver]

The more data you fill out for item specifics the more information there is for search to use in the algorithm.  

[lakefor94]

Item specifics are critical for the eBay search tool and just as important for Google search if a seller cares to climb the up the results ladder.

Same goes for AI, I can ask random questions about a product and AI pulls information from my eBay listings(word for word) and other sources as well to compile the answer. Very common occurrence. 

Half my sales are organic coming mainly from Google search. I have excellent google placement on the majority, especially on items that have been listed for a longer period. 

I do promote with the standard 2% ebay general PL.

[adamcartwright]

@bbcardzman 

As a buyer, when I'm searching from my phone, I always hit the caret under "About this item" to see the full Item Specifics.

As a seller, I fill in every relevant field -- not only for the algo, but also to place myself in the position of the buyer. I rarely receive buyer questions, because the info is all right there. 

There's nothing more annoying here than a buyer who leaves out crucial info with a cheerful "If you need to know measurements, just message me!! 😁"

[12345jamesstamps]

On the cellphone iPhone you basically see a photo and a title of the item

One has to look and clink on the description to find that .

It's a lot of scrolling to find or read or clink anything.

We see people on iPhones all the time...in line at the movies, at a restaurant, at my gym(I really hate that), etc. 

It's just a quick clink and the buyer buys it without reading everything.

One should always put as much in the title as possible.

[dhbookds]

can't address the phone issues.......

But very few of the items I search (for selling) have accurate IS or descriptions.......that's the fault of the seller.....Many times big discrepancies between the two.......  Plus many sellers have no size indications, measurements, etc.  and all that is a byproduct of letting anyone list who can fill out the account requirements.  I welcome questions (tho I don't get many).....because that's a point at which a seller can correct information the buyer doesn't see or understand...and therefore forestall a return......

[bbcardzman]

I always fill them in too but it's a little annoying when eBay tells you to add more item specifics and nothing pertains to your item or you can't enter the correct data. EBay DOES need to change this!

[a_c_green]

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@bbcardzman wrote:

I always fill them in too but it's a little annoying when eBay tells you to add more item specifics and nothing pertains to your item or you can't enter the correct data. EBay DOES need to change this!

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I've been helping out my mentee record seller with some of the listings, with a determined focus on completing all the Item Specifics fields, and I have to say that some of the IS entries are a little baffling, or duplicate other IS fields. Others seem to retain every goofball value that some seller has entered at some time. Still others never update at all.

For example, in the vinyl LP category, the field named "Style" has hundreds of possible answers, including what appear to be overlaps (Celtic vs. Celtic Folk? Cuban Music vs. Cubano vs. Cuban Son? Emo vs. Emo- & Hardcore?), apparently storing every value it ever sees as part of the pulldown listing of options for the future.

Conversely, other fields have glaring omissions that never get picked up on. For example, the "Instrument" field has a fixed list of 35 instrument choices available, including classic items such as violin, viola, cello and so on, but not "harpsichord," which has to be entered manually every darn time.

I have to say that I'm getting less worked up about the sloppiness of this site, because they just don't care, and I have more important things to worry about.

[chapeau-noir]

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@bbcardzman wrote:

I always fill them in too but it's a little annoying when eBay tells you to add more item specifics and nothing pertains to your item or you can't enter the correct data. EBay DOES need to change this!

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You don't need to fill them all in - just ones pertinent to your item. They're useful in sidebar search - I have my buyer hat on when I use them and use the basics.

[fern*wood]

I just fill out ones that pertain to my item.  Ebay recommends skipping others.  I dislike seeing listing specs polluted with N/A, None and other useless fill-ins.  When you skip ones that don't apply without filling in anything they don't appear at all in the listing. 

[chapeau-noir]

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@fern*wood wrote:

I just fill out ones that pertain to my item.  Ebay recommends skipping others.  I dislike seeing listing specs polluted with N/A, None and other useless fill-ins.  When you skip ones that don't apply without filling in anything they don't appear at all in the listing. 

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Yes - and doing that doesn't increase exposure, either.

IS's also work with titles, so good title SEO is part of the picture.