Need Sellers Imput on issues discussed from todays Weekly Chat

[tomuchstuff5]

@tomuchstuff5 wrote:

When you have a situation where the only listings available for an item do not offer free shipping or free returns and customer has applied that or those filters for the listings to come up with a message such "These listings are available outside of your filter choices" or something to that effect.  Like International used to or still does. 

That way the customer would know that Ebay does have them, just not with free shipping or free returns. Presently you get no result in such searches. 

@tomuchstuff5  I don't expect a buyer who has chosen a filter to see free shipping and returns accepted would want us pushing product that didn't meet their selection. If they don't find what they are looking for, we show other inventory and they can always change their filter choices if they don't find the items they are looking for with the filter. 

Thanks for selling on eBay

Brian

QUESTION, This is 2nd time I have brought this up and gotten same answer. Thought I had better explained it this time.  I am referring to unique items such as a pattern match piece or a needed addition to a collection where a similar iten just doesn't cut it. It was mentioned something about someone asking to fix USA filter and reply was you mean if you couldn't get it in USA you would just do without. 

To me this is a similar situation. I just don't think all customers are that adept at the filters and search. The free shipping being a Bigbox type feature that just isn't possible in all situations for my type of merchandise. Giving the default available outside of your filter selection would make sense to me. 

What do you think? 

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

I don't see the point of filters if Ebay's not going to use them to filter. Ebay buyers should be smart enough to understand that if none come up with free shipping they should uncheck the free shipping selection.

Ebay can't read into the brains of buyers and figure out, yes, I did choose only free shipping but I really didn't mean it.

[mannusma0]

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@the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth wrote:

...Ebay buyers should be smart enough to understand that if none come up with free shipping they should uncheck the free shipping selection...

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C’mon.

It’s not a matter of intelligence. Buyers shouldn’t need a certain IQ level to buy here.

The search isn’t intuitive. 

And *should* show the items matching the search WITH shipping if no free shipping items are found.

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

If they click "free shipping" and a bunch of items disappear that's pretty intuitive. What's not intuitive is how Ebay keeps changing the category. THAT is a far bigger problem IMO.

[penguins_dont_fly]

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@mannusma0 wrote:

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@the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth wrote:

...Ebay buyers should be smart enough to understand that if none come up with free shipping they should uncheck the free shipping selection...

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C’mon.

It’s not a matter of intelligence. Buyers shouldn’t need a certain IQ level to buy here.

The search isn’t intuitive. 

And *should* show the items matching the search WITH shipping if no free shipping items are found.

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Which will cause the buyer to complain "I specifically chose Free Shipping! This seller is being underhanded! They charged me shipping!".

No. Filters should do just that. Filter.

If there are items that don't have free shipping, there should be an indicator that they exist, but don't just show them automatically.

[tomuchstuff5]

@penguins_dont_fly

Which will cause the buyer to complain "I specifically chose Free Shipping! This seller is being underhanded! They charged me shipping!".

No. Filters should do just that. Filter.

If there are items that don't have free shipping, there should be an indicator that they exist, but don't just show them automatically.

Asking for ""these items are available outside of your filter choice" when search criteria pulls up NO product with free shipping, when in fact  exact match to search is available, just not with free shipping. Find this would be a better alternative than NO search result, or similar items. It makes it appear Ebay does not have that item. 

[nawlinsron2]

The dumbing down of the ebay shopper..."free shipping" is a JOKE.
If you're naive enough to search with that criteria, I have a bridge to sell you..."free shipping", of course.
Every new car dealer in America should advertise "free shipping".

[ted_200]

I, personally don't think that the filter should be overridden. If I check a filter, I can always uncheck it.

I'll agree with that.  But OP didn't suggest they should simply over-ride the filter selection...

That being said, I do think that there should be some indication that there are items available that match my search criteria but are filtered out by whichever checkbox I choose.

... but instead suggested they do exactly this.  

Essentially Brian is saying the Free Shipping parameter is MORE important than the search keywords.  

I don't have an issue with showing "similar" items either, if there are no results.  But the shopper should be advised there are search matches that don't have the Free Shipping parameter - just like they'll advise you items are available from International sellers. 

[gracieallen01]

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@tomuchstuff5 wrote:

@tomuchstuff5 wrote:

When you have a situation where the only listings available for an item do not offer free shipping or free returns and customer has applied that or those filters for the listings to come up with a message such "These listings are available outside of your filter choices" or something to that effect.  Like International used to or still does. 

That way the customer would know that Ebay does have them, just not with free shipping or free returns. Presently you get no result in such searches. 

@tomuchstuff5  I don't expect a buyer who has chosen a filter to see free shipping and returns accepted would want us pushing product that didn't meet their selection. If they don't find what they are looking for, we show other inventory and they can always change their filter choices if they don't find the items they are looking for with the filter. 

Thanks for selling on eBay

Brian

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I found the answer very, ah, um, amusing.

'Pushing' things at a buyer - that didn't meet their selection?  Heaven forbid!

With a catalogue that is all but useless?  With a search that presents what they think the buyer really wants, just to name a couple of instances.  Not to mention the disparity the in quality of like items presented, just as a beginning.

Yes, personally, I found the reply amusing.

(personal opinion - your mileage may vary)

[penguins_dont_fly]

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@tomuchstuff5 wrote:

@penguins_dont_fly

Which will cause the buyer to complain "I specifically chose Free Shipping! This seller is being underhanded! They charged me shipping!".

No. Filters should do just that. Filter.

If there are items that don't have free shipping, there should be an indicator that they exist, but don't just show them automatically.

Asking for ""these items are available outside of your filter choice" when search criteria pulls up NO product with free shipping, when in fact  exact match to search is available, just not with free shipping. Find this would be a better alternative than NO search result, or similar items. It makes it appear Ebay does not have that item. 

You have to search or browse first before you add filters.

You search

You get a list (100)

You hit the  free shipping filter (0)

You saw the first list of 100 ... just remove the filter.

Buyers know how to filter or not. You are somehow assuming that nobody knows how to uncheck the filter that they just applied.

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