No description required?

[inhawaii]

I just went shopping for something on ebay.

I actually came across several listings with NO description at all, just item specifics.

Isn't that kind of dumb for a seller?

Why would ebay even allow that?

Heck I need 10 characters minimum to post on the ebay boards ... 0 characters required to sell something on ebay.

Makes no sense.

[iamcara]

I guess a lot of the folk on eBay are a bit older, like yourself. I remember seeing eBay commercials on TV when I was 8 years old, I am somewhere between 32 and 34 now.

I think older people have an easier time selecting item specifics than making descriptions.

For example I stopped inputting optional item specifics about halfway into my first 1,000 items.

I also use two different AIs to generate a long description that is SEO optimized.

Maybe things will change slowly over time, commercial use AI is still fairly new, and eBay is not able to provide a full-fledged AI service as of yet.

Text-based AI generation is still very resource intensive, and very expensive. Not really possible with the amount of people that would need to be served on eBay.

I've noticed that many, if not most people, actually think that I am writing the 10 paragraph descriptions on my listings. And they read them as though a person wrote it. Quite sad in a way, but what can you do.

[chapeau-noir]

I don't see age having anything to do with it, nor AI.

Depending on the market and category, some figure no description is needed and the IS's say it all. Some people aren't very literate. The generic [repeat title - condition is used - shipping is ground advantage] appears to popular but says nothing (similar to the AI slop eBay has). One thing I have noticed is lousy description usually goes along with lousy photos, but not always. 

[gwens*4saleitems*]

When I started selling here, the optimal listings were: 

1).  Post pictures like there is no description.

2).  Post a description like there are no pictures.

I guess this kind of mentality has long gone with the "younger" crowd.

I recently came across a listing where the seller says they were shipping a ceramic set of napkin rings - media mail (um, ok, sure).

[12345jamesstamps]

If a person was looking to buy an item on their eBay app. on their cellphone...the 'description' doesn't even show up unless you clink on item and scroll down and find the small print 'description' and click on that to read anything. I for one have made a few purchases in a bar in a night out with the gang.

It is very dumb and I guess this is why we get so many posts here about the 'not as described' here.

Thus, as much as possible should be in the title.

[jg.mason]

My descriptions run from two words to a paragraph but never nothing.

I don't see the sense in just repeating item specifics in an item description. That's also why I don't fill in all the item specifics some are redundant and others are just plain stupid.

I like the listings that use a stock photo for a used item, then only have the required item specifics and a very short description. Who buys that?

[stuff4divas]

or, they're just lazy

[sakic92710]

It is not uncommon.  I see anywhere from 0-8 words in the description section quite often.

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

@inhawaii As far as I know, eBay does not require sellers to include a description. You could test this quite easily by creating a new listing and not including a description. 

[inhawaii]

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@stuff4divas wrote:

or, they're just lazy

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NOBODY is lazier than me.

I still muster the strength to write a description.   😉

[12345jamesstamps]

Lazy...I drive my motorcycle 7 blocks to mail my items at the post office.

And yet I walk 10 blocks to the gym.

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

@inhawaii 

I know what you mean James. I was looking up some items for researching and the description included the illness story of the seller. Shots, chemo, long stays at the hospital were all included in describing this antique piece. 

    AI drives me nuts, I think it's trashy and flowery and cheap.

    Don't want to bother with writing a description? I wouldn't want to bother you with my money either.

[slippinjimmy]

What I find interesting is that many seller complain about the ads that appear on their listings pages yet they often  put almost nothing in the description area where you can actively promote your other listings or your "special" service without paying any extra fees to eBay. There is a lot of real estate there to use.

To be clear, I'm not talking about a lengthy list of unenforceable rules/policies.

[chapeau-noir]

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@inhawaii wrote:

---

@stuff4divas wrote:

or, they're just lazy

---

NOBODY is lazier than me.

I still muster the strength to write a description.   😉

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But you have a reputation to uphold, my man. ***eBay's Best Seller***

[vivabe]

Your comments are pretty condescending. I know computer. I use items specifics. I write my own descriptions. I do not use the generic AI. 

Gosh... Such a poor judgement about older people's abilities to do good listings.

Oh, yes.... I forgot, I am 79 years old.