Similary listings on your listings.

[onlyavision]

Someone recently told me that the Description on listings are rarely read.  I describe my items as best I can with as much detail as I can, so I was surprised to hear this - mostly because when I buy on Ebay I want a detailed description.  I went to look at one of my listings today and noticed right before the description box was a number of pictures of similar listings.  I see it on my others also.  Is this something new or have I just not noticed it as a buyer.  I wonder how many people don't go any further than those "similar" listing pictures to the description section and just click on one of the other listings - due to price only.  I am pricing my items around the Terapeak or similar active listings.  What does everyone think about this practice. Does it hurt or help your listings?

[nanniestreasurechest]

I sure don't think it helps.  All the clutter with the sponsored items drives me crazy when I'm buying or selling.  It's like they are trying to deliberately to draw buyers away from the item they are looking at.  The least they could do is put them at the bottom of the page instead of right in the middle of the listing separating the Title from the description.   I doubt they will ever do that though.   I bought a few items the past couple of days and it was a nightmare scrolling through all that mess to find the description of the items I was looking at.

[onlyavision]

It is very frustrating. In fact my husband was looking at one of my listings and he thought the "similar" listings was the end of my listing and didn't scroll any further.  Will my listing show up as similar with other listings? Or is that only for those who pay more. I am pretty new to selling here and I am wondering if this is worth my time and effort (I am a small time seller with hopes of expanding) when my listings are being crowded out by the ads.  

[nanniestreasurechest]

If you promote your listing your item will show up on some other sellers' pages.   I did a few promoted listings a few months ago but didn't see any difference in sales so I haven't promoted since.  I'm just a small time seller trying to make a few extra bucks so the promotion cost is just not that beneficial to me.  I'm just trying now to wait it out and see what happens if I don't promote. 

[onlyavision]

I've heard that the promos aren't really helping much.  Right now I am trying to downsize so I am selling my own collectibles and things like that. I was going to go to the thrift shops after and try to resell, but not sure at this point. 

[dirk12955 · Accepted solution]

It's like picking up the menu at Applebees and when you open it up there's an ad

 recommending the Chili's next door.

So you get up and go over to Chili's and their menu has an ad for Red Lobster.

The menu at Red Lobster sends you back to Applebees.   By then your so confused 

 you go home and eat a TV dinner.   

[luckythewinner]

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@onlyavision wrote:

Someone recently told me that the Description on listings are rarely read.  I describe my items as best I can with as much detail as I can, so I was surprised to hear this

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I would be surprised to hear it too, because I don't think it's true.

Who "told you" this? Did they supply you with and research or analysis or evidence to back up their position?

[onlyavision]

Exactly!  I for one don't like a lot of distraction when I am looking for something.  I just close out of anything "cluttered" and don't bother. In fact if it is something common, (I buy a lot of yarn) I go over to Amazon. The prices are better anyway. It seems they are trying to squeeze every dime out of the sellers in order for them to make a couple of bucks.  At this rate, I may just  have a yard sale and get what I can without paying any fees and having the hassle of shipping.   I am glad I am not the only one who feels this way.

[onlyavision]

Another seller I was talking to who had several people complain that something was not what was in their listing even though it was clearly in the description which they did not read.   I am wondering if the reason the descriptions are not being read is because they don't scroll past all the other listings.

[nanniestreasurechest]

It's even worse if you are looking on your phone.  I don't use my phone for buying or selling but have occasionally pulled something up on my phone to look at it.   Many people use their phones so I can easily see why they would miss the description. 

[bigtexasyardsale]

Many people don't read descriptions.  I base this on the number of questions I get where the answer is in the description.  I wouldn't waste my time writing a description that contains the same information that is in the photo, after all "a picture is worth a 1,000 words."  For example, in the description: "This listing is for a red sweater" and the photo is of a red sweater.  The possible exception to that is my rule of always putting any CYA info in to writing in the description.  This would include for example "there is a hole in the sleeve" even though one of the photos clearly shows the hole.  This is cheap insurance against any NAD claims.    I also put all my "boiler plate" in the description.  Its part of my listing template.

[huntfishdie45]

There are 2 strategies to combat eBay's shady PL system:

1.)  Lower your prices below all of the PL listings. The trouble with this is that soon your competition will lower their prices and you find yourself in a how low can you go situation. Not to mention loss in profit.

2.)  Pay to play and pay higher FVF's and compete with the sellers who choose option #1. This also winds up with a loss in profit. I tried this option and saw no difference in sales.

The only people who benefit by pitting seller against seller is eBay because it does not matter which seller gets the sale eBay gets paid either way.  It is a bean counters scheme to boost revenue and nothing more.

Keep in mind if you choose option #1 there is a good chance your views and visibility will tank and your listings will not be visible to everyone.

[susanb1872]

@luckythewinner  I read all the time in this forum where sellers complain about buyers not reading the description. One in particular was related to local pick up and the seller had to keep canceling transactions because buyers were not reading the description.

[boomersbiz46]

The research and analysis is proven by all the "stupid"   questions that one gets every day. (Well at least someone is looking at my items).  It takes me 5 to 10 minutes to do a new listing to add all their "Item Specifics"  and then no one looks at them. I finally added the most important items specifics in that first field that shows right under the title. Like size &  condition. These usually are the "stupid questions" I get all the time. Ebay has about 5 lines for size!

We live in a hurry up fast electronic world....hopefully someone out there is reading the instructions...like our surgeons...LOL.

[coolections]

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@onlyavision wrote:

Someone recently told me that the Description on listings are rarely read.  

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That "someone" you speak of has no clue and is making things up. I read the description on EVERYTHING  I buy and my guess is 99% of the people out there do also. Don't be fooled. Most sellers write terrible descriptions or none at all. THEY are the ones complaining.