eBay

tunicaslot · ‎06-02-2018

Sorry if this has already been discussed as I must have missed it - but a couple of groups I'm in have had discussions about wording in the new User Agreement - which of course - I never bother reading - I get any updates on here.

What surprises us is what may affect visibility.

Excerpt: To drive a positive user experience, a listing may not appear in some search and browse results regardless of the sort order chosen by the buyer*
Some advanced listing upgrades will only be visible on certain Services.
We may revise product data associated with listings to supplement, remove, or correct information
We strive to create a marketplace where buyers find what they are looking for. Therefore, the appearance or placement of listings in search and browse results will depend on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to:
buyer's location, search query, browsing site, and history;
item's location, listing format, price and shipping cost, terms of service, end time, history, and relevance to the user query;
seller's history, including listing practices, Detailed Seller Ratings, eBay policy compliance, Feedback, and defect rate; and
number of listings matching the buyer's query

Buyer's location? - I can say that about 65% of my sales are cross country - so this must not be a big factor unless now with those opted into guaranteed delivery - it's taken into consideration which may hamper visibility to those buyers on the other side of the country. I'm going to have to see if my stats change.

Ship cost - again may be a factor with Ebay footing the bill if an item is under guaranteed delivery.

DSRs, feedback and defect rate - so DSRs are still important - feedback is still considered even tho at least 50% don't leave feedback and defects decide placement - must only relate to small sellers as I see plenty of overseas results in BM that certainly shouldn't be tere using that criteria.

tunicaslot · ‎06-02-2018

Guess this has been in the user agreement for the last 5 years - but will it apply more now with the new policies?

slati_2013 · ‎06-02-2018

It has always been this way. If they indeed used location, they would stop sending me buyers on the West Coast (I am on the East Coast) for very heavy items. A week ago I listed one of those items I was simply trying to get rid of. Close to a 100 pounds. I listed it for a flat $100 shipping. I understand I can charge exact shipping cost, but these were old, not working, for parts only items. Anymore for shipping and I doubt I could have sold them.

So when the item sold and I got the PayPal email, I was praying before I clicked it, "please not California, not California". Well it was California. I am guessing negative thinking. I ended up paying $35 extra from my pocket and my profit from the sale rather drastically reduced than say if I had sold it to someone on the East Coast. But I can't complain; some of my best sales have been to California, even if in every case I had to eat a few dollars in shipping costs,

ymeagainlord · ‎06-02-2018

So when the item sold and I got the PayPal email, I was praying before I clicked it, "please not California, not California".

LOL I do the same thing but with me it's Florida, and of course, it always IS FL

Crusader Cat is watching

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. - L Tolstoy

"You are entitled to your own opinion, you are not however, entitled to your own facts."

mudshark61369 · ‎06-02-2018

@slati_2013, @tunicaslot,

"I was praying before I clicked it, "please not California, not California"... I do the same thing but with me it's Florida, and of course, it always IS FL"

When I get the Paypal notice I just start praying period.

I long for the days when selling on the site was less stressful, and didn't require invoking the help of a Deity.

"THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FOOLPROOF, BECAUSE FOOLS ARE SO DARNED INGENIOUS!" (unknown)

gracieallen01 · ‎06-02-2018

The only part of the UA that means anything, is the part that says 'at our sole discretion'.

It means that ebay can say 'may' or 'might' or 'can' or 'could' or 'maybe' or anything else, but if they decide to do something else - other than what you think they are going to do - well, that is just the way it is.

Not saying 'NO' doesn't mean 'YES'.

The foolishness of one's actions or words is determined by the number of witnesses.

Perhaps if Brains were described as an APP, many people would use them more often.

Respect, like money, is only of 'worth' when it is earned - with all due respect, it can not be ordained, legislated or coerced. Anonymous

ted_200 · ‎06-02-2018

@gracieallen01 wrote:
The only part of the UA that means anything, is the part that says 'at our sole discretion'.

It means that ebay can say 'may' or 'might' or 'can' or 'could' or 'maybe' or anything else, but if they decide to do something else - other than what you think they are going to do - well, that is just the way it is.

Yep. They could save a lot of electrons and just say "We're going to do whatever we want, we don't have to tell you what we're doing or why, and there's nothing you can do if you don't like it other than close your account".

...depend on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to... = unspecified & unlimited.

Buyer's location? - I can say that about 65% of my sales are cross country - so this must not be a big factor unless now with those opted into guaranteed delivery - it's taken into consideration which may hamper visibility to those buyers on the other side of the country. I'm going to have to see if my stats change.

Buyer location is going to be a factor with GD. If it's not in GD, then the further the better, because they're getting a cut on the shipping label.

I suspect this also refers to International buyers. It seems they stopped showing anyone in Europe my listings, I think my shipping cost is too low, and since it's not in the GSP, they'd rather show them someone else's listings.

The Floggings Will Continue Until Morale Improves.

ersatz_sobriquet · ‎06-02-2018

Might explain why sold prices for the same vintage piece is all over the place.

I've been having fun today watching sold items of mine appear and disappear on a different browser that is logged in with a different account. (I'm watching one account with a different account.)

If I can't even see my own sold items, anything goes must be the rule.

I don't even try to figure it out anymore. I just watch paypal for that bell to not light up red, and for ebay to have nothing in the resolution center. If those two things don't happen, I'm good.

castlemagicmemories · ‎06-02-2018

@ted_200 wrote:
@gracieallen01 wrote:
The only part of the UA that means anything, is the part that says 'at our sole discretion'.

It means that ebay can say 'may' or 'might' or 'can' or 'could' or 'maybe' or anything else, but if they decide to do something else - other than what you think they are going to do - well, that is just the way it is.
Yep. They could save a lot of electrons and just say "We're going to do whatever we want, we don't have to tell you what we're doing or why, and there's nothing you can do if you don't like it other than close your account".

...depend on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to... = unspecified & unlimited.

Buyer's location? - I can say that about 65% of my sales are cross country - so this must not be a big factor unless now with those opted into guaranteed delivery - it's taken into consideration which may hamper visibility to those buyers on the other side of the country. I'm going to have to see if my stats change.

Buyer location is going to be a factor with GD. If it's not in GD, then the further the better, because they're getting a cut on the shipping label.

I suspect this also refers to International buyers. It seems they stopped showing anyone in Europe my listings, I think my shipping cost is too low, and since it's not in the GSP, they'd rather show them someone else's listings.

ted, I see what you mean about GD coordinating with buyer location. BUT I wonder if that does not set up conflicts that will hurt sales.

If Ebay just shows listing that are close to the seller to comply with GD, then Ebay's profits will go down due to lower shipping fees. Also if you are manipulating search to those closest to the seller, what about the buyers that don't CARE where the seller is located, which I suspect are many; they just want a particular widget and will be happy to buy it no matter where the seller is located.

I just don't see that all the different aspects are mutually compatible or even desirable for buyers or sellers or Ebay.

travelchic1 · ‎06-11-2018

What I find rich is that now all content is theirs, they'll happily take your money & now offer nothing for it, and here's the kicker = its all for a positive unique shopper experience.

BUT IT ALSO SAYS THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR VIRUSES & MALWARE NOT THE SITE - so you'll take my money, make me invisible, and an infected computer is my reward????

I really don't think buyers who encounter malware/viruses on Ebay (like I have for YEARS) = a POSITIVE UNIQUE BUYER EXPERIENCE!

Seriously Ebay, if your gonna hose every small seller on your platform, you could have at least cleaned up the malware that's all over Ebay, but obviously your not gonna do it & you've washed your hands of any future responsibility on this topic. You should be embarrassed!!!