WHY DID EBAY INSERT THIS SENTENCE INTO ALL OUR LISTINGS

[hook-and-hanger]

How does everyone feel about Ebay inserting the sentence "Item description from seller" into everyone's listings. I make my descriptions a certain way, so they flow well. Having that sentence inserted at the top of the description in bold and several font sizes larger looks like crap. If someone is reading the description of my listing, I'm pretty sure they know that I am the seller and don't need to be reminded.

Maybe I'm being too picky, but I absolutely don't won't that sentence there, and I wish Ebay would warn us they were going to do this.  Maybe they did and I just missed it.

Take a look at your listings and see what you think and thanks for letting me vent.

[toomuchstuffagain35]

Admittedly they really only needed to say "see item description", it doesn't mean what you think it does.

It's there mainly for cell phone users. You want them to know you actually HAVE a description, right?

[mtgraves7984]

Yeah... I could do without it. But, hey...

Your listings do read well. And I hate to be the one... but you "do 'accept' returns", you don't 'except' them.

[tdrake]

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@toomuchstuffagain35 wrote:

It's there mainly for cell phone users. You want them to know you actually HAVE a description, right?

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I think that is why.

But anyways, it doesn't bother me either way. I keep things pretty basic on my descriptions,  I keep the font ebay gives me, usually don't change size, rarely change color. Just plain, which I feel is the best way (YMMV) and for sure the best way to deal with mobile views.

[hook-and-hanger]

Oops thank for the heads up on that one.

[sapphire_studio]

The last post I saw about this people were really happy with the change. I don't feel like I have too much of an opinion. I would be shocked if it affected sales at all which is what really matters.

[dhbookds]

I think it's to make the description box stand out instead of being lost in all the other stuff they put on the page......  I've had to scroll thru the whole description area several time to find the ONE line description.  (this is on a pc)..........

Personally, I think it's good........and doesn't detract from the description itself. 

[1tuna]

I noticed that the other day

my thoughts are it looks stupid, of course its the item description

of course I could be wrong. I have never ever filled out the condition description

everything I sell is used and I have that box checked off in my template

I mention the condition in the item description. I guess I just figure most sellers do it the same way

some sellers write a whole paragraph just in item condition text box. not me

I guess you could mix up the text box in the condition with the item description but I dont like the big text either

@hook-and-hanger 

[dhbookds]

@1tuna 

At one time, one of the blues, I think Trinton, said the item condition box is for noting any problems with the item and IF it were filled out......ie. chip on beak........Ebay would support a seller who had that info in the box on returns.  Point being, ebay wants the condition upfront, just below the price on the listing, where presumably a buyer would see it........even if they didn't read the description.  The listing is already labeled new/used.....etc.....  The condition box is for information about the condition.

I think the "support" angle is long gone, if it ever worked.......but it can help with a buyer who may not be inclined to read description.......

[hartungcards]

And how, exactly, would you have reacted to a "warning?"   Class action suit?  Report them to the BBB?

[pickermall]

Do you know how many potential buyers don't even LOOK at my detailed item description?

But bottom line... it's Ebay's site and that's the format they are going with right now...

[richard1rst]

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@hook-and-hanger wrote:

How does everyone feel about Ebay inserting the sentence "Item description from seller" into everyone's listings. I make my descriptions a certain way, so they flow well. Having that sentence inserted at the top of the description in bold and several font sizes larger looks like crap. If someone is reading the description of my listing, I'm pretty sure they know that I am the seller and don't need to be reminded.

Maybe I'm being too picky, but I absolutely don't won't that sentence there, and I wish Ebay would warn us they were going to do this.  Maybe they did and I just missed it.

Take a look at your listings and see what you think and thanks for letting me vent.

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I can offer a possible lawyer induced reason. Bear with me, it does seem a but far fetched but remember there are lawyers involved.

There is case at the Supreme Court Gonzales vs Google regarding rule 230 which questions whether a hosting site can be held legally liable for postings that they leave up. The case is directed at Hate Speech. But if found in Gonzales’s favor it is reasonable to believe lawyers will jump all over it - class action suits don’t you know.

The accompanying article mentions by name Etsy and by inference, among others, eBay.

It says: E relies on seller’s description of their own products. As it is now, if a product does not match the description then E has no legal liability. But the case raises the concern that E could be legally liable for the accuracy of every description on their web site. And within that, if they allow reviews then they could be vulnerable to defamation claims.

Again, this may seem a bit far fetched. But I have never met a lawyer who didn’t salivate over the opportunity for a class action law suit against a multi billion dollar company.

[soh.maryl]

As a buyer, that statement would make no difference to me whatsoever.

I would either buy or not buy based on other factors like price, shipping, FB seller has received etc.

I probably wouldn't even notice it, truthfully.  

[hook-and-hanger]

Probably a quick temper tantrum and the realization that my opinion on the issue most likely wouldn't matter.

[tealt]

I like the new sentence because:

1)  As a seller, I hope that it calls additional attention to the fact that I have more information about the item than that provided by Condition and Item Specifics.  (Particularly for someone who is shopping via their cell phone.)

2)  As a buyer, when I have clicked to view an individual listing the sentence helps me find the seller's description amongst the 107 little photos eBay has inserted on the item's listing page.