What did eBay Break Now?

[valueaddedresource]

Anyone else seeing this today?

[mam98031]

Sorry, whatever I say isn't going to help you as you are certain of the reasons why the numbers may or may not be the most current numbers.  

IDK if the update you refer to above had all of today's numbers up to the point of the update or not.  It could be numbers as of a couple hours before that, I simply do not know.  So I will not be of any help to you on this subject.

[valueaddedresource]

@mam98031   I didn't say I was certain of anything, just that I am seeing some things which are not normal for us and I'm trying to figure out why.

If you do not have anything helpful to add here, might I respectfully suggest that you move on to other threads where you can be helpful?

[valueaddedresource]

It looks like at least one other person may be seeing some strange things with promoted listings impressions today as well.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Technical-Issues/promotion-graph-has-gone-to-zero/m-p/31192389/highlig...

[mam98031]

---

@valueaddedresource wrote:

@mam98031   I didn't say I was certain of anything, just that I am seeing some things which are not normal for us and I'm trying to figure out why.

If you do not have anything helpful to add here, might I respectfully suggest that you move on to other threads where you can be helpful?

---

There is no need to be rude nor say I shouldn't post to the thread.  

[valueaddedresource]

---

@chapeau-noir wrote:

I've found in general 'real time' reporting to be more like 'unreal time' - it's notoriously fickle (not just on eBay) as it depends on too many variables  - I check at the end of a 24-hour period.

---

Thanks @chapeau-noir  .  I totally understand and don't put absolute faith in eBay's reports at all, nor in their being up to date in "real time".  But again, our internal systems log orders coming in down to the minute and we were down about 80% from average - which would seem to at least possibly correlate with a general drop in impressions/traffic like we are seeing in the reports.

[valueaddedresource]

Also just as some general insight, Labor Day weekend is usually pretty big for our business/in our category, and it usually starts on Friday and goes through the weekend.  What we sell tends to be seasonal and this is one of the last big hurrahs of our particular season.

We also sell on 7 direct websites and Amazon - all of which are either on par or exceeding averages for today.  eBay is the lone sales channel down about 80%.

I don't think it is crazy to suspect something may be going on here or that it may be in some way related to the fact that eBay's reports are showing a very significant drop in impressions/traffic - especially on promoted listings.

[chapeau-noir]

---

@valueaddedresource wrote:

---

@chapeau-noir wrote:

I've found in general 'real time' reporting to be more like 'unreal time' - it's notoriously fickle (not just on eBay) as it depends on too many variables  - I check at the end of a 24-hour period.

---

Thanks @chapeau-noir  .  I totally understand and don't put absolute faith in eBay's reports at all, nor in their being up to date in "real time".  But again, our internal systems log orders coming in down to the minute and we were down about 80% from average - which would seem to at least possibly correlate with a general drop in impressions/traffic like we are seeing in the reports.

---

In cases like this, I still more rely on day's end counts - anything could have happened and seeing the drop in context will tell me more about why than looking at it as a current event that could have been influenced by any number of things, including the kid pushing the broom in the server room accidentally kicking the plug out of the wall (OK, I'm being facetious, but I used to manage a small server farm and the stuff that happened to affect data flow could be almost anything, including once an earthquake).

ETA: I'd track this and see what it says at EOB and then take a comparative reading over the next couple of days. 

[tev4all]

JAT, the millions of free listings given out a few days ago might have something to do with this.    server overload.  Impressions/sales could  be harder to obtain. 

[valueaddedresource]

---

@chapeau-noir wrote:

---

@valueaddedresource wrote:

---

@chapeau-noir wrote:

I've found in general 'real time' reporting to be more like 'unreal time' - it's notoriously fickle (not just on eBay) as it depends on too many variables  - I check at the end of a 24-hour period.

---

Thanks @chapeau-noir  .  I totally understand and don't put absolute faith in eBay's reports at all, nor in their being up to date in "real time".  But again, our internal systems log orders coming in down to the minute and we were down about 80% from average - which would seem to at least possibly correlate with a general drop in impressions/traffic like we are seeing in the reports.

---

In cases like this, I still more rely on day's end counts - anything could have happened and seeing the drop in context will tell me more about why than looking at it as a current event that could have been influenced by any number of things, including the kid pushing the broom in the server room accidentally kicking the plug out of the wall (OK, I'm being facetious, but I used to manage a small server farm and the stuff that happened to affect data flow could be almost anything, including once an earthquake).

---

@chapeau-noir  If there is a kid kicking stuff in the server room, it would seem to be eBay's kid. 🤣 7  direct websites and Amazon all on par or exceeding what we would expect to see today - eBay down 80%.

The abnormally low sales is what originally caused me to think something may be wrong. That lead me to the data showing on the reports in eBay, which could explain what I am seeing.

I completely understand that data may not be accurate, or may change when it is the full day. But if there is something going on, I'd like to figure it out and try to do something about it if possible before I lose an entire holiday weekend's worth of sales.  I went down that road with markdown manager problems that killed Black Friday/Cyber Weekend last year and would prefer not to do it again.

[valueaddedresource]

@tev4all  - Thank you! Those extra free listings don't work for our category so I had pretty much forgotten about that but you could definitely be on to something.

Not sure how that would affect things since our category isn't likely to see much from those, but I suppose people who list in our category and other categories may be using more free listings for other categories, which would in turn free up listings to use in ours as well.

And yes, like you said, if that caused server overload that could also trickle out to other categories as well.

[zamo-zuan]

Good find! I took a look, and I think eBay may have a tech issue with "Promoted Listings" introduced yesterday:

It seems Organic impressions are working fine. But promoted listings took a STEEP drop! 

My question for everyone here, do you notice this on your traffic charts beginning yesterday or today? And if so, what category of products do you sell in?

I'm wondering if this might be something they did across the board, possibly an error in PL, or if it might be something that's only hitting certain categories? 

[zamo-zuan]

Just a quick update in reply to your msg, as I'm actually noticing this on yesterdays counts, as well as todays. So I'm doubtful that this is just a delay in real time reporting.

Hopefully not a tech issue that is hurting impressions! Those are the worst types of tech issues!

[go-bad-chicken · Accepted solution]

"I believe there may be something odd happening that is affecting our impressions, traffic, and sales - especially for promoted listings."

I think that I have found the answer as to why you are seeing a dramatic drop with your Promoted Listings impressions and traffic.

As of right now at this moment in time (09-04-2020 4:35 pm pdt) eBay is no longer displaying the one or two Sponsored Listing carousels within individual listings, which have always been predominantly displayed generally right above the fold (above the listing description). Sometimes it's two Sponsored Listings carousels and other times there is just one Sponsored Listings carousel. I have never been able to figure out the how and why behind why some listings show two advertising carousels and others just show one. But I digress.

It appears that eBay is either currently experiencing a glitch, testing a new display feature for buyers within individual listings, or implementing another unannounced change with regards to how Promoted Listings are displayed within individual listings.

What I am seeing right now is instead of "Sponsored Listing" ads in those top two advertising carousels are carousels titled  "People who viewed this item also viewed" and "Frequently Bought Together"

This to me points to the how and why behind why you are currently seeing a dramatic drop in your Sponsored Listing's traffic as well as their impressions. And if this change is happening in this one location on the eBay site then more than likely this change is probably happening elsewhere as well.

Prior to today this is what I would expect to see when I click on individual listings.

This is what I am now currently seeing today when I click on individual listings.

[valueaddedresource]

@go-bad-chicken  - Thank you so much! That is very helpful information and I believe very likely exactly what is going on here.

So nice for eBay to make changes like this just in time for a holiday weekend. 😫

[blacktopautoparts]

I am glad that I am not the only one experiencing this same exact issue today. Our sales have gone out the window today. I am not sure what they have done but this is the worst day we have had in forever. We have promoted listings and promotions running, so not sure what is happening.