What exactly is this all about?

[2010byandsel100]

Books category (ex-library, no less):  222610731884

and many others  by same seller

Huh? 

[sidemouse]

Ok...

But it's not the only seller abusing the system and spamming up the search.

Mega or not, the abuse is system-wide.

Car parts categories is the same, watches, clothes, you name it...

Chinese sellers, too.

What I see a lot is one seller, same item, 50+ listings with literally a one letter change in the title from one to the next (or it's a universal item and they list the first for "audi" the second for "bmw" the third for "chrysler" and so on (which is also search and browse manipulation - using a brandname for a product that isn't OEM))...

I could go on... 

And on, and on and on and on...

Ebay does nothing about those either.

So what do you propose we do?

[moondogblues]

This is what I got on the 1st page, not the mega seller....maybe they just don't know.

Vintage Hardback FIRST STOP HONOLULU Ted Scott Flying stories 1st Edition 1927

by the same Franklin Dixon who wrote the Hardy Boys, prob not a cook book.

[moondogblues]

Dang you guys...I said I COLLECT cookbooks....almost bought some, but came to my senses in time. maybe tomorrow I'll revisit the listings....

[lookng2015]

What gave it away? lol

[d-k_treasures]

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@moondogblues wrote:
This is what I got on the 1st page, not the mega seller....maybe they just don't know.

Vintage Hardback FIRST STOP HONOLULU Ted Scott Flying stories 1st Edition 1927

by the same Franklin Dixon who wrote the Hardy Boys, prob not a cook book.

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It's probably the category that it was changed to when listing, due to all of what we were talking about.

All we will get on the chat is lip service and 'the rules apply to everyone' line.

[penguins_dont_fly]

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@d-k_treasures wrote:

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@moondogblues wrote:
This is what I got on the 1st page, not the mega seller....maybe they just don't know.

Vintage Hardback FIRST STOP HONOLULU Ted Scott Flying stories 1st Edition 1927

by the same Franklin Dixon who wrote the Hardy Boys, prob not a cook book.

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It's probably the category that it was changed to when listing, due to all of what we were talking about.

All we will get on the chat is lip service and 'the rules apply to everyone' line.

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It wouldn't surprise me if eBay suggested it and she just ran with it ... That one is just clueless 😞 All other listings for that book are in more appropriate categories ... although spread out into 2 or more cats 😞

99¢ Auction for a 1st edition

Listed in the wrong category

She doesn't mention that it doesn't have a dust jacket

Her condition description is vague for a collector's copy

She DOES mention that she has more books in her Etsy bookstore

SMH

[sidemouse]

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@d-k_treasures wrote:

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All we will get on the chat is lip service and 'the rules apply to everyone' line.

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I just want to clarify what that means is another seller breaking the rules does not spell 'permission' for you or other sellers to break them, and if countless other sellers are breaking the rules it is still up to you to do the right thing. So if hundreds of sellers are breaking the rules and one gets caught, you may wish to ensure you're not that one because "but they're all doing it" is not a valid defense.

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@moondogblues wrote:

I collect cookbooks, probably have a couple of hundred or more, and I also don't buy very much here anymore, I get a catalog in the mail and buy from him.

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It's a sickness, isn't it?

I have two six foot high, four shelf bookcases full, one of them is all double rows of books. Never counted how many, too scared to lol

I don't really have trouble finding ones here, but I narrow down to vintage cookbooks since I only collect 40s and 50s era now.

[Anonymous]

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@dhbookds wrote:

There are 116,000 + over $100 each..........a few might be worth that..........but majority aren't I'm sure.......

this one is interesting:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Exercise-Physiology-Integrating-Theory-and-Application-/252957850420?hash=it...

1 sold at $11.98......  now 8 available at $400+ 

@Anonymous

What's the story on this kind of thing.........Ok to do? 

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The pricing itself is not a violation of policy, though I would personally recommend that the Out of Stock feature be used if this is in fact a "placeholder" listing from this seller. I am as concerned as the rest of you with the mis-categorization issue discussed here. I've looped in our catalog team on this topic to have it reviewed and passed along the examples given on this thread. Additionally, I'm not certain why there are no photos available in some of these listings and will have that reviewed as well. Thanks for grabbing me on this!

[penguins_dont_fly]

Thanks @Anonymous !!

A megaseller such as the one being discussed most certainly has a concierge or an account manager. 

I think that a nice chat with their "handler"  is in order regarding pictures, OOS options and categories 🙂

They, and other mega booksellers, have really made an impact (not a good one) on both buyers and sellers of books here with these types of listing practices 😞

[mam98031]

@Anonymous

Thank you.  I look forward to an update from you.  There are lots and lots of sellers that have listings without pics.  All the ones I've seen that have multiples are what we fondly call Mega sellers.

Certainly there could be smaller sellers out there with this issue, but I haven't ran across them.  What I do find interesting is that if I try to post a listing without a picture, the listing is not accepted by Ebay.  It will throw a warning for me to add a pic.  Without it I can post the listing, so the big question is WHY are Mega sellers allowed to do this with great frequency.

[Anonymous]

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@mistwomandancing wrote:

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@mam98031 wrote:

@mistwomandancing

I understand the method behind the madness of this listing practice, but far before THIS extent eBay needs to put their foot down. 

WHY?  These sellers that chose to increase pricing dramatically on OOS items are not hurting you in any way or even other sellers.  From your point of view what is it that leads you to believe these types of listing do to cause harm to the community?  You may see something I don't and I too would like to understand.

If it comes to that, there needs to be a stated enforcible number that will be allowed, at which point it will become a DEFECT infraction of listing privilages to overrun your allowance. 

That is a pretty stiff penality.  Why do you think it needs to be taken to this level?

This seems to be more than just a few temporarily out-of-stock listings.  Seems to be a whole LOT of eBay server space being given over to nothing for sale.  It doesn't sound real healthy for a site to me, although I readily admit that I don't know how expensive this sort of largess is to eBay, which means the rank and file here.  I'd find it strange to thumb through a catalog and see pages printed specifically showing merchandise that wasn't available for purchase.  And which may or may not ever become available. 

I also don't like much preferential treatment as in allowing listings to be put up without so much as a photo shown.. I know the lesser sellers would get a slap for that, and build up to a mega slap if they continued that practice, although I readily admit special previlage is afforded the very few. 

Lastly, I'm always sorry when an entire category is actually somewhat harmed (certainly in my mind!) not just by the presence of the mega sellers, which we almost have to expect, certainly, but then by rewarding them with allowance for practices that are withheld from others selling here and which would sink me.  I know there is no way eBay would let me list without photos, for example, and certainly not in great number.    

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Hey everyone, still getting the potential catalog errors looked into but I have an update regarding photos within this category; for books, we only require catalog information to be supplied and a stock photo should generate most of the time. However, since books can vary in appearance while still having all of the same product information, photos are not required in this category. Of course, providing photos of the item when available will generally improve sales, but book listings without photos are not considered violations.

[Anonymous]

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@mam98031 wrote:

@Anonymous

Thank you.  I look forward to an update from you.  There are lots and lots of sellers that have listings without pics.  All the ones I've seen that have multiples are what we fondly call Mega sellers.

Certainly there could be smaller sellers out there with this issue, but I haven't ran across them.  What I do find interesting is that if I try to post a listing without a picture, the listing is not accepted by Ebay.  It will throw a warning for me to add a pic.  Without it I can post the listing, so the big question is WHY are Mega sellers allowed to do this with great frequency.

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Hey @mam98031, I also wanted to add that the lack of photo can occur when the hosting location of the photo is no longer valid. This would usually be considered a violation, but some categories such as books would be exempt from this expectation.

[penguins_dont_fly]

I'm sorry to drag this topic out of the basement ... but I was just starting to list a Decorative Commemorative Plate and got this as a suggestion ... seriously?!? 😞

There are historical books out there about the church ... but what the heck?!?

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@penguins_dont_fly wrote:

I'm sorry to drag this topic out of the basement ... but I was just starting to list a Decorative Commemorative Plate and got this as a suggestion ... seriously?!? 😞

There are historical books out there about the church ... but what the heck?!?

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The words "commemorative" and "church" is most likely what pulled that up. Think the community stle church cookbooks.  That said, I have found many non-book things listed under cookbooks