eBay

vintageista · ‎08-04-2018

I sell mostly clothing & an occasional collectible. I DO NOT modify anything, such as you might do with a cell phone or auto part. Why was this question added to ITEM SPECIFICS in categories that it would never apply to? STUPID! One more ridiculous hoop to jump through!

goodluckselling · ‎08-04-2018

@readabouthorses wrote:
Sorry, but I think the thing that needs some major MODIFICATIONS is eBay!

I just got it setting up a magazine listing in Turbo Lister. What kind of modifications does it want to know? Did I take off the label? Did I black out the name? Did I cut out a photo?

Things like

underlined in pen or
highlighter marking
cut out pictures
removed pages
added content

You can not show the entire magazine page by page so this seems like a good change for magazines.

Good Luck Selling!

readabouthorses · ‎08-04-2018

@goodluckselling wrote:
@readabouthorses wrote:
Sorry, but I think the thing that needs some major MODIFICATIONS is eBay!

I just got it setting up a magazine listing in Turbo Lister. What kind of modifications does it want to know? Did I take off the label? Did I black out the name? Did I cut out a photo?

Things like
underlined in pen or
highlighter marking
cut out pictures
removed pages
added content
You can not show the entire magazine page by page so this seems like a good change for magazines.

Good Luck Selling!

But that is the very same stuff that I would put into the Seller Notes in the Item Condition section. So they want me to stop putting that in there and put it in the Modifications? I say to Ebay "picky picky ... make up your mind". Or do I need to put it both places ... that just seems overkill and needless extra work.

goodluckselling · ‎08-04-2018

@readabouthorses wrote:

But that is the very same stuff that I would put into the Seller Notes in the Item Condition section. So they want me to stop putting that in there and put it in the Modifications? I say to Ebay "picky picky ... make up your mind". Or do I need to put it both places ... that just seems overkill and needless extra work.

Here is where this is going IMO.

eBay understands buyers are reading less and less of the description
eBay has also been making case decisions based on item condition, titles and item specifcs along with other areas but these are important areas for them. So by having more item specifcs it describes your item better than having less available,
eBay is moving to a cataloged shopping experience which buyers will be directed to lowest price listing more than before
which means they are probably going to read less and buy quicker
these areas filled out fully and correctly will help sellers when buyers open requests.
eBay creates more search filters for like items with same or similar item specifcs

That is just my take on it.

Good Luck Selling!

ekmadonna · ‎08-04-2018

that is redundant and yet more work for the seller, we have a ITEM CONDITION field for that stuff all of it.

ekmadonna · ‎08-04-2018

True buyers are reading less and less. If they are NOT GOING TO READ the big ITEM CONDITION box they certainly will NOT read what is in that tiny little "Modification box!

fern*wood · ‎08-04-2018

I understand this is helpful for things like hemmed pants, etc., but for many of my items I don't understand what might qualify as modified. With specifics like theme and other things that I skip or don't think apply to my item, nothing shows up for them in my listing, but this new modified spec shows on all of them now.

For old vintage items, being modified might be impossible to know or might mean something different to different people. I'm not a fan of that question on everything I list.

poppyswag · ‎08-04-2018

Hmm, seems like it could be a new gotcha in the mandatory all free returns war. It's in too many catagories that don't make sense. Could be another way to NAD.

Anonymous · ‎08-04-2018

Modifications can also mean enhancements like an item that is autographed.

goodluckselling · ‎08-04-2018

@Anonymous wrote:
Modifications can also mean enhancements like an item that is autographed.

Yes I can see what you are saying clearly. I am a bit behind because I only sell new items exclusively, so I am not very familiar with the notes for used items.

Modifications clearly are to define what the seller is advertising the item as.

Good Luck Selling!

Anonymous · ‎08-04-2018

@goodluckselling, I just looked at the Info button on the selling form and they listed 2 examples under modifications: 1- autographs, 2- customization such as a gold-plated phone case

People really have their phone cases gold-plated? If someone has that much excess cash to spend please send them to my eBay store.

vintageista · ‎08-04-2018

I AGREE...I don't think "modification" means sewing on a button, etc! We already have a box for "condition" that is where you should mention any repairs, etc. for clothing. I really think the programmers just got lazy and added it to everything rather that take the time to think through this modification of the listing page!

Anonymous · ‎08-04-2018

@vintageista wrote:
I AGREE...I don't think "modification" means sewing on a button, etc! We already have a box for "condition" that is where you should mention any repairs, etc. for clothing. I really think the programmers just got lazy and added it to everything rather that take the time to think through this modification of the listing page!

Are you agreeing with me? I didn't say I had a problem with the spec being added to every category. Almost anything can be modified and the default selection is no so just ignore it if you don't need to use it. I don't see why it's a big deal.

Clothing examples of modifications: autographed concert t-shirt, pants turned into cut-off shorts, bedazzled jeans, tie-dyed t-shirt, monogrammed baseball cap, jacket with iron-on patches, DIY distressed jeans, lace trim on a dress hem.

karthok.of.daolodus · ‎08-04-2018

@ekmadonna wrote:
True buyers are reading less and less. If they are NOT GOING TO READ the big ITEM CONDITION box they certainly will NOT read what is in that tiny little "Modification box!

I use that box if necessary, but was just wondering that myself - they're NOT going to read that if they haven't read the condition right in their faces lol. I'd love to see the whack search engine here try to parse the various things people might put in the modifications box. Maybe it'll be something that just affects categorization for the upcoming catalog, but as it stands it's repetitive - modifications are what are put in the condition box.

What's "Betsy" - is that Etsy? I don't think they have modification boxes.

coolections · ‎08-04-2018

@vintageista wrote:
Why was this question added to ITEM SPECIFICS in categories that it would never apply to? STUPID! One more ridiculous hoop to jump through!

Because on Ebay there are thousands of sellers who are selling things modified but never mention it. It's just ANOTHER change Ebay NEEDED to make to keep sellers honest. YES, clothes can be modified so it DOES apply. There is a topic right now someone who modified some jeans and is asking questions if they should mention it. Without the warning they would have just listed it and never said a thing. Buyers are tired of that and are not returning because of having to keep returning things.

castlemagicmemories · ‎08-04-2018

@vintageista wrote:
I sell mostly clothing & an occasional collectible. I DO NOT modify anything, such as you might do with a cell phone or auto part. Why was this question added to ITEM SPECIFICS in categories that it would never apply to? STUPID! One more ridiculous hoop to jump through!

While you may not modify things, that does not mean that others don't as well. Looking at the big picture, and not just as it pertains to you, may provide insight as to the usefulness of that item specific.

Clothing is a category where modify would be particularly useful~as it can be altered in many different ways, and this would reflect this.

Collectibles, to a lesser degree, may also be modified, as in OOAK dolls that were based on an original release.