eBay searches returning offensive images

[flatforksellers]

I have been selling on eBay for 9 years. I also use eBay searches to look at pricing and what similar items have sold for as well as basic google searches of other marketplaces. Very recently some of the searches I do for specific items return unrelated provocative images and listings for "adult items"...For example yesterday I was checking standard pricing for a vintage leather top silver chest/box...the search results returned images of women's breasts scantly covered with semi-transparent silvery garments adorned with what looked like bondage-type accents. with the statement that no exact matches were found. Even as I tried different search terms I got the same images. I then used the same search terms in Google search. Those results returned items I was looking for, but also an eBay link to items on eBay I was looking for that eBay searches was saying no exact matches were found. I am concerned that customers searching for the vintage furniture and home decor I sell are being subjected to the same "adult only" images and postings that could be offensive to many customers just wanting to buy a vintage silver chest...is anyone seeing more "adult clothing, lingerie" in search results?

[cstpos]

@flatforksellersI just searched on ebay for - vintage leather top silver chest/box - and came back with nothing Adult only. Mostly black and/or silver ladies tops, but nothing offensive. There was some vintage pj's, but again, nothing offensive.

I have seen several really disgusting search results over the last few months. Not only Adult Only, but also animal cruelty, etc. I just report the userid or item and hope ebay takes care of it.

[flatforksellers]

My concern is the images are just too "sexy" for customers simply looking for something to store their sterling silver in...and it wasn't just a few images the entire search results were bondage-type clothing...I guess it's lingerie...but there were no results for flatware storage cases...but again when searched on Google it produced eBay items that matched the search results...I'll monitor...I hope it doesn't affect my chest of drawers search results...lol

[a_c_green]

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@flatforksellers wrote:

My concern is the images are just too "sexy" for customers simply looking for something to store their sterling silver in...

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Even if so, it's not as if anyone's going to blame either you or your listing for those search results. I doubt it's going to drive off any appreciable number of potential buyers from eBay, either.

[nocoolnamejane]

I mean, “leather” and “chest”, it’s not a big leap to leather harnesses and other BDSM accessories…

[simply-the-best-for-you]

I'm not seeing it either, but yes, there have been several complaints lately of people searching on auto parts, by part number only & getting nude images, pages & pages of vintage pinup style nude photos.  

I searched:

vintage leather top silver chest

& got 6 items, mostly mens crossbody bags

So then I removed the vintage & got 95 mostly clothing items, no nudity, though some cosplay type harnesses.   Though like @nocoolnamejane  I can certainly see with that KW combo how bondage accessories would fit the bill.   I'm not sure if these lingerie images are what is upsetting you, but I can say that the car parts searches were complete nudity, not some silly lingerie & fake bondage accessories.   I didn't see anything that I'd consider "adult only" & there was no nudity.   IDK what's so upsetting about your search results, but my only suggestion would be to play with changing up your keywords or putting them in quotes. 

No point in comparing Google's search engine with eBay's, as they are completely different.  You are correct that Google's search is finding antique chest.   

[craft-stash]

Helpful😉

[little.font.lord.leroy]

I don't quite understand if you are posting a question:

"how do I create a search so I don't get lingerie listings?" 

or a complaint

"there's too many keyword spammed lingerie listings"

[flatforksellers]

It has only been happening to me for a short while. I have been a long-time ebayer and never really had a problem finding what I was looking for and usually if my search words included chest it would show me furniture not a close-up of a woman's chest in thin garments and harnesses. My concern is that customers shopping for anything unrelated to "sexy clothing" are now getting an eye full if their search words include chest or leg or even box...I tried box to and got the same images...As a buyer, I will not tolerate having to scroll through unrelated items to find what I am looking for. If I am searching for a specific item my searches are specific to that item or related item. There is no relation to silver chest and soft porn clothing pictures. I have researched and sold many silver chests over the years and searched price points on eBay...NEVER did the search results return "sexy photos" of women in lingerie. And if that is what my customers are going to see it's hard to get a top price when the listing is associated with cheap-looking images of clothing attire that is not even related to the search. If "sterling silver chest" equates to a close-up of a woman's breasts scantly covered in silver cloth...then I probably re-evaluate my furniture listings that are chest or have Queen Anne legs.

[flatforksellers]

UPDATE:...I just did the exact same search and only sterling silver and flatware chests, boxes, and stands appeared..no sexy or provocative lingerie appeared...maybe just a glitch?...thanks for the replies.

[simply-the-best-for-you]

Please disregard above.  Having problems & can't even request a mod to delete.  

[katz.paw]

I searched for "vintage leather top silver chest/box" like you described but did not see the "images of women's breasts scantly covered with semi-transparent silvery garments adorned with what looked like bondage-type accents" that you found.
Please can you verify your exact search wordage and report back here. Please.

[yuzuha]

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@nocoolnamejane wrote:

I mean, “leather” and “chest”, it’s not a big leap to leather harnesses and other BDSM accessories…

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MTE. When I saw the search string they used I wasn't surprised in the slightest that it pulled up exactly those things.

[thebookee]

I have been getting really strange items when I have been doing a very specific search.  The search has been netting me one or two results but the rest of the items have nothing whatsoever to do with my search. I'm a little discouraged. My items also have the lowest views that I can remember. I think this has been going on for at least a month that my searches are returning strange results.

[flatforksellers]

I have been a little discouraged also but because I buy most of my personal needs and business supplies online and lately I am getting a lot of unrelated returns on my searches which for me is frustrating because I am an impatient buyer...I do specific searches but will not scroll through the other stuff to find what I am looking for. But in this instance it was giving me no returns for the item I was looking for...but then later today it gave me 51000 perfect match returns for the same search keyword "silver chest" which was the first search I did...then leather top silver chest..then vintage wooden leather top silver chest....then wooden silver box...and got the same bondage ware female images and images of a close up of a woman's breasts draped in thin silver cloth for each search.  But now I am getting all silver chests with and without sterling or silverplate and only one adult-themed image...but this isn't the only incident with adult-oriented sexual material I have gotten in recent searches looking for china patterns, crystal patterns, and furniture only when I am researching. Other times, recently, I get a lot of sports collector cards for searches when I am trying to purchase business supplies. Sometimes it comes back as no eaxct match results and relevant search returns but I can go to google search and find the items on eBay that way when eBay is telling me there are no matches for the same search words. I have never had that happen before.