"Condition is used"

[aramatic]

More and more sellers are writing "Condition is used" and so on in their descriptions when the condition is given automatically at the top of the listing page. Why?? As well as being redundant, it seems to occur in default of any detailed description of the item. I keep coming across things like "Vintage Casio calculator. Condition is used" as if that is somehow helpful or required. It's neither.

[lamber9347]

People no longer read descriptions. If the price looks good to them, and the photos are pretty, they purchase it. That's when the issues begin because the buyer expected a new item because they didn't read the description or look at the item details. 

You are obviously not a seller on this platform so you aren't affected by this. Sellers write used condition everywhere they can in the hopes that at some point it will stand out to the buyer. There are many reasons to do this as many places as possible.... 

[glorybells]

I think some sellers who don’t know Ebay policy think that somehow relieves them of responsibility if an item doesn’t work properly, in spite of eBay stated that a used item “works as intended “.

[aramatic]

I'm a seller in Canada and I buy mainly from the US, which is where this pointless "condition is used" mainly appears, so yes it does affect me. Every listing begins automatically with the Condition. Repeating it without giving any actual description of the item is futile. And if, as you claim, buyers don't read descriptions there's even less reason for repeating it.

[ed8108]

You can always send your seller a question about an item.

Your seller is not required to answer.

if you do not receive a answer or do not

like the response that you have received.

It would appear wise for you to simply

move on to another seller ?

[a_c_green]

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@aramatic wrote:

More and more sellers are writing "Condition is used" and so on in their descriptions when the condition is given automatically at the top of the listing page. Why??

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Those are automatically generated. I noticed that stilted wording popping up waaaay too often for it to be just a matter of a few sellers copying from each other, and after some detailed searches, I can see the pattern, which results in a useless description merely restating what's already been said higher up, unless the seller bothers to actually, you know, describe something.

The pattern is: 

[Restate the Title line here] ["Condition is" + either "New" or "Used"]

I can't pick an actual listing as an example due to Naming 'n' Shaming rules, but let's say you had a title of "Big Blue Veeble-Dworb With Extra Parts" and you picked Used condition. The default description generated from that would be: 

Big Blue Veeble-Dworb With Extra Parts. Condition is Used.

That (above) would be the sum total of your riveting prose in the Description field, unless you decide to add to it. Too many sellers, it seems, can't be bothered. I don't know what eBay utility generates that glop (maybe a mobile app?), but someone needs to try harder.

[kensgiftshop]

I think it's the one's using the app to list.

If they don't give a description, the app automatically adds the title, condition and shipping info it in the description.

[buyselljack2016]

Sorry that you find it to be offensive.

I do describe the items listed, but state "used" when the item is such.

Sometimes it is there more than once.(in my typed description)

Some potential buyers need to see it more than once for it to sink in.

[reallynicestamps]

And some sellers are offended by Item Specifics and refuse to use them.

I'm not saying this is sensible, but there have been posts about being forced into using them.

I don't like short Descriptions, but there are a lot of lazy sellers out there. And some who just don't know what to say about the thing they are selling.

Title:  Blue Sweater

Item Specifics: Sweater . Blue.

Description: This is a blue sweater. See picture.

No size, no measurements, no fabric, no place of manufacture, no washing instructions.

What's stranger, sometimes those items sell.

[coolections]

Many sellers are lazy and do not want to spend the extra time describing the item they are selling. I believe for some they know the condition is not so great so if they wrote everything wrong with the item they would not get a sell  or get less money. One seller here just admitted they only write VF for condition and then harassed a potential buyer for asking questions. All you can do is hit the back button when you see those istings.

[lamber9347]

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@aramatic wrote:

I'm a seller in Canada and I buy mainly from the US, which is where this pointless "condition is used" mainly appears, so yes it does affect me. 

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@aramatic - Your implication being this is an American issue is regretful. Your tone also seems angry so I shall depart this thread here. I wish you only the best moving forward.... 

[chapeau-noir]

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@aramatic wrote:

I'm a seller in Canada and I buy mainly from the US, which is where this pointless "condition is used" mainly appears, so yes it does affect me. Every listing begins automatically with the Condition. Repeating it without giving any actual description of the item is futile. And if, as you claim, buyers don't read descriptions there's even less reason for repeating it.

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I read this more as a complaint of lack of description rather than condition.  Sometimes I wonder if this happens on eBay because sellers get so paranoid about ANY description giving fodder for SNADs so they give no description.

[postingid7659]

I spend a ton of time on some listings writing descriptions no one ever bothers to read.  I'm not going to knock a seller for not wasting his time. 

[emdig84]

It’s 2020, breathing could be considered offensive in this day and age. 😂

[aldente28]

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@glorybells wrote:

I think some sellers who don’t know Ebay policy think that somehow relieves them of responsibility if an item doesn’t work properly, in spite of eBay stated that a used item “works as intended “.

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Yes, those evil sellers, trying to accurately describe their used items - often in an attempt to prevent the onslaught of returns they commonly see from buyers who say "this item is used".