"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.

[inhawaii]

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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?? 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.

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You don't NEED redundancy, but it may help more than it hurts.

Best case scenario: Someone comprehends better. 

Worst case scenario: Someone has to read it twice.  

[luckythewinner]

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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?? 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.

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Many buyers miss things that are obviously stated in listings, so some seller repeat it in different places to increase the odds that a buyer will see it.

As a seller, I know I have certainly received many questions from sellers asking questions that are answered by the title, condition, item specifics, or description. So I tend to repeat the condition, make, model, size, etc. in the description even though they are already in the item specifics or elsewhere.

You are certainly correct - it is not "required".

But on the other hand, it is not prohibited or discouraged either. And although *you* do not find it "helpful", that does not mean that it is not helpful to the seller or to other buyers. 

[reallynicestamps]

I sell postcards mostly from the 1890s-1930s.
People then couldn't spell or grammar either. 
And atrocious handwriting.

However, it is noticeable that the worse the spelling and grammar, the more likely the person is to feel that they are being taken advantage of.
Perhaps when we are angry, our attention to detail goes out the window.

But the most angry posts are also the most incoherent.

[reallynicestamps]

Another poorly chosen and overused term is "new".

Sometimes you don't even get to choose.

I sell sewing patterns which I find at Thrift Stores.

They belonged to someone else, who never made the garment. I try only to have
"uncut, unused , factory folded" patterns for sale.

But the envelope is usually crumpled or may be torn or there is writing on it. Usually the original retailer stamped Not For Resale on it.

I can only list it as New or Used.

I choose to use NEW, picture the actual envelope and put "uncut, unused , factory folded"  in the description and usually in the title.

Fortunately, the sewing demographic is made up of detail oriented people who will read, think about what they will do with it, and who actually like to follow directions.

But the category needs another option;  New , Used, and Uncut/Unused.

[anjie234]

Oh my! That's really funny! (blue sweater!)   ...and TRUE!!

And I think to myself, Who would try and sell an article of clothing and not

indicate size / measurements?  That's just silly. 

And PICTURES...  Sometimes they only include like 2, and 1 of them is sideways!

And yet these items do sell.

I used to go bananas with detailed descriptions AND was meticulous with

pictures, too.  I toned it down quite a bit!  White space is good and pics

don't need to be perfect (time is money!). However, both are REALLY 

important!

[anjie234]

that's right!

[anjie234]

I believe that's absolutely true!

[powell-memorabilia]

Way to take it to that level.  Yes, understood that the world is flocking to Canada for that amazing system of universities.  Oh, wait - is that just those that can't get into a university in the U.S. or Western Europe?  

[inhawaii]

You mean sellers post more than 1 picture of the same item?  Why do they do that? THAT'S REDUNDANCY!  I strain my eyes when i have to look at more than 1 picture. 

[gwens*4saleitems*]

Speaking of spelling errors .... you missed a letter. lol

And, YES, that is a huge problem with grammar in today's society.

[burns4thewin]

I was listing something the other day and somehow ended up on this weird listing form and as soon as I'd typed in the title and uploaded the pictures the description autofilled with a repeat of the title, the words condition is new and how it would be shipped.

So my guess is it's newbie sellers and ebay autofills it for them and they go "ok then"  fill in the price and hit submit.

And this was on a pc not a phone or the app.

[donsdetour]

To many FOOLS that dont read the description etc,  think an item without used in title is NEW.

[*madison]

It means the seller hasn't wrote a description, so ebay stick that in the description field automatically. The name of the item, and condition is used..

I won't buy from those listings because "condition is used"  isn't enough info.

And I won't ask the seller questions, because they were too bone idle to type out a description, so I don't want to deal with those type of sellers..

[nkpina2014]

I dislike item specifics tags, because the Ebay system will often autofill them in or not clear them when doing multiple listings. 

For instance, if I have a listing with the specific tag RED and I fill that in, then click on "list similar" and I want to list a BLUE item, it will autofill in RED from the previous listing (even though most everything else was erased). 

Yes, I can use listing templates, create a template with blank item specific tags and keep things I want like category. But this is a pain, because I might want to list 10 Widgets, then go on to list 10 Whatsamadoodles. I don't want to create a template for the 10 Widgets, then go back and create another template for the 10 Whatsamadoodles. I just want to list similar when it's appropriate and save time. Listings tags DO NOT save time for me. 

[caveat!]

A wide variety of condition issues are excused from details under the cover of "used" which is so popular with eBay sellers in recent times. And, as for “look at the pictures” ~ like the old adage says: "You can't judge a book by its cover" ~ Paul.

Also, in regards to another comment, I feel that any vagueness at all in seller's description does not warrant any effort on my part, such as contacting them for clarification, and I move on.