ebay problems when browsing categories

[chas_kit]

Anyone else frustrated with the changes in ebay's browsing?

...

I have searches like "garage" which work OK. The problems I encounter come when looking through listings without having entered a search term.

I have a bookmark to look through "Vinyl Music Records" listings with the following criteria (among others):

Genre: Rock

Speed: 45 RPM

Record Size: 7"


1. Without asking me, the search defaults to "Best Match" when I've always preferred (and bookmarked) "Ending Soon"

2. I can no longer see the seller's name in the listings. To see the seller, I have to click on the item's page. That sucks, it's important info to me.

3. The descriptive excerpt that displays now has a bug so "+" signs as in "VG+" get stripped out. For example, "VG++ condition" displays as "VG condition". For a seller, that's a problem!

4. The biggest problem happens when I enter more than one criteria for any of the categories, such as clicking on both "Rock" and "Folk" in Genre. Out of thousands of results, 48 listings appear, and when I try to move to the second page of listings, or any other page of listings, instead of seeing the listings I see the generic "Vinyl Music Records" home page. Really, I can't browse through more than one genre or style at a time?

Perhaps this is only a Mac problem but I've tried with several browsers on the Mac and encounter the same problems.

 

[tymespan]

There's been problems with the search for weeks.

I've been pulling up search results that are completed unrelated to my search that don't have a single word from my search query in either the title or the description.

If you use a different browser you pull up completely different results with the same search.

I'm also positive that I'm missing items that should have shown up in my searches.
If you read the message boards some sellers believe ebay hides listings on a rotating basis in order to direct traffic to their preferred sellers. ebay determines what results they think are relevant for you not what you're actually looking for.

 

[chas_kit]

Here's a new kind of idiocy: when browsing on a desktop I get a button saying "See full item description" so I have to click to see info that should have been on the page already.

 

[Frantic]

Here's a new kind of idiocy: when browsing on a desktop I get a button saying "See full item description" so I have to click to see info that should have been on the page already.

everything is now geared for cell phones.

 

[tymespan]

This is actually due to the Google Chrome browser.
Starting today any pages with HTTP content will show the page as "not secure" in the address window so ebay will only show a snippet of the description with a link to the full description.
Sellers will have to get rid of any HTTP content in their listings before it will show normally.

 

[tymespan]

And starting next March watermarked photos will no longer be allowed on ebay.
Any listings with watermarks will be removed.
Some sellers are going to have to retake thousands of photos to comply.

 

[chas_kit]

We're lucky if sellers know what VG+ is, or if they can actually ship a 45 with some cardboard around it. How are they supposed to fix http content?!

I also see these buttons with Firefox on my Mac.

I understand the need for https, having just spent a few hours getting a certificate for my site and implementing it, but ebay should have found ways for sellers to upload clips or links safely. Especially since ebay is messing up the descriptive excerpts as I stated above in complaint #3.

 

[Frantic]

And starting next March watermarked photos will no longer be allowed on ebay.
Any listings with watermarks will be removed.
Some sellers are going to have to retake thousands of photos to comply.

good. I've always used my own photos or scans. I have never used a photo with a watermark. Time for all the guys who use watermarked photos to work a little harder taking photos of the actual item.

 

[tymespan]

It's actually just the opposite. Most sellers with watermarks did it so other sellers wouldn't steal their images.

ebay wants to get rid of watermarks because they want to use your photos for their catalog. (any photos you use on ebay becomes their property)

It doesn't really affect vintage sellers but for instance if you list a mass market item like a book or DVD that ebay doesn't have in their catalog they'll be able to take your image to build their catalog. (If you list something like a DVD you can use eBay's catalog image without talking your own)

 

[Frantic]

It's actually just the opposite. Most sellers with watermarks did it so other sellers wouldn't steal their images.

I think you're half right. half don't want their images stolen (big deal) and the other half are just too lazy to create their own images.

 

[Frantic]

ebay wants to get rid of watermarks because they want to use your photos for their catalog. (any photos you use on ebay becomes their property)

Another "No big deal". They can use my images all they want.

 

[chas_kit]

Another "No big deal". They can use my images all they want.

That's what ebay's all about, people working for its benefit.

For years now, ebay acts as if it can become a second Amazon. Seems like a dead end to me. ebay should concentrate on what it built the business on - objects without a bar code.

 

[Frantic]

That's what ebay's all about, people working for their benefit.

For years now, ebay acts as if they can become a second Amazon. Seems like a dead end to me. They should concentrate on what they built the business on - objects without a bar code.

More of a Amazon light. I'm with you on that but there's no going back. We'll just have to live with it.

 

[greenfuzz]

That's what ebay's all about, people working for its benefit.

For years now, ebay acts as if it can become a second Amazon. Seems like a dead end to me. ebay should concentrate on what it built the business on - objects without a bar code.

This is a great point because, let's face it, if an item has a barcode, I go to Amazon. I only use eBay for collectibles.

 

[gregk25]

For years now, ebay acts as if it can become a second Amazon. Seems like a dead end to me. ebay should concentrate on what it built the business on - objects without a bar code.

Selling collectibles is not a good business plan for a listed company. How much growth potential is there once you've reached the size of Ebay? They've maneuvered themselves into an awkward position: still linked to the online-yard-sale-image of yesteryear that's too small for their plans - always behind the front-runner (amazon) because of their past. The legacy of which is being sabotaged with constant tinkerings making mediocre service worse.

 

[Frantic]

Selling collectibles is not a good business plan for a listed company. How much growth potential is there once you've reached the size of Ebay? They've maneuvered themselves into an awkward position: still linked to the online-yard-sale-image of yesteryear that's too small for their plans - always behind the front-runner (amazon) because of their past. The legacy of which is being sabotaged with constant tinkerings making mediocre service worse.

Once again, it's all geared to the cell phone.