eBay Considers Limiting Search Results to 5 Items

by: Shop and Ship

Or, eBay could just change its name to "Amazon, Jr." Selectively applied this approach might help manage duplicate listings. In some categories, like music CDs, or movie DVDs, or books in print, eBay would do well to mimic Amazon's search results that show a stock photo, a stock description, and standard enhancements like reviews, or similar items. But on Amazon it's difficult to see what the issues are when a Seller of a used item says "it may show signs of wear" or "has some scuff marks". It's tedious scrolling through dozens of nearly identical listings and waiting for pages to reload. Then too, on eBay many Sellers simply copy another Seller's listing so individualization is often a myth. I fail to see how limiting search results to 5 listings serves the Buyer very well when searching for a matching pewter antique candlestick or a new man's silk tie.  

by: Bill

eBay is not Amazon and should never try to be. Period!

by: iheartjacksparrow

I think eBay has made it clear how that are going to generate more fees from sellers:

"How would you feel if you could purchase access to eBay customer service....?" So if a seller calls a CSR, their PayPal account automatically gets dinged a few dollars?

'eBay also asked sellers how they would feel if they could pay eBay a flat fee for all fees up to a certain threshold and then a reduced fee over the threshold.' So if a seller opts into that program, the seller would pay a flat fee of some amount, even if their sales are limited and they don't reach anywhere close to the fee they pay?

"How would you feel if the Top Rated Seller discount was eliminated, but in return you could purchase advertising at non-eBay sites to drive traffic to your Store or listings?" So, the sellers lose the TRS discount (more money in eBay's pocket), plus purchase advertising (which eBay will, no doubt, get a cut of)?

And, of course, whatever is implemented, it'll be a case of: "You spoke, we listened!"

by: aim04744

And I sold another item at Tradesy today. I am seeing Tv commercials, hearing radio commercials and am seeing ads on the internet all the time now for them.

by: toolguy

This has got to be the DUMBEST thing ebay has ever brought to sellers.

When I want to buy something I want more then 5 choices, in fact I want to see EVERYTHING!

by: Bloggo

Ebay wants to determine the 5 most relevant items? Wenig must have called John "Thinking Day" Donahoe for that one.

by: dans parts

Haven't see the actual survey (probably won't - never seem to get stuff like this).

I'm wondering if one of the responses you can use to answer how you would feel is ''CHEATED!''

by: Massachusets Howler

Did they start out with "show 5 most relevant items" or did they hide that in the middle?

MH
Pay money to talk to Asian csr's?
Get bent- zany ideas is right!

by: Massachusets Howler

Sounds like they are tuning the no-sale machine toward total seller destruction.
Thinking at ebay is DANGEROUS.

Step 1: Find a cage of monkeys....

Step 2: Hit the way back button...

Step 3: Give the monkey the top-floor corner office and STOP THINKING.

They say "This is not like before" then they start spouting all sorts of things that are just like the PAST- 5 items relevant- PAY for Asian csr's? How is this not like the past?

They are now going to over-think and over-innovate us out of our last few scrimping sales- LOL!

SCRAP that Best Match Wenig- it cannot be "modified" or simply TWEEKED- and GO FIX YOUR phone software (YOU Wenig developed it) and it is an absolute laughing-stock!
MH
I HOPE sellers are giving ebay their what have ya's on this new-improved survey.

by: alaska

Are they insane? If they pull a dumb move like that they'd better have a way for us to opt out and keep our searches like they are. I don't think they even realize that the serious eBay buyers of antiques and vintage collectibles work from bookmarked searches. They can only picture some daft teen thumbing their iPhone keyboard to search. Well, there's more to eBay than that. If they want to improve search, allow us to segregate the relisted items from the never before listed items!

by: Anonymous Annie

I'm guessing that the decision has ALREADY been made to start charging sellers for access to customer service.

It seems to me that this ''survey'' is just a bit of cover and after-the-fact justification for decisions and policies that are already coming down the pike.

In my opinion, despite the predestined and predetermined nature of those new policies, they'll be gloriously presented and trumpeted with the insincere ''YOU SPOKE, WE LISTENED'' banner.

by: Volvo351

So, now Can'tSeeMe will be so blind it will only "see" FIVE "relevant" items? Lemmie guess: they'll be from the Big Box and Chinese Commie sellers, right? Browser won't find small sellers' items unless he bothers to click on an addition link ie. Devil Wingnut commands he jumps through ANOTHER HOOP!

Insanity? Well, we know the def of "insanity" and here we go again - another dumb move from feeBay mis-management expecting a different result - customer satisfaction - which they aren't gonna get.

Somebody should'a gotten bee-itch slapped just for thinking about this one.

by: Volvo351

BTW, I would now have to PAY Customer [non-]Service for FAILING to address my problem? Don't they already get a Bowl of Rice - every day - for doing that?

by: Volvo351

@MH

I'd second your suggestions but why stop at monkeys merely replacing the Bainiacs? How 'bout a cage of LIONS devouring them instead? After that, I'd send in the chimps!

by: sasikat9

I would love it as we haven't purchased ANYTHING FROM FLEECEBAY in years.  I wouldn't waste my time buying on ebay.

We aren't in that big of a hurry that we can't buy elsewhere. As least we don't have the fear of being ripped off by scammers that are so prevelent on Fleecebay.

So go ahead do your best Fleecebay. We will be watching the battle between whiners who think that they belong in the top five.

by: Volvo351

Maybe we're all seeing this carp in the "survey" from the wrong perspective; Devil Wingnut will not institute any of these hare-brained ideas then triumphantly announce: "You spoke - We Listened!"

Taking that tactic one step further, on the next "survey" they can ask: "How would you feel if we came to your house, killed your dog, and hissed on the floor?" After survey respondents indicate they're not exactly thrilled about those prospects, they'll take CREDIT for letting your dog live.

by: Owen

Can we as sellers, charge our customers for customer service??? Do any stores or other businesses charge their customers for customer service??? How dare they even consider charging for customer service??? That is outrageous!!!

by: Owen

Ebay imagines itself to be the epitome of good (best) business practices, and preaches all that drivel to sellers. But they themselves, do not practice best business. What kind of people are suggesting all of these off the wall ideas? They are getting fatther and farther away from common sense.

They should be thinking about improving their own customer service, which is among one of the worst now. And they certainly should not be asking for money for this service, good, bad or otherwise.

I guess, they still feel they have a captive audience and can do whatever they want.

by: Orwellwasright

I could not care less if ebay charges for customer service. I learned my lesson early into JD's tenure.

Customer service is simply the title given to the off shore phone bank whose job it is to insult you and do nothing to solve your issue . I have not called customer service in four years, nor will I ever again

As far as the compressed search results, big surprise, The new management continues the small seller antagonism that the old management institutionalized.

The new defect system with its greatly reduced allowable defect percentage, combined with this new policy, guaranteed to make all but the big boxers and Chinese junk dumpers invisible, should finally allow ebay to realize their dream...

A massive online site full of dollar store junk, dominated by a small group of vendors of cheap low quality goods , and devoid of character,

the exact opposite of the original ebay

To all those who thought the new management would be one iota better the last group, here's your final answer.

by: queenfloraday

Well, I for one, have not made business decisions on how I feel but more on what I think and know. I not sure how to respond to a ''feeling'' survey but it does not build trust in a company that promotes this kind of tool. ''Feelings'' are subjective at best. This sounds like more of a college think tank approach than a knowledgeable eCommerce based tool. I would think that this is a waste of time and resources. I would welcome a survey that was fact based and objective.