eBay Inserted an Ad alongside a Seller's Photos in Their Listing

by: lessthanthreerecords

If eBay were a physical store and you were being taken on a tour by the staff:

"There are some ads here, some ads there, then some more ads. Let's go this way, oh, that's where we keep ads, and over there you see more ads. You want to see something besides ads? Hmm, well, I've heard stories that years ago, there used to be a marketplace here. See this hallway? Legend has it that 43,000 light-years down that very hallway - which is filled with ads, by the way - there might be a 3 millimeter cubical that contains what's left of this so-called marketplace. No one but customers have been down there for years, and we don't pay any attention to customers, but we've got some great ads!"

by: Smallseller

I have checked several ads in both the sneaker and trading card categories. There is the ebay vault ad in every single listing with an authenticity guarantee. I am sure they have covered themselves as usual within the terms of service that is allowing them to do that. Wow, what is next?

by: ebayout

I'm no desperation expert, but...

by: Whatever

not sure there are any words left to say about what they have done to alter the site from a selling venue to - ah - what? at a total loss for words here.

by: lalaland

Where is Elon Musk when you need him?

by: Amazedstilldazed

What about the delayed ads that suddenly popup when you are adding an item to your watch list, & suddenly you have hit BUY INSTEAD???

by: Gumball

What is going to happen when the buyer does not get his card or sneakers that was shown in the photos?? Ebay will have to send the card, sneakers, watch or whatever they insert in your photos as they put it in with the photos showing the item being sold!

by: BTFind

This ad was also placed in my higher-end sports card listings. It doesn't bother me too much because in this case, the ad is directly related and highlights services that add value to their purchase (eg. no taxes due while storing in the vault). If it didn't add value, I would certainly have a problem with it.

by: The End

This is what corporate greed does.
It hoovers up every stinkin' dime til it's useless.

by: Old School Seller

That explains the coming expansion from 12 photos in a listing to 24.  Lots of added real estate for eBay to bang their own drum.  Fine, do what you will, but kindly insert the ads AFTER a seller's listing photos PLEASE!  

by: ebayout

Just curious...if they have the capacity to add 12 photos, why won't they show all listings?

by: Get OFF my LAWN!

Here's what ''I'' am thinking. . . .
EBAY VAULT . . . . . Haaaaa

You agree to have your card transferred to the Ebay vault direct from purchase.

Fast forward 11 months later - when you DECIDE to finally want to take physical possession of your card - it gets mailed to you - NOT in an agreed upon condition or satisfaction - - - -
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NOW???  Your time limit is up from any sort of CC charge back - Ebay will deny you on ALL accounts and alleviating them of ANY responsibility whether it be possible theft from an EbAy employees part or plain old misrepresentation the original sellers end - YOU will be left holding the bag...  and if ALL THAT doesn't fall short - I am quite certain the all powerfully ''Weekly Updated'' terms of service/User Agreement will bail them out of any legal loophole or entanglement.

I have never heard of such a dimwitted goofy, ''reach into your pocket'' desperate money grab in my life.

by: ebayout

New take on an old adage...
"I'm from ebay. I'm here to help you."

by: Sierra

@Gumball - This was my 1st thought! Some shoppers are gonna get confused and think they'll receive everything shown in the listing photos, even the items inserted by eBay. This is such a BAD IDEA!   (I'm glad I don't list in any of the categories eBay is soooo fond of promoting!)

by: Sierra

@Old School Seller - And label them as "eBay Ads - This item is not part of this listing." (or something to that effect)

by: Old School Seller

Buyer scrolls through a seller's photos on their phone, comes to an inserted eBay ad and thinks there are no more listing photos to see and completely misses photos showing damage/issues.  They don't bother reading the listing description.  They go ahead and pull the trigger to purchase, get the item, then file a SNAD.  

by: JA

I checked out a bunch of MTG higher end cards and every one has the vault ad in the SECOND picture slot.  You have to pass by it to even see a picture of the back of the card.  

by: pace306

This demonstrates the problem of a listing (especially if you have a "store") not really being YOURS.

eBay, aping Amazon, long ago decided that YOUR LISTING PAGE (you know the one that you are ONLY responsible for if something goes WRONG) isnt yours and that they can insert ads - for themselves or others at will.

If you pay for space in a mall then the space is yours - same should be for eBay, but there isnt an honest lawyer in the bunch (in or out of eBay) who will stand up for sellers ....

The San Jose mafia will do as they please - or burn down your business - eBay - come after me if you dare!

by: postbuster

Yeah.  

These websites just invent more "errors" just to hold sellers financially accountable for it.  

Controlling and manipulating others' business is not a "free market".