Idea for eBay to help sellers: Subtitle promo
Summary: The discussion centers around the idea proposed by chicweb to help eBay sellers by offering free subtitles during a strike, as they currently cost $2.30 per item. This would allow sellers to communicate important information to buyers, like available shipping methods. mrdutch1001 disagrees, suggesting sellers should adapt to available tools without expecting additional support from eBay. intimewithmusic supports new ideas and shares insights on eBay Canada's operational limits, while flipistics suggests adding filters for shipping options. The conversation includes practical solutions like using Quebec's free subtitle feature and the potential benefits for buyers with clearer listings. Participants express varying perspectives on how proactive sellers should be in adapting to platform constraints.
I was thinking about the UI. I understand it can get complicated for eBay to add things in search listings.
Right now, it cost 2.30$ to add a subtitle to an item, which is way too expensive.
eBay could create a temporary promotion during the strike to allow sellers to add a subtitle for free.
As an example, we could add ourselves: " Shipping with UPS/FedEX. Combine your items". Something along those lines.
That way, customer's would see, right out the bat, in the listings.
Of course, I could still do it right now, but 2.30$ per item per month... way too much.
intimewithmusic
·1 year ago@chicweb @regs43 @flipistics @lotzofuniquegoodies @recped
How about a "store window sign"?
Using the Seller listing filters why not have an eBay common icon which is a link to a bulk edittable seller message?
Could be a feature included with a store subscription.
I'm currently on a computer without my graphic programs but this is an idea.
intimewithmusic
·1 year agoI have to go roast a big giant chicken, a real chickendactyl
Thanks all for the ideas.
Reminder to extend your "Time Away" today if yours ends Nov 30!
I'm thinking the Feds will show up soon and put this strike to rest, probably for about 11 months... . ;>}
flipistics
·1 year agoIt's probably too late anyway. If it lasts an additional week before legislation, it'll take at least another week to clear some of the backlog even ignoring the extra Christmas rush that will be created. Packages in the system would have first priority, and they've been stacking up before the USPS stopped taking packages destined for Canada. By the time all of that happens, you've basically lost the Christmas sales regardless.
Customers aren't going to care who's fault it is when they don't get their package in time.
regs43
·1 year agoIf the Subtitle thing was free for english ebay canada I would use it right now to try and explain my shipping option or soemthing. I have someone messaging me daily "how are you shipping with the strike" since a lot of other sellers are still offering lettermail (assumr enot actually mailing) in the Hockey card space or closed. All they see from me is a high shipping price and no explanation and likely just run. I am offering flat rate shipping currently vs an extra cost per card (which is standard practice). But no one would know that either since ebay burries combined shipping details now.
On the about page (could update that not sure how many actually go there?) Same with the Store front page? I sure as heck never look at anyones lol
flipistics
·1 year agoAnother option could be to add a little truck icon to listings that also offer non-postal choices. Perhaps also a filter to exclude listings that only ship by the postal system. eBay could easily toggle those things whenever needed and exclude them when everything is running fine.
chicweb
OP1 year agoI like that filter idea. Would be very useful for many. Some buyers can only receive with specific carriers.
I don't think adding it to description would help. Many don't read it at all.
lotzofuniquegoodies
·1 year agoMy suggest to Devon last week was to give sellers option if they so choose to modify the away message buyers see. Currently this is what they see.
The seller is away until 14 Dec, 2024. Add this item to your watchlist to keep track of it.
Problem being if sellers do not have access to a alternate shipping method their listings hidden (unless they still have auctions running). Very difficult for a buyer to add to their watchlist when store is closed for indefinite future. Devon advised good idea and that it would be passed on. So fare it hasn't happened. @chicweb your suggestion would work too just as well. At least if listings are fully visible buyers can come back when things have been resolved.
-Lotz
PS. The only other place you can advise buyers is your About page. Except that page is only viewed by everyone. Many might not even knew it exists. (I realise...it contradicts itself with listings being invisible. I was optimistically hoping we would be able to personalize our away message. ⏲)
chicweb
OP1 year agoYes. The point is to help having buyers navigate more easily on the website without having to contact sellers each time.
At the moment, it's difficult to buy here. If a customer doesn't right away find what they want, they will go elsewhere. We might lose them for a while as eBay's customers. Then that's one less potential customer for all the sellers, here.
Small things like that can simplify the user's experience, specifically right now. It can help a lot.
@devon@ebay : The subtitle idea might be easier to implement than having to code anything... ? It's a promo. More a marketing move than a development one.
recped
·1 year agoYou can have free subtitles if you use https://www.cafr.ebay.ca to list.
chicweb
OP1 year agoHmm didn't know about it.
Would be a good time to expand that promo ?
Just thinking about the buyers. Would be a lot easier for them to know which sellers are still there and can ship.
chicweb
OP1 year agoAfter some testing with adding it to title (is it even permitted?) vs in subtitles (yes I paid 2.30$ for testing).
In the product itself
Looks nice... As if part of the UI. I'm liking it. Looks clean.
In search listing...
Subtitles definitively is the best way.
When used in title: Lost of characters in title... Less clear and looks clunky.
* Just fixed the typo in the subtitle. Oops.
mrdutch1001
·1 year agoIt seems you are expecting eBay to come to your needs by providing free this, free that, promos for this, promos for that...
This is eBsy's site and eBay provides this platform for sellers to use and provides the basic necessary tools and features but it is up to the seller to work with what is available and make the best use of what is available...
If you are so unsatisfied with the current situation here on eBay, perhaps it is time for you to step back and wait it out instead of expecting eBay to grant you every wish and whim because you feel you are entitled to it...
Sellers need to work with what is, not what they want it to be...
chicweb
OP1 year agoEach time I'm asking eBay to help sellers, you come back with the same answer. No, I won't step back and I will continue to find ways to make ebay.ca a better place for sellers and buyers, because, if eBay suffer, we all suffer too.
eBay too lost a lot of money.
There's less sales on their platform, which mean, less $$ from fees.
You don't seem to care about eBay and them being in business for a long time. I do, since it's the platform I use for my business.
I guess I'm among the few that really cares about eBay performing well and find ways to make more sales on their website. 😉
intimewithmusic
·1 year ago@chicweb @mrdutch1001
Forum ideas should be welcome for everyone. New ideas, rants and obervations sometimes draw downers or reponses from "Boardies" who are unsupportive and certainly not encouraging. Negativity can drive enterprising new sellers with good new ideas away. If that happens, we all lose.
With respect to Mrdutch his sharp response could be because there is an eBay Canada but there's not much "eBay IN Canada". It took me a while to figure this out. Now that my research is done I find eBay a lot better and more fun because I know what to expect and what not to expect. Although Mrdutch isn't showing "the love" he points out eBay provides "basic necessary tools and features". This public information may lend perspective. All figures/dates are approx;
*Canada contributes less than 2% of eBays gross revenue. Way way less than Australia which is the smallest revenue worthy of a bar on the graph.
*In 2008 eBay shut down the Burnaby service centre laying off 700 employees.
* In 2019 eBay closed down the Canadian Headquarters at 500 King St. Toronto
*Today eBay Canada operates out of WEWORK temporary office spaces at 240 Richmond St Toronto. (Photo)
Shared Observations
With due respect to the valuable Canadian eBay employees still present and working in Canada, eBay Canada is basically an evolving app. It appears the folks on Richmond Street also have a pretty good system for harvesting eccomerce students from Canadian business colleges and universities ans then indoctrinating them into ecommerce empoyees.
This is just one person's opinion derived from the frustrations Mrdutch resonates. For example, why did eBay help us in the 2018 CP strike much earlier in the day but isn't petitioning the Federal government in the 2024 strike even post Black Friday?
Even though his delivery is a bit coarse, all due respect Mrdutch,
"It seems you are expecting eBay to come to your needs.....If you are so unsatisfied with the current situation here on eBay, perhaps it is time for you to step back"...
I think he's saying eBay Canada isn't like other eBays. Since the CEO Adriana Stairs and others left and thanks (or no thanks) to technology eBay Canada became an app. It's apretty good app but they've yet to develop "AE" (Artificial Ears).
After Googling "eBay Headquarters Global" and compared eBay Toronto globally I understood the unfortunate disconnection betwen sellers and eBay Canada. It also helps to know many sellers in Canada are among the 90% of Canadians who live near the border and they list on eBayUSA. They have a completely different priviledged experience.
Thank you for sharing your idea!
By the way @chicweb
Love your name. Although you probably chose it for different reasons Chick Webb was a very great jazz drummer from the early 1900s. He overcame a serious physical handicap (tuberculosis of the spine) and still managed to be a major band leader of the era playing drums. Ella Fitzgerald sang for Chick Webb.
chicweb
OP1 year agoSorry, I'm a proactive and active person, specifically in business.
If there's a problem, I find solutions. I'm not the passive type.
I understand people who wish to "wait it out" and I respect their decision, but that's not how I run my business. Problems never deterred me, quite the contrary.
I understand ebay.ca ressources are limited. That is why I'm trying to find alternatives that are easier implemented. The subtitle promo already exists on Quebec's version and would allow buyers to more easily find sellers still operating and offering service.
I might list on the french version (being in Quebec myself) for my next listings. But that would be letting all the other canadians sellers down, and I would prefer having it here too. That's a promo that would benefit everyone right now, even buyers.
intimewithmusic
·1 year agoYes I fully understand the need to be proactive too. During my journey of figuring out what I can do and what I can't which is a lot compared to my US competitors I found out how to make wishes come true.
For example, being in music memorabilia, video in some of my listings is a necessity. I figured how to include it. It's not perfect (harder to view on mobile than desktop) but it works fine and ebay is onboard. That's all that matters. The items are aimed at customers that can figure it out. I found that if you want to list outside the eBay Canada box it helps to ask the eBayUSA folks.
I assumed Quebec has a translated version of ebay but I'm not aware of any reason you might let Canadian sellers down. Are you referring to listing on eBay France?
chicweb
OP1 year agoI'm talking about the subtitle promotion.
I just tested and I confirm. To all fellow Quebec's sellers, subtitles are free on Quebec's version. The subtitle appears on all eBay version too, even .com.
This is my listing and it appears on ebay.com like that:
Completely free on ebay canada in Quebec -> https://www.cafr.ebay.ca/
But, it must be for new listings or you have to close your old listings and recreate them there.
This promo should also be offered to all canadians. Sellers could add a message there (for vacation, that they are still operating, whatever). I don't know what is allowed tho.
intimewithmusic
·1 year agoThanks. I didn't know your platform in Quebec (other than translation) had different parameters than the English version. Once upon a time I tried the subtitles but they didn't add value to the listing that I couldn't get from the regular 80 characters.
Since the strike began a few of us hoped for a way of communicating to buyers via a site banner. Eventually it became clear the strike was endless and eBay didn't pitch in we caved in and closed our stores.
As far as the use of the subtitle line free or not my view is it's unneccessary clutter. It's been grandfathered in from prior to the mobile revolution. Without knowing your history the listing "Real Estate" shrunk when sales went to mobile. Along with the shrinkage to mobile view eBay began saturating listings with links and adverts to other sellers similar listings.
It was once a highlight in the search group but today bold subtitles get in the way of eBay marketting tactics. Do you think instead of a listing bold subtitle a buyer clickable "See Seller Comment", (somewhat like the Custom Sku and bulk edittable) containing a msg visible to buyers would solve your purpose? It could be at the top of the Description or better, next to the Condition box where it's not buried.
Just a thought
chicweb
OP1 year agoI think it's important at the moment.
As a buyer myself, I have to click on all listings separately to check what their shipping methods are or if the seller is in vacation. Even then, it's not clear. Free shipping... Ok.. with Canada Post? UPS?... Generic shipping methods name are not clear.
Now, buyers see it right in the search listing (except on mobile). But on mobile, they can see it right at the top under the picture, instead of having to click another time.
Easy, fast, no time wasted writing to sellers or clicking everywhere.
Will it make a difference? Maybe not. But that can only be positive in the current situation.