eBay Grants Itself Permission to Hide Listings in Search Results

[pierrelebel]

By Ina Steiner
EcommerceBytes.com
September 12, 2013

eBay finally granted itself permission to do what it's likely been itching to do for a long time: hide listings it deems unworthy for unspecified reasons from showing up in search results.

eBay sellers are scrambling to interpret what new provisions of eBay's User Agreement mean and how it will affect them. Among a number of changes is one in which eBay could force its returns program on all sellers who allow returns, and one in which eBay grants itself permission to suppress listings.

Not surprising to jaded sellers is the fact that eBay is not giving sellers much advance notice to adapt to the changes despite a promise to give them at least 60 days notice.

For more: http://www.ecommercebytes.com/cab/abn/y13/m09/i12/s01

[inuk_the_polar_bear]

Thanks BB. I was wondering if anyone would get that non-sequitur.

[bb_cool_stuff]

I think most people got it including the ones, like us, that don't have issues with eBay.

Still a Great Line. 

I think you were an insurance salesperson or an attorney in your previous life.

[rose-dee]

"They are just putting their vagueness into words."

Actually, to be precise, this is a clever oxymoron, not a non sequitur.    

********* 

The fact is that logically, eBay can never let its sellers into the sanctum sanctorum of their decision-making and policies on search parameters.  Consider this: if every detail were completely revealed, and the majority of sellers scrambled to meet as many parameters as possible, where would we be?  Probably worse off than we are now, since there would be little differentiation to determine placement.  It would be random at best, and chaos at worst.

I think I'd rather be told that just following best practices is the key to good placement, along with a little observation and experimentation.  

[rose-dee]

---

@cumos55 wrote:

Many say the small seller will be at a disadvantage.... Yet they are the ones  that have the time  and do take the time to do more  more than list the basics. 

---

This is a very good point, and one that I can only hope is going to prove to be true.  Like you, I believe Cassini will force many sellers to rethink how they are listing their items.  They will find out what sorts of changes produce good (or bad) results through experimentation and careful observation.