More changes to how listings appear? I'm confused!!

[rose-dee]

Sometimes I think I'm going nuts trying to find something that no longer exists on eBay from one week to the next.  They seem to have a habit of suddenly changing things -- things I find important as a seller -- without giving any information about the change. 

Am I wrong, or has the "Gallery Plus" option for enlarged images in searches disappeared?  I asked this question at the last Wed. eBay.ca discussion, but was told the option was still available.  I can't find it when relisting with the SYI form, and I can't see any listings in the searches I've tried that display the sized-up listing photo -- the one that used to pop up in extra-large size to show details of an item.  I've tried sample searches on .ca and .com, and the supersized pop-ups are nowhere to be found. 

I loved this feature and used to use it frequently on my more expensive and attractive items, and felt it was well worth the extra $1.00 listing fee.  Now it appears you have to pay $2.00 to get the "Value Pak", yet I still don't think the "supersized" search display is part of it.  I'm also getting messages on relisting items that "you've already chosen a feature including Gallery Plus" (or something to that effect), yet the old style "supersize" feature isn't there when I relist the item.

Anyone have any insight on this?  I can't seem to get any clear information from the eBay.ca staff.  Is it a glitch, or yet another change in the way search results are going to be shown?  If so, it isn't a small thing to me. 

[rose-dee]

As a follow-up, here's a sample of a search that always had, for the more expensive items, the supersized photos that popped up when you moused over the listing image.  Now none of these do, yet they all have the "Quick Look" feature.  If this has replaced the supersized pop-ups that were a paid option, so that now everybody gets the "Quick Look" feature for free, then I am not a happy camper....

http://www.ebay.ca/sch/Vintage-/175759/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=shaheen+dress&rt=nc&_dmd=1

[pjcdn2005]

I can't  help with your question as I've never used any type of picture upgrades. It has been a long time since I've noticed anyone using this feature so I assumed that it was gone a while ago.

I do have to admit that when searching, I found it annoying to suddenly have this supersized picture on my screen just because my mouse happened to hover over it so unlike you, I wouldn't mind at all if the feature was no longer available. For myself...if I want to see a larger picture, it's easy enough to click on the listing and use the zoom feature. 

[ricarmic]

Rose: unfortunately I'm no help, I only use the free "picture pack" or whatever they're calling it these days....

PJ I agree with you, I found the supersizing whilst my mouse hovered over annoying as well ... perhaps ebay received feedback about that, or perhaps it causes problems on phones or something and they've dropped it.....

[rose-gatherer]

Oh well, for me it was a boon to sales.  I experimented with and without it, and always did better (and faster) with the added supersizing option. 

But then I must say that the only items on which I used it were the more expensive OOAK antique or replica antique garments where buyers really like to see details of finishing, fabric, trimmings, embellishment, etc. before they click into the listing.  In antique/vintage clothing categories that option could make a big difference to click-through and selling. 

I can see how it might not be of any use, or even be an annoyance, for generic or well-known items that are familiar to buyers. 

This change didn't happen all that long ago.  I first noticed I couldn't select it about 2 or 3 weeks ago.  Another lost benefit for sellers of unique items I suppose, and another signal to me that eBay wants to be a commercial online mall, not a venue for the original and unusual. 

[rose-gatherer]

Whoops - got stuck in the wrong ID, sorry!  It's still the same old blabbermouth me. 

[ricarmic]

Hi Rose, I just figure everything that starts with rose is you 🙂

[pocomocomputing]

rose-dee (aka rose-gatherer), gallery plus is still there. You need to turn on the option in the Sell Your Item form. eBay.ca Canada has been making changes to the SYI (Sell Your Item) form to include the changes that were already on the eBay.com USA site over the past weeks.

You need to turn the Gallery Plus option on in "Add or remove options". When you go into the SYI form, the "Add or remove option" is beside main sections of the SYI form. Click on Add or Remove Options, go to the Photos section and you will see your Gallery Plus option. Check it and save and the option will appear in the second page of the SYI form in the "Make your listing stand out" section. Remember you have to click on the arrow beside the "Make your listing stand out" to show the details in that section.

While you are in the "Add or Remove options", check out the various options to see if anything else is missing or turned off. You may want to turn something off that you do not use.

[rose-dee]

Wow, thank you 'poco' !  Even the "Pinks" didn't have that much information.  I had similar (but less precise) directions from Raphael, but still couldn't manage to locate it the last time I tried to relist. 

For some reason eBay has found it necessary to "bury" these options where a seller has to go looking for them.  I did click on the "Make your listing stand out" arrow, but the only thing that appeared was "Gallery Plus" (at $2.00 a pop, which includes options I really don't want).  When I tried clicking on it anyway I got a message saying something like "you already have this option selected" - which I quite clearly didn't -- so I backed out of the whole thing and gave up.   I'll have to try again using your detailed instructions. 

Maybe I'll do a test listing directly from the SYI form rather than a relist, and see if I can follow the steps you've outlined. 

Yes, all the "rose" stuff is from my hobby -- growing (and gathering!) roses.  I have to wait a little longer here in NS than I did in BC for rose blooming to start, but it's about a week away now.  I specialize in antique/heritage roses (of course, what else?).   I have the start of a rose garden containing rose varieties grown in Josephine Bonaparte's garden at Malmaison.  Hers is a fascinating and tragic story, in many ways more interesting than old Napoleon himself. 

[rose-dee]

I was also going to say that this may explain why competitors in my categories haven't got the "supersize" search photos working yet -- they can't find it!!

Maybe I'll be the first to show up.  In vintage and antique clothing categories, that option is definitely an advantage, but it's only worth paying the extra $1.00 on the more valuable listings. 

I'm going to go and give it a try...

[rose-dee]

OK, I think I've puzzled this out -- as usual, with no help from eBay itself.  I found the link to the options, as you described.

The fee for Gallery Plus has been reduced to $0.35, apparently because the "supersizing" no longer applies to photos that show up in search results.  Where the "supersizing" does seem to apply now is only in search results within a seller's pages.  So, for example, I see it when I click on my store home page and go down the listings, but not when I do the usual search and my listing is included in the results. 

So... what I extrapolate from this is that eBay has lowered the price of Gallery Plus because it's less of a service than it used to be, and that now every listing on eBay will essentially look the same in search results, with the "Quick Look" icon.  I see that the "Value Pack" fee has also been reduced accordingly (2 days ago it was $2.00, now it's $0.65).

By the way, I found this new SYI/relist form convoluted and rather silly -- it means you have to go fishing for the options, check them off first, then you go back and other options (e.g. Value Pack/Bold, etc.) appear.  Why not just put the upgrades all in one place?  I think I have another question for the Wed. discussion...