Secure Listings Bug

As mentioned in the Fall 2017 Seller Update, listings containing http content should be upgraded to https (SSL) to avoid the listings' item description from being partially hidden from view.

 

For me, I have upgraded my image hosting to include the SSL so as to become compliant with this new upgrade.

 

I'd like to throw it out there to all those who have complied with this requirement to double check your listings.

I have noticed in my last batch of auctions that about 1 out of 5 listings have their item description section partially hidden from view.  One has to click on a link in order to view the item description and images of that item. (eg item #382432014256)

 

***I have also noticed that everything with regards to my store has been stripped from those listings. No store logo, no store categories... ***

 

This is a flaw whose blame completely rests on eBay's shoulders.  All of my listings' html are generated by my spreadsheet in the exact same way, so they should either all fail or all pass.

The compliant checking tool provided by eBay also states a clean sweep for all of my listings.

 

A simple item revision with no changes being made rectifies the problem listings.

HOWEVER,  I do believe that eBay should fix this flaw instead of relying on the seller to check each and every listing once it becomes live.  Also,  many have bids and cannot be changed.

 

Please no replies mentioning the use of eBay's 12 images hosting service as a workaround since it is not available in conjunction with File Exchange. 

 

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Secure Listings Bug

@imbuzzy

 

As background: when something externally changes (when an SSL certificate is added to the server or when an improperly configured server is corrected, or when an external stylesheet is corrected), eBay has no way of knowing that an existing listing has been affected by that external event.  The only way to fix those problems is to revise the listing so that it is re-evaluated by eBay.  This is something you have found as well.

 

Since you can fix those listings with a revision exercise, that means eBay either incorrectly evaluated them, or failed to evaluate them, when they were first listed. Or are some of those renewals?

 

I also see that some of your listings have the FE logo and some do not, yet they were all submitted through File Exchange? Were they all submitted through the same FE site?

 

A few years ago I found an interesting feature. When I bulk listed several listings in the same category, not all of them passed through eBay's filters, and the ones that did not pass through the filters came from a different number bank than the others that did. Additionally, those that passed through the filters started out with about 3 views from the filter bots, whereas the others had none.  I attributed the diversion to congestion control. If the filters were overloaded, some internal decision must have redirected the extras to the fast lane for a free pass.

 

If such is still the case, then perhaps the fast lane does not flag the listings as secure. 

 


***I have also noticed that everything with regards to my store has been stripped from those listings. No store logo, no store categories... ***


I would expect that the store "listing frame" would not appear if the description is not displayed, but I have not looked at enough stores to verify that is the correct functionality.  If other stores do not perform the same way, then this would be a good correlation to explore.

 

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Secure Listings Bug

"Since you can fix those listings with a revision exercise, that means eBay either incorrectly evaluated them, or failed to evaluate them, when they were first listed."

 

My thoughts exactly.

 

"Or are some of those renewals?"

 

All affected listings are new auctions.

 

"I also see that some of your listings have the FE logo and some do not, yet they were all submitted through File Exchange? Were they all submitted through the same FE site?"

 

I have noticed that too, but really haven't cared too much about the little logo missing sporadically.   They were all submitted through the same FE site.  I always submit my FE flat file using ebay.com.  125 auctions were listed all at once on one flat file.  I counted over 20 of them with the stated error - approximately 20%.

 

The best solution that I can think of is to run a bulk edit (without changing anything) on all the auctions immediately once they become live.  It's just one more  (unnecessary) step in the listing process.

 

Your explanation of why the error might occur is interesting.

My goal here is to let others know that they too might have less than desirable results with their bulk listings.

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