Spring seller update. What is active content?

[triber]

In the spring seller update it gives details for the future  limited characters in the description. I don't understand the difference in the 250 character and 800 character options, and I don't know what "active content" is. 

I often write quite long descriptions when describing contents of craft books etc. When I had a problem with a buyer thinking she was purchasing a sweater instead of the book and I contacted eBay, I was told that i needed to write fuller descriptions and mark each sweater I was describing as just a knitting or crochet pattern!

I have "boxes" in my descriptions, will these count in the characters?

Does eBay expect us to count the characters in each description?

I don't know what to do about my premium store, to pay double the price for listings that I don't need and wont use seems too much.

I am thinking of going to a basic store, which is not enough unless there are free listings each month.

I think it is a good idea for eBay to do a store option at $59.95 for 1,000 listings. I think there are a lot of sellers who would like that amount, but don't want the high cost of an anchor store, but for those sellers like me who just need the 500 listings, and that is what we signed up for, why should we be asked to pay double the fees for an amount we never wanted.

[xeposter]

You can ask Raphael your question at the main thread: http://community.ebay.ca/t5/Seller-Updates/2016-Spring-Seller-Update/m-p/333018.

Alex

[pocomocomputing]

You listings with the box design in the template are not active content.  The search is probably active content because is is "active", that is, a buyer can put in a word and the answer will be passed on to ebay store search and give an answer. This interaction with a buyer is "active".

Your listing template design is not following a lot of current eBay recommendations for description. The item description is one box about the item and the rest is the search and terms not describing the item. ebay wants the description simplified with no box and little or no terms or explanation it seems.

You do not have to worry about this right away. You have until spring 2017 to do this. I know it is a PITA but wait for more discussion on this.

[triber]

Thanks, I am deleting a lot of the additional information on my new and relisted items, hopefully some of the others will sell before I have to change them all.

I have spent so much time revising, first the change in shipping costs, then having to put in UPC codes which I hadn't done on most of my listings, then adding a second picture (sometimes the same one because there was only one picture on a pattern), now changing US to CA on .ca. One of these days will be able to start listing again!

[pjcdn2005]

I don't know what to do about my premium store, to pay double the price for listings that I don't need and wont use seems too much.

Double the price? It looks like premium store is going from $49.95 to $59.95 if you signed up for the yearly subscription or $59.95 to $74.95 if you go month by month. That's not double. Or maybe I'm not looking at the correct current prices?

The anchor stores cost really went up.

[triber]

Sorry, you are correct, I was getting confused with monthly and quarterly rates. That is not nearly as bad as I thought, I appreciate you bringing that to my attention. When you are elderly, you are easily confused!

[pocomocomputing]

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@triber wrote:

Sorry, you are correct, I was getting confused with monthly and quarterly rates. That is not nearly as bad as I thought, I appreciate you bringing that to my attention. When you are elderly, you are easily confused!

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Nothing to do with being elderly. The change is price with monthly and quarterly price increase in the announcement are confusing and everything needs to read 3 times and then read again. I already complained in the Seller Update topic about the poor explanation and wording.

That is where the forums are great as usual to understand things. Ask questions, post comments, and someone (or more than one) who figured it out will correct or explain.

[triber]

Thanks, that makes me feel a bit better!

[joetriever]

I'm wondering if what they mean by "active content" is listings that feature a video on how to use/assemble the item that is for sale? 

[xeposter]

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@joetriever wrote:

I'm wondering if what they mean by "active content" is listings that feature a video on how to use/assemble the item that is for sale? 

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eBay had this in the Spring Update:

"The use of active content in listings, including JavaScript, Flash, plug-ins and form actions, inhibits purchases on mobile devices and can lead to abuse in the marketplace."

I am guessing that this means to more videos. You can always include a link to the video though!

Alex

[recped]

You will still be able to embed video using HTML5

It's actually a surprise to me that eBay has allowed active content for this long. It's a security nightmare which has been a problem in the past. Some people here might remember the JavaScript redirect scams that were popping up a couple of years ago.

[xeposter]

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@recped wrote:

You will still be able to embed video using HTML5

It's actually a surprise to me that eBay has allowed active content for this long. It's a security nightmare which has been a problem in the past. Some people here might remember the JavaScript redirect scams that were popping up a couple of years ago.

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Isn't a video "active content?" Anything with the little block icon above it is not allowed, right?

Alex