Question
Whilst I have been quite flippant in the "Worst eBay innovation of 2003" thread, it is quite interesting to see just how many features, improvements and changes have been made to the Ebay site over the last 18 months. For me the effect has been much more on how I run my business, than on the results that I achieve.
The other noteable aspect about looking through the changes that have been made to the site, is how few of them have actually helped me to either run my Ebay business, navigate the site or enjoy "the Ebay experience". For me, it appears that most have had the opposite effect by slowing down productivity, making the site more difficult to use or just making "the Ebay experince" more of a chore.
So let's create a log of changes that have happened to the Ebay site over the last 18 months or so, including those that are currently proposed, and give an honest appraisal of those that have been an improvement in your own experience or opinion.
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In no real order:
(1) Item Specifics.
(2) Removal of Email Address ID's.
(3) Removal of the Ability to Use Email Addresses in bidder and seller searches. (and the impact of this being done with NO notice)
(4) Changes to the Reserve Fee Structure changing from a flat fee to either 1% or 3% of total reserve price.
(5) Sell Your Item form Version 2.0 - introduced as an easier form, although it was 4 pages longer than the form it replaced.
(5a) Later changes to the SYI 2.0 form, which stopped sellers cutting corners by jumping back to page two of the last listing and saving page loads, and also stopping the ability to list two categories on one page adding 2 more pages to the process if you were changing both categories.
(6) Sub Titles - only searchable within the description.
(7) New Sign In Security Features - various.
(8) Advertising Banners on search result pages.
(9) The deal with Doubleclick that tracked user searches.
(10) The deal with IBM which slowed page loads dramatically when the IBM logo went into the upper right corner of Ebay pages.
(11) The push of PayPal as the safest form of payment on Ebay, and the flaws involved in the buyer and seller protection plans.
(12) The push of fixed price sales.
(13) Ebay Picture Services. (replacing IPix)
(14) Listing Designer - offering formatting and backgrounds to auction pages.
(15) Substantial changes to the design of Listing Pages in June 2003.
(16) Adding Featured Auction Sections to Search Pages.
(17) One Day Auctions.
(18) Log in to Use Completed Auctions (This was not a security log-in as above, this was done because of the "commercial" value of completed auction results).
(19) Stopping email address log ins.
(20) Ebay Anything Points.
(21) Category Changes - Various
(22) Suggested Search
(23) Quicker Indexing of Listings into the search system.
(24) Expanded available results for searches (up from about 100,000 items to 400,000 items in about August - although it had dropped from about 150,000 to 100,000 in January last)
(25) Second Chance Offer.
(26) Multiple Second Chance Offer (so that an offer could be made to more thanone underbidder).
(27) Ebay Motors Parts Finder (subsequently removed)
Currently Proposed but Not Yet Implemented (these are currently detailed on The Ebay Announcement Board:
(28) Filmstrip Category Selector (to be added to the SYI 2.0 page but only useable with Internet Explorer 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0 ).
(29) Changes to the Icons used on the Ebay site.
(30) Changes to feedback, including (a) replacing the words positive, neutral and Complaint with buttons with plus and minus on them and (b) the removal of accumulative totals of feedback making it much harder to identify how much repeat business sellers achieve.
(31) Extended Title - adding 10 letters available for titles of listings (up from 45 to 55).
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I have tried to keep this within about the last 18 months, I suspect that I have only scratched the surface of the changes made by Ebay.
Please (A) add any changes or additions to the site that I have overlooked or forgotten.
(B) List which of these features, in YOUR opinion are real improvements to the site, how you do business or otherwise.
and (C) Overall, do you feel that Ebay site is better or worse to navigate and use now than it was 2 years ago?
Answer
sure, make me think..
I will be back later with my additions...
why do we need to change the feedback, just another reason to screw with the site and not do anything REAL.
_____________________
Answer
Of the 31 items that I have listed above these are the ones that I feel have improved the site or how I do business:
(6) Sub Titles - only searchable within the description.
It would have been nice if it was searchable in title, but it does have benefits both for buying and selling.
(23) Quicker Indexing of Listings into the search system.
(24) Expanded available results for searches (up from about 100,000 items to 400,000 items in about August - although it had dropped from about 150,000 to 100,000 in January last)
In spite of comments that I see here at here, I feel that the improvements to search this year have been substantial, and I believe healthy for business.
(31) Extended Title - adding 10 letters available for titles of listings (up from 45 to 55).
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If I used featured auctions, I would probably see (16) as a real improvement.
Whilst (28) will be an improvement on the current situation, it is only replacing what was removed even from the SYI 2.0 about 6 months ago
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(C) Overall, do you feel that Ebay site is better or worse to navigate and use now than it was 2 years ago?
With the exception of the improvements to the search engines, I think that the site was far less cumbersome, and a far more productive place to do business 2 years ago than it is today.
Kind Regards, Kevin
Answer
[quote]
(1) Item Specifics. none, I don't have to use it in sold! to list
(2) Removal of Email Address ID's.none, I stopped using my email address in 1998 when they went to ids
(3) Removal of the Ability to Use Email Addresses in bidder and seller searches. (and the impact of this being done with NO notice) little, a couple of favorite sellers changed without notice but only dropped the *domain.com part so were easy to find
(4) Changes to the Reserve Fee Structure changing from a flat fee to either 1% or 3% of total reserve price. most of my reserve items are low ticket so actually helped
(5) Sell Your Item form Version 2.0 - introduced as an easier form, although it was 4 pages longer than the form it replaced.very little impact, I don't use it directly but sold! does so it takes a little longer to list
(5a) Later changes to the SYI 2.0 form, which stopped sellers cutting corners by jumping back to page two of the last listing and saving page loads, and also stopping the ability to list two categories on one page adding 2 more pages to the process if you were changing both categories.none
(6) Sub Titles - only searchable within the description.in my area, sellers are using them for cutesy little sayings etc. for ppl browsing a category so doesn't matter
(7) New Sign In Security Features - various.very annoying because I can't use opera anymore with ebay, it just won't sign in at all
(8) Advertising Banners on search result pages.it slows down ebay and on dialup every little bit hurts
(9) The deal with Doubleclick that tracked user searches.I don't care
(10) The deal with IBM which slowed page loads dramatically when the IBM logo went into the upper right corner of Ebay pages.again, anything that slows down the loading of ebay pages is a BAD MOVE. A recent article I read this summer said only 30% on broadband (so at least it is up from the 25% last year)
(11) The push of PayPal as the safest form of payment on Ebay, and the flaws involved in the buyer and seller protection plans.don't care, seems normal for a business to toot their own horn (I do!). I do wish it was safer for a seller to take but I accept the risk
(12) The push of fixed price sales.I tried them around the holiday and really liked them! Plan on using them more
(13) Ebay Picture Services. (replacing IPix)I have never used them
(14) Listing Designer - offering formatting and backgrounds to auction pages.I have never used it
(15) Substantial changes to the design of Listing Pages in June 2003.no impact, I don't list through ebay
(16) Adding Featured Auction Sections to Search Pages.no impact
(17) One Day Auctions.haven't tried them
(18) Log in to Use Completed Auctions (This was not a security log-in as above, this was done because of the "commercial" value of completed auction results).I understand it's a commodity and they aren't going to give it away. Just wish I could use opera but it just won't log in no matter what settings I try anymore
(19) Stopping email address log ins.no impace
(20) Ebay Anything Points.no impact
(21) Category Changes - Variousno impact
(22) Suggested Searchcomes in handy when I misspell
(23) Quicker Indexing of Listings into the search system.wonderful ! my 3 day auctions are now actually 3 day auctions and not 2 day
(24) Expanded available results for searches (up from about 100,000 items to 400,000 items in about August - although it had dropped from about 150,000 to 100,000 in January last)hadn't noticed
(25) Second Chance Offer.don't use it
(26) Multiple Second Chance Offer (so that an offer could be made to more thanone underbidder).don't use it
(27) Ebay Motors Parts Finder (subsequently removed)don't use it
_Currently Proposed but Not Yet Implemented_ (these are currently detailed on http://www2.ebay.com/aw/marketing.sh...me=f:f:ann:US:
(28) Filmstrip Category Selector (to be added to the SYI 2.0 page but only useable with Internet Explorer 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0 ).no impact
(29) Changes to the Icons used on the Ebay site.never use them
(30) Changes to feedback, including (a) replacing the words positive, neutral and Complaint with buttons with plus and minus on them and (b) the removal of accumulative totals of feedback making it much harder to identify how much repeat business sellers achieve.will have to see
(31) Extended Title - adding 10 letters available for titles of listings (up from 45 to 55).wonderful !
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worse to navigate simply because of speed of the site, it just keeps getting slower and I think in retail on the web that is BAD. Otherwise, my only complaints are when search isn't work (or the site is flat out down). I expect my moneys worth but don't always get it.
Mel-
Answer
I'm at least relatively sure that this occurred within the last eighteen months...
The elimination of Mister Lister and the introduction of Turbo Lister.
I was very worried about having to learn to use the new Turbo Lister program. It turned out to be easier than Mister Lister, had lots of new features and has vastly improved my overall listing experience. The Turbo Lister ebay board is filled with complaints, but I've had only one minor problem so far, and it was easily fixed by following the instructions on the message board.
I'd definitely give ebay a thumbs up for Turbo Lister. I can't say that for most of the other so-called improvements listed in the original post.
Scott
Answer
Real good recap of the "help" eBay has given us this year, Kevin!
#6-Sub titles....they get a "maybe" from me...I have tried it, but the jury is still out on whether I will use it much until I see some return on the costs. I mainly see it as a way to stand out on a high dollar item, where the 50 cents is miniscule based on an expected end price or high start price.
#13- eBay Picture Services....I have to give them a thumbs up for this one (yeh...*I* still use them).....since the change, I have noticed that my pictures *DO* load faster when listing. My biggest problem with the old iPix wasn't the "quality" issues (those are more oft than not due to the "talents" of the picture TAKER than ever was iPix's problem) but when loading a picture thru iPix, you could go cook a three coure meal in between hitting send & having it accepted! EPS has greatly reduced that problem.
21-Quicker indexing....while I can't say that I have seen ACTUAL results (that convert to $$$ anyway) they *DID* get this one right also! I have noticed a few very early bids (like in first 3-5 hours) on some items and that helps get items noticed over the listing period & attract MORE bidders to jump in! Yeh...they get kudos for this one!
31-Extended title.....a no brainer....well other than why did it take them 5 years to get around to it??? A definite feather in their cap for the year....so long as an 'insertion fee increase' isn't piggybacked onto it in a month or two!
Is eBay; overall; better or worse than 2 years ago? Well, assuming you aren't asking that question with your tongue FIRMLY tucked in your cheek....HELL NO, IT AINT BETTER! http://community.here.com/3/ws/emoticons/nono.gif
I did nothing but bid-n-buy from Sept '98 to Nov '01 and listed my FIRST auction on Nov. 30th, 2001; so your "2 year time frame" is rather near & dear to my heart. I always wondered about all the weaping, wailing, & gnashing of teeth that went on around the chatboards about the newest stupid evil thing that eBay had done to sellers THAT day....and thought most sellers were just b*tchers & moaners....and then *I* became one too! Boy it didn't take long to get my education about "improvements" & "enhancements" and why sellers complained so much! http://community.here.com/infopop/em...n_rolleyes.gif
I guess if you look at that list Kevin posted and that of 31 "improvements & enhancements"....only 3 or 4 at best can be traced to helping me as a seller....well....that's a 12.9% "success" rate for my "partner's contribution" to making it a better place to do business for the year! http://community.here.com/infopop/em...s/icon_eek.gif
If eBay was a consultant....i would fire their azz! http://community.here.com/infopop/em...n_rolleyes.gif
<---Ken....who has been successfully packratting for over 4 decades now!
Check HERE for things dragged down from the attic to sell THIS week!
Answer
Yes Scott, that changeover was about 12 months or so ago.
- and welcome to here.
(32) The replacement of Mister Lister with Turbo Lister.
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By (15) Substantial changes to the design of Listing Pages in June 2003. - I actually meant the substantial "aesthetic" changes to the auction pages themselves last June. It got significant outcry right across the boards, but there has been so much change this year, it was actually forgotten in the "Worst eBay innovation of 2003" thread.
Mel,
You will find that (9) has as much effect on the loading of search pages as (8) and (10). If you have Blanche's work around in place which speeds up the search substantially you won't notice it. If you have that in place, it will also stop you logging into the completed auctions because it does not allow cookies - you will need to remove "search-completed.ebay.com" from your restricted sites. This may help you to log into the completed auctions.
Kind Regards, Kevin
Answer
Since we list almost exclusivly in Ebay motors, host our own pictures, and use Sellers Assistant Pro many of the "improvements" have had little effect on us.
One thing that has really sucked, and I did not see it mentioned is all the "catagory improvements". For the free listing day, most of my time prepping was updating the catagories for our saved auctions. Even at that, I look at the catagories and go "they suck". Who ever developed them have probably never even driven a car, let alone had a part in their hand.
I know catagories have been "tweeked" over the whole site.
Another "improvement" I think happened within 18 months is when Ebay decided a email must be around 30K in size. My security settings do not even let the emails look right anymore. Get a clue ebay, small is better http://community.here.com/infopop/em...on_biggrin.gif
Also the use of the ebay shipping calculator has been added. I do like this, and it does make our end of auctions smoother since that information is brought right into SAPro. I give ebay a thumbs up on this.
Of the items that have been mentioned, I like the faster indexing, and extending the title. That will be a huge improvement.
We use the second chance occasionally, but it seems that most bidders do not understand it, so our sell through has been low. But I would say it is a plus. I would never pay anything for it however (other than the final value fee).
All of the security sign ins are a crock. I mean if I know the password once, won't I know it twice???? Getting tired of that garbage.
Anything that slows the loading of the pages sucks. Banners, ads excecisve HTML etc. Ebay needs to recognize this. I don't like the whole concept of the banner ads anyway. I think they are a total waste on any site. I would guess broadband users to be higher than the mentioned 30%, at least in the people I personally know. But maybe we are all geeks http://community.here.com/infopop/em.../icon_wink.gif
I don't like anything to do with DoubleClick.
I am not happy with the Icon changes, and unsure as to what ebay is trying to "improve" here. The store and the powerseller icon is a huge mistake.
I personally think that the "anything points" will be a HUGE flop. I have not seen one auction which has used them.
As for comparing ebay today, to two years ago. Ebay can not remain the same, as with any business it must "evolve". I don't like it as well, but I don't think it is all ebay's fault either. More sellers equal more competition. I do think Ebay needs to focus on the sellers more, and help us succeed, thus making Ebay more money. Rather than what seems to be the current philosophy of see how much more they can skim away from the sale.
Depending on how things evolve, ebay may become a SMALLER portion of our sales tools. I am going to try to spend more time on our website and other advertising, thus less ebay this year. I think long term our sales will be better. It is nice to see the "instant gratification" from ebay sales however, and a certain amount of our inventory will always be geared to ebay.
I am sure I will be back with more of my opinions. http://community.here.com/infopop/em...on_biggrin.gif
Answer
Good thread.
I actually like the Paypal changes. Yes, I'm making less money off the purchases, but at least 75% of my closed auctions are paid almost immediately.
I also like Turbolister A LOT. It took me a long time to get there, but now I'm very happy with it. I'd be happier if it could do relists and had a decent search feature so I'm not scrolling through thousands of listings.
The new feature where you can take care of all your NPB's at once is pretty cool. It even tells you which ones are at what stage.
I'm looking forward to those ten extra characters.
Other than that, I think most of ebay's changes have hurt rather than helped the masses.
Lynn
Lynnber almost everywhere
selling books and other stuff
Lots and lots of my Ebay Auctions
Answer
(33) Non Paying Bidder Management Tools.
(34) Ebay Shipping Calculator.
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G'day DW,
I tried to catch the "category improvements" under (21), it is just too broad an area to break down in more detail. It has been an ongoing thing - a few areas have definitely improved, but more have been designed to double up and create "incentives" to list in double categories. I can find enough ways to aim my goods at two different markets, without needing to list in the same category being put into two sections (eg: Pottery/Porcelain:Royal Doulton and Collectibleshttp://community.here.com/infopop/em...on_biggrin.gifecorative Items: Royal Doulton). All this does is make items less visible and splits the bidders to reduce competitive bidding.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>As for comparing ebay today, to two years ago. Ebay can not remain the same, as with any business it must "evolve". <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
The direction (and need) for that evolution is very relevant for the question. If the improvements are worthwhile the site should be more efficient and user friendly. In my opinion it is the opposite. Ebay has failed to understand it's ghrassroots market, and tried to go into retail (I can go into this in more detail in another thread if anyone would like to take conversation into this direction). What really needed to develop or evolve was capacity and efficiency - most of the bells and whistles are not necessary, and frankly not effective. The appeal of Ebay, the thing that drew huge numbers to it before it was equipped to handle the numbers, was that it was a simple effective market place - and in my belief that is still all that it needs to be. It is an effective business that earns remarkable money on small investment, so there is no need to keep building on the properties that make it most effective. Too much of what has been added or changed on the site has been done for unnecessary aesthetics or to give the appearance that the site is offering more in the eyes of investors. The growth of Ebay was phenomenal by *any* standard, but the expectations of more growth were both unrealistic and greedy. Ebay served a role that verged on that served by the longstanding produce and commodity markets. It put buyers in contact with sellers, and earned good commissions for Ebay on minimal investment.
If the "evolution" of Ebay was necessary or effective, the overwhelming answer to my question should be that the Ebay site is better to navigate and use now than it was 2 years ago. The true position of *most* users appears to be the opposite. In the context of this thread the question is not only relevant, but the answer is very telling.
Kind Regards, Kevin