Question
I usually post about what annoys me in the management of Ebay, but credit should be given where it is due. Whilst I criticise many enhancements, there are some that prove useful.
(1) Among those that I have noticed during this year, the most important for the smooth running of my business is finally supplying the registered postal address of buyers in the end of auction notice (this started about August). This really has removed a headache for me - anyone who replies with "My address is the one registered on Ebay" or simply sends payment without any address, now can be sent their goods without having to do an email tango. The previous system that required me to register with PayPal in order to get the address was ludicrous. The address is now also supplied on the invoicing system which can also be accessed directly.
(2) This may have been introduced prior to this year but I only found it about August. Whilst I usually use wild cards, etc, on my Ebay searches, I was searching for a specific stereoview on Alta-Vista and had a result which put me back onto Ebay. My original search had inverted commas to keep part of it as a string , but the search on Ebay had no inverted commas.
I landed this search result - at the time it had no actual auctions listed, but if you scroll below the auction that is currently shown, you will see a series of options for alternative search results, each with one less search word, together with how many hits are achieved by the search. I thought that this (as an option, and not corrupting the actual search) was an excellent way of offering other ways for buyers to locate items when the search failed to get a suitable result.
On the other side of the coin, I absolutely resent having my search term changed when it achieves no results (this goes back to last year). I don't mind the "Did you mean...?" suggestion, but when I try to correct the search because I figure I have made a typo, when Ebay has just corrupted my search term because I am considered incompetent to know what I am searching for, I feel that I have wasted time unnecessarily. I realise I am at fault for not noticing the message that there were no results and they have changed the search term, but I personally find this offputting and frustrating. However, given previous replies when I have commented on this, it does appear that I am in the minority to be bothered by this at all.
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So, back on the positive note, what improvements have really stood out for you on Ebay this year?
Cheers, Kevin
Answer
Well, I don't remember when it was they did this, but increasing the number of items you can watch at once was a definite improvement. The limit of 20 they had before was just crazy.
Debra
Answer
Adding the "or Best Offer" to the Buy It Now Icon when B.O. is activated on any item. Trouble is that it is only shown on the My eBay page so is not helpful to buyers. Hopefully, it will be expanded to the Search Results List.
Answer
I think the best enhancement of the year was the policy change regarding NPB's. Someone stiffs you, and you get a sucessful NPB/FVF filing, any feedback they leave is automatically removed (the rating, not the comment - just like the mutually withdrawn rule).
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> "Did you mean...?" suggestion
You are referring to how eBay is different from Google when it comes to search. I feel the same way you do - eBay could learn a thing or two from the way Google handles search.
I am happy that eBay is listening to their customers are releasing features in the timely manner. At eBay Live! they told me that programming the features is never an issue for them. It is the marketing and communication to the buyers that is most difficult.
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Don't know if it started this year or not, but the ability to print your postage label through paypal so I don't have to buy a monthly service for the volume I do.
I know this isn't ebay....but the USPS Carrier Pickup sure saves me a lot in gas and time.
Answer
programming is never an issue?
tell me another funny joke, I need a laugh!
Maryanne