Question
EBay is testing a "new way to shop". If you want to try out the Alpha test version in order to determine exactly how eBay is going to further screw up the search function, go here:
http://pages.ebay.com/magellan/welco...geName=CMDV:AB
Input Wanted: Alpha Test for a New Way to Shop
Date: 05/04/05 Time: 05:19:01 PM PDT
Shri Mahesh
Hi...I'm Shri Mahesh, Vice President of Product Marketing & Platform for eBay North America. My team is responsible for defining many of the new products and improvements that will help enhance the marketplace for our Community.
As the eBay Community continues to innovate, the volume and diversity of the types of items that are bought and sold on the site continues to expand. This is part of the magic of eBay! With this growth, however, it's our job to make sure that finding the items that you are looking for stays easy and efficient.
As you may know, in the last year we've done a number of things to improve finding on eBay – from ongoing refinements to the category structure, to adding item specifics in many categories, to enhancing our search and browse functions. While each of these initiatives has improved finding in many categories, we know there is still work to be done. The Community continues to tell us they need a simpler eBay, and we believe that starts with the finding experience.
Over the next week, we'll be launching an early alpha test version of a project that introduces a New Way to Shop on eBay. With this new approach to finding items, we hope to make keyword searches much more intuitive and efficient by leveraging existing elements of a listing on eBay today (such as item title, item specifics, and category). We'll also be providing better ways to narrow listings results according to size, color, type, brand, or even a combination of attributes.
If this alpha test of a New Way to Shop suggests that our buyers and sellers are more successful with this approach, we will do more expanded testing later in the year. Ultimately, we hope to take much of the guesswork out of shopping – both for buyers, who are looking for items, as well as sellers, who today may not be sure what terms and search methods their buyers will be using most often when they shop.
Community input in these early stages is important, and we're inviting sellers and buyers to take part in the alpha test and give us feedback. This initial alpha test will be restricted to the following categories – Art, Bedding, Event Tickets, Glass, Shoes and TVs – and will be limited for a 4-8 week period. Since this is an alpha test only, not all eBay functionality (such as Add to Favorites, See All Matching Stores, etc.) will be available.
For more information about the alpha test, read our New Way to Shop information page and Frequently Asked Questions. As always, we value and welcome your ongoing feedback. Please leave your comments on the Search discussion board. While we're not able to respond to all comments directly, we want to hear your suggestions and will factor them into future testing phases.
Regards,
Shripriya Mahesh
VP, Product Marketing
http://www2.ebay.com:80/aw/marketing...05-05-04170759
Blanche
Answer
Whoo Boy, they are just gonna "enhance" us to death, aren't they?
Answer
Hi...I'm Shri Mahesh, Vice President of Product Marketing & Platform for eBay North America. My team is responsible for defining many of the new products and improvements that will help enhance the marketplace for our Community.
WOW!!!!! He made a confession like that ... in PUBLIC!
As you may know, in the last year we've done a number of things to improve finding on eBay – from ongoing refinements to the category structure,
Yeah Right!
to adding item specifics in many categories,
Uh Huh!
to enhancing our search and browse functions.
Yep, we have noticed that too
While each of these initiatives has improved finding in many categories, we know there is still work to be done. The Community continues to tell us they need a simpler eBay, and we believe that starts with the finding experience.
I suspect it is a cultural difference, but Shri Mahesh's definition of "improve" is substantially different to mine.
As for that last sentence I keep expecting it to change before my eyes to:
"The Community continues to tell us they need a simpler eBay, and we believe that starts with the making the entire site more complex and convoluted."
It may be time for some of us to reconsider our careers.
Cynically, Kevin
Answer
Where's the option to sort by country, and paypal only?
I always look at "US only, paypal preferred, and then ending soonest".
I'm not seeing those options.
Answer
I found the option to sort for "PayPal only", but no "US only".
Am I missing it somewhere?
Answer
I got the call from ebay this week... They're also looking for Featured Store Sellers, only $49.95 a month....
Answer
I wish I could do US sellers only, but the only thing I see close to that is a certain miles from your zip code and they include Canadian sellers in that mix.
Answer
Hello ladypcer. Some of the search/browse features aren't included in the Alpha test at this time.
From FAQ: http://pages.ebay.com/magellan/faq.html
Will I still be able to buy or bid?
Yes! You can still bid and buy on items as you do normally. This new way to shop only impacts the way in which you find items. Because this experience is a short-term test, not all eBay search/browse features have been incorporated at this time. If this test is successful, these features will be included in a later roll-out of this new way to shop. Some features that are not included in this test are:
'Add to favorites'
Saved searches
Some advanced search options
Title & Description search
Search Option customizations
The following search options:
Gift filter
Anything Points filter
Multiple Items Listings filter
Completed Listings filter
Date Range filter
Bid Range filter
Seller filter
If you prefer to use these features when you shop, you can opt out of the test and return to the normal eBay shopping experience.
How long will eBay be testing this?
This test will run for 4-8 weeks in the following categories: Shoes, Bedding, Glass, Art, TVs, and Event Tickets
How it works http://pages.ebay.com/magellan/howitworks.html
Here is how eBay makes the new shopping experience work:
eBay creates a "dictionary" for each area such as
Shoes
Glass
TVs
These areas aren't typical eBay categories but broader areas.
Each area contains a list of characteristics that are important to buyers such as:
Brand
Size
Style
eBay also includes all known details under each characteristic. For example, in the Shoe area under the characteristic "size", all known details may include:
6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, etc.
6, 6 ½, 7, 7 ½, 8, etc.
SZ 6, SZ 6.5, SZ 7, SZ 7.5, SZ 8, etc.
When you list an item to sell, eBay "looks" for these characteristics and details in your item title, Item Specifics, and category. All this information is stored in the eBay system.
eBay checks this stored information whenever a buyer runs a search. The effect is that if a buyer searches for "7.5 shoes", all relevant shoes are retrieved including those listed as "7 ½" or "SZ 7.5".
For more information, please see our Frequently Asked Questions.
Benefits for Buyers & Sellers http://pages.ebay.com/magellan/benefits.html
With eBay's new way to shop, discover how easy it is to:
Find more of what you want. For example, if you search for "red shoes", eBay will automatically display "ruby shoes", "scarlet shoes", etc., in addition to "red shoes".
Easily locate items by size, brand, color, etc.
Search for multiple brands or styles all at once. For example, search for Jimmy Choo, Prada, and Gucci shoes at the same time!
If you're a seller, there are a lot of advantages for you, too.
You'll receive more exposure for your items.
No additional work or information is required when you list.
A powerful search engine ensures that more of the item information you provide will be used to help buyers find your items.
Blanche
Answer
Guess I can't use the "new" system since I am using my Mac Safari browser.
It is always a delight to find out that eBay is not compatible with all the browsers people are likely to be using. What idiots.
"To experience eBay's new way to shop, you must use one of the following browsers:
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5, 6, or later (for windows users only)
http://microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/default.asp
Mozilla Firefox 1.0 or later (for Macintosh or windows users)
http://mozilla.org/products/firefox/"
Larry
Answer
A powerful search engine ensures that more of the item information you provide will be used to help buyers find your items.
Course, there will be some exceptions, like:
Kevin still can't list the contents of his vintage catalogs!
(sorry buddy....couldn't resist! )
Wonder if this latest "search enhancement" will be as good as the last one....ya all remember that one don't ya? The one that if you entered "Spiderman Action Figure".....you got 4,000 pages of miscellaneous BS to sort thru.
Maybe if they would STOP screwing around with the search engines all the time, the buyers could actually FIND the stuff and place BID$!!!