Question
I have two early 20th century sterling silver picture frames. I decided to do a search and see whether they are viable on eBay.
Starting point was this completed search. Not surprisingly there was an abundance of modern stuff - so I refined.
By clicking on the Antiques category (upper left), I came up with this result. First thought was that the strike rate was very low. Second note, was looking down the gallery there were different frames with the same picture - therefore many of the items in the "Antique" section are actually modern. So I click on "Art Nouveau Sterling Silver Picture Frame. F389" - looking at the description I saw it was a reproduction. I then noticed in the item specifics "Original/Repro: Modern Reproduction".
"Great", I thought in my naivety. "I can actually use the item specifics to seperate the modern from the old, or at least Original from reproduction to some extent" (depending on how the sellers choose to list). I go back to this search page, and low and behold, the item specifics do NOT give an option for "Original/Repro". At this point I wonder about the point of this item specific, but I do note that there is a specific option for "Age". In my childlike innocence, I decide to click on 1900 to 1940 to see what comes up and how it is selling. Colour me confused, for when I click on the 1900 to 1940, this frame that is nominated as a "Modern Reproduction" and has the "age" specific left blank is at the top of the list (along with all 86 other frames that were on the unrefined search).....
What is the curseword point of item swearword specifics anyway? How the Samuel Hill does it help anybody to actually find anything that they are looking for? Surely after this time they get it to work to some extent?
One thing I did learn.... if I can't find old sterling silver on eBay with some ease, the *average* buyer isn't going to either. I do appreciate that the enthusiasts will have refined their search methods to be as effective as possible, but I do not perceive that it will be safely viable to list items with a decent "local" value of this nature on eBay. I STILL do not understand how item specifics are useful on eBay, even when I can see valid applications for them. I pity those who had their categories deleted in favour of this white elephant.
Kevin (I am probably just inept, but how many buyers are also hitting a wall with item specifics? )
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I don't get it either. If anybody figures it out, please post here, wouldja?
Lisa
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If they were searchable, I would get it. But nothing I was interested in has ever had useful item specifics that could be used to sort item lists.
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I don't like them. They make me crazy. Well, crazier than I already am. When I search I use keywords only. I can refine that as much as I want....usually.
Jo
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I think they can be useful in certain categories - I use them only when I search clothing to specify size required etc, but in most antique/collectible or allied categories I find them a complete and utter waste of time both when searching and listing
Giulietta
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I presume that, knowing the average Bidder doesn't bother to read the description, I know they don't read mine, eBay figured Item Specifics would be a way to get a bit of useful information into their thick skulls, ooops, I mean within their range of visual perception.
Your problem, as usual, Kevin_T, is that you're approaching this feature as a useful tool for an intelligent person.
GET OVER IT!
I fill in the boxes as honestly as I can. I note that there is no apparatus (yet...) to require that, and if any Bidders actually read it, or have figured out a way to effectively use it, well, all the better. However, I assume that Item Specifics info, too, is for the most part ignored. Therefore, the fact that the tool is also largely useless is no detriment.
Have a nice day!
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Actually my problem is that I don't approach "item specifics" as a useful tool. I have been biasedly opposed to it since introduction. On the few occassions that I have seen uses for it, I have not been able to competently use it. This may be because it is unworkable, or it may be because my biased little subconscious chooses not to be competent.
As for "getting over it", I don't really see the value in accepting a compromised marketplace just because it is compromised by the market controllers. Whilst I find item specifics inconvenient when listing, I do fully use them. My viewtracker results MAY be an anomoly, but of the very few people that appear to be using item specifics, most seem to use it as a basic search engine - using a search term with absolutely no "specifics" nominated.
Whilst the replacement of categories with item specifics appears to have slowed, the fact is that this function, that appears to be unworkable to many users, has already replaced swathes of the site, and threatens other sections (the pottery and glass section was supposed to be replaced in the first half of this year - I can hope that that plan has been cancelled, but I do not know where it stands).
I have been working on Ebay for more than 7 years. Whilst this means that I am "experienced", it may also mean that I learned all of my bad habits before item specifics were introduced, and I am the one who is not using a decent tool properly. For that reason, starting a thread of this nature is justified. I *want* to know how other users either use, or have adjusted to, item specifics. If my competence is the problem, then I have no right to complain that the market is being adversely affected. However, most evidence points to the suggestion that most other users find item specifics as unworkable as I do, or are using it as nothing more than a basic search engine (ie: just dropping the same search term into a different search box) without using the so-called specifics. It appears that we are left with item specifics having replaced various category structures but reducing the ability for buyers to browse effectively, and not improving the ability to effectively find the goods that buyers are looking for.
Since this is most of my livelihood at the current time, "getting over it" means changing my lifestyle and methods of making an income. I am prepared to do that, when the viabilty of this marketplace has been reduced to a point where it is unworkable for me personally. In the meantime, I am interested in analysing how people both perceive and use "enhancements" that are wheeled out by Ebay, and discussing or raising awareness of how they interefere with our livelihoods. I do NOT hold my breath that I can do anything to change Ebay's policies, but I will childishly attempt to do it from a grassroots level until I leave this section of the industry.
Kevin
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As a seller, I disliked having item specifics forced upon my categories.
As a buyer, I figured I'd give them a try to see if they did indeed help.
Phooey on item specifics. A complete waste of time for me as a buyer--I need to use IS and then do a keyword search anyway! So I never use IS as a buyer anymore.
As a seller, I seldom use them. Once in a while I'll reluctantly check off a box here or there but for the most part, there's a big stupid block of NOTHING at the top of my description.
My store reports show that almost all of my customers find my items from keyword searches. I don't think I'm losing anything by skipping the IS on my listings, and refusing to use IS serves as my small protest against the stupidity of the system.
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Kevin-
I buy a LOT at eBay.
A LOT!
99.9% of the time, I 'title' search.
If that doesn't give me the items I'm searching for, I'll 'in description too' search.
Only 3 or 4 times in the last few years have I EVER used categories to search by - and only when bored out of my gourd. I find the category searches - for items I'm seeking - to be totally useless.
Also, rarely does my eye 'register' the 'category thangs' in the top of the listings. Another useless feature, and few sellers are reputable enough to use them properly.
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Originally Posted by psyllie2
My store reports show that almost all of my customers find my items from keyword searches. I don't think I'm losing anything by skipping the IS on my listings, and refusing to use IS serves as my small protest against the stupidity of the system.
Thank you for that reminder of why I wasn't using them before......
....and before I go listing any more vintage toys that fall under the dreaded IS cluster check boxes that are little more than time wasters for sellers. It wasn't so bad until they added the extra pop-up pages to chastise you for "leaving blanks" and basically saying you HAVE TO fill in something!
Kevin.....I think finding an answer (outside of clothes & Nascar diescasts) for how IS is useable or beneficial is akin to finding sanity in the idea that eBay raised the fee for gallery because TOO MANY sellers were using it.