Question
Early in September, I asked in the adjacent forum what people who liked item specifics were selling, the only response did not really seem supportive of item specifics. I posted over there because I figured that bigger traffic may get a broader view, and I also figured that some people must like this push into this territory on Ebay. I am now wondering whether anyone actually does like Item Specifics.
So, can anyone point me at anything either posted or published (outside of a direct Ebay press release) that actually supports Item Specifics on Ebay?
Does anyone here feel that Item Specifics offers something useful to how they do business on Ebay, or even have mixed feelings about it?
Otherwise just use this thread to log your dislike, I am interested in seeing what the cross section *really* feels.
Kind Regards, Kevin
Answer
Mixed.
I can see where it might be useful to certain buyers of magazine back issues who have a specific idea of what they are looking for IF it was used consistently by sellers, was fully implemented, and worked correctly... and right now none of those is true.
I find it extra work when listing magazines, even though in this category the item specifics are usually cut & dried. But I can see a benefit for the buyer who otherwise would have to search for "December", "Dec", "1977", "12/77", etc.
Ms. C.
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sweet stuff on SYI!
Answer
Actually, I just used a bad example. As you can see here, publication years are lumped into 1941-1980 LOL! But a buyer looking for an issue from 1981 on should have an easier time of it, in theory.
Apparently magazines dating from before most eBay staffers were born are lumped into 40-year categories! http://community.here.com/infopop/em.../icon_wink.gif
Ms. C.
------------------------------------------------------------
Did someone say chocolate?
Club99SYI starts Saturday September 27!
sweet stuff on SYI!
Answer
Ummmm, positive remarks? ... http://community.here.com/infopop/em...n_rolleyes.gif None yet, The buyers that answered my question about it, had not used it. Plus I find half the time what I enter is wiped out for some reason, so it does no good then anyway. Really buggy yet.
chloe
Answer
Wow Ms Chocolate,
You actually found a useful application but they still have it so wrong it is not funny. I see from your link that they still haven't figured out how to put months into the equation, and yet the reguylarity of the publication seems to be considered important enough to be included.
With months included (and EVERY year available) I could see it as being useful for that type of application. I also note they have lumped together 2002 and 2003, so I guess that a search of the month won't be coming soon. USELESS !!!
Kevin the Cynical.
Answer
Kevin, I am sorry, I can't point you to anything positive from our side of the coin
BUT...from ebays point of view...
I see one of two things happening
1) they will make it more precise and then searchable and THEN charge us to use it, or use it to justify an increase in fees.
or
2) They are totally going to change the listing pages, so everyone must use it and no html will be allowed, using the excuse of too much key ward spamming in hidden HTML and too juch java used blah blah...and telling us over and over how much time it will save us and how much easier it will be to list.
either way, I don't like where it is going, nor do I like it period, so please accept my apologies for an even more cynical opinion than your own http://community.here.com/infopop/em...on_biggrin.gif http://community.here.com/infopop/em...on_biggrin.gif
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Answer
Kevin, as a seller I loathe item specifics, and as a buyer I ignore item specifics as utterly useless. So many things I sell or want to buy don't fall into neat little specific categories, and even if they did, Ebay doesn't have the right ones!
I don't use item specifics as a seller. I just leave all the fields blank. It doesn't seem to affect my sales a whit.
I wonder if most sellers would just ignore the fields as I do, whether Ebay would be forced to acknowledge that it's a stupid idea. I doubt it, but I sure will do my part to leave the fields blank.
Answer
I guess it would be helpful for tickets, real estate (number of bedrooms, baths, square footage, type of house etc), cars (model, year, mileage, etc). Maybe!
It could also be helpful for books if done right...but as it stands right now...BLEHH!!
Right now, book item specifics is divided between antiquarian, fiction, non-fiction...instead it should cross all three categories. I could list an older novel in antiquarian or fiction...but if the buyer uses item specifics to search he could easily miss the book if he decided to search "fiction" if I chose antiquarian.
The "gods of ebay" decided that "fine bindings" was only an attribute of antiquarian/collectible...obviously one would NEVER list a leather book in either fiction or non-fiction..OBVIOUSLY!
And obviously, only antiquarian/collectible books have hardcovers with dustjackets...at least that is the only book category I have found that gives the choice of hardcover or hardcover with dustjacket. I'm trying to figure out what all those pieces of printed paper wrapped around my regular books are if they aren't jackets.
Book specifics COULD be helpful...if done right!
Answer
My experience with them is mostly in books, and I know I had another thread somewehre around here stating that I HATE item specifics. My thoughts about it haven't (hasn't?) improved any.
All the info in specifics is the EXACT same info you have when you're doing your listing, except maybe for language. Let me state right now that if I'm selling a book written in Arabic or Swahili, I'll disclose that in the title. Otherwise we can all assume I'm selling them in English. At least make it a sticky option, so that I can change it if I need to but English could be my default.
Lynn
Lynnber almost everywhere
selling books and other stuff
Lots and lots of my Ebay Auctions
Answer
Clothing.. I would think its perfect for clothing. Its tough to do a normal search on size. what should I search for, s , sm, small etc? I also noticed alot of clothing sellers don't put the basic color in the title.. I've wasted lots of time clicking on auctions to see a color I look dead in. So, as a sometimes clothing buyer I like those two parts of item specifics.
My Ebay auctions