Question
I am about to put what remaining hair I have left, right outta my head !!
I have had 11 auctions ended because of keyword spamming.... Does anyone havea link to a list of forbidden words that cannot be used? Every time lately that I turn around, this is happening. They said the keyword that I cannot use is Pottery. They of course do not explain why, they just said it is against policy.
I don't have 14 years to try to wade through their complete pages of policy to be sure that I don't use a forbidden word or phrase, besides they keep changing the rules every hour on the hour.
Any advice folks?
Thanks,
LL
Answer
What were the items listed that were closed for containing the word pottery?
If they were not actually pottery what was the context of the word in the listings?
Kind Regards, Kevin
Answer
They are "Pottery Benches", the type of benches that you plack crockery and pottery under the seat, like they did in years gone by. Also were "Pottery Shelves", that were extra wide to accomodate crocks and pottery.
I have emailed them with a photo of the pottery/crocks and how they fit under the benches and on the shelves.
Maybe we can get some sort of resolution soon, but I rather doubt it. I am currently working at new verbiage to see how things work. But without knowing what words are forbidden, it sure makes it difficult sometimes.
Makes me want to slap them into next week sometimes. *sigh*.
Being a Christian does make it a bit easier...... I am asking my Lord to help me out here. He hasn't let me know yet... Just got to hang tough I guess.
Answer
Allow about 36 hours for a reply. It is anyone's guess what the result will be - it depends who your email ends up with, and what level of comprehension they choose to exert.
The word is not banned. The problem is probably that someone has pulled up the auction expecting the bench to be made of pottery, and reported you because they felt it was innappropriate. Ebay has now become Russian roulette in this way. You don't know who you will offend, nor whether the customer support rep understands the nature of the auction. You get a black mark against your name, and a lot of work goes down the drain, through no actual fault of your own.
I have just had a run in for describing the contents of a catalogue. Important information for a person who is deciding whether to spend money on it, needs to be searchable if the buyer is going to find reference material for what they collect, use or need, but deemed keyword spamming by Ebay who collects a commission from the item if it sells. After a back and forth with Ebay, I was told that my description must not exceed "a couple of handfuls" of key words, but when I asked for a precise definition of "a couple of handfuls" in this context, I was told that there was no definition. We are at the whims of these people as to whether our auctions are closed down or whether we are de-registered for describing items properly. It stinks.
Kevin
Answer
Here's an eBay Workshop which supposedly clarifies eBay's policy about what it considers to be keyword spamming:
http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.js...me=CMDV:WC0075
I haven't read through the thread (it's 4 pages long) so don't know if it helps or not.
Answer
Thanks for the link Irene. I read through it and what it amounted to as far as I could see is that if certain words are used and you don't make any other Ebayer jealous or angry with you, then it is alright to continue to use them as they probably won't be noticed by any staff at Ebay. But if you get reported, they will sometimes end your auctions, depending on the frame of mind of that particular techie that receives the complaint. If you get one that could care less, then nothing is done. Simple as that !!
So basically what they are saying is that No, it isn't fair and Ebay really doesn't care one way or the other.
What really ticks me off is that it is okay for a new seller to come along, copy your original design, and use your verbiage and then turn you in for using the same verbiage and you are the one they penalize. I have had a bit of a problem with one particular seller that has been hot on my tail for about 2 years. And Ebay does absolutely nothing about it. NOTHING !!
LL
Answer
at first i thought you were most likely in violation, but i did a google search, and yes there are "pottery benches" just like you said.
problem is its not widely known, or not ebay staff known which is all that matters.
good luck educating ebay.
Answer
WEll there is one that is almost an exact copy of our black bench that we have made for a great number of years and they has been reported more than once for violations, but they allow them to continue to sell the way they are with no repurcussions whatsoever. They are now even offering choices which is against policy too. Offering the very same colors that we came up with. Now I wonder how they thought of that?? GRRRRR Ebay does absolutely nothing about that at all.
I have not yet heard back from ebay and to tell the truth, I really do not expect to. I just hope I can hold on for just one more year and then I can quit and tell them a thing or three.
LL
Answer
Pottery bench . . . mmmmmm . . . not pottery???
Does that mean a coffee table is not coffee???
How idiotic these ebay people are!
Answer
I read through it and what it amounted to as far as I could see is that if certain words are used and you don't make any other Ebayer jealous or angry with you, then it is alright to continue to use them as they probably won't be noticed by any staff at Ebay. But if you get reported, they will sometimes end your auctions, depending on the frame of mind of that particular techie that receives the complaint. If you get one that could care less, then nothing is done. Simple as that !!
I suspect that this is a pretty apt summary of all violations/reports of any nature on Ebay. You are also at the whim of whether the Ebay employee properly comprehends either the complaint, the rules, or the nature of the auction they are reviewing.
On page three of that thread, Pablo of Ebay comes up with this ruling:
Under our Search Manipulation policy, we do not permit excessive keywords used to describe items such as books, magazines or other compilations. We permit one to two handfuls of any related keywords contained in the compilation being offered. Any more than this, and you are required to create a 'further information page' and then link to that page from within your auction listing.
Bolding is mine.
In my communications with Ebay last week, a different Ebay representative also told me to restrict my useage of keywords to "a couple of handfuls". Since more than one Ebay rep is using this term, it is clearly either Ebay policy or in the Ebay training. I asked Mattias at Ebay (who told me to restrict my descriptions to "a couple of handfuls" of keywords) for a PRECISE Ebay definition of "a couple of handfuls" in this context.
The response was:
First of all, please understand that eBay does not have a set number of
keywords that a seller can include within their listing description when
it comes to describing catalogs.
As much as I would like to provide you with a more specific answer, I am
unable to give you a solid number for you to follow by. My advice to you
when listing your catalog is to use the suggestions that I provided in
my previous email. If you would like to include some of the items listed
in the catalog, I would recommend that you keep them within single
digits just to be on the safe side.
All correspondence in this matter is included in full in this thread. This unworkable set of vague and meaningless rules, also prompted me to effectively manifesto from Ebay (page 3 of that thread).
Kevin