eBay shoots everyone in the foot... again.
coinpictures
Posts: 5,345 ✭✭✭
Their latest change is not only idiotic as usual, but has broad ramifications for disputes as well.
Starting a few days ago, once an auction finishes or an item is sold, all of the images that were included via eBay's picture hosting are removed, and you can only see a thumbnail of the first image. Also, the shipping method, shipping charges, and return policy information are no longer accessible... to either the buyer or the seller.
This is going to be a nightmare with respect to disputes, especially SNAD.
Images that were included in the body of the listing and hosted on third-party services still remain; it's only uploaded images that get axed.
So if you want a record or screenshots of anything, you will now need to do so BEFORE you buy or the auction ends. Sweet.
Over on the eBay forums, people are getting mixed messages from eBay on this (not surprising). Some reps are saying it is a site-side glitch that will be fixed, and others are saying this was a planned "improvement".
For now, there is a workaround: if you go to a non-U.S. eBay site and type in the auction number, you can still access the information. It's only been redacted on the U.S. eBay site.
How is either a buyer OR a seller supposed to prove/disprove claims/promises after the fact if the data gets immediately yanked?
Starting a few days ago, once an auction finishes or an item is sold, all of the images that were included via eBay's picture hosting are removed, and you can only see a thumbnail of the first image. Also, the shipping method, shipping charges, and return policy information are no longer accessible... to either the buyer or the seller.
This is going to be a nightmare with respect to disputes, especially SNAD.
Images that were included in the body of the listing and hosted on third-party services still remain; it's only uploaded images that get axed.
So if you want a record or screenshots of anything, you will now need to do so BEFORE you buy or the auction ends. Sweet.
Over on the eBay forums, people are getting mixed messages from eBay on this (not surprising). Some reps are saying it is a site-side glitch that will be fixed, and others are saying this was a planned "improvement".
For now, there is a workaround: if you go to a non-U.S. eBay site and type in the auction number, you can still access the information. It's only been redacted on the U.S. eBay site.
How is either a buyer OR a seller supposed to prove/disprove claims/promises after the fact if the data gets immediately yanked?
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Comments
-Paul
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thanks for the update
i thought it was just me not being able to access some of that info in the completed auctions section
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it really is quite amazing with all they need to do they took time to do this, strange.
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i think those peeps completely underestimate the ability to search more than 90 days worth of auctions for potential buyers
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now with virtually no images since a large part of the user-base use ebay to host images the 90 day search feature will just about become useless ><
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I relisted, I noticed that the ebay-hosted images for them were gone as well.
I see many. many SNAD claims in the future since not even the BUYERs can validate that what they bid on is what they received UNLESS they download the photo's ahead of time.
Sheesh!
The name is LEE!
<< <i>Do you have a link, idicating the mentioned changes, because I sure can't find one. Furthermore, all my pictures on closed auctions dating back as far as July 30'th are still available. >>
1. Are you on the U.S. eBay site?
2. Do use eBay picture hosting for uploading or do you manually link to images within the HTML of the listing? If the latter, there is no change. It's only the eBay hosted pictures (that most sellers use, especially for the thumbnail image) that are affected.
There was no advance notice of this change. It just happened.
1/2 Cents
U.S. Revenue Stamps
<< <i>Do you have a link, idicating the mentioned changes, because I sure can't find one. Furthermore, all my pictures on closed auctions dating back as far as July 30'th are still available. >>
there are 2 main ways to add the thumbnail image far as i can tell
1. browse-select-upload (through ebay and/or an outside uploader)
2. input url to image - this would prevent the image removal for thumbnail and large image, but must be hosted long-term
if you have the thumbnails in place and "browsed' and uploaded that would indicate an inconsistency for this announcement
i have for 100% seen many images from ended listings from numerous sellers that were gone whereas 100% of their images for previously ended listings were available.
it is a very big deal to me as i use the 90 search feature constantly and use those little thumbnails to help guide me so knowing if this is permanent or beat would be nice to know
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<< <i>Do you have a link, idicating the mentioned changes, because I sure can't find one. Furthermore, all my pictures on closed auctions dating back as far as July 30'th are still available. >>
Strange , I keep all my auctions won visable until years end , this is so i dont forget where i got what so i can return to the seller.All those pics are still up and have been,im on Ebay US , some of my sellers are UK but not all , all the pics are there.
<< <i>I was listing a bunch of NEWPS on eBay yesterday to take advantage of their 1¢ listing day, and on a few unsold items that I relisted, I noticed that the ebay-hosted images for them were gone as well. >>
Not that is a big PITA but I expect them to fix that. If it makes it harder to relist, they will fix it because they want traffic. --Jerry
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
<< <i>
<< <i>Do you have a link, idicating the mentioned changes, because I sure can't find one. Furthermore, all my pictures on closed auctions dating back as far as July 30'th are still available. >>
1. Are you on the U.S. eBay site?
2. Do use eBay picture hosting for uploading or do you manually link to images within the HTML of the listing? If the latter, there is no change. It's only the eBay hosted pictures (that most sellers use, especially for the thumbnail image) that are affected.
There was no advance notice of this change. It just happened. >>
Yes to #1....#2) I manually link...
So for most of us there is no change then (Not sure about your statement about the eBay hosted pictures that most sellers use...I know of no seller that does)
<< <i>I've usually placed the intelligence of eBay's Powers That Be somewhere between that of Woody Harrelson and a cocker spaniel. After all, they've always managed to benefit themselves somehow, and quite often have given a marginal benefit to one side of the transaction at the expense of really screwing the other. This time, however, they appear to have screwed everyone. How does this benefit anyone? Are they running out of space to host crappy pictures? Is this going to be a trend toward totally disavowing that a transaction took place, so that they can get rid of their conflict resolution center altogether? >>
You really dislike dogs that much?????
<< <i>
<< <i>I've usually placed the intelligence of eBay's Powers That Be somewhere between that of Woody Harrelson and a cocker spaniel. After all, they've always managed to benefit themselves somehow, and quite often have given a marginal benefit to one side of the transaction at the expense of really screwing the other. This time, however, they appear to have screwed everyone. How does this benefit anyone? Are they running out of space to host crappy pictures? Is this going to be a trend toward totally disavowing that a transaction took place, so that they can get rid of their conflict resolution center altogether? >>
You really dislike dogs that much?????
This really stinks. Kind of reminds me of the cable company, raise prices and cut service.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/110753340771
One thing that could have been a problem with photobucket etc images is that sellers can change the photos after a listing ends or even during a listing, ebay has no verification what photo was actually there at the time of the listing. Maybe this is part of the way around this.
In the mean time, I believe one can view the full listings with eBay-hosted images by searching for the completed auction title or listing number, then viewing the cached web pages. As they say, sometimes Google is your friend....
Empty Nest Collection
Matt’s Mattes
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>Do you have a link, idicating the mentioned changes, because I sure can't find one. Furthermore, all my pictures on closed auctions dating back as far as July 30'th are still available. >>
1. Are you on the U.S. eBay site?
2. Do use eBay picture hosting for uploading or do you manually link to images within the HTML of the listing? If the latter, there is no change. It's only the eBay hosted pictures (that most sellers use, especially for the thumbnail image) that are affected.
There was no advance notice of this change. It just happened. >>
Yes to #1....#2) I manually link...
So for most of us there is no change then (Not sure about your statement about the eBay hosted pictures that most sellers use...I know of no seller that does) >>
I've used them for the past year or so since as a store owner, I get up to 12 at no charge. Uploading is easy and I don;t have to hassle with imbedding the code into the listing. Using photobucket, can be a hit or miss operation.
The name is LEE!
<< <i>Using photobucket, can be a hit or miss operation. >>
Yep that bucket seems to have a bunch of leaks.
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it does seem that the images being removed is hit or miss right now. not sure if it is a time-frame thing, meaning maybe the listings have to be ended for a certain amount of time before removing, just too inconsistent at this time
also another shoot us in the foot thing they have done is not allowing us to significantly change prices of an active listing auction/BIN. one must end the listing and then re-list, of course resulting in our lost time and more fees for them.
just as an example, i listed an item for $20 accidentally but wanted it to be 35 and couldn't change it. had to end original and re-list new.
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they do some amazing things over there but are usually shortly followed by some real numbskull things as well
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<< <i>ave done is not allowing us to significantly change prices of an active listing auction/BIN. one must end the listing and then re-list, of course resulting in our lost time and more fees for them. >>
Really? That must only apply to auctions then, because I edit the price on my Stores listings all the time.
1/2 Cents
U.S. Revenue Stamps
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
As for the auctions I win eBay every time I win an auction I download the pictures
to a folder on my computer. As for the ones in my auctions, BUMMER guess I just got to
reload them. What ya going to do, not sell or not buy on eBay? It's called By The Short Ones
<< <i>As for the auctions I win eBay every time I win an auction I download the pictures
to a folder on my computer. As for the ones in my auctions, BUMMER guess I just got to
reload them. What ya going to do, not sell or not buy on eBay? It's called By The Short Ones >>
Good advice now. I checked all my past sales and the pictures that i paid extra to post so the buyers could see the coins enlarged are now shrunk! Amazing! Ebay does indeed suck
<< <i>
<< <i>ave done is not allowing us to significantly change prices of an active listing auction/BIN. one must end the listing and then re-list, of course resulting in our lost time and more fees for them. >>
Really? That must only apply to auctions then, because I edit the price on my Stores listings all the time. >>
maybe it was just auctions
coulda swore i edited some BIN and it gave me same message
I'll never ever know if what I bid on is what I receive unless I save the photo's ahead of time. Major pain in the butt!
The name is LEE!
<< <i>Wow.
I'll never ever know if what I bid on is what I receive unless I save the photo's ahead of time. Major pain in the butt! >>
you will if they host their images somewhere besides ebay, but most do not
<< <i>
<< <i>Wow.
I'll never ever know if what I bid on is what I receive unless I save the photo's ahead of time. Major pain in the butt! >>
you will if they host their images somewhere besides ebay, but most do not >>
eBay never designed their system for "external image hosting" and the folks that do use this in their HTML code are the exception. Enabling store owners to upload as many as 12 images was very convenient and an actual time saver for me. Now, just to prove that I shipped what I sold, I'm forced into doing it the old way. This doesn;t make me, as a seller, very happy.
IMO, eBay is now doing a severe injustice to their "buying customers" which is the group they've been catering to since they lifted the ability to leave feedback by the sellers (their real money makers). No longer will a buying customer beable to reference an auction s/he won to insure that they've received what they bid on. Saving images of "hopeful" wins is an extra step that most buyers won't want to perform since it'll require regular maintenance of their download folders. Did I win this one? Do I need to save it?
Hopefully, this unannounced change will be the straw that breaks the eBay camels back from bnoth a buyer and a sellers standpoint. Buyers may increase their SNAD's and then the eBay selling fee's money train will grind to a halt.
Yes, I would be forced to sell elsewhere but if the eBay ship hits drydock, then the other venues will definitely pickup momentum.
The name is LEE!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1913-S-Barber-Head-Quarter-G-VG-Details-/140607868477?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item20bce1ce3d
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140607868477?ru=http://www.ebay.co.uk:80/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l2736&_nkw=140607868477&_fvi=1&_rdc=1
The ebay US ended listing only shows the 1st thumbnail picture while the ebay UK ended listing shows the full listing. I guess we will all have to use ebay UK from now on if we want to do research.
Successful Trades: Swampboy,
<< <i>Their latest change is not only idiotic as usual, but has broad ramifications for disputes as well.
Starting a few days ago, once an auction finishes or an item is sold, all of the images that were included via eBay's picture hosting are removed, and you can only see a thumbnail of the first image. Also, the shipping method, shipping charges, and return policy information are no longer accessible... to either the buyer or the seller.
This is going to be a nightmare with respect to disputes, especially SNAD.
Images that were included in the body of the listing and hosted on third-party services still remain; it's only uploaded images that get axed.
So if you want a record or screenshots of anything, you will now need to do so BEFORE you buy or the auction ends. Sweet.
Over on the eBay forums, people are getting mixed messages from eBay on this (not surprising). Some reps are saying it is a site-side glitch that will be fixed, and others are saying this was a planned "improvement".
For now, there is a workaround: if you go to a non-U.S. eBay site and type in the auction number, you can still access the information. It's only been redacted on the U.S. eBay site.
How is either a buyer OR a seller supposed to prove/disprove claims/promises after the fact if the data gets immediately yanked? >>
This is a stupid policy, and I am hypothesizing that it will be short lived. If not, I may refrain from making further purchases on eBay. Since the auction constitutes a legally binding contract, it makes enforcement and PayPal arbitration more difficult.
--Jerrylisting
As has been mentioned, without the additional photos it will be very difficult for a buyer to win a SNAD claim. I find it hard to believe ebay hasn't thought this through. It's possible they will make the photos available if a dispute is filed. They're just doing what most companies do today - cutting costs and maximizing revenue in every conceivable way.
"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary."
~ Vince Lombardi
It's not that hard to do, I don't think I've posted more than one free gallery picture in any of my auctions over the past 10 years. I do put a lot of pictures in the body of my listings.
Edited: I sold a 2008 W $10 AGE Unc. raw today. All pics except the thumbnail removed.
With all of the massive FeeBay fee increases they can't host the images for a few weeks??? Just gets worse and worse....
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>ave done is not allowing us to significantly change prices of an active listing auction/BIN. one must end the listing and then re-list, of course resulting in our lost time and more fees for them. >>
Really? That must only apply to auctions then, because I edit the price on my Stores listings all the time. >>
maybe it was just auctions
coulda swore i edited some BIN and it gave me same message >>
Mine was a BIN, sold this am, pics gone.
I'm going to call again tomorrow. I'll probably call everyday until I get some satisfaction.
It's very difficult to sell similar coins, many different VDB Lincolns , for example, if you can't see what your customer has purchased.
It's really crazy !!
<< <i>I use my own website to host pictures. They remain there for years if you want to go back and view them.
It's not that hard to do, I don't think I've posted more than one free gallery picture in any of my auctions over the past 10 years. I do put a lot of pictures in the body of my listings. >>
But it is important to have ebay host the one free pic so you show up in the gallery view. I host the other pics on photobucket with great success.
BTW, I am generally not at all concerned with the SNAD claims. I never make them and I never get them. Those of you that are concerned do you really have experience with them or do you just read about them here until you assume 50% of all ebay sales end up in a SNAD claim (which is what it would be easy to conclude if you woke up from a coma and just started reading these forums).
--Jerry
A Truth That's Told With Bad Intent
Beats All The Lies You Can Invent
<< <i>I suggest going to the bottom of the ebay page, and click on the "Tell Us What You Think" link... then TELL THEM!!! I DID!!!! >>
Good suggestion.....Done.....
<< <i>
<< <i>I suggest going to the bottom of the ebay page, and click on the "Tell Us What You Think" link... then TELL THEM!!! I DID!!!! >>
Good suggestion.....Done..... >>
I did it by phone
<< <i>I've usually placed the intelligence of eBay's Powers That Be somewhere between that of Woody Harrelson and a cocker spaniel. >>
Isn't Woody a MENSA or some jazz? Or is that Kevin Bacon I'm thinking of?
<< <i>
<< <i>I've usually placed the intelligence of eBay's Powers That Be somewhere between that of Woody Harrelson and a cocker spaniel. >>
Isn't Woody a MENSA or some jazz? Or is that Kevin Bacon I'm thinking of? >>
If by "MENSA" you mean "moron," then yes.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution