From eBay Steve Hartman - ***Update on eBay.com’s On-Site Advertising Strategy***

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200709.shtml#2007-09-24104400

***Update on eBay.com’s On-Site Advertising Strategy***
September 24, 2007 | 11:01AM PST/PT

 

Steve Hartman

Hi everyone...I'm Steve Hartman, the Director of On-Site Advertising for eBay. My team is responsible for the ads that show up on eBay.com and I'm here to give you an update on our progress and future plans.

From the beginning, we've approached on-site advertising with the belief that displaying some types of ads to the right people at the right time would benefit buyers by providing them with greater opportunities to find what they were looking for. By satisfying needs this way, we add value to the overall marketplace and further establish eBay as the first and best place to shop.

Our findings so far
There are different reasons people use eBay. Some come to browse, buy, sell, and connect. Others simply come to research or have fun. The testing we've done has helped us better predict when providing advertising actually helps as part of these experiences.

Today our strategy is to identify when people are most likely to buy or bid, so that we don't display ads that are likely to put potential transactions on eBay at risk. In addition, we're working with our advertising partners to show ads that are more relevant, so that their presence truly enhances the buying experience. Analysis to date has shown that this approach to advertising does not get in the way of people who intend to buy or sell items on the site.

Make no mistake – above everything else, we want buyers to transact on eBay. But we also want to offer alternatives when we believe it will improve the buying experience. Our advertising efforts have shown no significant impact to our core transaction business, and subsequently to our sellers' revenue, which further convinces us that we are on the right path.

Let me also say that while we are encouraged about our findings to-date, we have more to learn. I'm sure that everyone can come up with an example of an ad on eBay.com that was not "beneficial" to their user experience, and, yes, I've seen a few of them myself. To that point we're continuing to try new and improved ways to show the right ads in the U.S. And globally, our other sites are developing their own approaches to advertising that meet the unique needs for their markets.

Sincerely,

Steve Hartman
eBay On-Site Advertising Team

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http://center.spoke.com/info/pRbIaA/SteveHartman

Steve Hartman

• eBay Manager Analytical Applications
• eBay Singapore, 2001-2007
• Accenture HR Services Inc

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From eBay Stores Forum
October Brown Bag Lunch on 10/30 @ 12 noon http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?messageID=2008120503&forumID=21&x#2008120503

stinson@ebay.com

View Listings | Report                 Oct-30-07 13:27 PDT                 85 of 99                                     
Commonsensegonewild (re: poet #41)

eBay has approached on-site advertising with the belief that displaying some types of ads to the right people at the right time would benefit buyers by providing them with greater opportunities to find what they were looking for. By satisfying their needs, we add value to the overall marketplace and further establish eBay as the first and best place to shop.

While we are encouraged about our findings to-date, we have more to learn. I'm sure that everyone can come up with an example of an ad on eBay.com that was not "beneficial" to their user experience. We’re continuing to try new and improved ways to show the right ads.

Best Regards,
Stinson

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For new newsgroup readers, these are not our forum posts. Any comments to the posters below should be made on the applicable thread, marked in bold below.

FYI apologist post_a_note aka 20th_century_art posts spin and damage control supporting eBay ...

 

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From eBay Stores Forum
Today's ebay Worst Person in the World! Steve Hartman http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?threadID=1000565064&start=0

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gone2deriver  (0 )      Sep-24-07 13:17 PDT
Steve Hartman, the Director of On-Site Advertising for eBay earns the honor of Today's ebay Worst Person in the World!

For this great spin on why it is ok for ebay to drive traffic to competing items on Amazon. His take it really does not drive customers to other sites?

Think about that one for a bit!

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200709.shtml#2007-09-24104400

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pri**  (388 )      Sep-24-07 13:28 PDT     1
It's just so disheartening to read stuff like that. It would be better if eBay would keep its pie hole shut than put out piles of horse manure like that.

Kat (primsaw)

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foc**  (Private )      Sep-24-07 13:45 PDT     2
You don't find Burger King ads inside McDonald's stores! Everything he says is nonsense! Indeed, Today's ebay Worst Person in the World, he has a nice smile, though.

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rust**  (284 )      Sep-24-07 13:49 PDT     3
I read that announcement about 2 hours ago, thought surely I had mis-read it, so I read it again. I then went out to the shop and tinkered on tractors for awhile to allow myself to cool down a bit and collect my thoughts on this issue. I still don't have it figured out. It does make wonder though just who is writing Steve Hartmans pay check. It surely cannot be ebay?? Maybe someone is passing money under the table?


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gone2deriver  (0 )      Sep-24-07 13:55 PDT     4
They are Dumb and Desperate!

Obviously they fear missing their earnings in one quarter more than destroying the business in the long term.

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dol**  (1897 )      Sep-24-07 14:01 PDT     5
Oh...wow. If I were a cartoon you could see the steam coming out of my ears right now after reading that.

Well, if THIS doduble-speak he said is true:

"But we also want to offer alternatives when we believe it will improve the buying experience. Our advertising efforts have shown no significant impact to our core transaction business, and subsequently to our sellers' revenue, which further convinces us that we are on the right path. "

Then I IMMEDIATELY expect eBay to lift the ban on linking to my off-eBay store in MY LISTINGS which I PAY (dearly) FOR. It would definitely improve the buying experience for my, and eBay's customers. If eBay DOESN'T do this, it just makes them a hypocite times TWENTY. Just another reason to not trust eBay at all.

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moo**  (1423 )      Sep-24-07 14:29 PDT     6
Conversely, Amazon was showing me ads for a national Pizza chain
last Friday afternoon. This seems like a no-brainer and smart for Amazon.
I didn't buy pizza from that chain, but sure did buy a pizza Friday evening.

Director? please! Directors make movies.
This guy is a MANAGER!
eBay has alot of upper management trying to show profit for the group they lead.
I've always hated this kind of upper management.
It just comes down to a number to show the CEO and wear with your snotty clothes.
All moral decisions get flushed down the toilet.

Will Barker



I'm worried for the soul of eBay.
I'm sure the average eBay employee is worried too.
I'd like to find out what this manager did before eBay?
Not that I'm suggesting Amazon, but more like Country Time Lemonaid or Jiffy Lube
are in his resume.

Full Disclosure:
I've been a Fishermen, a computer graphic artist,
I've slept in my car more than once, I've been to strip clubs,
told lies, voted for Perot, been robbed at gunpoint, sold liquor and lottery tickets,
....but I never did something as shameful
as this guy has!

He is the Worst Person in the World, Sept. 24th 2007!

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gone2deriver  (0 )      Sep-24-07 14:34 PDT     7
Cobb Just said on the Townhall that the Amazon Ads were a mistake and should not be showing. He is so Clueless!

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ete**  (1450 )      Sep-24-07 14:45 PDT     8
Quote: "Our advertising efforts have shown no significant impact to our core transaction business, and subsequently to our sellers' revenue, which further convinces us that we are on the right path."

Cough, choke, cough. Does anyone know the Heimlich Maneuver??

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moo**  (1423 )      Sep-24-07 14:50 PDT     9
"My wife doesn't know that I'm cheating on her, and
this lack of knowledge is having no impact on our marriage,
which further convinces me that I'm on the right path!"

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psy**  (281 )      Sep-24-07 14:58 PDT     10
So Amazon can have adds on eBay, but the actual eBay store owners can not promote their own off eBay sites?

More eBay hypocrisy!


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roc**  (2345 )      Sep-24-07 15:08 PDT     11
I wondered if the guy bothered to ask any sellers if our sales were hurting. We know the answer to that question.

Yeah, and like how many Target stores meet customers at the door, ask them what they are looking for, and then send them to Kmart or Richman Gordman?

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just-thinking  (11 )      Sep-24-07 15:11 PDT     12
The only sellers they likely looked at were there
mega sellers, the one's they are helping.

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post_a_note  (0 )      Sep-24-07 15:15 PDT     13
So Amazon can have adds on eBay, but the actual eBay store owners can not promote their own off eBay sites?

Well, come to think of it... I could name quite a few off eBay sites that are promoted on this very board, either through quasi-concealed references, or direct links in ME pages, almost daily. Personally, I'd like to see ALL the off-eBay traffic drivers minimized. I wonder how many forummers agree with that approach?? Or is driving eBay traffic to another site okay when it puts money in one's own pocket?




This is a posting ID.  The views and opinions expressed here may resemble those of eBay employees or management.

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roc**  (2345 )      Sep-24-07 15:17 PDT     14
From the beginning, we've approached on-site advertising with the belief that displaying some types of ads to the right people at the right time would benefit buyers by providing them with greater opportunities to find what they were looking for. By satisfying needs this way, we add value to the overall marketplace and further establish eBay as the first and best place to shop.

So now Ebay wants to be the friendly good-guy who refers any and all buyers to other places to shop. Good PR, eh? A referral service. And buyers will love Ebay for it and keep coming back? That's their mission? Just like Santa in A Miracle on 34th Street. Buyers will come back for more referrals! Why should they have to surf the internet themselves when Ebay will provide them with all the places to buy from with one click? What a crock?

And sales have gone down. And listings have gone down. Geesh, Meg herself says so in her quarterly reports. What pile of sand has this guy been burying his head in?

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just-thinking  (11 )      Sep-24-07 15:19 PDT     15
PAN

The sellers PAY to have THEIR items seen NOT to
have offsite sellers items seen.

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just-thinking  (11 )      Sep-24-07 15:20 PDT     16
-

I agree that if it is ok to have have offsite ads
then it should be ok for a seller to put their
website in their item description.

But the ads should stop and allow the sellers to
advertise their websites.

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roc**  (2345 )      Sep-24-07 15:21 PDT     17
Maybe Ebay is trying to compete with Google's search info., and keep people from going to Google? Ebay wants people to come here to find out where to buy on the net. Stevie probably thinks Ebay will get more buyers on the site that way. You know, trickle down shopping. Well, trickle down economics didn't work either.

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just-thinking  (11 )      Sep-24-07 15:21 PDT     18
-

Course if they did that they would probably charge
a fee of a dollar for each listing.

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moo**  (1423 )      Sep-24-07 15:26 PDT     19
Come on PAN!
We're not talking about eBay advertisng for Pepsi, Pizza,
and Crusie Ships, ...which makes sense.
We're taking about the most idiotic form of advertising
from eBay. Advertising for your direct competetion.

Like I've said before, I could careless who gets the 15% commission now.

Don't care if it helps them reach this quarters numbers goals.
It's shameful and frankly not necessary.


...and it makes for good jokes and satire!

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fri*  (1154 )      Sep-24-07 15:28 PDT     20



WoW! How did he keep such a straight face while delivering THAT!

Oh... it's a picture. Uhhh - nevermind.

~fr*k



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psy**  (281 )      Sep-24-07 15:30 PDT     21
Well said just thinking.

I pay for my listings. Experion does not pay me for their adds to appear on my listings. I do not pay for eBay to put Experion or other adds on my listing. Yet eBay has done just that.

As for promoting Amazon or other big companies on eBay, I find it a strange strategy. Drive sellers off eBay to the competition. Not just eBay sellers competition, but eBay's own direct competition. What the heck are they thinking?


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moo**  (1423 )      Sep-24-07 15:31 PDT     22
Come to think of it...maybe Jeff Bezos made a bet
with eBay like this.

Heads I Win. Tails you Lose!

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fairly_dinkum  (6 )      Sep-24-07 15:47 PDT     23
"Analysis to date has shown that this approach to advertising does not get in the way of people who intend to buy or sell items on the site."


You know the intentions of people? We finally got the Finding Team to admit that they can't read minds and then you go and write something like that!

They'll be wanting to borry your crystal ball, just you wait and see.


Oh...that Town Hall call-in complaint on the Experian Ads...

TACKY

Good one. The panel commented with mutterings and whispers of "next question".


fair treatment for Stores - just do it
~me

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fairly_dinkum  (6 )      Sep-24-07 15:50 PDT     24
borry to BORROW (the slang-English of the two-fingered typer)


fair treatment for Stores - just do it
~me

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just-thinking  (11 )      Sep-24-07 15:51 PDT     25
Read that if one turns off the counters they can
get rid of the Experian Ads.

BUT the time sellers figure out a work around, eBay
is figuring out how to work around and counter them.

If too many items sell in the stores, eBay will figure
out how to hide them even more.

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chi**  (1796 )      Sep-24-07 16:08 PDT     26
It is all part of Dumbing Down of America. I have been here awhile and I believe that Ebay has some very smart sellers. We are not part of the dumbing down, but maybe he's alway arrived if he believe's his own BS. Most sellers don't. JC Penneys ads all over is a slap in the face to sellers of clothes and shoes. They will kill the goose that lays the golden egg.

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gone2deriver  (0 )      Sep-24-07 16:15 PDT     27
How about Dell Computer and Dell Laptop ads... Bright Colorful Enticing Ads slapped all over ebay. Even worse right on the front page luring customers away even before they even enter the search box. Million dollar ads created by Million dollar ad agencies. You want to compete with that and pay the fees and deal with the fraud here?

Business school text books will have case studies on this Blunder. Any third grader with a Lemonade stand would know hanging a sign up saying "Go Buy Joey's Lemonade across the street it Taste Better" is not good for business.

Where does ebay find these IDIOTS!

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ora**  (154 )      Sep-24-07 16:59 PDT     28
This explains why my Amazon sales have doubled in the past two months.  Woot! 

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car**  (151 )      Sep-24-07 17:15 PDT     29
And this approach is supposed to win back those consumers from the past, which eBay lost. I think not.

Today our strategy is to identify when people are most likely to buy or bid, so that we don't display ads that are likely to put potential transactions on eBay at risk.

I would like to know how many of these ads have had an adverse effect on sellers and will those sellers be compensated for such loss? I think not.

So this strategy could potentially be costing sellers thousands of lost revenue, and those sellers don't even know it. Correct me if I'm wrong.


-Tammy

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mac*address  (13 )      Sep-24-07 17:21 PDT     30
Spin posted here: http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200709.shtml#2007-09-24104400 
= 100% buzzword compliant.

Just one more example why any university offering an MBA program should be burned to the ground.

--Mac

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eto**  (2636 )      Sep-24-07 17:39 PDT     31
I had a tougher time translating this one. My Ebayese has never been tested to this extent. Steve piled IT so high,
he has produced a years worth of methane for the entire state of Utah.
______________

Hi everyone...I'm Steve Cartman, the Director of On-Site Advertising and Propaganda for eBay. My team is responsible for the ads that show up in front of your store listings in core search on eBay.com and I'm here to give you an update on our future plans to have store items visibility totally disappear from our site.

From the beginning, we've approached on-site advertising with the belief that displaying some types of ads to the right people at the right time would benefit Ebay by providing Ebay with greater revenue opportunities of having buyers find what they were looking for off of Ebay. We don't care if buyers purchase on site or not, Ebay gets paid either way! Seriously, isn't that what IT is all about? Shopping Victoriously OFF of Ebay?? By satisfying our needs this way, we add revenue to Ebay and further establish eBay as the first and best place to shop off of Ebay before the potential buyer can find your store!

Our findings so far
There are different reasons people use eBay. Personally, we don't care two round mounds about the segment of individuals attempting to make a living here. We don't have to. We have you people coming out our ears. The others come to browse, buy, and connect. Others simply come to research or have fun. The testing we've done has helped us better predict when we can take sales away from store owners by providing competitor's advertising ahead of the majority of store items that appear in core search, the ONLY visibility ya'll have!! Ain't that a HOOT! We felt that our lubricated method of eliminating SIS to reduce the number of stores was not as successful as we planned. No lubrication this time. The gloves are off!

I had to leave the next paragraph alone. Reason immediately following this unbelieveable diatribe.
____________________________________________________
Today our strategy is to identify when people are most likely to buy or bid, so that we don't display ads that are likely to put potential transactions on eBay at risk. In addition, we're working with our advertising partners to show ads that are more relevant, so that their presence truly enhances the buying experience. Analysis to date has shown that this approach to advertising does not get in the way of people who intend to buy or sell items on the site.
___________________________________________________

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE - The above paragraph cannot be translated. IT is pure poopy. There is no Ebayese translation for LIES, because Ebay never lies. Since this entire paragraph is a LIE, IT is untranslatable.
Hey Cartman, email me, I will show you irrefutable
evidence to the contrary.
____________________________________________________

okay...translation cont.

Make no mistake – above everything else, we want buyers to transact on eBay core, or paid ads before purchasing from stores! We believe it will improve the buying experience while driving more invisible store items to core. Our advertising efforts have shown no significant impact to our core transaction business, but IT has kicked donkey butt on store sales! We love IT! We are convinced that we are on the right path, number one priority Core, number two Paid ads, number three Express and last, those stores. Check for future updates, Ebay search and ad team are combining forces to have Ebay stores receive less traffic than wagglepop! And ya'll didn't think that was possible? Wait!

Let me also say that while we are encouraged about our 96% YOY increase in paid ads, we have more money to make. Like how to have paid pop ups appear with less expensive like items in core when a potential buyer enters your store, or an automatic last page never ending re-direct. I'm sure that everyone can come up with an example of an ad on eBay.com that was listed on the first page of core search ahead of your store items, and, yes, I've seen a few thousand of them myself. But you forget, we don't care. To that point we're continuing to try new and improved ways to eliminate stores without the bad PR of raising fees. We're subtle, conniving, and love to eliminate store sales!

                         
Sincerely,
Steve Cartman
eBay On-Site Advertising Team

________________________________________________________

Now, once again, my waiver. This is satire, Otay?
This is my translation only. As you can tell, my Ebayese is slipping, I could not translate an entire paragraph because of the stench.

Your opinion may differ. My opinion is not the opinion of Ebay or any affiliates, I'm almost sure. IT is solely my own interpretation.

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fri**  (1154 )      Sep-24-07 17:47 PDT     32

~fr_k

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tct**  (2084 )      Sep-24-07 17:56 PDT     33
Ebay is going to the dogs. This seals it. Unbelievable. We are supposed to advertise for Ebay elsewhere for less of a final value fee, then they take money from another company to put their ads on Ebay. What a crock. I guess good things can't last forever, but it's too bad because originally Ebay was a brilliant idea. Now its just another site full of advertising. What a disappointment.

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just-thinking  (11 )      Sep-24-07 17:58 PDT     34
We are supposed to advertise for Ebay elsewhere for less of a final value fee

And that is what all that nonsense is about Squidoo.
I have nothing against Squidoo BUT I would not dream
of using that to bring people into this site, I use
it to bring people to my website or other totally
free alternative sites.

eTown I applaud you as well.  That was great! LOL

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just-thinking  (11 )      Sep-24-07 18:00 PDT     35
-

And eBay is lovin it that sellers are now doing
more and more of their own advertising. They collect
the fees and the store sellers get their own traffic.
What are those store listing fees for ?????

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just-thinking  (11 )      Sep-24-07 18:05 PDT     36
-

And the message sellers who pay or get for free
all that traffic coming into eBay is mainly
training this company that they do not have to
get meaningful traffic anymore, let the sellers
do it, we will just sit here and count our money.

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cho**  (2185 )      Sep-24-07 18:28 PDT     37
OK! I want him gone. Where's Little Deuce? I need to talk with, u know.. Tony

Der-der der-der-der DER-DER
Green acres is the place to be!

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ger**  (729 )      Sep-24-07 18:36 PDT     38
Ebay is probably raking in the dough for each click they get for these off site places.
Gerrhagirls Stained Glass Supplies and More

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rlr**  (2000 )         Sep-24-07 19:13 PDT       39
The translation for that load of Yuppy MBA speak is rather simple.

"We're making a butt-load of money off of these ads, so it really doesn't matter whether it affects your sales"

Check out my Guides!

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mylildeucecoop  (6 )        Sep-24-07 20:18 PDT       40
Etown- Fab Job!

Gotta Go..I hear dogs barking off in the distance.......like a sick howl...high whine......like death of a good life. Oh wait, that's me whimpering at my desk.

Chops! I am here- email me!
Lildeuce

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eto**  (2637 )      Sep-24-07 22:24 PDT     41
Today our strategy is to identify when people are most likely to buy or bid, so that we don't display ads that are likely to put potential transactions on eBay at risk.
___________________

Steve, I don't really want an email from you. You're way too busy shoveling. I'll just show you what I'm talking about. 

On my BUYER'S ID.....I buy A-LOT of Verlander autographs, and sell them also...

Here's what is below the partial store listings (30 of 48 appear) for Verlander autograph search.

Sponsored Links from Shopping.com
Detroit Tigers Justin Verlander Autographed Baseball...Justin threw only the 6th no hitter in Tigers History in 2007 and is one of the best young pitchers in the major leagues!!Each item comes with a MLB A...

Dick's Sporting Goods
Detroit Tigers Justin Verlander Autographed Baseball...Justin threw only the 6th no hitter in Tigers History in 2007 and is one of the best young pitchers in the major leagues!!Each item comes with a MLB A...
Dick's Sporting Goods

2005 Skybox Autographics Baseball Unopened Box12 packs per box with 5 cards per pack. 3 Autographed cards per box on average with the set including David Wright and Justin Verlander. There are al...

Dick's Sporting Goods
2005 Fleer Authentix Baseball Unopened Box24 packs per box with 5 cards each. This product has lots of memorabilia and autographs at a rate of 4 per box on average. Look for autographs of Cal...

Dick's Sporting Goods
Topps 2006 Rookies Set 1952 Edition (20pk)2006 Topps MLB Rookies 1952 Edition More than 300 Rookies including Justin Verlander, Stephen Drew and Jered Weaver! 20 Packs, 8 Cards Per Pack 3 A...
Dick's Sporting Goods
__________________________


EVERY AD - Justin Verlander - direct competition placed before my items.

Ten of my twelve Verlander autographs appear on the SECOND page - after the competitor's ads on the FIRST page.

Ya gotta tell me, how does this NOT potentially put my Ebay item sales at risk?

BTW....peachy letter ya sent out. How many people do ya think swallowed that, 1 or 2?

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cho**  (2185 )      Sep-24-07 22:27 PDT     42
OK Deuce! I'm bring my mercy stick

Der-der der-der-der DER-DER
Green acres is the place to be!



       

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moo**  (1424 )      Sep-24-07 22:50 PDT     43
This day has helped me see the light.... and it burns!
I'll try to ignore all the stupid lies and swank
moves for the sake of Wall Street from here on out.
I'm here for the next 4-5 months to cash in, as I'm
sure the rest of you are too.

This monster is just gonna
have to be your ugly girlfriend for awhile.
Nice to bang every night, but just really awful to
see with the lights on.

Buck up! Eat yr. Wheaties Kids!
$$$$$ Time. Ignore the corporate suck-ups.

eBay you wear make-up like a bag of rocks.

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pri**  (388 )      Sep-24-07 22:55 PDT     44
Oh Stevie, Stevie, you are in peril!!

,--._ _
"'. '. ,';
) '. ,' /
_/ '. ,' '.
-"__ '.; / ,`' ,-`
\ / ( ,===. _`. )
/__ `.__//.' \\/_.-`
'-,._.- \ \_/\\ ,-.
\.- / \_\\/||
_/\\ :o o :-'/;.`.
_,";-,;| :/"\ : // ||))
_..."((|_//||-.._\"// `` ;;''
/,-----"||" '' \`._
// ,'| `-.`-..._
:: ,',' '.__.=
:: ||| _
\\_ "" )) 'Beware the jabberwock, my son!'
\_"--....';
'""---"'

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bhe**  (302 )      Sep-24-07 23:04 PDT     45
EBay wants to be a web search engine for shoppers. Maybe they should call it eBayoogle?

http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y07/m09/i25/s02
Todd Lutwak of eBay Seller Development said the seller team is working very closely with the advertising team on the testing. Lutwak said just as it's better for buyers to have three people selling an item on eBay versus just one seller, the Yahoo advertising provides more choices to buyers.

England said eBay wants to convert visitors to buyers, but they also want visitors to consider eBay "the first place to start their shopping experience."

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cho**  (2185 )      Sep-24-07 23:09 PDT     46
LMAO Mookie!

Hey y’all, prepare yourself

For the Rubberband... man

You never heard a sound

Like the rubberband.... man

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pri**  (388 )      Sep-24-07 23:13 PDT     47
"England said eBay wants to convert visitors to buyers, but they also want visitors to consider eBay "the first place to start their shopping experience."

etown, may I attempt to translate this bit of ebayese into plain English this time?

"England said eBay wants to convert visitor to buyers at other websites, but they also want visitors to consider eBay as not really good enough to do their shopping there, just a place to find out where else to go for a better shopping experience."

Kat

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ben**  (136 )      Sep-24-07 23:31 PDT     48
Kat, I am humbled, Ebayese could be your first language!

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eto**  (2637 )      Sep-24-07 23:34 PDT     49
One of my Buy ID's again, see how pissed I am?

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seo**  (543 )      Sep-24-07 23:54 PDT     50
Ok, I have him exterminated too since I have already paid for a hired hit for my MIL and it is one for one (hunter said it is low season anyway).
 

"They try to make me go to rehab, I said no no no "

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formerjunkseller  (0 )        Sep-25-07 03:24 PDT       51
Ever seen the wizard of OZ?

"PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTIAN..."

"Pay no attention to those on-site advertisements. They are not driving people off site to make their purchases. There have been no negative impact to ebay from these adds. We can assure you that not one single person has made a purchase on the sites our links have diverted your buyers to. And there are no links to Amazon.com on ebay.com and even if there was they were there by mistake and had no negative impact on ebay itself."

I don't know what scares me the most...

The thought that they actually believe people are so dumb and thoughtless that we'd believe this or...

The thought that THEY acutually believe this themselves.

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formerjunkseller  (0 )      Sep-25-07 03:29 PDT     52
Buy Books at Abebooks and Save Money
Find the book you're looking for at Abebooks.com. Compare bookstore selections. Over 100 million used, rare and out-of-print books offered by 13,000 bookstores.
www.abebooks.com

PAY NO ATTENTION TO THIS LINK AS FOUND ON EBAY UNDER HUMOR BOOKS. WE CAN ASSURE YOU THAT NO EBAY USER WOULD CLICK ON THAT AND BUY A BOOK THAT THEY WOULD HAVE BOUGHT ON EBAY.COM. This add is here for one reason only and that is to enhance the ebay buying experince...

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formerjunkseller  (0 )      Sep-25-07 03:32 PDT     53
"Textbooks: Compare Prices
Save up to 90% on millions of new and used textbooks. Free shipping, no tax available.
www.campusbooks.com"

PAY NO ATTENTION TO THIS LINK TO CAMPUSBOOKS.COM. We can assure you that this link has no negative impact on ebay.com and does not actually promote off ebay buying.

.

formerjunkseller  (0 )      Sep-25-07 03:37 PDT     54
Books Books
Find Books Books and Compare prices at Smarter.com.
www.smarter.com

PAY NO ATTENTION TO THIS LINK ON OUR SITE. We can assure you that even though when you click on it it only promotes buying books from Barnesnoble.com, AMAZON.co, Half.com, ichapters.com and visit borders.com and does not promote books on EBAY.com, THERE IS NO NEGATIVE IMPACT FROM THIS LINK ON OUR SITE.

OK fellow boardies... you know what to do... cut and past those "NO NEGATIVE IMPACT" adds!

.

old**  (3057 )      Sep-25-07 03:47 PDT     55
Been saying since this was announced that this advertising move was the greatest danger to sellers eBAY had conjured to date ---- Looks claivoyant at this point -- and

I am truly surprised that it is only in the last couple of months that it has become a big brouhaha on the board.

The twist side is that it is also the BEST available opportunity to USE eBAY to grow another site --- and was the SINGLE BIGGEST FACTOR in decidig to push the date of our WEBB SITE forward by nearly a year

We are getting NICE traffic and sales to both our WEBB SITES directly from eBAY -- and at an advertising cost that is favorable compared to overall eBAY costs.

Our specialty WEBB SITE this month will be at 85% of our OVERALL eBAY sales -- and our other site will approach 65% of eBAY overall Sales --- BOTH easily 6 months ahead of schedule -- AND

I frankly THANK eBAY's lack of COM focus for our success.

Our goal is to be using eBAY as strictly a dumping ground for excess inventory by end QTR 2 2008 in one store and to do just mid grade collectable auctions on this ID in about the same time frame.

I still believe that eBAY's corporate focus will bring IT success --- I just do not believe that any but collectable auctioneers and mega general line stores will be sharing much in that success.

We will participate as auctioneers ---

Carl

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tri**  (1684 )      Sep-25-07 05:24 PDT     56
If the ads are not encouraging users to click the links and leave eBay, then eBay wouldn't be making any money on "click through" would they? And they wouldn't bother to do it. So if eBay is planning to continue the practice, it is because they are making big $$$$ from it, which also means lots of users are leaving eBay because of the links.

I don't have a big problem with links to items not available on eBay. Although I still think anything that distracts or draws a user away from your site is a bad idea. At least no one here is selling mortgages, pizza delivery, etc.

Does Amazon have links to B & K or ABEBooks? Don't think so. I don't see K-mart ads when I go to the Walmart site. And I've yet to see Chevy ads on the Ford site.

Well, heck, evidently "Steve" is smarter than the marketing folks for all the other large corporations and online vendors. Most other companies would probably fire the marketing guy or laugh at the idea of encouraging prospective buyers to leave their site & visit a competitor, thinking it was an April Fool's joke.

.

eto**  (2637 )      Sep-25-07 05:35 PDT     57
Steve, here's another classic! Search off my Buyer's ID again - Tarvaris autograph.

17 appear in core. Yahoo! I get visibility with my 13 Tarvaris autograph's! 30/65 store items appear on the first page.

But..... in FRONT of 12 of my graphs which aren't on the first page...

Sponsored Links
Viking Autographed
Vikings NFL Autographs Low Prices and Free Shipping.
www.ProSportsMemorabilia.com

Vikings Autographed Offers
Compare vikings autographed prices Online and in Your Area.
www.ShopLocal.com

FYI - Tarvaris Jackson is the starting QB for the .... VIKINGS!

NO risk to ebay, (my), transactions?

What's that smell?

.

ecl**  (3569 )      Sep-25-07 05:47 PDT     58
Exactly on spot Tribblekitty!

How dumb do they think we are - of course it is leading people off the site or Ebay wouldn't make any $$ from them and they wouldn't be there.


Our advertising efforts have shown no significant impact to our core transaction business

Interesting phrasing above:  Since someone hitting a link, would be going to purchase an item, not bid on an auction in hopes of purchasing, so I imagine it doesn't impact core when looked at as a whole to the same degree as stores.  Although I'm sure if it was broken down there would be a significant impact to core BIN and core Fixed price.

But then again, I never knew Ebay had gotten its software set so now it can read the intentions of buyers on the site. So do they only whip out the ads, when the buyer is not intending to bid? They can tell by the way the buyer scrolls down? Or by the way the enter button is hit (oooh, too soft, they won't bid, pull the ads out). What malarkey!

So, tell me Ebay - what am I thinking now?

.

focus5358  (Private )      Sep-25-07 06:01 PDT     59
I did a search on "Sopranos", it showed me item #320159920764
Sopranos 1-6 All Six Seasons Ultimate Collection DVD
Price $106.72, Bids 24, Shipping $12.00

and some Sponsored Links:
Sopranos Seasons 1-6 $95
Lowest Price Online. 2 Days Only.Free Shipping.Money Back Guarantee. Save 79%.
www.xxxxxx.com/Sopranos

Sopranos Dvd
The Complete Seasons Of Sopranos 1-6 On Sale Only $89 Free Shipping.
www.xxxxxsets.com

If I were the buyer, I would buy from the Sponsored Links!

Not just the Sopranos! When I type "HBO", the Sponsored Links gives me:
HBO Movie DVDs at Netflix®
Start a free trial & rent from over 85K DVDs. No late fees, ever.

I don't even need to buy, I can just watch HBO Movies for free or just pay $4.99 a month.

ebay has betrayed us all!

.

str**  (359 )      Sep-25-07 06:14 PDT     60
This site is looking more and more like those ad farms. Flashing banners, and so much clutter. I usually back out in a hurry and never go back.

As for the announcement, how stupid do they think we are?? So condescending!

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car**  (151 )      Sep-25-07 06:23 PDT     61
            eBay Search: Plus Size Career Blouse 1x

1st. eBay Listings
2nd. Ebay Express Listings

Then the following 'clickable' links to offsite businesses.

Sponsored Links

Plus Sizes Church Suits
Women's church suits. Name brands. Plus size women's. Suits matching hat and purse.
www.sundaysverybest.com

Old Navy Women's Plus
Fashion that fits. The latest looks in sizes 16-30 exclusively online.
www.oldnavy.com/plus

Lane Bryant's Plus Sizes
Lane Bryant has fashions for women who shop for style, not just size.
www.lanebryant.com

Eddie Bauer® Plus Size
Find your perfect fit this Summer. Shop Eddie Bauer® for Plus sizes.
www.EddieBauer.com

Fashionable Plus Size Clothing
SizeAppeal offers a great selection of beautiful clothes for curvy women in sizes 14 - 28, 1X - 4X.
www.sizeappeal.com

I would love to see how many customers on eBay actually follow those links and make a purchase.


-Tammy

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sho**  (93820 )      Sep-25-07 07:03 PDT     62
Just for the record, ALL sellers are feeling the pain, Big and Small. This conversation that you are having is being paralleled on the Pesa board. We are all shaking our heads wondering what is going on. We are using what ears that will listen to convey the same message that you are expressing here. Be assured that your thoughts are shared with our organization and we appreciate your input. Hopefully together we can reach solution to this incredible problem.

David Hardin
Pesa Board Member

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great-lakes-wholesale  (4 )      Sep-25-07 07:16 PDT     63
When running yahoo pay-per-click ads for our website we have received both traffic and sales directly from ads running on ebay.

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bri**  (1160 )      Sep-25-07 07:20 PDT     64
            Etown- your Ebaynese is splendid ! Another wonderful and accurate translation ! Good work...

Hey Mr. MBA Advertising Genius,in response to the load of manuer that you are trying to shovel down our throats...I have something you can analyze...the two fingers located in the middle of each of my two hands that are up,while the rest of my fingers (and 2 thumbs) are curled inwards in like a fist formation...I'll give you a clue...I'm smiling but not waving hello...

Do you really think people here are that stupid to buy that load of carp you are selling ?

You keep believing that...and eventually...you're gonna wake up one day back at the Jiffy Lube where you came from, because there ain't gonna be anything to advertise when the buyers and sellers are gone.





Madame Kazoo Kitty



"Look into my eyes...you will obey those that wear Fruit Helmets..."
Proud member of the Fruit Helmet Club since 5-31-07

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bri**  (1160 )      Sep-25-07 07:25 PDT     65
            Thanks shoetime for stopping in and posting. It certainly is a serious problem that affects everyone on this site.
I don't see how it can be viewed by Ebay as something that is beneficial to the growth of thisvenue. How is this "bringing back the magic" ?
The only thing I see it doing as far as "magic" is making buyers and sellers go "poof".





Madame Kazoo Kitty



"Look into my eyes...you will obey those that wear Fruit Helmets..."
Proud member of the Fruit Helmet Club since 5-31-07

.

luc**  (2373 )      Sep-25-07 07:41 PDT     66
Doesn't eBay get paid only if people -do- click on the links? That's how most advertising of this nature works. So, I guess eBay is just putting these ads up there for their own health.

Why not put Stores items up there, so that eBay gets paid a Final Value Fee when people actually BUY SOMETHING. Or even multiple items. I'll say it again- my eBay fees USED to be triple what they are now - when stores were in search and before the fee increase sent me to focus most of my efforts on my dot com site.

As long as we are advertising off-eBay links that we don't intend for anyone to actually click on, why not let me advertise my website?

.

ete**  (1450 )      Sep-25-07 07:44 PDT     67
            Is Mr. Hartman still working for eBay this morning??
Oh, he is. Well, that should tell us something.

.

kat**  (3397 )      Sep-25-07 07:47 PDT     68
The sad thing is that for every Steve Hartman that leaves eBay - a new one follows with even dumber ideas. They all have only one mission - impress Meg and Bill with your great money making ideas that put more revenue in eBays pocket. You don't need to consider Ebay sellers and buyers - just the bottom line.

All these new ideas keep Meg and Bill from getting bored while lining their pockets so that they don't have to look for a new playground (they just create a new one here). Nothing will improve at eBay until there is a complete sweep of management. Pierre's entrepreneur spirit is long gone.

.

tct**  (2084 )      Sep-25-07 08:09 PDT     69
I really feel a protest coming on here................
what's the best time to pull listings and/or stop listing? No wonder they gave us free listings for September. Shoulda known there was a catch.

.

tct**  (2084 )      Sep-25-07 08:17 PDT     70
I just did a search on Ebay for "amazon" and there are several auctions for amazon gift certificates. Funny. Lets all list one on the same day. LOL

.

san**  (2794 )      Sep-25-07 08:21 PDT     71
When I do a search for one of my best sellers- I get this 433 items found for: Felina from core and 3385 items found for: Felina in All Stores Categories. At the bottom of the page I find my biggest competitors on the internet. All huge companies-
Sponsored Links
Bare Necessities: Felina Lingerie
Shop for Felina Bras Seen on Oprah. $5.00 Flat-Rate Shipping Everyday.
www.BareNecessities.com
Buy Felina Underwear
Buy Beautiful Felina Lingerie. Free Ship Over $50! Shop Felina.
www.TheLingerieStoreUSA.com
Buy Felina Lingerie
Large selection, 3 views per style, free shipping with $70 or more.
www.HerRoom.com
Buy Felina Bras
We have bras for women of all sizes and bust lines. Find your girdles, shapewear, and sleepwear at our online store.
www.frish.com
Felina on Sale
Compare prices and save on a huge selection of felina.
www.DesignerApparel.com

As sellers we certainly have been sold out by Ebay and it shows me that Ebay the corporation has no loyalty to it's own sellers. Store owners have known this but I am glad to see other sellers are now experiencing the same sad realization.

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eto**  (2637 )      Sep-25-07 09:10 PDT     72
Al Kaline autograph - 24 items in core

Store appears in core search. Cool.
Showing 30 of 135 items - Meaning, the below links are appearing on the First page of core search ahead of ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE store listings on Second page, including my listings.

http://tinyurl.com/

Sponsored Links
Al Kaline Autographs
Baseball Autographed Memorabilia Free Shipping, Guaranteed Authentic.
www.ProSportsMemorabilia.com

Al Kaline Autographed Sports Memorabilia
Get authentic Al Kaline Autographed sports memorabilia. Thousands of affordable signed jerseys, balls, helmets, photos and more at Fantastic Memorabilia.
www.fantasticmemorabilia.com

Al Kaline Memorabilia
Al Kaline Autographs Wide variety of sports collectibles.
www.collectiblesofthegame.com
Al Kaline Autograph
Kaline Jerseys, Autographs & More Low Prices, $4.99 shipping.
www.FansEdge.com

Al Kaline Autograph
Find Low Prices and Multiple Offers al kaline autograph.
shopping.yahoo.com
______________________

Now ya could list numerous OTHER items here.

Such as:

Business Ethics (5th Edition) 
by Richard T. De George

Integrity Service: Treat Your Customers Right-Watch Your Business Grow (Hardcover)
by Ron Willingham (Author)

Customer Service on the Internet
by Jim Sterne

Items that don't compete with our items that Ebay
could find VERY useful. Start clicking.

.

gone2deriver  (0 )      Sep-25-07 09:34 PDT     73
Hi Shoetime! Saw your excellent post on the stores board. I have been one of the most vocal critics of this advertising policy. If it is possible for PESA to get an audience with ebay management in San Jose I would like to travel to ebay (at my own expense) to represent store boardies and the everyday seller in this matter. Please let me know if such a meeting can be arranged. Keep up the fight!

.

thbrd94  (0 )      Sep-25-07 09:43 PDT     74
"PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTIAN"
I thought someone said one that Steve Hartman was
Manager of Analytical Applications eBay Singapore.

.

gone2deriver  (0 )      Sep-25-07 10:26 PDT     75
Here is Steve's Resume from Spoke.com:

Steve Hartman
Title: Manager, Analytical Applications

Previous Jobs:

eBay Singapore 2001—2007
Accenture Hr Services Inc


Well we can see where Steve picked up his business ethics, Accenture. Accenture was a spin off from Arthur Anderson.... The company responsible for Enron's accounting.

Further you will note according to the Spoke.com profile Steve worked for Accenture HR Services:

Here is their webpage:

http://www.accenture.com/Global/Outsourcing/Business_Process_Outsourcing/Accenture_HR_Services/


You will note that they are an Outsourcing agency.


According to Wikipedia:

Accenture has been criticized repeatedly by Lou Dobbs of CNN and others for moving some jobs outside the U.S. that results in loss of work and employment for some U.S. citizens. This is because Accenture utilizes global Delivery Centres in South Asia and Southeast Asia (such as Bangalore and Mumbai in India, and, Manila and Cebu in the Philippines) to reduce cost and increase profit margin in outsourcing deals with major U.S. companies. This enables Accenture to perform work (such as software development and call centre support) at a greatly reduced employee cost as compared to U.S. employees.

.

psy**  (281 )      Sep-25-07 11:07 PDT     76
Anyone remember how eBay complained that Stores used up too much band width and server space? Yet there is plenty of both for adds that are inn direct competition with both eBay's sellers and even eBay its self.


Would be hilarious if it were not so sad and disgusting.


.

just-thinking  (11 )      Sep-25-07 11:08 PDT     77
We are getting NICE traffic and sales to both our WEBB SITES directly from eBAY -- and at an advertising cost that is favorable compared to overall eBAY costs.

I am wondering if eBay is close to buying Yahoo or they
are partnering up even closer or merging in the future.
Then eBay keeps all the revenue with the paid advertising
as well.

eBay wants store sellers now to do most of their own
paid advertising and free ones like Squidoo. Anyone
who does Squidoo should only be sending traffic to
their own website or to the other totally free selling sites. And the Yahoo paid advertising should send
people to one's own website but eBay I believe is
banking on paying that to get people into their stores.

eBay is setting everyone up just like they did with
the Bait and Switch with the fill up them stores and
pull the rug out. They now want sellers to pay the
vast majority of their advertising. What are those
store listing fees for?

.

pri**  (388 )      Sep-25-07 11:16 PDT     78
You don't even have to do a search to see major directly competing ads. (altho the wimpy little store link does come before them):

Just go to the main Jewelry category, then click on rings and then gemstone rings and you'll get treated to plenty of directly competing ads on the first page without even doing a keyword search.

Of course if you do enter a keyword search, say for instance "sapphire diamond", you'll be treated to even more directly competing ads, and some of them more specific to your keyword search, such as this one:

Sapphire Diamond Rings
Men's and Womens Rings for Less. Buy Sapphire Diamond Rings fast.
calibex

Plus a more new directly competing ads for Blue Nile, Jewelry Television and many more, if you hadn't seen enough already.

Yep, there's LOTS of choices on eBay now. You bet your bootie. But don't worry, eBay's programming has gotten SO advanced it can figure out when a visitor intends to buy anything on eBay or not! Isn't that fabulous! So it's really only those visitors who came here with absolutely no intention of buying anything here that are clicking on those ads anyway, and it's really so so silly of all you eBay sellers to get worked up about it.

Kat

.

gone2deriver  (0 )        Sep-25-07 11:43 PDT       79
Try this:

Clear your Cookies
Go to the home page
Type dell in the Search Box
See a Big Yellow Dell Notebook Ad?

No no competition from these ads...

.

gone2deriver  (0 )      Sep-25-07 11:45 PDT     80
Try this:

Clear your Cookies
Go to the home page
Type dell in the Search Box
See a Big Yellow Dell Notebook Ad?

No no competition from these ads...

(You may have to do a single reload/refresh)

,

pri**  (388 )      Sep-25-07 11:49 PDT     81
Thank you very much to the PESA member who dropped in. I do hope PESA will have some success at communicating with eBay about this issue. Regular store sellers who visit this board have been shown to have no influence or importance to eBay.

Someone commented (i don't want to go back and find it right now) that they were surprised that it took sellers this long to start making a fuss about this issue.

I don't know about everyone else, but I think the reason is, like usual, even though we know we've been led down the primrose path before by eBay, we listened to Cobb's soothing reassurances that there would be no directly competing ads.

And at first when we saw offsite ads appearing, they were pretty non threatening, such as financing, insurance, etc. So we thought OK, eBay really is going to do right this time.

From what I saw, the ads became more competitive a little at a time. And as they did, eBay got bolder and bolder. You know, sellers who are actively trying to make a buck here are busy. They checked the ads, saw nothing terribly upsetting about them, and went back to work.

I think now many of them are starting to recheck during the course of their usual research for how to write their titles, what price others are asking, etc. and are getting shocked at how much the ads have changed since their inception. Many don't do searches all the time since they're so familiar with they're product. Time is money, and every minute you spend doing searches for research purposes, posting on this board, etc., takes away from actually going out and finding PRODUCT, listing it, selling it, packing it and shipping it. There's only so much time in a day.

So it takes awhile sometimes to notice things. But they are noticing now, and as time goes by, more will notice.

eBay thought this seemingly quiet acceptance of directly competing ads would continue, so they got brazen about it, until now they are completely out in the open with their horns, tail and hooves showing for all to see. And we certainly are seeing and getting into an uproar about it now.

And Lo! The serpent speaks, hissing to the masses "Calm thyselves! For only heathens with no intentions to trade with you shall go elsewhere."

Someone else commented somewhere they were afraid for eBay's soul. eBay lost its soul when they went public years ago. It is now just a corporation with bad, short-sighted management, and that is being kind to them and giving them the benefit of the doubt that it's only stupidity. Franky my opinion is that it is worse than that. It is management who intends to show record profits and then retire before the damage they knowingly did begins to rear its ugly head. HOW COULD THEY NOT KNOW DIRECTLY COMPETING OFFSITE ADS ARE DAMAGING?

Kat (primsaw)

.

//
//
//

For new newsgroup readers, these are not our forum posts. Any comments to the posters below should be made on the applicable thread, marked in bold below.

FYI apologist itspostingtime posts spin and damage control for eBay ...

.

From eBay Stores Forum
Directly Competing Sponsored Ads/Links On Search Results http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?threadID=2000460987&tstart=0&mod=1194020545178

.

pri***  (405 )      Nov-01-07 17:25 PDT
I noticed a certain thread with over a thousand posts disappeared just now. So I'm starting this one for those of us who are unhappy about directly competing ads on the search result pages to discuss them. These ads show up in a box usually near the bottom of every search result page.

Many eBay officials have made statements that indicated that directly competing ads would not appear on search results, yet we keep seeing them.

Kat

men***  (3926 )      Nov-01-07 17:33 PDT     1


another 7 day vacation?


You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who can do nothing for them or to them.  ~Malcolm Forbes

pri***  (405 )      Nov-01-07 17:38 PDT     2
I'm surprised that thread survived as long as it did. However, I do think the subject is an important one and merits discussion.

Kat

goo***  (450 )      Nov-01-07 18:59 PDT     3
I just saw one where the sponsored links showed gallery pictures!
Maggie




pri***  (405 )      Nov-01-07 19:09 PDT     4
Maggie - That is a first isn't it? I don't think I've seen that yet. Just gets worse and worse.

Kat

san***  (2847 )      Nov-01-07 19:15 PDT     5
kat I had a feeling that thread's days were numbered. That's why I posted that warning. Official Ebay has become testy and their tolerance level is really low right now. Your thread sat there like a big pimple on the end of the proverbial Ebay nose publicly reminding them that not everything they say is true. I wish you luck on your crusade and you know you have my full support.

jus***  (11 )      Nov-01-07 19:17 PDT     6
To keep this thread "safe", it might be a good idea not to copy and paste in those websites.

pri***  (405 )      Nov-01-07 20:50 PDT     7
Yes JT. I don't believe I ever put a working link in any of my posts to the offending websites but I think I remember some did.

Bout time for Commonsense to repaste her best post with all those quotes from eBay officials, eh?

Kat

eto***  (2649 )      Nov-01-07 21:24 PDT     8
Repeatedly, we asked for a pink.

No response.

09/24/2007

thru

11/01/2007

1160 posts.

Repeatedly. To explain the reason why identical off site ads were placed on the same page as a potential buyers search when IT was repeatedly stated by mangement that this would not happen.

Repeatedly we asked.

No response.

Except to nuke.

Class act.

pri***  (405 )      Nov-01-07 21:35 PDT     9
Hey etown, I wonder if your timeline was the last straw?

Kat

eto***  (2649 )      Nov-01-07 21:50 PDT     10
Hey Kat. I took off after my post so I don't know how many, or contents, of what followed.

Sometimes the truth is an ugly thing.

pri***  (405 )      Nov-01-07 21:57 PDT     11
            Me either etown.  I worked on updating the petition to remove the stars and then relisted some stuff.

Blast from the past: Quote from Bill Cobb's 5/26/06 announcement:

"For instance, we’ll be looking at placements at the bottom of search results pages if there are no matching items found."

Well, that was nice and reassuring to us eBay sellers, wasn't it? Unfortunately, every search I do now, even if it has zillions of matching items, has directly competing sponsored ads.

Kat (primsaw)

eto***  (2649 )      Nov-01-07 22:02 PDT     12
Seriously, once again.

Pinks, what can Ebay sellers, specifically store owners, expect from these ads?

Are they going to continue to be identical matching items on same page views or not?

You all can think I'm a jerk. I have my moments. That's entirely irrelevant. I'm asking a legitimate question that pertains to all store owners and IT should be addressed by management.

Can we expect these ads to appear on only null results on a search?

Can we expect these ads to appear as only related items on a search?

Or are they going to continue to be directly competing off site ads on identical matches on same page views of search?

If any of you ran your business on Ebay, if you had an Ebay store, you would definitely request a response from management.

We aren't any different than you. We would like to know.

Seriously, answer the question.

kar***  (1738 )      Nov-01-07 23:02 PDT     13
I have hundreds of screen shots if anyone needs them...very easy with the "Snapping Tool" add-on to Firefox

Here is just a random snap of a seller's previous complaint about Shopping dot com on an item search:

eBay owned? Yes

But look at the links to Amaz-- here :




Want 100 more screen shots?  I have them all.

Steve Hartman- are you ready to comment on your brilliant decision to include off-site Competing Ads to eBay?

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200709241100512.html

I admire those who kept the previous thread alive

We PAY to place our ads here, this is not the PPC site I signed onto a few years back.

Too much work (arounds) for too little return, IMO.


K³
"We get flack that we're trying to control search, but we're letting the buyers vote with their clicks and say what's relevant," says search-meister King. "It's a big, big, big change for us."

hom***  (15 )      Nov-02-07 00:21 PDT     14
That screen shot is for shopping.com they are owned by ebay. They also show express items in the mix.


We PAY to place our ads here, this is not the PPC site I signed onto a few years back.

And your ads are here. I see nothing in the UA that ebay promises not to run other forms of ads.
_____________________________________

Save the whales, Collect the whole set.

dis***  (26 )      Nov-02-07 00:40 PDT     15
I just saw one where the sponsored links showed gallery pictures!

It's been going on for at least a few days now. I've been searching for a car stereo and there have been ads from Circuit City, Crutchfield and now etronics.

Do a search for pioneer deh 1500



jam***  (990 )      Nov-02-07 01:00 PDT     16
Yikes! Anybody know where those pics are coming from? Is that still yhoo? I didn't know pics were hooked up at all with Yhoo sponsered ads...

I just got a hit on my website from an ebay search that returned over 600 ebay listings. Even tho there were lots of items to choose from on eBay they are still sending peeps off site. And, all the ads were directly competing with the keyword entered into the eBay search.

hom***  (15 )      Nov-02-07 01:19 PDT     17
Yikes! Anybody know where those pics are coming from? Is that still yhoo? I didn't know pics were hooked up at all with Yhoo sponsered ads...

it has nothing to do with yahoo. It's shopping.com another ebay company.

I just got a hit on my website from an ebay search that returned over 600 ebay listings. Even tho there were lots of items to choose from on eBay they are still sending peeps off site. And, all the ads were directly competing with the keyword entered into the eBay search.

A hit or a sale? Many people search around before they buy.
_____________________________________

Save the whales, Collect the whole set.

dis***  (26 )      Nov-02-07 01:35 PDT     18
            It's not all shopping.com the search I did does not mention that site.



dis***  (26 )      Nov-02-07 01:37 PDT     19
circuit city and crutchfield came up while searching for a stereo that is direct competition and taking people off here.

Plus they have gallery.

 

 

itspostingtime (2 ) View Listings | Report

Nov-02-07 01:46 PDT

20 of 30

home,

I tried the pioneer deh 1500 search.

I got a list of core items, followed by a list of store items, followed by "sponsored links" that did indeed include a pic of the product. There is nothing to actually indicate in this case that Shopping.com is involved (at least, nothing I could see)...and the links DO follow the small "Sponsored links" title.

So, I don't know if they are related to Shopping.com or the Yahoo ads.

However, I think it should be mentioned that none of the items shown are actually a pioneer deh 1500 (the actual search term)...they are pioneer products, but they are NOT the model in the search term.

Of course, other may see something different, I'm just reporting what I saw.

hom***  (15 )      Nov-02-07 02:55 PDT     21
circuit city and crutchfield came up while searching for a stereo that is direct competition and taking people off here.

Plus they have gallery.

look at the screen shot above they are from shopping.com

Yahoo doesn't have this form of listing. Shopping.com does.

I got a list of core items, followed by a list of store items, followed by "sponsored links" that did indeed include a pic of the product. There is nothing to actually indicate in this case that Shopping.com is involved (at least, nothing I could see)...and the links DO follow the small "Sponsored links" title.

They don't need to indicate anything, but that's what they are.
_____________________________________

Save the whales, Collect the whole set.

cho***  (2220 )      Nov-02-07 04:48 PDT     22
Karen, I am totally NOT seeing those types of ads. IPT told me on the other thread it might be because I opted out of ebay sending me custom ads (when that user agreement change was introduced). Can you confirm did you opt out of that and is that why you all are seeing those ads?

Green acres is the place to be
Secret Agent: Fruity

Won't you be my neighbor at the Fruit Helmet Club

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cho***  (2220 )      Nov-02-07 04:51 PDT     23
Also, I have a question for anyone who can doesn't mind answering. I dont purchase other types of paid ads because I am for the most part low volume and I dont see it as an affordable cost for me. Who else is in that same boat?

Seeing that there it seems that those who can afford shop dot com they get seen another way and for zon, i dont think that's the merchant paying for that... I think that is the venue paying for that ad. Right?

Green acres is the place to be
Secret Agent: Fruity

Won't you be my neighbor at the Fruit Helmet Club

.

hom***  (15 )      Nov-02-07 06:13 PDT     24
I dont purchase other types of paid ads because I am for the most part low volume and I dont see it as an affordable cost for me. Who else is in that same boat?

The ads, no matter what form, should pay for themselves several times over. I have unlimited budgets on my ads since they all produce sales.

Seeing that there it seems that those who can afford shop dot com they get seen another way and for zon, i dont think that's the merchant paying for that... I think that is the venue paying for that ad. Right?

Amazon does pay for some ads. They also have lots of affiliates that run ads, list items & promote the site.

Of course the seller could pay for ads if they wanted to.
_____________________________________

Save the whales, Collect the whole set.

 

 

itspostingtime (2 ) View Listings | Report

Nov-02-07 07:33 PDT

25 of 30

homedecor,

Well, that was my point.

I , too, had noticed that in the screenshot picture of the turkey search, the items are very definitely labeled as coming from Shopping.com. However, the pioneer items I looked at are NOT. The only label is "sponsored ads", which seems to be eBay's term of choice for the Yahoo supplied ads.

You know more about online ads than I do, and I'm not trying to argue one way or another. I was just pointing out the distinction, in case it was significant.

chop,

I think you maybe only got half of what I was saying in that post. Let me try to re-explain. Whether your preference is on or off, eBay will still show you ads. The difference is, if it's on, you'll see ads targeted to you, and if it's off, you'll see ads not targeted to you.

But that's just one aspect of what eBay has said about the ads. So forget that for a moment, OK?

The other aspect, really, the more important one, is that Yahoo displays ads depending on the ID's history.

First, let me give you a non-ad related example. If you have, say, a buying ID and a store selling ID, try clicking the stores tab in the header, first logged in as a store seller, then logged in on your buying ID.

You should see one landing page as a store seller , and a different landing page as a buyer.

the store seller page has the info about how to improve your store, etc. (You know, the page with the seamstress that sandra thinks is so ugly LOL)

But a different page is shown to buying IDs, usually with a "Shop ebay stores" ad replacing the seamstress. (If you don't have a buying ID, I think if you just don't log in as a store seller, and maybe clear your cache and cookies, you should see the "buyer" landing page.)

Which makes sense. As the Stores hub, it performs two functions, one for sellers and one for buyers.

Now, here's the thing, Yahoo does a similar thing with the sponsored ads (according to what eBay said about it a while ago, sorry, I don't have the quote) This is the way it's supposed to work, I don't doubt that it's imperfect in practice, but here goes:

If the searching ID is a frequent buyer on ebay, Yahoo does not show ads that compete, because there is a high likelihood that the ID is going to buy from an ebay seller. If the ID has spent a lot of time here, but had not bought anything in a long time, then Yahoo is more likely to show that ID more competitive ads, because the ID is less likely to buy from an eBay seller.

I'm sure there's all sorts of metrics involved with this, so that's probably way more simplified than the way it is actually handled by the computers.

In other words, which ads you see will be determined in part by your preferences, but also by your ID's buying history and so forth. I hope that makes sense, I'm not sure I explained it very well.

cho***  (2220 )      Nov-02-07 07:43 PDT     26
OK, now it makes more sense IPT, now that you added all that! LOL. I buy alot of stuff on ebay and I really only search for the same things. So it would make sense that is why I dont see much PLUS I am opted out.

Green acres is the place to be
Secret Agent: Fruity

Fruit Helmet Club Neighborhood

.

jus***  (11 )      Nov-02-07 07:47 PDT     27
If a person has ad blocker programs on their computer they may not see some/many ads, the same if the browser they use is set to not show some/many ads.

For those who want to try out contextual ads, since click river is new and those ads show up on one of the very top sites, seems that would be a way to go and especially now before the holidays.

kbi***  (2340 )      Nov-02-07 08:05 PDT     28
If the searching ID is a frequent buyer on ebay, Yahoo does not show ads that compete..

Not true.  I see them often.

 

 

itspostingtime (2 ) View Listings | Report

Nov-02-07 08:26 PDT

29 of 30

kbird,

As I said, I'm not saying it's a perfect system. I'm merely explaining what eBay had said about how the system is supposed to work.

I also think that your definition of a competing ad and Yahoo's definition might be different.

pri***  (405 )      Nov-02-07 09:22 PDT     30
Certainly not a perfect system, since it shouldn't be here at all.

Even if it works exactly the way IPT suggests (and that's probably a pretty good theory), then users with mostly selling activity and little or no buying activity (like me) would be seeing the worst kind of sponsored ads. (which I do) What is the result of that?

The seller gets ideas such as: "Wow! Look at all the exposure those other websites are getting. Look how often these links lead to the river. Maybe I should be selling there!" Not good for ebay.

That has spawned the birth of the "Do You Swim In The River" type threads where everyone is all excited about selling there and yakking about the how to's and so forth.

Kat

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