posted on March 25, 2003 09:50:03 PM new
How do you all feel about keyword spamming? I'm watching a seller who has about 38 different items listed in her auction in addition to the "real" item. None of these "accessories" is listed on eBay, and none of them is the same as the listed item. She does this in a lot of her auctions, and most of her others, she will mention that she has other sizes, colors, styles available, etc. Report her or not?
PS: And I'll tell ya, if it were just a couple of things, it probably wouldn't bother me, but 38? And it is in a category I sometimes list in, so I have an interest in the other players following "the rules."
[ edited by fleecies on Mar 25, 2003 10:01 PM ]
[ edited by fleecies on Mar 25, 2003 10:02 PM ]
posted on March 25, 2003 10:26:33 PM new
PMy opiunion... leave it be. If they are your competitor, build a better birdhouse, don't burn down the ones around you. If not, why do you care?
I used to sell a line of widgets that were made using molds based on another popular syle of widgets. No collector of the well known widgets would have ever mistaken my widgets for authentics and the title and description clearly stated that they were "XXX-like". I used the comparision because my widgets had no actual brand name and it was the easiest and most accurate way to describe them and differntial themselves from other styles that also did not have brand names. One of my competitors got upset because my widgets sold for up to 3 times what their widgets sold for and so rather than improving their description, adding a picture or backing off of their overly excesive TOS, they decided to report me for Key-word spamming.
This seller and I had many a battle since this was the early days of ebay popularity when I could get $20-50 for a widget I could buy for $2.00. I played the game smart only listed 3-4 of the 80 varieties a week and made a killing. This idiot decided to go to my source and started listing up to 20 styles at a time. Within a year you were lucky to get $2.95 for any of them.
BTW - They won the war and I let them have the catagory and moved on but kharma has bitten and today their sell thru rate is maybe 30%. I know the cost of their widget because I know their source and they are taking a beating. I am yet to figure out why they keep selling because even with their inflated shipping on the items that do sell, 3 out of 4 weeks they do not cover costs. They'll be gone soon, I can have the catagory back ... with a better widget, and infinately more common sense.
posted on March 26, 2003 05:41:20 AM new How do you all feel about keyword spamming?
I report it many times. As a buyer I don't like having my time wasted with their search results, and as a seller I don't appreiciate their underhanded tactics of spamming buyers searching for products I'm offering.
How much use would eBay's descriptive search be if every seller used this tactic as being done by this sleazoid seller that offers a painting but sees fit to include in their description: (white on white font) manolo blanik versace gucci prada chanel armani georgio girogio gorgio coco madonna mackie bob photo painting art abstract audio technica protools pro tools avalon preamp pre-amp voice prism mercedes porsche 2003 2004 2001 2002 2000 boxter e c m bmw 740il 740 il bentley bently rolls royce ferari testerosa ferrari jewish israel israeli artist artists painting paintings rare unique holocost passover decoration decorations favor favors party bat mitzvah bart bar european europe champagne crystal chrystalle chrystal crystalle german germany france french louis roederer dom peringnion perignon leather office marc jacobs kate spade limoges versus issey miyake fragrance fragrances homme lui pour parfum cologne manolo blanik roberto cavalli cavali jimmy choo givency christian lacroix la croix silk lotus mink haute couture blu marine wallet suit purse tie valentino guess coach christian dior lenox richard tyler giorgio skirt gianfranco ferre sweater burberrys burberry's chair plug-ins plug ins collectable collector's item hermes escada men's mens womens women's lady's ladies watch rolex omega
posted on March 26, 2003 06:43:12 AM new
TURN THEM IN... Keyword spamming should get a seller an automatic 30 days suspension, nothing pisses me off more than to search for something and get items not even related.
It has nothing to do with competition, it has to do with interfereing with an eBay feature which becomes useless when sellers are allowed to get away with it... if you're not comfortable... post the item number and I will...
posted on March 26, 2003 06:57:43 AM new
Fleecies,
While I would never turn in someone using "XXX-like" as Neon's competitor did, I would definitely turn in someone for putting 38 unrelated item names in her auctions.
She wasn't even smart enough to hide it with text the color of her background using html code. I have seen that done with the long list uaru shows here in bold.
She is making it harder for bidders to search and shop. Report her.
posted on March 26, 2003 07:46:17 AM new
Thanks. She is a competitor. I don't think she'll last long because she's getting less than 1% net margin--but she's also dropping the bottom out of a good market--just as the widget seller did. If she were listing, say a green-striped patio table (not what she's listing, btw) and said, "I also have the matching patio chairs" or "see my auction for other patio furniture" that's just good marketing. But instead, she's saying, I also have green striped patio chairs, and green-striped BBQ grill, and green-striped terra cotta pots, and green striped oven mitts, and green striped couch cushions, and green striped aprons, and green striped sheets, and green-striped barstools, and green striped jackets, which you can get in small, medium, large, or x-large and on and on and on. And if you don't see what you want here, contact me at [email protected]. She's got practically her whole catalog in one listing. None of the other items is even listed on eBay.
But what's even worse is that she hasn't checked availability on her listed items with the manufacturer. She drop ships, and some of these items she's listing are backordered and won't be available for about 8 weeks. I hope she has some understanding buyers, because otherwise she's going to get a lot of negs for nonshipment/late shipment and kill buyer confidence in this particular product line for her competitors who also sell it.
posted on March 26, 2003 08:11:39 AM newWhile I would never turn in someone using "XXX-like" as Kiara did, I would definitely turn in someone for putting 38 unrelated item names in her auctions.
I turned someone in for using XXX-like????
Where did you see that, meadowlark? I am asking because I cannot remember turning anyone in for that and I seldom police auctions or turn anyone in for any reason.
posted on March 26, 2003 08:38:06 AM new
Fleecies,
With the additional data you gave, I probably would not report her. Kinda "iffy". IMHO she technically listing related items since they all match, but I would say as well that it at least pushes the letter of the "law" to the brink, and may well violate it.
If she's reported, Ebay may not even really take a good look and use judgement. They make just take the word of the person that reports it, from what I've heard from other posters in the threads here.
I'd just let it go. Hey, If I wanted everything to match and was looking for "green striped" stuff, I'd be glad she had the data in the auction, even if I'd found it accidentally. But yes, technically the beter way would have just to say she had matching X, XX, and ZX without repeating "green striped".
You have to ask yourself, "Does it help the buyer, or slow down their searching?" In this case (since I don't know the actual items) it may actually be a help to the buyer doing a search. Maybe not.
Patty
[ edited by meadowlark on Mar 26, 2003 08:39 AM ]
posted on March 26, 2003 09:28:53 AM new
Keyword spamming slows down searches...when a buyer searched for a particular item, they shouldn't have to look at crap that is just there because someone keyword spammed...
posted on March 26, 2003 10:17:16 AM new
Yeah, Meadowlark, I can see your point if she actually had all that other stuff listed on eBay as other auctions, or even in her ebay store. But she doesn't.
posted on March 26, 2003 12:24:31 PM new
Sorry I didn't get back sooner, Meadowlark. Thanks, it's been a busy day and when I read that I thought maybe I was losing my mind or my memory.
This sounds like a case of keyword spamming that could be used to generate off-site sales. The seller may be hoping that the buyer purchases one product and then asks for accessories. Or perhaps by stating a list, others will contact her for those products and she can save a listing fee.
And if you don't see what you want here, contact me at [email protected]. If she is actually putting a link to her website that is a no-no.
Personally when I make a decision to play by the rules and I see others all around me that ignore the rules it does bother me. I see violations on ebay daily but most aren't my competitors in my categories. If they were and I thought it was costing me sales because I am honest I would consider reporting it.
posted on March 26, 2003 01:51:41 PM new
fleecies,
I must really be spaced out today. Yeah, if the other items aren't in auctions, throw the book at her! The biggest violation is not keyword spamming, it's linking to and encouraging off-site sales.
If she gets email asking about one of the other items, I wonder if she offers to list it for auction or sell off Ebay. Did you try the link? Some website links point right back to all a seller's Ebay auctions, although if she doesn't have more auctions this likely wouldn't.
posted on March 26, 2003 04:04:35 PM new
I am usually at work or doing auctions and clicking back and forth to the board here.
I just checked the phrase "if you don't see what you want" and there are thousands of listings with phone numbers to call and websites to click on. Some do say that if you contact them they will list it on ebay.
It would be impossible for ebay to control all of this. Does anyone know if there has to be a certain number of complaints on file before a seller gets slapped by ebay?
For sellers generating off-site sales I guess it's worth the risk?
posted on March 26, 2003 04:13:36 PM new
Yeah, I did go to her website--it is off site but she hasn't gotten around the building more than the home page yet. I turned her in on one of her auctions and it was removed for about two hours. Then she turned around and reposted the exact same listing, word for word as the one that was removed. I really think this gal might just be one of those people who is a few slices short of a sandwich.
There are legitimate ways to generate off-site sales. I just don't see how breaking the rules makes it worth the possibility of getting thrown off eBay. Cause you know that even if ebay doesn't have time to check up on you, your competitors sure will!
