Deleting listings that don't conform to eBid guidelines

[kreativebargains]

To a computer a single character or whitespace would make a description different, and a single pixel difference would make an image different. To determine if descriptions or images really are different, someone would have to view each and every one and make a decision. That is clearly impractical.

This is fine. But it is also possible to build into the algorithm to detect the number and type of differences. Nobody is going to try to put on multiple listings if they have to make large changes to each one. What would be useful to me is to have the opportunity at times to have a title and description that is the same, but with totally different images and descriptions. This should show up as such and not be removed.

[iwiw60]

No word back as of this morning regarding my email to support. Will post when received...fingers crossed!

[dardonboi]

Hope you hear something soon.

[iwiw60]

JUST NOW RECEIVED A RESPONSE AND SENT A REPLY...HERE IT IS IN ITS ENTIRETY:

Thanks for your speedy reply. However, wouldn't it also be a good idea to re-route those violating listings into a sub-cat as I suggested so that those of us sellers who have huge numbers of listings are able to go there and take care of them? That way the listing is there to be reviewed by the seller and make the appropriate fixes rather than being lost in the mix...

I am assuming the fix you are working on will not "show" us our listing(s) on-site so that we can make those fixes. At the present time they are lost forever to us. I am in hopes that you will implement the suggested "Listings in Violation" in our Dashboard:

Selling
>> Auctions I'm Running
>> Auctions I Ran sold unsold
>> Auctions in Violation

That way, as in "Auctions Unsold", we can view the listing, fix the problem, and all is well in eBid-land. Thanks for considering!

Sincerely, Mary Clendenin; user id: iwiw60


-----Original Message-----
>From: eBid Support Team <support@ebid.net>
>Sent: Feb 27, 2012 5:08 AM
>To: maryclendenin@peoplepc.com
>Subject: Re: [eBid #ZCC-73118-918] Removal of Seller Listings & What Can Be Done About It...
>
>Hi Mary,
>
>Thanks for the email. At the moment items can be removed automatically via our robots and also due to being reported by an eBid user or member of staff. We will be merging the two systems soon and will make it cleared for the seller which items were removed and why .
>
>Best Wishes
>eBid Support Team
>TIP : Save time explaining problems. Get faster solutions. http://screencast-o-matic.com/ Record them and let us see.
>------------------------------------------
>http://www.ebid.net
>Free to Bid | Free to List | Free to Enjoy
>------------------------------------------
>
>
>On Sun, 26 Feb 2012 21:51:49 +0000, Mary Clendenin <maryclendenin@peoplepc.com> wrote:
>> Gazz/Mark ... As I'm sure you both are aware there has been lots of discussion on the forum boards regarding the automatic removal of listings violating eBid TOS and I wanted to refer you to a thread that is currently going on the board; i.e.:
>>
>> ===============================================
>>
>> Re: Deleting listings that don't conform to eBid guidelines
>>
>> I couldn't agree with you more. If for some reason eBid admin removes a listing for violation(s) it would be ideal for us sellers to be able to correct/fix the listing if it were put in our My eBid Dashboard...something like this:
>>
>> Selling
>> Auctions I'm Running
>> Auctions I Ran sold unsold
>> Auctions in Violation
>>
>> As you stated in your OP this would give sellers like you and I with 1,000+ listings, and many many others the ability to locate the offending listing(s) quickly and repair/replace them.
>>
>> Posted by iwiw60 02/26/12
>>
>> ========================================
>>
>>
>>
>> I hope you both will consider this idea of mine as it will be most helpful to us sellers. Please review the entire thread on the eBid forum board...thank you !!!!!
>>
>>
>>
>> Sincerely, Mary Clendenin; user id: iwiw60

[Gothicina]

This is fine. But it is also possible to build into the algorithm to detect the number and type of differences. Nobody is going to try to put on multiple listings if they have to make large changes to each one. What would be useful to me is to have the opportunity at times to have a title and description that is the same, but with totally different images and descriptions. This should show up as such and not be removed.

As far as I remember duplicate titles used to be allowed, as long as the images were different,
until some bright spark started to upload the same photo over & over again, giving it a different url each time, as a way around that.

Unfortunately there is always somebody who wants to buck the system, & wreck things for everyone else.

[dardonboi]

How sad that the rules have to be made for the few and that many suffer because of it.

I am glad they have responded but unless I am wrong it does not sound like we are going to get a solution any time soon.

[TiasTreasures]

Good idea, but I think there would have to be a maximum number of times one could attempt a repair.

If not you might have the situation where a seller just keeps on attempting to relist a sale without correcting the actual problem which caused the listing to be removed.

This wouldn't be a major problem. So the offender keeps relisting and it keeps getting deleted. This is certainly automated, no man hours required by eBid. If it's placed in a special folder, they would all be deleted after 75 days like everything else.

[astral276]

Seems to be two topics running in this thread.

First, how deletions are carried out. I agree that it could be handled better, with the seller being able to fix a listing rather than having to start over. At least for lower category errors - such as duplication. For more serious errors (e.g. listing prohibited items) then simple deletion seems quite acceptable.

Second, that duplicate titles be allowed and other criteria be used to determine duplication. Don't agree so much with that. eBid states that identical items be in a single listing. If items are not identical, there must be a difference between them that can (and maybe should) appear in the title - thereby satisfying eBid's bot checks.

[dardonboi]

I think that the thing that most of us are concerned with is that they delete listings without any notification. All of a sudden your numbers are down and you don't know whether the gremlins got them or if you have done something wrong. I know several have complained about chunks of listings disappearing.

For those that have 1000's of listing it will be like looking for a needle in a hay stack when listings are gone.

[terry5732]

For more serious errors (e.g. listing prohibited items) then simple deletion seems quite acceptable.

.

au contraire

I have had items deleted for being a 'prohibited item' which in fact were not prohibited items but merely reported as such by someone

ex:
> Listing removed.
>
>
>
> "RCA 14T270 Co-Pilot CB Radio 40 Channel"
>