What (or who) the heck is MaO? =^..^=

[jewelsparlour]

Hello eBid and eBidders,


This is the actual question I asked myself when I saw MaO for the first time. Maybe I'm being thick but it took me a while to figure out that it means Make an Offer without going to the auction page. And this is only because I have already had some experience with online auctions which you cannot assume everybody has had. To make the matter worse this acronym does not expand to anything meaningful when you hover the mouse pointer over it.

I'm afraid Mao is not as widely known as P&P and looks quite cryptic so why not simply call it Offer or Offers or something more easily comprehensible?

This is how it looks when you browse someone's shop:



This is how it looks when you browse auctions:



After looking at the above screenshots I have another question. What the heck is c desc? I suppose it's a slang form of "see description". Personally I think this should also be replaced with something more regular so to speak.

[lofty100e]

I completely agree, as the site becomes wider used internationally I think we should make the listings as easilly understood as possible and stick to recognised English. Using anachronisms just causes more confusion.ho

I suspect (hope) that c desc is shorthand used by the buyer.

[bunsock]

Yes, I fully agree. Space permitting it would be much clearer as "Make an offer" and "See description". Correct English is preferable, less intimidating and less confusing. I suspect "c desc" is shorthand used by the eBid system.

[philactica]

I too agree with the previous writers on the shorthand text but see it in a more positive way.

Write -MaO- in any of the titles which apply to the -MaO- feature.

A search for -MaO- brings up all items which contain MAO.

Of course some Mao items will also show but in the interim it is a helpful search function

[tinkerbellsdesign]

it just needs an L cos i lmao when i saw this cos i didnt know what it stood for either (blush) oh dear its been a long day

[philactica]

Neither did I in the beginning but what the heck - we are all learniing.

[LovesVintage43]

I have to agree...if sellers don't know immediately what it means...how are the buyers supposed to know? Perhaps other wording may be a good idea !

[philactica]

Wording - that is the dilemma of almost all international sites on the net mine is not exempt.

By using icons or images one can more easily bridge a message internationally.
Using an appropriate image could be challenging but ebid could lead the way.

A new thread would be advisable regarding the latter.

[LovesVintage43]

Perhaps using the wording from the other site "buy it now or best offer" may be more recognised ? I can't think of a suitable icon that would express it...it would be challenging to think of one that would make sense to all !

[philactica]

Well how about an image of an open hand with a question mark in it.

Would that convey the message ? -

http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?imgur...ed=0CD0Q9QEwBg

Now just put a ? in it - viola