topic Re: Promoted Listings - Corrupt - Sellers Misled in Selling

Promoted Listings - Corrupt - Sellers Misled

classicsiderailhinges — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 01:34:41 GMT

I recently selected a few of my listings for standard promotion - extra fee on sales in return for moving listings up in search results. I'm more than disappointed.

Prior to promoting the items I searched Ebay using two seperate terms to see where one of my items appeared in the search results. One search term produced a result of 47th, and the other 37th in the list of results. I did the same searches following promoting the items and got the same results. H'mm.

Contacted Ebay and had an online chat with an agent to advise my dissatisfaction. During the chat my listings mysteriously moved to the top of the search results. H'mm?

Searches the next morning saw the listing still well up in the search results (5th & 7th), but to check the consistency of these results I logged out of my account and in to another account that I have access to and conducted the same two searches. Imagine my surprise when my listing appeared 46th and 43rd in the results!

Contacted Ebay and arranged a call back from an agent. The agent was unable to explain the discrepancy in the results to me, he even did a search using his own account and got the same 46th and 43rd result. The agent attempted to give me the usual algorithm clap trap as an explaination, but I wasn't having that. I'm awaiting a call back regarding the matter.

So, what's going on here? Is Ebay deliberately misleading sellers? It would seem so. I know that Ebay is a poor reflection of its former self these days, but to have their systems set up to deliberately mislead sellers is nothing but dishonest and corrupt behaviour. When even their agents don't find their actions transparent what hope does the average seller have?

The promoted listings option would appear to be nothing more than a cynical move by Ebay to ratchet up their income from sales while providing nothing to sellers in return.

Re: Promoted Listings - Corrupt - Sellers Misled

lezned-toycollector — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 02:40:43 GMT

There are more things to consider than just the fact that you promoted your listings.

For example... are you a top rated seller... is your account in good standing... are you a new seller (i.e. do holds apply to your payments)... how many other sellers have promoted their listings... are they top rated sellers... have your sales increased since promoting your listings

Personally, my overall sales volume is up by 35-40% when my listings are promoted. I couldn't give a rat's where they show up in a search - as long as I see the increased sales numbers, the promotion is doing its job.

Re: Promoted Listings - Corrupt - Sellers Misled

classicsiderailhinges — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 03:22:47 GMT

I'm not a top rated seller as I don't have enough listings to qualify these days, BUT I've been a seller for over 20 years and have 100% positive feedback. I've seen no increase in sales. Happy that you believe that promoted listings is working for you, but your reply doesn't answer my concerns. You seem more interested in having a shot at me?

Re: Promoted Listings - Corrupt - Sellers Misled

*casey* — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 03:29:07 GMT

"Imagine my surprise when my listing appeared 46th and 43rd in the results!"

"The agent attempted to give me the usual algorithm clap trap as an explaination"

It also depends on what you're selling and if you're competing with Chinese sellers who have dozens of accounts.

Did you check to see how many were Chinese sellers who have lied and cheated their way to the top of a search page ?

Have a look at this thread:

https://community.ebay.com.au/t5/Selling/chinese-seller-spam/m-p/2612109

Re: Promoted Listings - Corrupt - Sellers Misled

lezned-toycollector — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 05:11:38 GMT

I see no feedback on your account for over 90 days - although it does show 1 within the past month. Based on that information, you are a new seller - which is why I asked.

Your listings will obviously appear below promoted listings of the same promotional rate from top rated sellers, and established sellers... and of course any listings with a higher promotional rate.

Again, where they appear in the search is totally irrelevant. The point of promoting listings isn't to raise them up the search results, but rather to increase your sales. If this is happening, there's no issue. If it isn't, then stop promoting as it's not working for you.

Re: Promoted Listings - Corrupt - Sellers Misled

classicsiderailhinges — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 05:48:44 GMT

I've been an Ebay member since 25/6/02, ie. about 6 years longer than you. During that time I've made 3,600 sales on Ebay. This information is publicly available on Ebay, I'm sorry if you're incapable of finding it to satisfy your own curiosity. I've recently been away for about 6 weeks during which time my items weren't offered to buyers.

You have again failed to grasp and address the point that I've raised. I don't feel the need to explain myself to you and, if you have nothing to contribute on the issue other than the negative, undermining and derogatory stuff you've come up with so far I'd be grateful if you could refrain from further comment. Thanks.

Re: Promoted Listings - Corrupt - Sellers Misled

classicsiderailhinges — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 05:52:03 GMT

I agree that China based sellers have totally corrupted Ebay Australia and, yes I am competing directly against them. However, that doesn't explain why, when I search for products that I sell using my Ebay account my product listings appear in the first few entries, but when I use another entity (different user account) my product listings appear way down in the results. I'm beginning to believe that the only explanation is that Ebay have set up the search results when I use my own account to deceive me in to believing that they are promoting my listings in the search results for all potential buyers.

Re: Promoted Listings - Corrupt - Sellers Misled

lezned-toycollector — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 09:46:12 GMT

I have not posted one single thing which is negative, undermining or derogatory. Nor have I failed to grasp and address your point. In fact, grasping and addressing your point is exactly what I have done.

You wanted to know why your listings appear down the order, and I told you some of the possible reasons. I also told you that the purpose of promoting your listings is to generate increased sales, rather than getting your listings to jump up higher in the search results.

I apologise if the truth offends you, or I'm not telling you exactly what you want to hear.

Since you don't seem to believe me, here's a screen shot of your feedback page. It clearly shows nothing within the last 90 days. This is why I said it shows nothing within the last 90 days - because that's exactly what it shows.

As you should already be aware, the length of time you've been a member has absolutely nothing to do with being regarded by eBay as a new or infrequent seller.... and FYI, I actually opened my eBay account prior to you - just saying 😉

This is my last post on this thread, so don't bother replying. I hope you find the answer you are looking for.

Re: Promoted Listings - Corrupt - Sellers Misled

classicsiderailhinges — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 11:31:40 GMT

Back to the point. I've now had 3 discussions with an agent at Ebay regarding my concerns. He promised to ring me back this afternoon, I haven't heard from him. He grasped what my complaint is, but was unable to explain why the search results from my account are so different to the result from the account of other users. He did assure me that he would get me an answer. We shall see.

Re: Promoted Listings - Corrupt - Sellers Misled

twyngwyn — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 11:37:41 GMT

yes, a giant race to the bottom.....if we all pay for 'promotions' on our listings....what then?

I refuse to do it

Re: Promoted Listings - Corrupt - Sellers Misled

pidgeun1 — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 15:20:44 GMT

eBay has changed the way it attributes sales to promotions. It now attributes sales of all Promoted Listings to Promotions and charges Ad fees. Even if your item was purchased by a repeat buyer organically, you will still be charged Ad fees since someone clicked a different promoted listing. eBay Ads attributions has shot up from 60% to 99% without any value add to the buyer or seller. You will see more sales via promotions now. This is not because promotions are working. This is because eBay doesn't allow organic sale of a promoted item and still attributes them to promotions. Basically, you are paying more fees to eBay for the same amount of sales. Sellers in UK, Germany have switched off promotions altogether and raising their voices against eBay. Be careful of Promotions!

Re: Promoted Listings - Corrupt - Sellers Misled

gutterpunkz05 — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 18:17:31 GMT

I don,t think it says promoting a listing will move you up the search list, but rather will increase visibility via ad placements.

As you only pay the ad fee once an item sells via promotion, it is not in ebays interest not to provide what they offer, which may include off site promotions, google ads, etc, as well as extra onsite visibility. If you think getting closer to the top of the search tree is all that matters, then you will need to get to top seller rating and offer above recommended promotion %.

Re: Promoted Listings - Corrupt - Sellers Misled

classicsiderailhinges — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 06:25:01 GMT

I've just had the 7th call back from Ebay on this issue. They still aren't able to explain why the difference in search results, when using the same search terms, from one account to another. Specifically they're unable to explain why my listings are high in the results when I use my seller account to search, and low when any other user account searches.

This isn't the first time Ebay have done the wrong thing by me (knowingly giving buyers false information was the last one), but I'm thinking it will be the last. They're still assuring me that they are searching for an answer that will satisfy both me and them.

I now truly believe that this has been set up in their search algorithms to deliberately deceive sellers.

Re: Promoted Listings - Corrupt - Sellers Misled

padi*0409 — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 07:42:15 GMT

I'm not sure about this, but I imagine that "promoted listings" will only come up when "best match" is used in searching items.

The vast majority of my searches are "newly listed", "ending soonest" or searching by price.

I don't believe any of those would show a seller's "promoted listings", so I agree with those responders here that say it's largely a waste of time and money for sellers.

Re: Promoted Listings - Corrupt - Sellers Misled

gutterpunkz05 — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 13:40:25 GMT

I am not interested in where a promoted item appears in search results, more interested in whether it appears in (similar promoted items) on competitors listings, and of course this will depend on how much extra visibility I get, relevant to the sale % I am prepared to offer.

Re: Promoted Listings - Corrupt - Sellers Misled

classicsiderailhinges — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 05:11:46 GMT

Well, Ebay's interest in trying to explain why the different placement of my item in search results petered out fairly quickly. Now I'm getting a message across the face of my listing when I search, see the attached image.

This listing appeared at number 50 in the search results today. My current ad rate is 3% (that's equivalent to approx. a 25% increase in the fee paid to Ebay on a sale) and their suggest ad rate is 9% (approximately a 75% increase in income for them).

3 out of the 4 first responses in the list don't even meet the criteria of the search, and don't have the search words in their title.

From the responses here it would seem that most of the responders to this thread aren't too concerned about Ebay potentially taking extra fees for nothing, because that is surely what they are doing. The 'pay us more and we'll move you up the list' message is nothing short of extortion.

Re: Promoted Listings - Corrupt - Sellers Misled

*casey* — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 05:47:25 GMT

As a general comment, IMO only sellers who are competing with Chinese sellers will understand your problems.

And as 'top rated seller' has been mentioned twice, let's not forget that many shonky

Chinese sellers with appalling feedback are still labelled as

Top Rated seller:

One of eBay's most reputable sellers.

Consistently delivers outstanding customer service.

Re: Promoted Listings - Corrupt - Sellers Misled

gutterpunkz05 — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 06:17:32 GMT

If as you believe ebay does nothing to promote your listing, then your item will not sell via a promotion and you will not have to pay anything for add fee.

Gee I thought I was a cheapskate when it came to setting promotion percentages.

Figure out how to set your promotions at no profit loss.

Re: Promoted Listings - Corrupt - Sellers Misled

gutterpunkz05 — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 06:20:24 GMT

Hi casey, FB does not affect seller ratings.

Re: Promoted Listings - Corrupt - Sellers Misled

chameleon54 — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 04:00:57 GMT

"Searches the next morning saw the listing still well up in the search results (5th & 7th), but to check the consistency of these results I logged out of my account and in to another account that I have access to and conducted the same two searches. Imagine my surprise when my listing appeared 46th and 43rd in the results!"

Our ebay searches are clearly curated in the same way as our news feed on social media etc.

Nothing new or different about this, just the way multi national, internet companies work. If you hold extreme left type political opinions, it is likely your news feed will receive a lot more pro Palastinian / anti Semite biased news than a hard right Trump supporter might receive. This is the echo chamber effect that amplifies peoples own views and means they may not even see an alternate view in their news feed, let alone one that might challenge their established opinions.

In the same way, previous search history is used by ebay to promote certain products as adverts on our individual pages. This is clearly done on an IP address basis and may well link in with mobile phone " spying " technology. I have received adverts for obscure items such as pet grooming products after discussing these items in the lounge room, but without any searches on the computer.

Like all technology, Promoted listings is much more complex than simple ranking in searches.