Search Results being gamed excessively by color or model fields

[thomas_de_tank]

I am looking for information on how to tell Ebay that their search results are being gamed by vendors.

Specifically I want to raise a complaint as it is likely destroying the experience of many people in using E-Bay.

Vendors are using the "model" to advertise items at a vastly lower price and come up higher in search results sorted by price. The model isn't the actual item being searched for but is some accessory in the colour drop down. The actual item being searched ends up being more expensive.

This practice wrecks the utility of the e-bay search function and is very frustrating for potential buyers. The false and misleading results of searches push people away from e-bay which will also harm the more honest sellers.

The automated help does not offer any subject or topic related to search and web site functionality.

The "contact us" fields do not consider this topic which means you may not get correctly categorised feedback.

[gutterpunkz05]

They are called variable listings,they have been around for ages, are quite legal and approved by ebay,  so you are wasting your time trying to report them to ebay or anyone else.

They are usually pretty easy to spot and avoid

[thomas_de_tank]

Thank you - however I am commenting on the experience for the potential buyer. This practice has become more and more widespread and is getting harder to avoid for novice buyers ( that don't know to add a "-choice" option to search ). 

[gutterpunkz05]

As a buyer and seller, I know they can be annoying, but they are easy to avoid.  Rather than waste your time trying to complain about something that does not breach any policys,  search the boards,  someone made a post about how to spot and avoid multi variation listings.

[sandypebbles]

You can’t eBay do not take requests and are not going to change something simply because you do not like the current set up of things

There is ample information available for buyers to read/learn how things work if they don't know how to use the site

It is interesting you post on two other ancient threads, post your own and yet many of your feedback are from dodgy sellers registered in China , and here who you have supported by buying from them

And you have been on eBay almost 20 years

So if your suggestions are the answer to avoid buying from dodgy sellers, why has it not worked for you?

[twyngwyn]

Do you have the app? From the U.S. boards:

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