Updates coming to eBay.com.au Discussion Boards

[michelleoz@ebay.com]

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be introducing a number of changes to the eBay.com.au Discussion Boards.

What are the changes?

We’re introducing new ‘Rules of Engagement’ similar to the  eBay.com Community. You can review the new Rules of Engagement below.

We’ll also be making some changes to the current structure, aimed at simplifying the experience and ensuring the Discussion Boards are dedicated to eBay related discussion. These structural changes mean that the Community Spirit and Fun & Games Boards will move to Groups. Having said that, it’s important to understand that both Community Spirit and Fun & Games will still be Discussion Boards with the exact same functionality as exists right now.

Eventually, we’ll look at a ‘makeover’ of the platform which includes a responsive design for a better mobile experience, again similar to eBay.com.

The new structure is outlined in detail below.

Why?

We have an active group of users already using our discussion boards for engagement, education, insights, knowledge and friendship. We also have new users every day seeking guidance, clarity or help from experienced users and/or eBay.

By simplifying the structure and ensuring conversations are dedicated only to eBay related topics we hope to encourage more eBay members to visit and engage in conversation on the Discussion Boards. We’re also looking forward to using the Discussion Boards to better engage with hear from, educate and inform customers.

We’ve seen great results in the both the US and UK on the back of structural and/or engagement changes they’ve made so we’re taking those insights and introducing similar changes here.

Please feel free to ask questions and share your thoughts about these changes in this thread. I won't be posting every day but I will check back a few times a week.

Regards 

Michelle

[k1ooo-slr-sales]

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michelleoz@ebay.com wrote:

The good news is that as I've stated previously, we're not looking at any drastic changes right now, any redesign is unlikely to happen until next year. 

---

good that you are now back Michelle.

Old threads . . . . . . just these last few days has seen a few more 'oldies' pop up again, some close to 4 years idle until now! 

https://community.ebay.com.au/t5/Selling/Postage-for-video-games/m-p/756163#M39737

Is there any chance of instructing Lithium to start locking threads that have been idle/dormant for 12 months?  You have stated somewhere that this locking process will probably need to be manual in the beginning, so there is no structural change required for them to start doing that right now.

I posted somewhere the stats about where 12 month idle threads start to pop up on the list of threads and understand it will be a big task to manually lock the threads. I'l track down the post where I posted stats and get back to you.

[k1ooo-slr-sales]

I posted those stats 'elsewhere' and went and found them.

As at the 14th June when first posted:

On the buying board there are currently 34 pages of threads, and once you get half way down page 5 the threads have been idle for more than 12 months.

On the selling board there are currently 66 pages of threads, and once you get half way down page 9 the threads have been, you guessed it, idle for the last 12 months.

Mods already have the ability to lock threads manually, so all they need is a memo from the eBay Community Manager (that would be you michelleoz) to start locking threads.

[*tippy*toes*]

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michelleoz@ebay.com wrote:

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Hi go-tazz,

Definitely not the idea to drive people away, we're hoping to achieve the opposite. While it's true that those of you who post here already haven't asked for changes, it's also true that there are sellers we've spoken to who visit the boards but feel overwhelmed and don't post because they're not sure where to start, the few small changes we're introducing next month are aimed at addressing that.

Regards

Michelle 

---

Well, generally speaking, it would make sense to even the lowest IQ that if you want to post as a seller asking a question about selling, you'd go to the forum titled "selling". You wouldn't go to the forum called "buying" to post something about selling. It doesn't take a genius to work that one out.

Nice to see you back Michelle, I was starting to think we'd been abandoned.

[michelleoz@ebay.com]

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@k1ooo-slr-sales wrote:

---

michelleoz@ebay.com wrote:

The good news is that as I've stated previously, we're not looking at any drastic changes right now, any redesign is unlikely to happen until next year. 

---

good that you are now back Michelle.

Old threads . . . . . . just these last few days has seen a few more 'oldies' pop up again, some close to 4 years idle until now! 

https://community.ebay.com.au/t5/Selling/Postage-for-video-games/m-p/756163#M39737

Is there any chance of instructing Lithium to start locking threads that have been idle/dormant for 12 months?  You have stated somewhere that this locking process will probably need to be manual in the beginning, so there is no structural change required for them to start doing that right now.

I posted somewhere the stats about where 12 month idle threads start to pop up on the list of threads and understand it will be a big task to manually lock the threads. I'l track down the post where I posted stats and get back to you.

---

Yep - thanks for raising. I'll chat with the team next week and look at how we start locking down old threads. I'll update you soon.

Regards

Michelle

[michelleoz@ebay.com]

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@*tippy*toes* wrote:

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michelleoz@ebay.com wrote:

---

Hi go-tazz,

Definitely not the idea to drive people away, we're hoping to achieve the opposite. While it's true that those of you who post here already haven't asked for changes, it's also true that there are sellers we've spoken to who visit the boards but feel overwhelmed and don't post because they're not sure where to start, the few small changes we're introducing next month are aimed at addressing that.

Regards

Michelle 

---

Well, generally speaking, it would make sense to even the lowest IQ that if you want to post as a seller asking a question about selling, you'd go to the forum titled "selling". You wouldn't go to the forum called "buying" to post something about selling. It doesn't take a genius to work that one out.

Nice to see you back Michelle, I was starting to think we'd been abandoned.

---

Hi tippy toes

Sorry, didn't abandon you!

I know what you're saying but it's more than just where to post, it's where to post and feel comfortable doing it. For some, coming to the boards and seeing the conversations that go on, the way so many people know each other so well, it can feel like walking into a room full of people all in their groups having a chat and they all stop and look at you when you walk in. 

I'm hopeful the changes we're introducing allow people to feel a little more comfortable 'joining' the boards.

Regards

Michelle

[michelleoz@ebay.com]

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@k1ooo-slr-sales wrote:

I posted those stats 'elsewhere' and went and found them.

As at the 14th June when first posted:

On the buying board there are currently 34 pages of threads, and once you get half way down page 5 the threads have been idle for more than 12 months.

On the selling board there are currently 66 pages of threads, and once you get half way down page 9 the threads have been, you guessed it, idle for the last 12 months.

Mods already have the ability to lock threads manually, so all they need is a memo from the eBay Community Manager (that would be you michelleoz) to start locking threads.

---

Ta! We'll take a look at them.

[*tippy*toes*]

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michelleoz@ebay.com wrote:

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@*tippy*toes* wrote:

---

michelleoz@ebay.com wrote:

---

Hi go-tazz,

Definitely not the idea to drive people away, we're hoping to achieve the opposite. While it's true that those of you who post here already haven't asked for changes, it's also true that there are sellers we've spoken to who visit the boards but feel overwhelmed and don't post because they're not sure where to start, the few small changes we're introducing next month are aimed at addressing that.

Regards

Michelle 

---

Well, generally speaking, it would make sense to even the lowest IQ that if you want to post as a seller asking a question about selling, you'd go to the forum titled "selling". You wouldn't go to the forum called "buying" to post something about selling. It doesn't take a genius to work that one out.

Nice to see you back Michelle, I was starting to think we'd been abandoned.

---

Hi tippy toes

Sorry, didn't abandon you!

I know what you're saying but it's more than just where to post, it's where to post and feel comfortable doing it. For some, coming to the boards and seeing the conversations that go on, the way so many people know each other so well, it can feel like walking into a room full of people all in their groups having a chat and they all stop and look at you when you walk in. 

I'm hopeful the changes we're introducing allow people to feel a little more comfortable 'joining' the boards.

Regards

Michelle

---

I understand what you're saying, but I think you'd find familiarity between regular members on any forum. I think the things that tick regular members off, whereby a new member could feel uncomfortable, might be, when they drag up a 5yo thread and make no contribution to it. When someone comes in with guns blazing thinking they are abusing eBay and even when they find out they're not talking to eBay, the abuse towards other members continues. When some members try to goad others, like the abuse thrown at me tonight for no reason. Lurkers and new members see this and may feel uncomfortable saying anything.

If old threads were locked, they couldn't be dragged up. If there were clear instructions at the top of the forums that members are NOT talking to eBay, this is a member forum, it might stop some of the abuse hurling. When some members are allowed to continue to bait other members, those members are going to retaliate (and are usually the ones that get slapped, not the ones who did the baiting). New members should be forced to read the forum rules and tick a box before being allowed to enter. 

I highly doubt you'll be able to stop the familiarity between regular members. I can only name one forum whereby that kind of thing is against the rules. If you try to add humour to a comment, you get treated like a school kid. That kind of thing makes people feel uncomfortable. If people are nice to us, we're nice to them. If they come in abusing us, we're going to pull them up on it.

[imastawka]

A question for anybody, please.

Was this board heading here before, or did Michelle just make a new one?   - 

eBay News & Information > Community Feedback

Cos it's sure attracting a lot of weird questions.

The'Community Feedback' part is what is getting them here.

I reckon it should just contain Ebay News, and be made incapable of starting new threads.

[padi*0409]

The "community feedback" board only started a couple of weeks ago Stalks, maybe a cherry-picking exercise on the changes...........

I don't recognise any of the authors ID's.................hmmm

[padi*0409]

Belay that one me hearty.....................a furthur look shows the board's been around for ages..............(or has it????)

"slinks into corner with eyes averted"