Had a listing removed for keyword spamming...

[gigabean-au]

Had a rather confusing discussion with ebay the last few days regarding one of our listings - the title was:

20" Digital Photo Frame - 12" and 15" can't compare!

For me that's pretty much saying it's superior to those models... and we have been using it for about two years.

According to ebays policy team it was keyword spamming, and that people would be confused as to what size the photo frame is. In two years I don't think we've had a single 'item not as described' case for this product.

After talking with one of their online chat people, apparently the keywords we were spamming were "can't" and "compare" - makes sense huh? I could understand if they were upset we were using 12" and 15" as obviously that helps us show up when people search for 12" digital photo frame, etc... but nope... I asked about changing it to: superior to 12" and 15", and apparently that's ok... so I guess that's what we'll do.

Within an hour or so after talking with ebay support, our listing with 70 sales on it gets removed (about 24 hours after the original notice was sent to us) and our policy compliance has dropped to 'very low'. Didn't even really give us a chance to do anything - I work full time and do this ebay stuff after hours or in my lunch break...

As an exercise, do a quick search on ebay for 'compare' - I notice a LOT of people using the title in a similar way.

Anyway.. just wanted to vent more than anything.. seems a good place for it 🙂

[the3coopers]

That is obviously keyword spaming, so you really don't have much of a cause for complaint.

And whilst they say that "superior to 12" and 15" is acceptable, you can be assured that it's just as much a policy breach. What you don't seem to realise is that the person who you spoke to would have absolutely no idea why the original was in breach.

The fact that you have got away with it, and that others still get away with it doesn't mean anything. Ebay only checks when there are reports... so you obviously have a competitor who loves you 😉

[the3coopers]

What I am saying is... DO NOT use that "other sizes in title" trick, because no matter HOW you word it, it'll still be classed as keyword spamming.

List honestly - if you want to "compare things" then do it in the description....

"Comparisons: Sellers are not permitted to make comparisons between items in a listing title.

Example not allowed:

The titles "Leather Handbag, like Chanel","Leather Handbag, Chanel style", or "Leather handbag, not Chanel" are not permitted on eBay because they make comparisons between the item being offered, a leather handbag, to a Chanel handbag.

Example allowed:
In the description only, sellers are permitted to compare the item being offered to one other similar product, so long as the listing is not misleading in any way as to which company made the item offered.
Example:

"This vacuum cleaner does a much better job at cleaning ground-in dirt than Acme brand vacuum cleaners."

That text above is from "Some Examples section of the Policy / Help Page: http://pages.ebay.com.au/help/policies/keyword-spam.html

Also do this tutorial: http://pages.ebay.com.au/help/tutorial/searchandbrowseman/intro.html

[leader-of-the-band]

Imagine an eBayer searches for 12" Digital Photo Frame because they want a 12" frame . . . .  your item would appear in their search results even though yours is not a 12" frame.  This is keyword spamming, whether that is/was your intention or not.

Make the comparison in the description.

[gigabean-au]

Yeah I definitely see your points - I think my frustration was more to do with the mixed messages I was getting from ebay.

I had put that listing title up when I was first starting to sell seriously on ebay & didn't know much of the rules and probably didn't give it much of a second thought after that.

Will look at fixing them up asap.

[Anonymous]

Giga...

Give up and go and try to talk to a rock into becoming a gold nugget. Ebay doesn't care if it was an honest mistake or not.

You will get mixed messages because ebay ( and PayPal ) will

never send a human generated reply in the first instance.

Give up anyway because once you get a human response the end result will be the same.

After my first brush with them ( and a 2-3 month low compliance period ) I always checked my titles with them first.

Don't be too hard on ebay though because it really can't afford the resources to present a human face. At last calc each phone ( live help ) rep has 20-30,000 members to deal with and because they don't know you personally they have to treat all sellers as dishonest.

That aspect at least is the same in the real world otherwise the security camera industry would fold.

[leader-of-the-band]

Within an hour or so after talking with ebay support, our listing with 70 sales on it gets removed (about 24 hours after the original notice was sent to us) and our policy compliance has dropped to 'very low'. Didn't even really give us a chance to do anything - I work full time and do this ebay stuff after hours or in my lunch break...

At least the policy compliance rating will only last for three months (assuming you do not get any other violations).

I successfully argued a case to eBay to have my policy compliance rating of 'very low' revised back to 'High' recently.  I used their standardised response emails against them in my arguement. Re-read their response emails and try to find inconsistencies.  Ask to have your policy compliance reinstated as 'high' and see if they send a standard response.

[gigabean-au]

Thanks for the tip - there were a lot of inconsistencies in their messages and I think we should have enough to get the policy compliance issue fixed (I hope so anyway).

Just need to think of some new keywords 🙂

[leader-of-the-band]

Thanks for the tip - there were a lot of inconsistencies in their messages and I think we should have enough to get the policy compliance issue fixed (I hope so anyway).

the inconsistency I used was in an email they sent me.  In part, it stated "As much as I would want to override the system for you, I will be unable to do it because we treat all members of our community fairly and justly with regard to the application of policy in the listings. For you to regain the high policy compliance again, I suggest to check on our guidelines first by using the "Customer Support" gray link if you have any inquiries. After your account will be cleared of that violation, you will gradually gain back the high compliance again. And please know that once a seller violated one policy their policy compliance will be automatically affected as well."

I simply found examples of listings that had not be pulled and had just about run their full course.  I sent them a list of 4 or five and offered to send 20 more should they want more examples because I could find them very easily.  I argued that they were not applying their own policy fairly and justly unless they took action against these other sellers.  They removed my violation and apologised!

[phorum_junkie*]

I can't imagine why you would want to use that wording anyway. If I was searching specifically for a 15" frame yours would appear in the list of searched items which would annoy me intensely and is the reason you are not allowed to use words in your title that do not describe the item you are selling.

Anyone looking for a 20" frame would not use the words 12" or 15" in their search so it would be of no benefit their either.