eBay: Like keyword spamming?
PA jamma man
you get lots of useless results to skim through, because the sellers
have loaded up their ads with the names of 20 unrelated games they are
also selling - often not even on eBay?
Well, I don't. Neither does eBay, although they sure don't back up
their own rules very well.
For example, take this fine seller:
http://cgi6.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewListedItems&userid=devpin&include=0&since=30&sort=8&rows=25
I dropped him this brief, if maybe blunt, note:
> It's against eBays listing policies to mention, by name, other items that you have currently running. They call it "keyword spamming." I call it annoying.
>
> Question from: pajamma
> Title of item: ATARI TEMPEST PROJECT CABINET
> Seller: devpin
> Starts: Aug-01-02 10:42:36 PDT
> Ends: Aug-11-02 10:42:36 PDT
> Price: Starts at $9.99
> To view the item, go to: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2127379611
The seller's response?
> fuck off asshole
Yeah, nice PR work there. Anyway, I'm starting to wonder if I'm the
only one that gives a crap if the search gets clogged with all this
stupid crap. Maybe if anyone else is getting tired of it too, they can
drop Mr. Devpin (or safeharbor) a note.
Or, maybe we're supposed to just accept the search engine becoming
useless, and to take the advice of one of our frequent posters:
"...if you don't like it don't click on the link."
If anyone's curious, here's the eBay policy people seem to have so
much trouble with:
Lists of Words. (1.) The inclusion of words that are simply listed to
attract viewers via our search engines and are not part of a context
based item description. For example, it would not be permissible to
state the following in your item description: "oil reproductions, art
recreations, gallery, art gallery, impressionist, impressionism, oil
paintings, reproduction, painting, recreation, copy, quality,
reproductions, recreations, realistic, copies, paintings, old masters,
replica, posters, prints, video..." (2.) The inclusion of words that
are simply listed to divert viewers to your other eBay items. For
example, it would not be permissible to state "Please view my other
eBay listings for Beanie Babies, vintage Barbies, Rolex watches, and
Chanel scarves." It would be acceptable to state "Please click here to
view my other eBay listings."
(from http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/png-wordspam.html)
Ignus Fast
general...
Ignus
--
* Please eliminate the 99 from my address to email me directly *
"PA jamma man" <this_will_be_delete...@hotmail.com> wrote in
message news:578072ae.02080...@posting.google.com...
John in NH
>general...
>
> Ignus
>
Why? The "fuck off asshole" reply was bad but his auctions don't look, er,
assholeish. Or is that assholish.
:)
~~~
My arcade pics, links & FS/FT stuff (UPDATED 07/27/02):
http://members.aol.com/rushpage/jamma.htm
Don't click on strange links:
http://cs-hacks.tk./
" Dude! Really! It's not like that! "
Matthew Murray
system really that bad or did the official spelling of "original" change to
"origional"????
I have seen this all over the eBay arcade section.
"PA jamma man" <this_will_be_delete...@hotmail.com> wrote in
message news:578072ae.02080...@posting.google.com...
Eric Kotz
this. Then also tell them of his response to you. I suspect that will earn
him a few week vacation from ebay. If he's still doing it when he's back
on, email ebay again and odds are they will nix his account.
Personally, I HATE keyword spamming (btw that is ebay's official term for
it)
Eric Kotz
newsg...@erickotz.com
"PA jamma man" <this_will_be_delete...@hotmail.com> wrote in
message news:578072ae.02080...@posting.google.com...
PorkTornado
end looking for payment, then he takes 1 month to ship and overcharges
shipping fees.. Quite the money hungry fella.
Oh well..
/b
in article FEy39.137399$jq5.1...@news2.central.cox.net, Ignus Fast at
ignus...@cox.net wrote on 8/5/02 1:32 PM:
Ignus Fast
2) Using all-caps fonts large enough to make a simple auction take FOUR
PAGES (not to mention the obnoxious colors)
3) Advertising other auctions, as the first poster mentioned
4) Surefire advice like this:
IF YOU PURCHASE THIS MACHINE, MAINTAIN, AND HOLD ONTO IT FOR 10 YEARS, YOU
WILL NO DOUBT REALIZE AN INCRESE OF AT LEAST 4-6 X'S YOUR INITAL INVESTMENT.
I'm not sure what 4-6 X's will gain me, especially surrounded on
both sides by typos, but it's probably good, right???
5) And finally, rules like this:
PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED WITHIN 5 DAYS OF AUCTIONS END OR NEGATIVE FEEDBACK
WILL BE FILED.
a.. S/H WILL BE PAID BY THE WINNING BIDDER, UNLESS THE B-I-N FEATURE IS
USED(see above)
a.. PAYMENT CAN BE MADE WITH...PAYPAL ONLY
a.. I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CANCEL ANY BID.
a.. IF YOU FEEDBACK IS 10 OR LESS AND/OR YOUR NEGATIVE FEEDBACK IS GREATER
THAN 10% PLEASE EMAIL ME PRIOR TO BIDDING
--
* Please eliminate the 99 from my address to email me directly *
"John in NH" <rush...@aol.com--SP4M--> wrote in message
news:20020805140808...@mb-mv.aol.com...
John in NH
> 1) Trying to get $300 for a crap Tempest cabinet
That's his choice - don't go all "price police" on me now. :(
> 2) Using all-caps fonts large enough to make a simple auction take FOUR
>PAGES (not to mention the obnoxious colors)
Color and size of the writeup is, again, a matter of choice/preference.
> 3) Advertising other auctions, as the first poster mentioned
>
So? If you're smart and have related items, you would mention them, too.
> 4) Surefire advice like this:
>IF YOU PURCHASE THIS MACHINE, MAINTAIN, AND HOLD ONTO IT FOR 10 YEARS, YOU
>WILL NO DOUBT REALIZE AN INCRESE OF AT LEAST 4-6 X'S YOUR INITAL INVESTMENT.
> I'm not sure what 4-6 X's will gain me, especially surrounded on
>both sides by typos, but it's probably good, right???
>
Well, it's sloppily put but he's )trying to) say the machine will increase in
value. In this case, without a restoration, likely not, tho.
> 5) And finally, rules like this:
>PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED WITHIN 5 DAYS OF AUCTIONS END OR NEGATIVE FEEDBACK
>WILL BE FILED.
5 days is a bit short - I go with 7 and, yes, tell people I'll zap 'em with a
neg if they don't pay. And I do. :) "Don't waste my time" in other words. .
.
>a.. S/H WILL BE PAID BY THE WINNING BIDDER, UNLESS THE B-I-N FEATURE IS
>USED(see above)
Seems like a good policy - he picks up shipping, etc. if BIN is used.
>a.. PAYMENT CAN BE MADE WITH...PAYPAL ONLY
Eh, a bit confining but, again, his choice.
>a.. I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CANCEL ANY BID.
So do you.
>a.. IF YOU FEEDBACK IS 10 OR LESS AND/OR YOUR NEGATIVE FEEDBACK IS GREATER
>THAN 10% PLEASE EMAIL ME PRIOR TO BIDDING
>
Again, sounds like a good policy. Shady or minimal feedback - mail me prior to
bidding.
In closing, some of his policies and font choices may be questionable but I
don't think any of it makes the guy an asshole.
John in NH
>--
James Sweet
spammers and it really does make a difference for a short while. If you
think the arcade section is bad have a search for lasers, hardly anything
laser related doesn't have "argon dpss hene yag" pasted after it. I'm not
sure what these people think they're accomplishing, it just makes me less
likely to find their item because so much unrelated crap comes up. They
don't seem to get that if I want what they're selling I'll find it with my
search.
"PA jamma man" <this_will_be_delete...@hotmail.com> wrote in
message news:578072ae.02080...@posting.google.com...
Ignus Fast
way too much money (in my opinion) an a-hole. Call it gouging or call it
capitalism, I think it's wrong.
Font size/color is personal preference, as you say. But all that giant
text is going to annoy more than it will EVER entice people to keep reading.
Especially since he doesn't get the point that he's yelling.
And I'm not sure why you missed the first poster's point; advertising
his other auctions as he has done is in direct violation of eBay rules. And
you know what? It's people who decide that rules don't apply to them that
fuck up most everything in a free society. Rules are, for the most part,
only written down to point out the lack of common sense in some people.
As far as the rules he posted, I don't mind the "PAYMENT MUST BE
RECEIVED...." rule. Since he's requiring PayPal, you realistically should
be able to get it done the next day, if not immediately. If he accepted
other payment methods, then this would be unacceptable. But what happens if
I don't get the item from him within 2 weeks? Since he's in Canada, it
could take 3 or longer. But why should that make ME wait? Should I just
slap a bad-seller on him?
I am actually quite new to eBay. So why should I have to justify myself
as a buyer to him, just to be able to bid on an item? If he's that
paranoid, he probably shouldn't be selling items over the internet in the
first place. Now shady feedback is something completely different.
I'm not trying to start a pissing contest with you-- this is all in the
name of good debate. But IMHO, he's an a-hole and I wouldn't buy from him.
He's welcome to consider me an a-hole back, and probably doesn't need
someone else to defend him.
Ignus
--
* Please eliminate the 99 from my address to email me directly *
"John in NH" <rush...@aol.com--SP4M--> wrote in message
news:20020805165831...@mb-md.aol.com...
John in NH
> For the first point, I'll call anyone who tries to sell something for
>way too much money (in my opinion) an a-hole. Call it gouging or call it
>capitalism, I think it's wrong.
>
Call it wanting to get some dough for your stuff. GASP! ;)
> Font size/color is personal preference, as you say. But all that giant
>text is going to annoy more than it will EVER entice people to keep reading.
>Especially since he doesn't get the point that he's yelling.
>
Well, you find it annoying - I actually didn't think anything of it. As far as
the "yelling," those not 'net savvy wouldn't know of such a thing, so that's no
biggie.
> And I'm not sure why you missed the first poster's point; advertising
>his other auctions as he has done is in direct violation of eBay rules.
Well, eBay has a lot of suck rules and that's one of them. Still, you are
correct, a shitty eBay rule is a shitty eBay rule. :P
And
>you know what? It's people who decide that rules don't apply to them that
>fuck up most everything in a free society. Rules are, for the most part,
>only written down to point out the lack of common sense in some people.
>
True, true. Nicely put. :)
> As far as the rules he posted, I don't mind the "PAYMENT MUST BE
>RECEIVED...." rule. Since he's requiring PayPal, you realistically should
>be able to get it done the next day, if not immediately.
Well, if you have the cash in your account, yes. If you're waiting for sales
or to put some money in, that could be a problem.
If he accepted
>other payment methods, then this would be unacceptable. But what happens if
>I don't get the item from him within 2 weeks? Since he's in Canada, it
>could take 3 or longer. But why should that make ME wait? Should I just
>slap a bad-seller on him?
>
Just wait reasonable time for shipping, I suppose.
> I am actually quite new to eBay. So why should I have to justify myself
>as a buyer to him, just to be able to bid on an item?
Here's where you'll learn a thing about eBay - plenty of bogus bidders. The
thing with the feedback requirement or contacting him prior to bidding IS a
good idea and not all that uncommon.
If he's that
>paranoid, he probably shouldn't be selling items over the internet in the
>first place. Now shady feedback is something completely different.
>
> I'm not trying to start a pissing contest with you-- this is all in the
>name of good debate.
Indeed. I've read many of your posts and never taken issue with anything
you've said before.
But IMHO, he's an a-hole and I wouldn't buy from him.
>He's welcome to consider me an a-hole back, and probably doesn't need
>someone else to defend him.
>
> Ignus
>
True, true. Just poke around eBay for a bit, get burned by some bidders, etc.
and you may change your mind about a few of the things we've covered here.
Lata, :)
John in NH