Interesting - eBay no longer likes the words 'Like New'

[aphex]

Attention Seller!

Using phrases such as ?like new? in the title of your listing to describe the condition of the item you are selling leads to a poor finding experience for members looking for ?new? items on the site. If your item is not brand new, please use terms such as ?refurbished? or ?slightly used? to describe the condition of the item you wish to sell.

Describing the condition of your item as ?like new? in the title of the listing is considered a violation of the Keyword Spam policy. eBay doesn?t permit sellers to use unrelated keywords, because they may confuse and mislead buyers

Please go back and revise your listing to comply with the Keyword Spam policy.

 

[quentinterintino]

I tend to side with ebay on this one... with the caveat that if the buyer is too dense to realize that "like new" is not equivalent to "new" then that's his/her own fault for what they purchase.

Sounds like a binary case - either it's used or new (although there are degrees of used).

 

[ppdes]

Ha, forcing people to act a certain way just because their search feature can't handle it (searching for new also returns like new). Is eBay run by a programmer or something?

 

[tasmanian]

Just do "Like new but used"

 

[KK]

you could also put "not new"

 

[mugs]

They have a good point. It's annoying when sellers put words in their title so their auction will show up in searches for items that don't match the item they're selling. Not intentional in your case, but I still agree with eBay.

 

[WHAMPOM]

Originally posted by: aphex

Attention Seller!

Using phrases such as ?like new? in the title of your listing to describe the condition of the item you are selling leads to a poor finding experience for members looking for ?new? items on the site. If your item is not brand new, please use terms such as ?refurbished? or ?slightly used? to describe the condition of the item you wish to sell.

Describing the condition of your item as ?like new? in the title of the listing is considered a violation of the Keyword Spam policy. eBay doesn?t permit sellers to use unrelated keywords, because they may confuse and mislead buyers

Please go back and revise your listing to comply with the Keyword Spam policy.

Lightly used is good, you just cannot qualify "new" to mean anything less than new.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: WHAMPOM

Lightly used is good, you just cannot qualify "new" to mean anything less than new.

Yes you can. You can say "Like new", indicating that it's in a similar condition to a new product, or "almost new". That makes it very clear that the product is not new, but is still in very good condition.

Sounds like ebay just doesn't want to edit their search function. All they'd have to do is put an exception, like "Match all *new* except when preceded by *like* or *almost* or *practically*".

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: WHAMPOM

Lightly used is good, you just cannot qualify "new" to mean anything less than new.

Yes you can. You can say "Like new", indicating that it's in a similar condition to a new product, or "almost new". That makes it very clear that the product is not new, but is still in very good condition.

Sounds like ebay just doesn't want to edit their search function. All they'd have to do is put an exception, like "Match all *new* except when preceded by *like* or *almost* or *practically*".

you can easily do that. just type "new -like"

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: WHAMPOM

Lightly used is good, you just cannot qualify "new" to mean anything less than new.

Yes you can. You can say "Like new", indicating that it's in a similar condition to a new product, or "almost new". That makes it very clear that the product is not new, but is still in very good condition.

Sounds like ebay just doesn't want to edit their search function. All they'd have to do is put an exception, like "Match all *new* except when preceded by *like* or *almost* or *practically*".

you can easily do that. just type "new -like"

Sure, users can do that, but users are stupid. Ebay has to put something in the back end that doesn't automatically return "like new" results when Joe Moron types "I want a new hard drive please" into the search field.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: WHAMPOM

Lightly used is good, you just cannot qualify "new" to mean anything less than new.

Yes you can. You can say "Like new", indicating that it's in a similar condition to a new product, or "almost new". That makes it very clear that the product is not new, but is still in very good condition.

Sounds like ebay just doesn't want to edit their search function. All they'd have to do is put an exception, like "Match all *new* except when preceded by *like* or *almost* or *practically*".

you can easily do that. just type "new -like"

Sure, users can do that, but users are stupid. Ebay has to put something in the back end that doesn't automatically return "like new" results when Joe Moron types "I want a new hard drive please" into the search field.

but that's what makes ebay great. I find so many good deals due to poorly listed auctions. You can also do stuff like (western digital,wd) (100gb,100 gb) (IDE,PATA) (harddrive,hard drive,hard disk).

 

[jackace]

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: WHAMPOM

Lightly used is good, you just cannot qualify "new" to mean anything less than new.

Yes you can. You can say "Like new", indicating that it's in a similar condition to a new product, or "almost new". That makes it very clear that the product is not new, but is still in very good condition.

Sounds like ebay just doesn't want to edit their search function. All they'd have to do is put an exception, like "Match all *new* except when preceded by *like* or *almost* or *practically*".

you can easily do that. just type "new -like"

Sure, users can do that, but users are stupid. Ebay has to put something in the back end that doesn't automatically return "like new" results when Joe Moron types "I want a new hard drive please" into the search field.

but that's what makes ebay great. I find so many good deals due to poorly listed auctions. You can also do stuff like (western digital,wd) (100gb,100 gb) (IDE,PATA) (harddrive,hard drive,hard disk).

Be careful with the poorly listed auctions some of the reason they are poorly listed is the item is not top quality or has some problems with it.

 

[Colt45]

used, mint condition.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: Colt45
used, mint condition.

:thumbsup:

 

[Toasthead]

Like Unused

Sorta new

Like KNEW

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: WHAMPOM

Lightly used is good, you just cannot qualify "new" to mean anything less than new.

Yes you can. You can say "Like new", indicating that it's in a similar condition to a new product, or "almost new". That makes it very clear that the product is not new, but is still in very good condition.

Sounds like ebay just doesn't want to edit their search function. All they'd have to do is put an exception, like "Match all *new* except when preceded by *like* or *almost* or *practically*".

you can easily do that. just type "new -like"

If I searched for
"new -like portrait"

Would it match
"New life-like portrait of Shawn"
?

There are ways you can use the word "like" other than "like new."

I also don't think it makes sense to modify the search functionality to deal with special situations like this. The more you do that, the less efficient the search will be.

I see no downside to prohibiting "like new" in listings. Yeah, your auction will match on fewer searches - but only those searches where the person is looking for a NEW product - not a used or 'like new' product. It's beneficial to the customer. You can convey the same information with different words.

I wish they'd start cracking down on other types misleading auction titles. i.e. when searching for an Xbox game, I don't want to see results for the Gamecube or PS2 version because the person put "XBOX GAMECUBE PS2" in the title. I have no idea why people would want their auction to be seen by people who are looking for something different entirely.

 

[TheKub]

Originally posted by: mugs
I wish they'd start cracking down on other types misleading auction titles. i.e. when searching for an Xbox game, I don't want to see results for the Gamecube or PS2 version because the person put "XBOX GAMECUBE PS2" in the title. I have no idea why people would want their auction to be seen by people who are looking for something different entirely.

Same reason when you go to the store to buy toilet paper and decide to pick up a pack of gum while going through the checkout.

 

[kalrith]

I saw a set of skis on eBay that were listed as new in the title, but they had been used a few times. I reported it to eBay 5 days before the auction ended, and it seems that they didn't do anything about it. The auction ended with the words "new pair of skis" in the title. This was about 6 months ago.

 

[TreyRandom]

Unfortunately, because of the actions of a few douchebags who try to pass crappy, defective, or extremely used stuff off as "like new", all of us are affected. Sucks, but that's what happens when a few people abuse the system.

If your item is listed in Amazon's inventory, you can always sell it there. One of their categories is Used - Like New, but you have to make sure that your item falls under their condition guidelines for a Used - Like New item. For example, PC games must adhere to the following condition standards:

Like New: Apparently unopened software or computer game in perfect condition (although it may be out of its original wrapping). The box and jewel case are pristine, with no signs of wear. The UPC should be visible. Suitable for presenting as a gift.

 

[91TTZ]

They need to ban the word "LQQK!"

 

[fleshconsumed]

The biggest problem with "like new" is that it's subjective. I once bought a like new CD single off of ebay and it had scratches all over it and a drop of strawberry (or something) jam on it. However of course it all comes down to seller honesty in how he describes the item.

 

[purbeast0]

i am with Ebay on this one.

they also should add some kind of checkbox to the description that says "will you ship to Nigeria" so that you can not have to worry about the scammers.

 

[Skacer]

I agree with ebay.

Originally posted by: Colt45
used, mint condition.

I also like that description a lot more. Was very common back when I used to collect baseball and basketball cards.

 

[cdmccool]

Don't really see the problem. When I search for new items, I first search for all of them then filter out the new ones by clicking New on the left-hand side.

 

[joecool]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: WHAMPOM

Lightly used is good, you just cannot qualify "new" to mean anything less than new.

Yes you can. You can say "Like new", indicating that it's in a similar condition to a new product, or "almost new". That makes it very clear that the product is not new, but is still in very good condition.

Sounds like ebay just doesn't want to edit their search function. All they'd have to do is put an exception, like "Match all *new* except when preceded by *like* or *almost* or *practically*".

what he said ... many items i have sold on ebay are so lightly used, and come in the original packaging with all the extras, that they really are like new. this is very different from an item that has visible signs of wear, and are missing spare parts, instructions, etc, that may have come in the original packaging. i think it is very reasonable to list my items as like new - it's a very accurate description of them.