Thanks eBay

[grumpydoc]

So, eBay no longer allow links in listings https://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-links.html

Great - so I can no longer have datasheets, manuals, test results or even thumbnails which link to larger pictures.

All of which are IMO pretty important when selling 2nd hand or refurbished test gear.

Thanks 

[wraper]

Datasheets are still allowed, sort of. At least I did not get any complains about datasheet links. However ebay required to edit a listing which contained link to https://zeptobars.com/en/.

[RGB255_0_0]

That sucks, especially when you can link a video of the product but not a datasheet. You'll have to instruct the user to "Google xyz pdf". Arguably that could be more dangerous as there could be many, wrong or outdated ones, or take the user to malware sites.

Maybe a workaround is to make a video with the datasheet in the description   

[mcinque]

Datasheets are still allowed, sort of. At least I did not get any complains about datasheet links.

The fact that your auctions hasn't been caught or reported it doesn't state that it's allowed.

This are the ebay's links policies, and they are very simple:

"Links that direct customers to a site other than eBay are not allowed, except when linking to: Product videos, Freight shipping services, Other legally required information".

And in march 2018 they will force all sellers to use images without any watermark on them: sellers with thousands of images must now reshoot their images to continue to sell from that date. And this just two years after forcing the sellers to have white background (so just after a reshoot of their images!).

eBay it's a filth for me, you must just exploit it like a slave and then run your shop.

[grumpydoc]

Datasheets are still allowed, sort of. At least I did not get any complains about datasheet links. However ebay required to edit a listing which contained link to https://zeptobars.com/en/.

You used to be able to link if you ensured that the reference included target=”_blank” but the whole area has been tightened up since the beginning of the month.

That sucks, especially when you can link a video of the product but not a datasheet. You'll have to instruct the user to "Google xyz pdf". Arguably that could be more dangerous as there could be many, wrong or outdated ones, or take the user to malware sites.

Maybe a workaround is to make a video with the datasheet in the description   

Believe it or not I actually considered that but it seems like a bit too much work.

For now I have just put the links in as text so they need to be cut 'n' pasted to follow the link - until eBay start filtering that out.

[wraper]

Datasheets are still allowed, sort of. At least I did not get any complains about datasheet links. However ebay required to edit a listing which contained link to https://zeptobars.com/en/.

You used to be able to link if you ensured that the reference included target=”_blank” but the whole area has been tightened up since the beginning of the month.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161807832361

[StillTrying]

And in march 2018 they will force all sellers to use images without any watermark on them:

Won't that make it a little bit easier for scammers?

[grumpydoc]

This are the ebay's links policies, and they are very simple:

"Links that direct customers to a site other than eBay are not allowed, except when linking to: Product videos, Freight shipping services, Other legally required information".

It's not clear though how you might link to "Other legally required information" - the policy document that I linked to only covers videos and shipping services and they give only a very short whitelist of acceptable URL's

[grumpydoc]

Datasheets are still allowed, sort of. At least I did not get any complains about datasheet links. However ebay required to edit a listing which contained link to https://zeptobars.com/en/.

You used to be able to link if you ensured that the reference included target=”_blank” but the whole area has been tightened up since the beginning of the month.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161807832361

Listing last updated 06 May, 2016 11:01:47 BST, i.e before the current change.

At the moment they are not chasing old listings but this could now be reported as non-compliant.

FWIW the listing was allowed with the link but showed up as "needs to be edited" and I got no views (usually get a couple within an hour for decent new gear) so it was either not showing up in searches or a long way down the list of hits.

[wraper]

At the moment they are not chasing old listings but this could now be reported as non-compliant.

As I said, recently they asked to remove the link which wasn't PDF from old listing. This pdf link does not forward you outside of ebay so seem to be fine so far.

[grumpydoc]

At the moment they are not chasing old listings but this could now be reported as non-compliant.

As I said, recently they asked to remove the link which wasn't PDF from old listing. This pdf link does not forward you outside of ebay so seem to be fine so far.

Yes, that does seem to still be OK - it must have been upset by the links I put to Farnell pages with zip files etc on.

Seems I need to play some more to see what is allowed, maybe I can link directly to the stuff on Farnell

Still a bit of a pain though.

However their aims are to prevent off-eBay deals and, supposedly, so that the mobile app users can see all of the info on the listing so allowing PDF links is actually a bit odd.

EDIT: 3rd party pages definitely not OK, PDF's probably OK, ZIP's probably not, not sure about jpg yet

[mcinque]

And in march 2018 they will force all sellers to use images without any watermark on them:

Won't that make it a little bit easier for scammers?

Well, probabily not, since scammers can of course copy also the watermarks. They're only *trying* to adapt to Amazon style to recover the market they lost years ago (something that they cannot recover anymore). Nothing that can bring the customer outside the ebay purchase (many sellers put their website url on the images) and no invasive, funny or stupid watermarks or writing on images that make look the platform like a 2 Cents market.

Personally, as seller, eBay is something that must be avoided like plague.

[bd139]

This dumbification of ebay is annoying the shit out of me.

First they broke the category listings so you can't see the shipping pricing or whether it's an auction or not. Thank god iOS app and searches are still ok.

Then it was that fucking awful Shutl integration for postage, which has caused me no end of trouble. They sell an option which is promo price £7.29 for RM medium parcels but apparently no post office seems to know about it so I have to drive around for an hour finding one that does on that day.

Now this.

[Muttley Snickers]

If I were interested in the purchase of test equipment or anything else for that matter then chances are that I would already have sourced a copy of the relevant information or reference documentation, just out of habit I rarely if ever use links provided by Ebay sellers and prefer to seek this type of information out on my own, reference information relative to a specific device such as calibration data sheets or original purchase receipts could be an annoyance as previously mentioned.

Yesterday whilst browsing the camera section I noticed one listing which showed an image of a memory card which had been placed on a sheet of paper and the sellers phone number written below it, on Saturday I went on a mission to find particular sized storage containers and finally found what I was after on Ebay, I then searched on Google for the sellers name and it turned out they have not only a dedicated web site with all of their contact details but also a warehouse only ten minutes north of me, I rang them then went around that afternoon and bought eight great containers and ordered another dozen, I could easily post a picture of the purchase but that might give the game away, true story and I couldn't believe my luck.   

[grumpydoc]

Well, probabily not, since scammers can of course copy also the watermarks. They're only *trying* to adapt to Amazon style to recover the market they lost years ago (something that they cannot recover anymore). Nothing that can bring the customer outside the ebay purchase (many sellers put their website url on the images) and no invasive, funny or stupid watermarks or writing on images that make look the platform like a 2 Cents market.

Like a lot of stuff it will hurt legitimate sellers who are watermarking their images to try to protect themselves from being ripped off, but not hurt scammers who don't care.

Unfortunately eBay is totally paranoid about loosing revenue to "off site" sales and it does not care about collateral damage as it tries (fairly ineffectually) to block the perceived "hole".

Personally, as seller, eBay is something that must be avoided like plague.

In the US I guess there are credible alternatives - in the UK eBay is the only platform that has critical mass if you are selling in more niche markets like test gear.

If I were interested in the purchase of test equipment or anything else for that matter then chances are that I would already have sourced a copy of the relevant information or reference documentation, just out of habit I rarely if ever use links provided by Ebay sellers and prefer to seek this type of information out on my own, reference information relative to a specific device such as calibration data sheets or original purchase receipts could be an annoyance as previously mentioned.

Fair point but would you rather buy from a seller who seems to know at least a little about what he is selling and takes care to provide extra info with the listing or someone who accidentally got hold of an item in a house clearance and barely knows how to turn it on - or cares whether it is packed well enough to survive the delivery to you.

[Muttley Snickers]

I think it depends on the particular product, for instance if I was after a high end oscilloscope or spectrum analyser then it would have to be from a seller with some knowledge, by the same token good bargains can be had when sellers don't know what they have, one example I purchased was a "yellow tester" listed in the boating category, turned out to be a brand new Fluke 117 for thirty bucks, she had no idea what it was or what it was worth.   

[bd139]

Plenty of sellers like that out there still. My old Fluke 77, purchased in 2003, was literally new in box. Got it for £0.99 because it was listed badly.

My 5315A with OXCO and channel C option was a "ham radio"

[grumpydoc]

Plenty of sellers like that out there still. My old Fluke 77, purchased in 2003, was literally new in box. Got it for £0.99 because it was listed badly.

My 5315A with OXCO and channel C option was a "ham radio"

Yes we all love sellers like that - but for every one of those there are a dozen who make out that they know nothing but are fully aware that they are selling crap.

[Muttley Snickers]

This is when correspondence with the seller prior to purchase is absolutely critical, carefully think about the questions you are going to ask the seller and keep them short and to the point. For me the deciding factor for most transactions is not so much in the listings themselves but the manner and detail the seller responded with, if they do not reply to questions or are being cagey then they do not deserve my money and I will go elsewhere. Ebay and Paypal will most likely examine this correspondence at some point should a claim arise so word these questions well.