Ebay Category Listings

Why don't sellers list stamps in the correct category?

I only collect Aust KGVs and it annoys me when I have to go thru pages of NON KGVs to find something of interest.

Surely these items would do better where people are looking for them
in the correct category.

The number of complaints I have with the lack of intelligence/knowledge/grammar/honesty on the part of so many ebay sellers exceeds the bounds of reason. That category includes the rulers of ebay as well. But, I have learned to live with it and hone my search skills to try to avoid those who do not meet my needs. Life is short, especially at my age, and you just learn to get around the multitude of buffoons and scoundrels. Do I sound like I have had one glass too many? Perhaps.

Had a complaint yesterday about my ebay decimal in the KGV section and that was over 150 listings.

It turns out that the 1st category changed to KGV but the 2nd choice categories was still decimal.

Very strange, it took very little time to bulk edit this problem.

The email was in very poor taste unfortunately.

But even though I did send a nice one back.:)

I also found this sloppy listing annoying. But I have learned to turn it to my advantage by searching for wrongly listed items that I might want to buy. If they are in the wrong place they won't get the bidders, will they?

Terry

It could be worse. The ebay.com site doesn't even have a category for KGV stamps under Australia. Here's a list of choices:
Australian States
Booklets
Covers
First Day Covers
First Flights
Individuals (seriously?!?)
Kangaroos
Plate Blocks / Multiples
Sheets
Collection / Lots
Other

But at least Australia has categories I guess. I can't say the same for the European countries outside of the UK. This is one reason why I do like Delcampe as the category development is such much better - not perfect, but better.

Sales drop full on if the stamps are not listed in the right category that is for sure.

My listing categories for Decimal.

1st listing choice: >Decimal >Set or Individual.

2nd listing choice: >Decimal >Other

You think ebay would be different categories for used and mint.

For US stamps, there are used and unused categories (see below). I think part of the problem is caused by seller's using the "sell similar" function to reduce their time spent creating listings and forgetting to adjust the category when it changes.

When looking for listings on ebay I only use the pacific search window at the top of the page. I do not have a glue how to search for listings by category.



I have not changed my listing settings since I 1st started selling this or that stamp type. But I do remember that setting window.

Interesting!

i do all my searches beginning with the category STAMPS. Then use the specific categories and go back and forth until you filter the search down. That is, if I were searching for KGV I would do advanced search, then check the other categories for the breakdown. You might just click on Australia next and if that didn't work go back to previous and choose another category.

I must admit when I use ebay I dont bother trying to drill down and use the various categories for Stamps - Am I missing any items that may be of interest to me? - Not particularly sure but am not worried about it

The one that is troublesome from me is there is a US category 1901-1940 Unused but the used category is 1901-now. Nothing like have an extra 70 years of listing in the category when I really am not interested in any thing after 1940.

Aussie Al

I am one of those buyers who actively looks for items that are NOT listed in the correct category. Why? Because fewer people will view the lot which means there is much less competition. Since I am a cover collector this may not be applicable to stamp collectors though.

I do the same thing at stamp shows. I do NOT ask dealers if they have a specific type of cover when I first start looking. I ask to look through their stock. I especially like going through boxes that have not been organized.

Eventually at a show I will go to a dealer who has an efficient method of classification. Unfortunately prices are much higher than at the disorganized dealer's table. You pay for the convenience of not having to search.

Someone should contact the Manager of Stamps, ebay.Australia and give them some advice on how to reorganize their sloppy category listings of Australia. While they are there they could also do with a revamp of the Postcard categories, they do not even break Australia into States. At the moment it is pathetic,

Pagoda

Most of my biggest ebay scores are from poorly described items which I accidentally stumbled onto. I wish there was a category called "stamps for sale by people who know nothing about stamps but take decent pictures"

As a buyer I agree but from a sellers point of view its crazy to lose sales and profit because of sloppy listings.