Impressions broken again??

[swiss_expert_uk]

Can you please check if there is another problem with impressions? Another counting glitch? These stats can not be correct. Organic impressions promoted views down to under 3000 views today at time of writing. This time last week almost 73000 views. Please help.  dave@ebay kat@ebay 

[the_book_seekers]

As I understand a beta test it is the testing of a new software or other hardware on real users. ebay doesn't seem to as ask for volunteers so it seems like pot luck (or bad luck) if you end up on the testing. 

And how come everyone on these boards saw a similar hit in impressions... suggesting there was no guinea pig group? Hasn't it always been the way of these boards that those unaffected by ebay's issues say very little and those who have had a kicking voice their opinions? I've always found you to be a exception to the rule, which is good by the way as it's helpful to know that sales can still be achieved.

[oceanartsnorthdevon]

There was confirmation on the weekly live chat with CS on 9/8/23 that there was an issue with impressions, below copy & pasted from chat was their comments regarding this issue:

"We got confirmation from the promoted listings team that there was a test with affected impressions. The test took place between 18th and 28th July and during this time some of our members had a different experience. However, this has completely stopped and how impressions are now be back to normal."

[sheba-knows-best]

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@oceanartsnorthdevon wrote:

There was confirmation on the weekly live chat with CS on 9/8/23 that there was an issue with impressions, below copy & pasted from chat was their comments regarding this issue:

"We got confirmation from the promoted listings team that there was a test with affected impressions. The test took place between 18th and 28th July and during this time some of our members had a different experience. However, this has completely stopped and how impressions are now be back to normal."

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Oh I would never dispute that ebay was up to something. Ebay is ALWAYS up to something. It's a test when I throw my PL % up. It's a test when I put 25% off my Next and M&S jackets. Ebay - if it is worth its salt - should be testing and fiddling far more than I am - and I bloomin' hope it is - because otherwise how on earth will it fight back against the likes of Vinted, Etsy, etc etc My point is, was it something properly out of the ordinary? - and I think not - I think what created a more-mega-than usual impact was the timing in July.

In my view looking at impressions as a solution is just too... limiting. I'm interested in when the High Street starts its sales (early this year); in what analysts say (there is a gradual move back to the High Street shopping experience vs online buying which catapulted up in COVID) etc. I records sales and profits and see how they are performing y-o-y and how they are impacting each other. 

So during the July impression slump I vastly increased my PL on some items in the hope I would sell more on a halo PL at a lower %.  I didn't particularly want to sell the items on the mega PL %. And in the end my PL costs rose far less than the massive increase I gave a few items. I will never know for certain how much my huge PL increase brought in the buyers. And I could drive myself to distraction trying to work it out. All i can do is 'test' an idea - and if it works - try it again another time. 

Yes - if your impressions and SALES flat line you have to get to the bottom of why. First thing I would do is search my type of products and see what my competitors are doing. I have had more categories 'pinched' from me than I care to mention.

[simplyessential_uk]

If you have a poor listing, closing and relisting is pointless as you have kept the history. Sell similar and change the title or reorder, then delete the old listing, now the algorithms think its a new listing snd sll new listings get a bump up the rankings automatically, so I will also list it cheaper until I get a sale then put the price back up.

I only use 2% PL 

[oceanartsnorthdevon]

I don't think anyone will get to the bottom of the recent issues on site, my theory is this sudden slump happened when there was a big push for the promoted listings dynamic and the advanced promotion where you pay per click, these were both introduced at the same time in a new format on the bottom of listings, I was emailed just before this happened persuading me to try the dynamic promoted listings (all my items were on the standard promoted listing anyway on the "suggested daily rate" and sales were good.  Whether it was an algorithm/tech issue, possibly where all the promotions were running in conjunction with each other was the cause as reading some of the threads at the time, even those using these new promotions were having a big drop in sales and impressions.  It did also seem they were trying to trial these promotions and where to put them as they kept appearing in various formats on my listings, above my listing in a single line, then multiple promotions above, then at bottom of listing etc they kept being moved about.

The last time I experienced anything like this was when they first brought out the promoted lisintgs several years ago.  Just a thought.

[bennotbill]

I think that TRS sellers post on .com says it all. They said sales were OK but thought well lets try a few sponsored/promoted listings to improve things. They said sales then all but died and they don't understand why. Just like many eBay sellers in the same position.

[paul*tribesandvibes*]

So ... what are we saying folks ... should we all stop our promoted listings at the same time, leave them off for a period of time, let the algorithm go into meltdown, and then re-start our promotions and see what happens

idk. Sales have stopped again ... laughs heartily - not that they really got started but I'm back down to 1 sale or 2 if the algorithm is feeling generous. It's pathetic.

[red357rose]

Hi My Impressions down too,and selling like before :(((. I put everyday lots of item but not any view, when see impressions its down 😞 

[teflon2237]

Here we go again, impressions sky rocketed  and now on a very fast decline again. Sales were booming again and thrn the last 2 days like they have hit a brick wall! 

It's like alot of my items get hidden and then suddenly reappear and impressions and sales kick in again. In 19 years of selling on ebay  I have not known anything like this happening.

[fatbobfan]

Thanks

Will be giving that ago, I have been using the relist option as in the advice given at 19.00 minute in of this Ebay business video, interesting Dark Arts comment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdjacpSczco

Can I ask how long you will run a PL campaign for? Previous CS advice has been not more than a year, any opinions?

[simplyessential_uk]

I have a permanent 2% PL and have "forever" I watched a YT (back from burnout) about a yr ago and she had different PL groups for different books and decided to move them from one group to another and trial different % unfortunately her sales nose dived and CS told her if you move them across it tskes a week to reset, if she had closed the listing then relisted with the change it doesnt, weird but something I dont do now after watching that.

[fatbobfan]

Still dont get why they make it so complicated without written instruction for many system tasks that have consequences on innocent and perceived best practices. 

I find incorrect information from CS so annoying and more imprtantly time and cost wasting and tend to use these boards,  I shold watch more YT Ebay uploads any channel recomendations?

[lingerie0nline]

Has anyone had any confirmation on why sales have dropped off a cliff since beginning of July ? and a solution or work around?

[red357rose]

Hi I have same problem sales every day less less and when asking Ebay team they said everything fine but its not day not say what they do :(( 

[lord_and_lady_m]

I have a 1 to 1 booked at the eBay open in Thursday. Be interesting to see what they can do to fix this. I've done all sorts and nothing has improved with sales. Impressions have tanked again too

[lord_and_lady_m]

I've had the 1 to 1 and the chap has been brilliant. I honestly could have cried. I'm not going nuts. There's no obvious reason for my issues with impressions etc. 

He wants to work with me to try to help. 

[qualitycardsandgifts]

Glad you're getting some help.    Maybe they will work out what's going on which hopefully will help all of us.    My impressions were going up, as were sales, but back to zero sales today. 

[lord_and_lady_m]

I even said to the guy, eBay told me I should put my holiday settings on whilst here at the eBay open. What's the point. My last sale was yesterday and I'm not expecting any today, and I'm right. 

I will share it I ever find out what happened. 

[tothemoonresales]

Nearly a week on would be interested to know more about the results from the "professional eBay help" ? Also any tips you could share?

[lord_and_lady_m]

Apart from what I shared in the eBay open thread, I'm working on opening back up my shop and relisting so my coach from the session can review in another weeks time. By the time I'd got to the session if pretty much ended everything, we shall see once I'm back up and attempting to run

There's the London open tomorrow, so maybe some others will be able to add some more tips.