Generic AI descriptions are not helpful and make a seller look lazy

[bradclark8615]

To all sellers,

There has been an absolute flood of generic copy and paste style descriptions, which I understand to be AI generated. Please stop doing this. I have clicked on hundreds of listings only to find the exact same description of an item I'm browsing. The description is not in fact a description it as a generic sales pitch basically hyping up the product and giving absolutely no unique information related to the product itself. This is utterly lazy.

Please take the time to describe the item. Trust me when I say just that extra bit of effort will save you a lot of time having to field messages asking about the item you are selling.

When selling, I leave detailed images and a description and very seldom get messages about the items I am selling and I have sold 99.99% of my listings.

Rant over

[kidmore_kats]

You are not alone

https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Seller-Central/Sellers-Stop-using-AI-nonsense-for-descriptions-you-a...

[1902elder]

I tested the AI descriptions on a few of my listings to see what they would be like. A lot of flowery prose, short on detail, and inaccurate. Buyers need to know exactly what is on offer, warts and all. If there are defects they have to know, they have to have information about that specific item, not a generated description which will appear on many similar listings.

I decided against using it, but by mistake left it on one item. A while after listing, a member contacted me to suggest I change the description, as it was inaccurate. I will certainly not be using it, if a seller doesn't have the ability to compose their own descriptions, then maybe selling on Ebay is not for them.

[anne.craig]

I tend to use it in case it generates views via keywords I wouldn't use myself, correct any errors it has, then add my normal description on condition, sizing and anything I want to emphasise.  It definitely is useless as the sole description!  Just a re-hash of the item specifics - which finally seem to have a point to them with this feature enabled.

[fatbobfan]

I was looking at mens jewellery  yesterday, had a specific idea of what I wanted and made my purchase

Afterwards I had a look at the auction items ending soonest, just seeing if bargains were to be had, in the category of Mens jewellery not excluding any items by price of quality eg costume to precious metals.

There were many low value listings and to ascertain what these potential bargains could be I looked into the description. Some were (imo and I could be wrong) low value, unbranded, costume jewellery, no bids, not double figure starting price, but the AI description were selling them like high end value pieces,

'timeless classic'

'must have in any collection'

'ideal purchase for men with a keen eye in jewellery'

Again just my opinion makes the seller look bad and in turn the platform look bad. Think AI has some? place if used properly but when its not and people just click the button, its not the best 

[choc_madd_dogg]

AI descriptions are very annoying and largely inaccurate. Makes eBay look bad.

[podpages]

Since you posted this it is nearly every listing using Ai and its incredibly bad. One jacket I looked at after a load of nonsense said "So why wait? Get your hands on this amazing motorcycle jacket today! Stunning jacket, will last forever." 

WILL IT!!! great. When it doesn't last until the end of time can I have my money back?? 

[pillarboxred]

You are so right. On the other hand, the AI descriptions can be funny when the dreary junk "adds a touch of elegance to your home". I experimented with it and sometimes run it as it can help spot an aspect one has forgotten about and then I delete it and put up my version. The thing we sellers need to cultivate is the mood of tantalising excitement the AI marketeers try to instil.

[pillarboxred]

Motorcycle jackets mostly outlast the motorcyclists.

[pillarboxred]

I agree but maybe it works and if the buyer feels they have a timeless classic which enhances their collection and proves they have a keen eye in jewellery and it is low end and didn't cost a lot, what's the harm?

[pillarboxred]

Yes, I use it as an aide memoir if I'm a bit stuck what to say but if this is typical of AI in general I think a lot of  businesses have been conned with hype about a tool which is not terribly good.

[moldosgifts]

The ebay one is shocking and reads like original was in chinese. The mictosoft copilot is much better.

Thesa actually reads what you put and makes a suggestion no fancy words that bear no relation to the product.

[chris_bryson]

I think buyers will start avoiding listings with AI descriptions - I have!

I'm trying to buy a PS4 console, but the all AI generated descriptions are meaningless.

I keep seeing:

"This console is perfect for anyone wanting an exciting gaming experience"

Totally useless!

[bigcutter58]

Totally agree…the absolute nonsense basically saying nothing about the item puts me off putting on my watch list. Telling me rubbish about how a pair of shoes will protect my feet in all weathers ( you get the idea) is completely irritating…especially to someone like me who goes to a lot of effort with photos and description.

if these “lazy” ebayers assume that doing this will help them…think again…..if the item arrives with faults then you’ll have a return on your hands including return postage so you’ll be losing money 

EBAY..Step in and STOP THIS!!!