Since the 3/4 I've been keeping an eye on one of my saved searches to try to get a feel for how the recent changes are affecting listings and sales.

The search is for a popular and collectable vintage inter-war glass maker.  Usually there would be anywhere between 150 - 200 returns.  Since the 3rd the listing numbers have hovered around 170.

However, instead of the usual 1 or 2 sales a day, there have been 4 days with 0 sales.

This morning's check shows 193 live listings and 4 sales yesterday.  Yesterday there were 175 live listings and two sales.  New Listings this morning show as 6, so where did the other 16 items appear from?

Perhaps ebay is getting the message that hiding listings because they are not sponsored hits sales and as sales since the 3rd have fallen, have decided to reveal more un-sponsored items to boost listing numbers?

I also noted a Uranium "Seerosen" bowl that normally sells for around £60 had sold at auction for £14.  That can only have a detrimental effect on sellers checking prices before listing.

Even allowing for the small sample size, it doesn't look like ebay is working 'normally'.  Whether that's temporary or a permanent change is anyone's guess, only time will tell.