While those of us over here in the trenches were trying to puzzle out if the changes to Google Product Search (which eBay calls Google Base which I thought was two names ago but whatever) was good or bad news, eBay sent down an edict from their ivory tower that reads as follows:
***Google Base Changes***
October 05, 2009 | 02:38PM PST/PT
We’ve received a number of questions from sellers concerned about Google’s recent announcement that starting immediately, individual sellers will no longer be able to submit their own item information to Google Base.
Although the vast majority of traffic to eBay listings comes from searches on eBay, we know Google Base can help drive additional traffic to eBay and to sellers’ listings. eBay currently sends information about millions of listings to Google Base at least once every day. We will continue to work closely with Google to ensure our feeds-and your listings-align with Google requirements. There’s no need for you to change your listing practices at this point.
It’s also important to note that Google Base is not an eBay product. Google-not eBay-ultimately controls which items are surfaced in Google Base searches and in what order. A listing may not show up for a number of reasons such as the time it takes for Google to index eBay items (approximately 3 days) or other reasons.
We’ll be sure to keep you posted on any further updates and best practices.
Sincerely,
Matthias Klappenbach
Manager, Search**Note: This post was edited from its original version.
Whew. Glad they cleared that up.
Edited from it’s original version? Not for clarity, I hope!
Since my last eBay to English translation was so popular, let’s do it again, shall we?
Despite the fact that we hid under our desks and turned off the lights and everything, people won’t stop asking us about this stupid Google thing. Google’s all like, it’s eBay’s problem to submit the stuff now and we are all, Whatever! WTF we don’t know how to do that.
Look, we are in a blood feud with Google and while we are talking about that, our search is a million times awesomer than theirs is anyway so why are people so freaking hung up on this Google stuff anyway. But, whatever, some of you like Google and won’t stop whining about how it drives sales. eBay currently sends information about millions of listings to Google Base at least once every day. You like how vague that is? I mean, maybe it’s your items, maybe it isn’t, you know? Maybe all that means is that someone from Google is dating someone from eBay and they laugh about funny auction titles in bed, what the hell do I know? So, yeah, whatever, we are on it as long as by “on it” you just mean, we just heard about this today and are putting our very best intern on it when she gets finished with getting my dry cleaning. There’s no need for you to change your listing practices at this point. Well, you know, change that stuff about insurance and return policies and shipping times and all that other stuff we changed recently but, you know, other than all those changes to your listing practices we made you do, don’t change anything. For now.
It’s also important to note that Google Base is not an eBay product. Seriously, we tried. We were all like, “we’ll buy you” and they were all, “no” and then we were all, “then buy us”, and they were all “no” and we were all “please!” So, if things take a long time to update or whatever it’s not our fault, things probably just got messed up on that crazy interwebs those kids talk about.
We’ll be sure to keep you posted on any further updates and best practices. This is just one of the many examples of our very *best* practices. Anytime we can vague something up for you, just let us know! We have really practiced being vague and making these announcement kinda useless so we are the best at it!
Sincerely,
Matthias Klappenbach <-made up name
Manager, Search <- means that if you want a real manager at eBay, you really need to search**Note: This post was edited from its original version by Hillary.
Does anyone have some real info on what this change means for sellers?
PS: eBay to English post are now my most favorite kind of post to do. I may take requests if you have a favorite eBay message. 🙂
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You have a real gift for satire and the Valley Girl thing down to perfection.