eBay Rant: No Equality

[Highway_61]

Try this experiment. List something with a title that even hints at using a keyword inappropriately, i.e.

Taylor Guitar Better Than Most w Martin Strings

and have someone report it to eBay.

The listing will be pulled almost immediately w/o your being notified, w/o your having any chance to explain.

Then report any one or all of the Zager listings that have "seagull taylor strings" in their titles.

The Zager listings will not be pulled.

 

eBay's letter to those who report violations includes this text:

 

"In light of our privacy policy, we cannot share any action taken by eBay

with respect to this listing or post. If we determine that the listing

or post violates eBay policy, we may:

 

1. Send the seller an informational alert;

2. Remove the listing or post; or

3. Suspend the seller."

 

That there are three options, speaks to the fact that there is no equality. Again, your listings will be the recipient of their option #2. Zager may or may not be alerted, but his listings are not pulled and he continues with the same listing practices.

 

end of rant

[Treborklow]

Let's be clear... I don't report those listings, but I don't like them either. Sounds like you want to get Martin shoppers to look at your Taylor. Don't bother people with that. If a Martin buyer wants to see a Taylor, he'd do a search for Taylor, and visa versa. The listings are all jumbled up thanks to this nonsense.

 

It's the same with the Epiphone sellers filling up all of the Gibson searches with their filler. When I'm looking for a Gibson Les Paul, I don't want to see a thousand Epiphone Les Pauls with Gibson picks. So if I'm looking for a Martin, I don't want to see a thousand Taylors with Martin strings, Guilds with Martin strings and who knows what else with Martin strings. That's my rant.

[Highway_61]

Wow, how did you interpret my post like that? I don't use keywords at all!!!

What I am trying to say is that--and we are in complete agreement, here--that inappropriate use of keywords does need to be prohibited. However (!), it needs to be prohibited for everyone. I have a friend whose listing was pulled because he was offering a Godin gigbag free with his non-Godin guitar. Somebody reported his use of the word Godin--though he used it appropriately--and his listing was pulled. No one from eBay asked him. Somebody reported it. eBay pulled the listing. My friend did nothing wrong. But he is a seller with about twenty feedbacks (all positive, by the way), so eBay dealt with him without any courtesy whatsoever. Since his listing got pulled, we report Zager's Blueridge strings and seagull strings and all his inappropriate keywords and NONE of Zager's listings get pulled. Why? I can only assume that it's because Zager brings in a lot of money for eBay.

So what I'm saying is that there is NO DEFENSE for inappropriate keywords, AND that that policy needs to be applied EQUALLY. it's wrong, no matter how many items you sell.

[Treborklow]

I'm sorry... for some reason when I read your post I thought you were in favor of it. Sorry I read it to quick or something. My apologies.

 

It's funny, I've never heard of Zager. What is it?

[scoutll]

Guys, I couldn't agreee with you more. You used up all my ebay rant stuff for me and I feel better now after you got it off my chest. Thanks a lot.

 

Another one: If you type in the key word Harmony, you get all kinds of Zagers stuff too.

[Dave W.]

I have always wondered what a business person is thinking when they make their original sales pitch with an obvious lie, trick, or transparent scam. Anyone with half a brain has got to have immediate distrust. I cannot believe anyone would look past that first impression, and even consider doing business with them. The sad part is a lot of people do. Go figure.

[dadgad7]

can't add much to that other than - yea I hate that {censored} too!

[DonK]

 

Originally posted by Treborklow I'm sorry... for some reason when I read your post I thought you were in favor of it. Sorry I read it to quick or something. My apologies. It's funny, I've never heard of Zager. What is it?

 

 

Zager = Denny Zager, formerly best known for being 1/2 of the one-hit wonder "band" Zager & Evans with "In The Year 2025". Currently best known for buying Sigma D-41's for rougly $185 apiece, lowering the action and replacing the nut and saddle to widen the string spacing, and then peddling the guitars on eBay for $595 using ads such as, "Zager guitar with Martin strings, optional Collings case, and Santa Cruz picks. NO MORE SORE FINGERS."

 

Rumor has it that he and Esteban are going to pair up one day and offer the $2,025 "Zager Esteban Zorro guitar with genuine shoe polish fretboard, pine top, and papier mache back and sides."