eBay CEO Devin Wenig told attendees at a Wall Street conference that additional changes are slated to roll out in the next few months. Wenig was speaking at the Citi 2017 Global Technology Conference on Wednesday morning.
What caught our attention in particular was a reference to changes coming to eBay search, which merchants see as critical to achieving sales. The following is an exact quote from Wenig:
“You’ll see new, compressed, simplified search, which will be a significant difference to the eBay experience, in the next 60 days.”
It’s tantalizing and also surprising given this is the first mention of changes to eBay’s search engine that we can recall.
The last time eBay overhauled search was with the “Cassini” project led by Hugh Williams when John Donahoe was CEO. Many sellers reviled the changes, finding it difficult to determine how to get their listings to the top of search, believing that less relevant listings appeared before their more relevant items.
Other Changes on the Way
Wenig said it “gets fun from here” as eBay will start to see growth really accelerate in the business. He cited a healthier platform, an evolving brand, and a business that, “in the face of a flattish economy, is improving quarter on quarter.”
Wenig boasted that the eBay experience has changed more in the last 6 months than it probably had in the last 10 years. And there’s a lot more to come in the next 90 days, he said. In addition to the new search, he said:
– The Homepage is changed.
– You’ll see Guaranteed Delivery on 20 million items rolling in the next 60 days.
– You’ll see Image Search rolling in the next 60 days.
– You’ll see Authentication of high end priced items where we’ll physically authenticate for buyers to improve trust.
Hal Lawton’s Departure
Wenig was asked about the departure of Hal Lawton, who joined eBay from The Home Depot only 2 years ago and just left this month to head Macy’s. He said he didn’t want to comment on the specific circumstances of anyone leaving, but said the executives responsible for Structured Data and the brand reboot were all still with the company.
Wenig said there would be no changes as a result of Lawton’s departure – the playbook is set, and everyone is pulling in the same direction.
Let us know what you think on the changes eBay is rolling out – post a comment on the EcommerceBytes Blog.
– “The Homepage is changed.”
(Now there’s a real feat. – Hear that Wall Street? – WOW!!!)
– “You’ll see Guaranteed Delivery on 20 million items rolling in the next 60 days.”
(8 sizes, 14 colors, & 32 slogans on a tee shirt = 3584 items alone)
– “You’ll see Image Search rolling in the next 60 days.”
(Imagine, going in to Macy’s, photo a sweater, upload to Ebay)
(There’s a return waiting to happen. Well, at least maybe this will kill Browse)
– “You’ll see Authentication of high end priced items where we’ll physically authenticate for buyers to improve trust.”
(Ebay authenticating MY antiques…..OK, sure, there are some bad sellers)
(But who will be authenticate all the stuff that buyer thieves never sent back?)
EBAY: Until you come up with some SELLER protection, I remain finished with you. You’re just another cut-rate, discount, race to the bottom, JunqueMart.
There never will be any seller protection so get over it and start listing again
Only Ebay is capable of reinventing the wheel, and having it come out square. Like Etsy, they keep searching for miracles, technological innovations, tricks, schemes, and TOS frauds, that will somehow catapult them to King of the World.
I’ve long ago gone back to the local strip malls for commodities. Brick & Mortar is back, and I have my own site. These guys are just nuts.
Everytime the idiots in the fluffy tower enact one these moronic ideas everyone complains they were never notified.
I ASK YOU WHY WOULD EBAY NOTIFIY YOU???? ITS COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT MOST SELLERS ARE JUST NOISE.
YOU don’t pay enough to be heard.
Nothing ebay has done in the last what 5-7 years has actually benefited sellers.
Worse, for Canadian sellers, when guaranteed delivery starts and as it is being tied now to where you appear in best match results we are seeing the final death blow for Canadian sellers. Forget about the fact that since the Spring Seller Update 2015, ebay has been hiding most Canadian seller items, most of the time, since there is absolutely no way we can compete with the US sellers in guaranteed delivery our items will have yet another factor against them and will simply not be seen by anyone. Since there is basically no Canadian market to support us, I would say that the last hold out Canadian sellers like myself are now officially done.
Ebay is a business, they are out for themselves, then they care about the buyers, and lastly….us poor old sellers. LOL, I say get over it and quit your darn bickering. Keep listing and ignore all the negative stuff because it all comes down to 1 simple fact… eBay is still the best venue for selling… plain and simple. Heres a breakdown of my average monthly sales
Amazon $3000
Shopify website $100
ebay $25,000
and yes my sales are down 40% since October 2016