Off site ads appearing on view item pages

Off site adverts are back on the view item pages, thankfully only at the bottom well below the item description instead of at the top of the page.

It’s something that’s bound to hit a raw spot with sellers though – the page they they have “paid for” is being used to promote another companies products and not even on eBay.

This particular add links to a landing page on Vodafone’s Ad agency TGB’s website.

So what do you think about off site ads on view item pages? It appears to be a very limited test at the moment – I’ve only been able to find the ads on a handful of listings. Do they appear on yours and if they did do you object to an off site ad at the foot of the page your listing appears on?

14 Responses on "Off site ads appearing on view item pages"

1. 1
   Yael says:

   November 30, 2009 at 12:34 am

   Yes, I object, it’s a thin edge of a wedge situation. But there’s nothing I can do, if it makes money for eBay, they’re here to stay. I’m not going to stop listing because of it.
2. 2
   Richard says:

   November 30, 2009 at 1:07 am

   It’s annoying as a seller for obvious reasons and some not so obvious reasons.

   1) Buyers assuming it’s something to do with you. that’s happened more than once when they tried it before at the top of listings.

   2) It maybe linked to a product, company or some ethical reason I don’t argee with.

   3) It has the potential to distract buyers away from my listing.

   My thoughts are eBay will soon be going to a zero insertion fee model or a fixed fee for any number of listings.

   …and yes I’m well aware of the part of the clause in the user agreement that allows them to do this, and no doubt it will get worse.
3. 3
   Richard says:

   November 30, 2009 at 1:10 am

   And just noticed in the screen shot what it says a few lines above the advert about the seller being responsible for the listing… That will add to the confusion even more, struth, what a mess.
   • 3.1
     Gary says:

     November 30, 2009 at 7:56 am

     I agree that is is not ethical for a host company to include a claim that a third party assumes all responsibilty for a listing whilst at the same time the host company adds revenue earning links to that listing. Any revenue earnt should be shared with the third party on an affiliate basis or there should be an opt out for such links for such a claim inserted on behalf of the third party by the host company to be valid.

     However I would also guess that eBay cover all this in their terms and conditions of listing on their website and this is an agreement that the user accepts.
4. 4
   Sue Bailey says:

   November 30, 2009 at 8:30 am

   If they’d let me advertise my website, i wouldn’t care at all. it’s the hypocrisy that’s particularly objectionable.
   • 4.1
     Richard says:

     November 30, 2009 at 11:16 am

     They can do what they like to my listings provided I can have an advert for my web site on their home page for a day.
   • 4.2
     Jay says:

     November 30, 2009 at 5:18 pm

     I know someone who has a link to their site in all of their listings for years and has never had any problems, but I guess they’ve just been extremely lucky. I wouldn’t risk it myself!
5. 5
   katakitty says:

   November 30, 2009 at 10:40 am

   I haven’t come across any this morning, in fact I was only thinking how lovely and “clean” all the listings were.
6. 6
   ~Rho says:

   November 30, 2009 at 5:14 pm

   I suspect eBay is toying with increasing the number of monthly free insertions next year in order to compete with some of the sites that are gaining market share.

   It may be that these ads would appear on those listing that take advantage of the free insertions as a means to off-set income differential. Sort of like free hosting that places 3rd party ads on your website.
7. 7
   Jay says:

   November 30, 2009 at 5:15 pm

   I’m really not happy about this. Maybe I should start putting affiliate adverts in my listings… oh no I’m not allowed. One rule for eBay and another for the rest of us. I’m fed up with eBay walking all over us!
8. 8
   Steve Antony Williams says:

   November 30, 2009 at 5:28 pm

   Like Yael says it’s a “thin end of the wedge” scenario. Time to look for somewhere else to sell your wares people.
   • 8.1
     Yael says:

     December 3, 2009 at 9:58 am

     I also said though it would NOT stop me listing on eBay. I’m still way up on last years figures. eBay is still more than viable for me.
9. 9
   leo says:

   November 30, 2009 at 6:06 pm

   I’m beyond caring. They can do what ever they want on their site cos I’m doing exactly what I want off their site.
10. 10
    Richard says:

    December 1, 2009 at 2:32 am

    Well if that doesn’t take the biscuit. You’d think eBay would be a great place to sell you old mobile? Not according to the wacking great banner advert on my “my eBay” page at the moment, a nice big advert for envirofone.com.

    so daft you really couldn’t make it up.