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Annoying Keyword Spammer of the week...

Started by rob_react,

41 posts in this topic

rob_react

rob_react

Posted
Posted

No, it's not board member Solar with his pair opf "CGC Ready" auctions, it's this guy:

 

eBay.com Seller List: black_dragon2326

 

58 auctions with "cgc" in the title and not one of them cgc graded. I emailed him-

 

so.... the books aren't cgc graded? If they're not, why put it in your auction title? That's kind of misleading.

--------------------

 

 

Question from: rob_react

Title of item: DAREDEVIL # 164 NM cgc FRANK MILLER NR

Seller: black_dragon2326

Starts: Nov-16-03 21:02:52 PST

Ends: Nov-21-03 21:02:52 PST

Price: Starts at $2.99

To view the item, go to: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2204282896

 

He replied:

 

They are not, this is a professional opinion as to grade and that we believe they are worthy of it. Misleading would be to list cgc and a grade # behind it (i.e cgc 9.4).

 

Sorry for any confusion

 

I replied:

 

No, it is pretty misleading. You're advertising your books as cgc graded by putting "cgc" in the title of your listing. They're not cgc graded, so that's kind of a form of false advertising. If everyone did what you do there would be no way to search legitimate CGC graded books on ebay.

 

 

893frustrated.gif893frustrated.gif

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JohnBull

JohnBull

Posted
Posted
They are not, this is a professional opinion as to grade and that we believe they are worthy of it. Misleading would be to list cgc and a grade # behind it (i.e cgc 9.4).

 

Sorry for any confusion

 

 

That's a very Clintonesque definition of misleading.

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OldGuy

OldGuy

Posted
Posted

Let's all start reporting this guy to E-bay and see how many auctions we can get pulled. I'll make it easy for everyone.

 

1. Click here and enter your user name and password.

 

2. Cut and paste these item numbers (limit 10 per form) into the appropriate field on the next page.

 

2204257040, 2204257871, 2204258663, 2204259595, 2204260600, 2204261273, 2204261909, 2204262551, 2204263332, 2204264556, 2204265393, 2204266183 , 2204266916, 2204267666, 2204268650 , 2204269389, 2204270411, 2204273375, 2204274585, 2204275911, 2204277147, 2204278376, 2204278990, 2204280482, 2204281246, 2204282118, 2204282896, 2204283356, 2204283881, 2204284177, 2204285167, 2204285749, 2204348907, 2204349374, 2204349791, 2204350137, 2204350518, 2204350855, 2204351262, 2204351686, 2204352035, 2204352509, 2204352921, 2204353302, 2204353604, 2204353945, 2204354285, 2204354662, 2204355042, 2204355805, 2204356166, 2204356508, 2204356834, 2204357139, 2204357802, 2204358415, 2204358974, 2204359879

 

3. Paste the following text into the "Comments" field:

 

This seller is keyword spamming by including "cgc" in all of his auction titles when none of his comics are CGC certified.

 

4. Uncheck the "e-mail me this message" field.

 

5. Rinse and repeat 5 more times (sellecting the ten next item numbers each time) to get all of his auctions reported. Just hit the "back" button in your browser to use the same form again.

 

There! Now you've done your part to teach this as.shole a lesson. thumbsup2.gif

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Darthdiesel

Darthdiesel

Posted
Posted
Let's all start reporting this guy to E-bay and see how many auctions we can get pulled. I'll make it easy for everyone.

 

1. Click here and enter your user name and password.

 

2. Cut and paste these item numbers (limit 10 per form) into the appropriate field on the next page.

 

2204257040, 2204257871, 2204258663, 2204259595, 2204260600, 2204261273, 2204261909, 2204262551, 2204263332, 2204264556, 2204265393, 2204266183 , 2204266916, 2204267666, 2204268650 , 2204269389, 2204270411, 2204273375, 2204274585, 2204275911, 2204277147, 2204278376, 2204278990, 2204280482, 2204281246, 2204282118, 2204282896, 2204283356, 2204283881, 2204284177, 2204285167, 2204285749, 2204348907, 2204349374, 2204349791, 2204350137, 2204350518, 2204350855, 2204351262, 2204351686, 2204352035, 2204352509, 2204352921, 2204353302, 2204353604, 2204353945, 2204354285, 2204354662, 2204355042, 2204355805, 2204356166, 2204356508, 2204356834, 2204357139, 2204357802, 2204358415, 2204358974, 2204359879

 

3. Paste the following text into the "Comments" field:

 

This seller is keyword spamming by including "cgc" in all of his auction titles when none of his comics are CGC certified.

 

4. Uncheck the "e-mail me this message" field.

 

5. Rinse and repeat 5 more times (sellecting the ten next item numbers each time) to get all of his auctions reported. Just hit the "back" button in your browser to use the same form again.

 

There! Now you've done your part to teach this as.shole a lesson. thumbsup2.gif

 

 

YO WTF!!! THOSE ARE MY AUCTION NUMBERS! sumo.gifsumo.gif

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rob_react

rob_react

Posted
  • Author
Posted

And it continues- new reply and answer follow

 

so.... the books aren't cgc graded? If they're not, why put it in your auction title? That's kind of misleading.

--------------------

 

 

Question from: rob_react

Title of item: DAREDEVIL # 164 NM cgc FRANK MILLER NR

Seller: black_dragon2326

Starts: Nov-16-03 21:02:52 PST

Ends: Nov-21-03 21:02:52 PST

Price: Starts at $2.99

To view the item, go to: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2204282896

 

He replied:

 

They are not, this is a professional opinion as to grade and that we believe they are worthy of it. Misleading would be to list cgc and a grade # behind it (i.e cgc 9.4).

 

Sorry for any confusion

 

I replied:

 

No, it is pretty misleading. You're advertising your books as cgc graded by putting "cgc" in the title of your listing. They're not cgc graded, so that's kind of a form of false advertising. If everyone did what you do there would be no way to search legitimate CGC graded books on ebay.

 

 

His new reply:

 

Sorry, we got the idea from alot of different ads and suggestions from other sellers. Haven't been doing it too long, but you are the only person to complain. If we see it as a issue we'll stop, but I see alot of people put "LOT" or "collection" in their descriptions and they are only selling one book (just another example) lol...mine is "free shipping"....anything but.

 

Thanx!

 

Chris, Erik, and Tracie

 

My reply to that...

 

CGC is a brand name and a very specific thing to put into an auction title.

What you're doing is expressly against ebay rules.

 

From:

 

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-keywords.html

 

What is Keyword Spamming?

Keyword spamming is the practice of including brand names or other

inappropriate "keywords" for the purpose of gaining attention or diverting

users to a listing. Keyword spamming is unfair to members who may be

searching for a specific item and receive search engine results of listings

that are not selling the item. It is also a manipulation of eBay's search

engine. Users often are confused and frustrated by such tactics. Certain

uses of brand names may also constitute trademark infringement and could

expose sellers to legal liability.

 

Rob

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FlyingDonut

FlyingDonut

Posted
Posted

While we're at it, can we please do something about Wacky Wally and his annoying habit of putting this: VARIANT**SUPERMAN**BATMAN****DC COMICS** MARVEL COMICS**TOP COW***IMAGE COMICS**CHOAS COMICS* ** in every single one of his auctions?

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rob_react

rob_react

Posted
  • Author
Posted
While we're at it, can we please do something about Wacky Wally and his annoying habit of putting this: VARIANT**SUPERMAN**BATMAN****DC COMICS** MARVEL COMICS**TOP COW***IMAGE COMICS**CHOAS COMICS* ** in every single one of his auctions?

 

I hate that guy. Plus, it's CHAOS, not CHOAS, which makes it doubly annoying..

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Solar

Solar

Posted
Posted

With regard to putting CGC ready in the title of my ASM's, look at all my auctions. Out of the ten or so raw books I had up there, those were the only three I included that line in. I didnt put CGC in the title of lower grade stuff or cheaper modern stuff, I put it in the titles of books that likely are going to end up at CGC because they're so nice.

 

The potential buyers for these books are likely people who are interested in high grade raw material to send to CGC. Therefore, I'm not putting CGC in the title to trick people into thinking the books are already graded or clutter the searches of innocent ebayers looking for graded books, I'm putting it in there to maximize the books exposure to the audience most likely to purchase them.

 

If it really pains you so much to see 3 high grade bronze books in your search, then you've got issues. No ebay rules were broken, but if you dont like my auction techniques, take it up with them.

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Darthdiesel

Darthdiesel

Posted
Posted

893whatthe.gif Was I tricked into buying that ASM from you? 893scratchchin-thumb.gif I think rahigh was tricked too, because he was gonna bid on it too but decided not to snipe me out of courtesy... thumbsup2.gif

 

Actually I found your auctions because you posteed in the Marketplace. I went through them all and I awanted all the bronze ASM 105 - 111? just because they looked better than my personal copies... confused-smiley-013.gif

 

I don't really search using "CGC" as a keyword much anymore but to those compiling data based on a search parameter of "CGC" in the title will probably be annoyed. I know I annoy them as well by omitting the numerical when listing CGC mid to low grade. Who wants to click on "CGC 3.5 Top Census?"

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rob_react

rob_react

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I'll answer with two questions.

 

If you're concern was just to point out that these books were CGC candidates, why put that information in the title where it was sure to siphon off legitimate "CGC" search hits? Why not just put it in your auction description? the placement belies your altruistic motives.

 

The second (multi-part) question is this- and this goes toward my "issues" with what you've done- if your "technique" is such a good thing, would it be acceptable for every eBay seller to use it when selling VF/NM or better books? Your argument implies that it would be. So... with the thousands of false positives that would generate, how would anyone ever again find a legitimate cgc graded book? Just amongst the sellers on here we would generate a few hundred "CGC Ready" books a week. That's a good thing, I guess?

 

While it may not be against eBay rules (and I'm not convinced it isn't), it's certainly against the spirit of them.

 

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rob_react

rob_react

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I don't really search using "CGC" as a keyword much anymore but to those compiling data based on a search parameter of "CGC" in the title will probably be annoyed.

 

I do. Then again you probably used to search "cgc" in modern and that's just ridiculous now. I scan the results daily in Gold Silver and Bronze so I do get annoyed with repetitions of the "cgc?," "CGC ready" and "cgc-it" themes. It's a waste of my time.

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