ebay + Artificial Intelligence : Caveat Emptor !

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

I was sufficiently irritated by this listing to ‘Report’  it to ebay last night:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273317742873

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The ‘headline’ description is extremely [and I would suggest intentionally] misleading, and it is only in the full-description that we see what little is on offer.

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ebay responded quite promptly … but the text of that response worries me greatly

MichaelG.

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Thanks again for reporting the listing(s) you found.

What happened:
We looked into your report and didn’t find the listing to be in violation of our policy. This determination was made using automation or artificial intelligence.

 

[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

Bizarre, listing says 1 pair [i.e. 2] but further description says 1, both can’t be right? I have been caught out once before on this sort of thing when in a rush.

Tony

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

In many areas of our lives, AI and algorithms have been thought fit to be put in charge of a worrying number of decisions affecting countless people. Not surprising that eBay thinks this is the way to go. Just a small amount of genuine (as opposed to artificial) intelligence is enough to tell you it isn’t.

On a related note, I don’t think eBay has ever been too worried about fraud that impacts buyers or sellers, only fraud that impacts eBay, e.g. attempted circumventions of eBay’s ever more generous (to eBay!) fees system.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

To add insult to injury … I now have an eMail from ebay

”Hot item: 1 pair JLH 1969 Amplifier Boa…. Get it before it sells out, Michael”

MichaelG.

[John HinkleyParticipant @johnhinkley26699]

The item description does say the part is singular, but underneath, the pack contents is listed as a “pair”.  Not defending eBay, just pointing out that the AI might have winkled that bit out!

John

 

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Yes, John … the whole thing is drivel

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Product Details:
① This price is 1pcs of Angle Aluminum, not including the PCB of the picture.
② Long 90MM, Wide 40MM, High 40MM, Thick 4MM
③ Material: Aluminum

Package Included:
1 pair × Angle aluminum (does not include PCB)

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MichaelG.

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Edit: __ before anyone asks : no I couldn’t do any better writing Product Details in Chinese.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Who’s to say their Artificial Idiocy would not send that response irrespective of the rightness of the complaint?

I have never used e-Bay, but as time goes on the less likely I am to use it.

[Nigel Graham 2]

On Nigel Graham 2 Said:

Who’s to say their Artificial Idiocy would not send that response irrespective of the rightness of the complaint?

I have never used e-Bay, but as time goes on the less likely I am to use it.

Ebay is a great source of many things but as Micheal post reveals you do have to be careful, back end of last year I purchased a Stuart 500 boiler it was without pressure gauge and the water gauge glass was broken plus it had been badly painted I paid £50 for it was a steal apart from the above it was in very good condition

H

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

If anyone has recently put an item on eBay to sell they may have noticed that eBay now offer to write the item description for you!

Using AI it seems based (I presume) on how previous sellers had described similar items

I wrote a very accurate and detailed item description a few weeks ago and then noticed the AI tool, using it was a big mistake It did write something (cr*p) but deleted my work instantly and permanently.

Having seen what AI did for my item I can now easily spot where it has been used on eBay listings (and RS Comps Datasheets)

Ian P

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Also has the biggest revision list for the smallest number of sales

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Well spotted, Dave

… I have also just read [translated] the recent negative feedback from a disappointed buyer.

MichaelG.

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