Holy CRAP! : Google Steals eBay From Yahoo!?!

Written by John Comments
Last Updated September 18, 2009

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Dude, if this is true, traffic to eBay could increase for us all IMHO. Earlier today StreetInsider.com reported the following:

According to analysts at Goldman Sachs, Yahoo! (Nasdaq: YHOO) confirmed that eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY) is testing the use of Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) to provide contextual paid advertisements on eBay’s US site. Previously, Yahoo! powered contextual and display advertising for eBay’s US site, while Google powered advertising for eBay’s international sites. Yahoo! continues to provide display advertising for eBay’s US site.

While Scot Wingo on his eBay blog posted a graph showing referral data for eBay from Google increasing by 47%

Goog_ebay_increase

Top this off with the fact that I reported last night on Late Night Beta show that we have seen a LARGE upswing in sales. I think there is enough smoke to possibly yell FIRE!

I will be researching this topic deeper as details and confirmations beginning to unfold. Hmmmm, this could be a Merry Christmas, huh? And anytime you can say eBay – Yahoo – Google in the same story, you know there can be drama, so stay tuned!!!

Cliff Aliperti

Hey John, glad to see we were thinking the same way here. I know which ads eBay decides to serve isn't directly related to how Google ranks eBay pages, but let's hope it's at lease loosely tied to it!

But, what coloradofoothill mentions below is also true, and now that my Google Base listings have dwindled way down as old eBay listings expire I wonder if this isn't starting to hurt. I can only hope that eBay is working on a site-wide submission to Google Base as that appears to be our only way back in.

Thanks for the post, Cliff

coloradofoothil

As of September 1st, Ebay sellers can no longer upload their feeds to google. Ebay will have to upload the feeds for individual sellers. Ebay's feeds to google have been rejected because they are not using the proper item condition. Google only accepts New, Used and Refurbished, while Ebay is still isnsisting on using Brand New, Almost New etc. -- Google also rejects too many capital letters in the title , trademark symbols and other non-alphanumberica characters.
Ebay sellers ' referalls will decline just as fast as it has risen in the last 2 weeks in August. To make matters worse for Ebay sellers, Ebay has decided to remove the Ebay blogs which many sellers use to be seen on google with the RSS feeds. That will be in effect November 1st.

nancy

well, come on over to my blog! http://www.bitchaboutebay.com. When ebay takes away an avenue to discuss, create another! Feel free to post your feelings!