eBay Tests Image Scrolling In Search Results, Allowing Buyers To See Multiple Pictures Without Clicking Through To Listing
eBay is testing a new feature that would allow buyers to scroll through multiple item images directly on the search results page without needing to click through to the listing page first.
The functionality was originally met with very positive response from sellers in the eBay community, but some raise questions about how it may impact Promoted Listings ad attribution.
GREAT NEW FEATURE- thanks ebay for good design- can now scroll pics on the search page
New feature just updated minutes ago for my account. On the search results page- there are now 4 little dots on the bottom of the thumbnail pic indicated multiple pics and you can now see up to 4 pics from the listing on the search page. Good idea and just wanted to give credit when credit is due.
A nice thing to do would also be to indicate that there are more pics to see and to encourage looking at description!- we want sellers to engage and educate themselves before impulse buying but at least they will see 4 pcs now
The test isn't being shown to all users and/or in all browsers, so some may not be seeing it yet, but basically eBay has added dots at the bottom of the main gallery image to indicate how many extra pictures can be seen (appears to be a maximum of 4 even if there are more in the listing) and when hovering over the image, left and right arrows appear to move between the pictures without having to click through to the listing page.
One seller noted it is an improvement, but unfortunately doesn't currently take into account if a seller has provided a video in the listing.
It is an improvement, but I notice if a listing has a video (second "image" in gallery), this jumps right over it and goes to the static image that follows it. Hopefully, ebay will reevaluate the decision to ignore the video in the future.
Another was concerned that on some items, the dots may block important details.
I have seen some complaints from coin collectors that the dots are particularly well-placed to precisely block the year on most coin pictures that appear in search results, though technically that might cause more views as users are forced to open the listing to see details that could previously be seen in the search results without opening the listing.
And another raised questions about how it might interact with Promoted Listings ad attribution:
I can just imagine how many ways this will activate a listing for AD FEES! Some buyer in Guam flipped through your pictures, so if any other buyer around the world makes a purchase of ANY of your items in the next 30 years, it counts as a sale that eBay helped you make through their magical ads programs.
eBay's most recent Marketing terms update significantly expanded wiggle room for attribution including statements like:
Ads may include text, graphics, a listing title, a listing description or other features and functionality eBay may make available, associate with or incorporate into your listing (e.g., add to watchlist, add to cart, quick view, or other interactive functionality).
And:
For the avoidance of doubt, a click includes (without limitation) any interaction with your Ad (e.g., add to watchlist, add to cart, quick view, or other interactive functionality).
Liz Morton
Both of those statements are vague enough that it's at least possible share item links on listing pages and/or eBay's Social sharing tools under the Marketing tab in Seller Hub could be considered "other interactive functionality."
This new feature to navigate through images in the search results could potentially be categorized under "other interactive functionality" so I'd say it's at least very possible it could be counted as ad attributable activity on sponsored Promoted Listings results - especially if eBay expands recent attribution changes applied to the UK, Germany, Australia, Frances, Italy, and Spain to the US as well.
Sellers also noticed another icon overlaid on some images in the search results - a magnifying glass which indicates the buyer can click to see a list of visually similar competing items.
Well I don’t like what I am seeing on my listings. The first picture shows my two new listings. On the lower left corner there is an icon and if I touch it takes me to ALL the listings by other sellers. So my store is advertising all the listings. Please correct me if I am crazy.
unfortunately, that isn't something new. eBay has been testing variations of this "see visually similar" functionality since 2023.
At one point, they had it overlaid on the images on the actual listing, though I have not seen this recently.
Liz Morton
eBay also tested a "press, hold, discover" version of this capability in the app last year.
Liz Morton
And has had multiple iterations which have appeared at various times across various categories in search results since at least early 2024.
Liz Morton
I've been seeing the current version on a few categories for several months now (particularly watches and handbags) and one thing is very consistent - eBay does not add it to sponsored Promoted Listings ads.
The results of "find similar" search are still very hit and miss - while it does pretty well with some items, like this watch, other results show the technology still often struggles with relevance.
Liz Morton
What do you think of eBay showing multiple item images within search results as well as the "shop visually similar" feature? Let us know in the comments below!
