eBay Tests Thumbnail Display For Variations In Flashback To 2021
eBay is once again testing replacing text-based drop down menu for variation selection with an image thumbnail display.
Sellers in the community had mixed reactions to the potential change with some calling it the "worst change ever" and others saying they think it's an improvement that could be even better with a few tweaks.
Variations listings showing thumbnails instead of a drop down menu?
Last time I saw this (briefly) was back in like 2021. Worst idea ever for variations.
The drop down menu is gone and there are thumbnails a user has to look through to find a particular item and how many are available. what the heck ebay?
This is what I see from another ID
That test in 2021 was met with similarly negative reaction from many sellers, resulting in a roll back and no further attempts - until now.
Liz Morton
In this most recent iteration, if the item page has a large number of variations, it will display the first 7 or so, then show a "see all" link which a list view showing both image thumbnails and text titles.
I saw something similar for a few days beginning on July 18th. However, I no longer see this new layout on variation listings (including a few of yours that I checked). This may be a test eBay is doing on select accounts.
Do you see a way to select See all in the thumbnail array and get a pop-up like my screenshot below?
But another seller had a more positive take on the test, saying in general thumbnails are better than just plain text for variations and this display could be even better with a few small changes.
Last time was executed poorly. The last time they tested this it was different. There were massive blocks of thumbnails (the crappy way Amazon does it). This time it looks better - a handful of thumbnails then the drop down if more than 1 row.
I think the way it is in those screenshots could use tweaks to make it better (to start, thumbnails should be larger with no more than 5 in the row before the menu option is presented), but 100% I want thumbnails because I get tired of buyers sending me a pic from the listing and asking me which variation they're supposed to choose to get that item.
I only get those questions from web shoppers because on the app it includes the thumbnail with the variant name (like the drop down on the screenshot above).
What do you think of this thumbnail image display for eBay listings with variations? Let us know in the comments below!
