posted on July 26, 2001 08:46:21 AM
I tried to take the Item Page Survey currently advertised via hyperlink at the top of eBay auction pages. I don't like surveys, but I figured I should participate, or at the very least find out what kind of questions are being asked, since surveys of this type always seem to be a precursor of change.
For what it's worth, I don't want eBay messing around with the item page anymore. I'm still bitter that they changed the banner from green to blue. The simpler they keep the page, the better. Our items ought to be the focus of the item page. It shouldn't serve as a showcase for eBay's in-house graphics department.
So anyhow, I tried to take the survey -- but was turned away. The message I got was "Thanks for trying to take our survey, but we already have all the responses we need."
Excuse me? I'm a longtime eBay seller and buyer. You don't have my response.
What further sucks is that I can't even view the questions that were asked.
You would think that if they can manage to create a screen that, in effect, says "go away," they could at least remove the hyperlink on the item page.
Say, maybe that was one of the questions in the survey -- Do you enjoy hyperlinks that invite you to give your opinion, only to find out the invitation has been revoked once you click on it? Would you like to see more of these hyperlinks on the item page?
posted on July 26, 2001 09:15:42 AM
Some problems here. First, they left the hyperlink on after the survey was closed. That was ebay's mistake.
Second, the survey company (it wasn't ebay) was most likely contracted to get a certain number of completions on the survey. Each completion costs money and so once the goal was reached, then whammo, they are done. They make no more money gathering more responses.
Finally, this is a self-selection survey -- which is not as valid as a random sampling of users. The bias here is that you only get people who are willing, see the link, and have the time. But they get to decide for themselves, instead of it being asked of them.
Regardless -- this doesn't INvalidate the results -- and I got the same thing yesterday. It should produce a slightly skewed, but somewhat accurate cross-section of ebay users.
posted on July 26, 2001 12:28:50 PM
And I thought I just wasn't observant enough and had missed the actual survey. It must have opened and closed quickly.
I'm sure whatever results were mandated by the EBAY cabal will be validated by whatever the survey was supposed to prove.
posted on July 26, 2001 12:46:08 PM
Well, Spazmodeous One are you gonna put up with this?? Go to the top...don't hold back, let them know how you feel and why.
It is a great cathartic to release pent up emotion...that and $1.00 will probably get you a cup of coffee but NO RESOLVE from ebaY or the survey taker.
