First we are adding a Direct eBay Listings Search, This will make finding and purchasing cards as easy as possible, we’ve implemented a feature allowing you to directly search eBay listings from E4 members. This integration is designed to simplify your search process, making it more efficient while supporting the forum through affiliate links whenever a purchase is made.
We also are experimenting with Rotating Banner Ads. There will be a banner ad that will showcase ebay listings. We have done this temporarily in the past, with a PSA 10 Gold Star Rayquaza and the 100k Lille, but this will now be a permanent fixture. As this feature is super experimental we will start by testing it out and will only include staff listings. In it’s final form, it may include rare/interesting items for sale, listings from the most active members items, auctions that might be undervalued or work in a per-user personalized recommends or saved searches. Ultimately its something we will play with over time.
Anyway I just wanted to keep everyone in the loop and hopefully everyone finds this useful!
If you have a eBay account in your User Links section, that account has been copied into this new feature.
You can opt-in or out at any time by checking that box or just by leaving the box blank.
There are a lot of directions this can go. My primary goal is to make this a net positive for everyone. Hopefully over time we can really create something interesting that has utility.
As it’s a brand new plugin, there will be visual bugs or random issues I’m sure, so you can just report them to me. The frequency at which listings will be fetched from ebay is also not consistent. This is because I’m limited to 5000 api calls per day and I am trying to be conservative. Message me if you want me to prioritize refreshing your listings.
Sooooo idk if I should ask this in publicly or not, but is this a coop agreement with eBay in that it would be in bad spirits to find a listing on eBay and simply message the user on E4?
Either way this is pretty amazing!
Feel free to delete this comment if its planting bad ideas.
Just wondering, is there some sort of priority system for who’s listings are displayed in the rotating banner ads? I’d prefer to see longtime, trusted members’ stock as opposed to “BigMetapodFan600” who joined 30 minutes ago to shill his Black Label 1st Edition Spanish Metapod.
You can do whatever you want with the information, deal on here, or on instagram or on ebay, whatever you prefer. There is no special deal with ebay. We are not asking anyone to change how or what they buy, revenue is entirely passive and would come from ebay fees on things you’d be buying anyway (within some time period after you click a link).
Yes I have put a lot of thought into this. Currently it’s just staff. The incentives will be aligned such that if you are active and have interesting listings, you will probably get more exposure. Maybe. This is all experimental.
Really interesting coincidental that all these changes for ebay ads coincide with all the news about ebay shipping and tax increases… almost like there was something bigger at play here.
