Re: keyword spamming
True, but you can always mention what else you have up for auction via links, and if anyone inquires via "ask seller a question" you can tell them whatever you like.
I have 15 items up and already five have requests to terminate. It's becoming an epidemic.
Here's my take on it.
It's the eBay buyer's revolt. eBay used to be a garage sale. The vast majority of sellers were like CAnn. New, fresh, and just wanted some extra cash to clean out their basement/attic. About 4 years ago it started to become dominated by B&M/retail/Internet businesses trying to raise some extra cash. This morphed into pure eBay businesses. Now these businesses dominate eBay, at least as measured by revenue (i.e. PS). It's not a garage sale anymore, and hasn't been for a long time. There is still, and probably always will be, an opportunity for the "CAnn classes" to learn how to sell on eBay and make some spare change selling off their excess household inventory, but unless you own a museum, that is a finite resource. There is only so much stuff you can sell off before it's gone. So the seller dominates over the long haul.
Now buyers feel that they are at a disadvantage. Which they are. So in order to take a little of the edge back, they play a different game, by essentially using eBay as a referral service for free. And it's working. IMO this practice will only increase.
I've always said that eBay will eventually regret neglecting the small time seller for the businesses. We shall see.
Best of luck to everyone selling for a profitable weekend.