We Are the Google, Resistance is Futile...

With today's blog post, I'm going to begin with a question to the Powers That Be at Google: What are you doing to include collectors? It's a simple question but having listened to other sellers for a while now, one that needs proper voicing. Am I the one to do it? Well, it has to start somewhere and I hope others will echo it sooner than later, before Google fulfills the prophecy of replacing the Borg in all things assimilation. It takes a village to be heard...Okay enough with the butchered metaphors already. But first, a little back story...

It begins with Google's latest round of Product Search changes. Now I know some of you are asking "What is Product Search" and you're not alone. Many users still aren't aware of the search feature Google has made available, having opted for the all too familiar by now "organic" or regular search but Product Search can be very useful when you're in a rush and don't want to wade through 15 pages of unrelated keyword nonsense that google search terms "relevant" results. This feature is found at the top of your Google screen under the words "Shopping". Once clicked, you'll find a world of sellable goods just waiting. Many of them belong to DC Collectibles: http://dccollectibles.ecrater.com/. Little plug there. Hey, it's my blog. Anyways...

"Google Shopping" and "Google Product Search" are one in the same. It's gone through many name changes over the years (and in Beta for many of them) but the service has always been virtually unchanged in purpose--to give buyers a direct link to merchandise from sellers. To this end, it has worked, but not without a lot of internal restructuring and many requirements (some might call annoyances) of sellers by Google that while innocent in nature supposedly meant in the name of a better product, have been making the Product Search more and more homogenized over time. That's fine if you're selling a washer from Sears. Not so much if you're selling a Vintage Kenner Star Wars Millennium Falcon complete with box. Or a Rare Error Variant Playmates Simpsons Interactive Environment playset.

Now we come to the latest round of requirements. Here's a link to the changes and Google's explanation as to why they're being requested, courtesy of Google's Blog which states this: If by May 3, if these requirements aren't met, your products may no longer appear in the search. Not that they'll be lower in results as in previous times past. No...Gone. While not the end of the world, as there are other venues and search providers, Google--like it or not--owns a lion's share of internet search real estate, and Product Search is a part of that, so sellers have been scrambling since the announcement to meet the deadline or else, lose their place in line. And as anyone who has dealt with Google knows...it takes a while to get that place back once lost.

To it's credit, Google does seem to be giving vintage and one of a kind items a possible out in the form of the exemption request, but who is to know what criteria Google is using to determine what is eligible and what isn't? Multiple items? And what about newer items that, while not unique, in fact are quite rare due to being in collector terms a variant or error piece? Those would have the same upc or manufacturer number as the similar common mass-run items. Why am I making such a big deal of this? Here's why. The requirements mean providing UPI's (unique product identifiers) such as upc, mpn, isbn, etc. Google then uses this data to lump similar items together. These items then become listed in the "compare" listings (usually at the top of the search).

But it's a double edge sword. While increasing your ranking somewhat, you lose any individual product titles, and you're listed under the manufacturers name for the product. And while this can be quite specific, it usually isn't very eye catching or appealing, certainly no room for distinctive characteristics. In a word, you could call it "homogenized". Or if you're a Star Trek fan "assimilated". Again, fine if you're all selling the same thing. But to a collector, this can get really confusing, unless something is done to show condition *within the results*. And of course, the average buyer just looking for a whatsis for little Billy will go for the $5 torn card toy if given the choice. Again, that's fine. But right now, Google is showing no distinction between them AND giving top billing to big business like Amazon and Ebay to boot!

The situation could be avoided and things left on an even keel IF listing titles were allowed to remain as originally posted. The more relevant listings would eventually rise to the top as older items are sold, updates are made and so forth. But they're not...they're being herded into an homogenized listing of a generic title all in the name of "comparison shopping". I have to say, not cool Google, and a tad deceptive. Hopefully, Google will reconsider these plans and start including collectors in these decisions. Because as it is now, I see a rollercoaster ahead that will only serve to deter rather than forward serious shopping. And that serves no purpose to anyone at all.

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Until next time...same bat-channel

Denny Crane