New test? Or a bug?

[#1]

I often go from a listing to a shop home page, to look at what else a seller has to offer.  I just noticed today that clicking on the (now teeny) shop name, within the listing, now goes directly to the "About" section, rather than the top of the shop home page.  It's hard to tell that it's even a shop, let alone that the seller has other listings.

An example, from a listing in my shop ... clicking on the BlackSheepDyeworks link, below the title, takes me to:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlackSheepDyeworks?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=272267816&from_page=listing#about

That #about at the end of the url is the culprit; without that added, the url goes to your shop home; but with it added, goes to the about section.

I see this in a different browser/incognito as well, in all listings.  I sincerely hope this is a bug rather than a test or change - it's a really terrible time to be messing around with any limitation on what buyers can potentially see once they (miraculously) land on one of my listings.

[cindylouwho2]

@ZehOriginalArt The redirect has broken periodically in the past, but I have no idea what is happening now. 

It should work in all countries, as it was intended to when first invented in 200?, but it is not supposed to work for Share and Save when posted within Etsy, so there is no need to use it here. Stick to the proper shop link. 

[ZehOriginalArt]

Thank you Cindy, I will stay with proper shop link from here on in.

@FancyTogs, does that mean it may actually still work in listings? I have a feeling that it's probably best to change to the long version because who knows when something will break/change in the future.

[FancyTogs]

@ZehOriginalArt 

I checked one of your listing links and the subdomain format was broken by the uk/ addition there too.

Stick to the full etsy. com / shopname format.

Lawrence

[ZehOriginalArt]

@FancyTogs 

OK, will do. Thank you so much for checking and for your advice!

[BlaqKat]

I just checked the ones in your About section and they work for me now.

Just the listing ones don't, now.

[SantasMisfitVillage]

I was wondering what was happening!!!  Also, I can't renew listing saying shipping time frame missing and it is not!  Good grief!

Makes me wonder id buyers are having problems buying!!! Or shopping!!!

[SewlyButtons]

Well... we already KNOW they're having problems searching for what they want. Why not compound the problem... that's a WIN for etsy...  
(tongue in cheek snark there...)

[Somethinks2Design]

@howtobooksandmore  

I find the imagination scary that a company would have so little common sense to allow such testing during live operations.

Some test ideas don't even need common sense to be immediately recognized as "completely stupid and damaging to sales". For example, hiding the product descriptions.

[MountainlilyFarm]

I checked last night incognito and was  not seeing it. I'm logged in today and now go straight to about sections. Good grief Etsy! this holiday season has been such a let down I'm not surprised by whatever crap they come up with. 

[BackPorchStudio]

I am seeing it too. 

"We make it easy to find your things." says Etsy

[BlackSheepDyeworks]

@BackPorchStudio, I guess Etsy has redefined "easy", as they have "handmade", "keeping commerce human", etc.

[CreativeARTifacts]

I see the About page, excellent timing if it's a test. 

Etsy just refuses to let us control our individual shops anymore.

[MountainlilyFarm]

Exactly! I cancelled Etsy plus this morning. No point since shoppers can't even see the listings at the top anymore. 

[InspiredContentCo]

If you don't have an About section, it goes to the top of your shop - so we are being penalized for having an About Section.  I see a whole bunch of new shops without an About that link directly to the top of their shops.  Hate to take my About out, but now thinking to change it a bit.

[BlackSheepDyeworks]

@InspiredContentCo, I would hold off on removing your about section for now - this appears to be only a test at this point, and not all users will be in the test.  I think it's better to have an about section, than not, and is what Etsy recommends.

If it becomes a permanent change, though, I'll definitely consider removing or adding shop (or website) links to mine too.

[InspiredContentCo]

@BlackSheepDyeworks  I agree, no need to rush into it, just seems so crazy that it would penalize those of us that have a fully filled out shop.  The weird has no end!

[DancingLedgeStudio]

Shopping for gifts last week, I gave up and went elsewhere after clicking a Shop name to see what other designs, colors, etc. they had in stock and finding myself repeatedly having to scroll, scroll, scroll up, up, up to find the other listings. As a seller here, I went to my "about" section" when I clicked one of my own listings and shop name in search browser (sigh), and came to the forum and saw that others had this problem too. I hoped and thought surely this was a glitch and not another test. Who in their right mind at Etsy would do this on purpose especially this time of the year in this economy when they are supposedly desperate for sells, cha-chings, $$$ to ring out 2023. 

Who has time for this, especially now (Exasperation)? Anyway, I copied my "about section" this morning and moved it to the top of my shop (is that the announcement section?) and deleted my "about" section and folks it didn't work. I now go to "shop members" and still have to scroll, scroll, scroll up to my listings.

[BelieveToBeBeautiful]

I have removed the bit about how I was inspired by William Morris - now my about says 'SCROLL UP TO SEE MY LISTINGS'. I despair...

[michellepatterns]

I'm seeing this too and yes, it's ridiculous.  More etsy nonsense.  

[MountainlilyFarm]

@BlackSheepDyeworks  Now when I click on your shop link (through forums) I land at the top header. When I look at my shop or others I'm still redirected to the About Page. Did you change something to get it to work properly again?

[BlackSheepDyeworks]

@MountainlilyFarm, you should land in the normal place when you click through the forums to a shop.  Try from within one of my listings.  I haven't changed anything, and I'm seeing the same test in my shop today.

[MountainlilyFarm]

@BlackSheepDyeworks Yes, that was why. I was hoping there was a work around for the About section other than just deleting it. My photos are nice so that is good. But- more sales is what I am after. 

[ZehOriginalArt]

I do not see this "test" or glitch anymore. Has Etsy fixed it??

[BlackSheepDyeworks]

@ZehOriginalArt, I still have it in my normal logged-in firefox browser session.  It was gone when I tested this morning in an incog/chrome session, but back when I used the same combo later in the day.  So I would say it seems like Etsy's normal testing pattern - it will be randomly present, or not, until they gather enough data to be able to make a decision on whatever they are testing.

[ZehOriginalArt]

Oh darn, then. What a thing to test! This one blows my mind actually.