Work around for wrong thumbnail in search

[#1]

For those of you who are aware of this current problem with photos in search, I did a little experiment and it worked (at least for now?).

I edited a couple of listings that were showing a less than pretty photo of my item instead of the chosen thumbnail as follows....

1. Go to edit listing and delete the incorrect photo that's showing in search for that item.

2. If you want, reload the photo into the listing into the last position.

3. Publish listing, go back and refresh search page...and you should see it as it should be!

I know we don't have tons of time for all this, but if it's bugging you, this is a somewhat quick fix.

Hopefully it will "stick". I'll let you know!

[VelouriaVintage]

I just did another search and one thumbnail showed a hole in a sweater. No one would want that to be the photo that comes up in search. So crazy!

[stuartroadvintage]

Crazy and WOKNY, wouldn't you say? 

[That70sChickVintage]

Right?!? 

I mean, we have to point out any flaws with vintage, but we don’t want it to be the first image. 

In reality, they shouldn’t be messing with the first image at all. 

[OneEyeCatStudio]

"In reality, they shouldn’t be messing with the first image at all."

In reality, they shouldn't be messing in OUR SHOPS at all.

[That70sChickVintage]

@OneEyeCatStudio 

Good point.

[stuartroadvintage]

@OneEyeCatStudio  So in what test are they showing someone else's photo in my listing and and it changes periodically but is never my item? This has been happening too. Too may strange occurrences. The shortened titles have nothing to do with what I'm talking about.

And YES...W-O-N-K-Y  AF.

[OneEyeCatStudio]

"The shortened titles have nothing to do with what I'm talking about."

IMO, what they have in common is the fact that they are both so W-O-N-K-Y as you say, that it seems inconceivable that Etsy could be seriously testing them for use on the site.

But it's Etsy.

So it's possible.

[stuartroadvintage]

Wow, good old forums ...I just came on here with an observation that might help someone and the usual forums trolls have to come on and pick at it and put it down.

I don't care if it's a test or a glitch. I tried something and it worked. It's still working today.

Try it or don't.

I DON'T CARE.

Bye now.

[Adorabilities]

I thought a lot of people were just agreeing that this test/glitch is ridiculous and frustrating. I don't think anyone was picking apart your workaround. 
(Maybe some trollish posts have been removed.)

[EccentricHandbags]

I'm not seeing any of this so I'm going to assume I'm not involved be it a glitch or a test.  There may be some connection to this and the recent change to square photos or the listing edit page where I can never adjust thumbnails.  An attempt to fix.     

[LeLightFantastique]

@EccentricHandbags  I was also thinking along the lines that in their messing about with the change to square photos (which has hardly been a seamless switch), they have unleashed some bug which has taken over the photos.

[stuartroadvintage]

It is a test, confirmed to me in chat...se my quote below.

[MeerkatsManor]

@stuartroadvintage You're workaround still works well for me. And it's easy because I keep photos on my computer until items sell. I'm only replacing the first picture and just the worst, a few at a time. It didn't work in the past until I took the extra step you provided. Thanks again!

[stuartroadvintage]

@Adorabilities  I may have over reacted but Etsy won't let me delete my comment

[stuartroadvintage]

@LeLightFantastique "they have unleashed some bug which has taken over the photos."

I thought about that as well!

[VelouriaVintage]

@stuartroadvintage Thanks for the workaround tip. I've spent the last hour searching and changing my photos. It might be a waste of time to do, but it annoys me that the photo that comes up in search isn't the one I want. One of my listings was just the back of a shirt. Gee, that will help make a sale. So over this!

[stuartroadvintage]

It is a test...see my latest comment below.

[stuartroadvintage]

So.. it IS a test!

I just had a very interesting conversation over chat with someone who is definitely an Etsy employee and he admitted that "there's currently a few experiments live that are adjusting which thumbnails display in Search as opposed to the thumbnail set by the seller."

[Adorabilities]

A few tests? Ugh.

[Amaradorn]

@stuartroadvintage well, it's nice to know it's a test (if only for our own sanity) but at the same time I'm horrified that anyone would think that it's a good idea. I mean, if it was a glitch then it would hopefully get fixed. But it's intentional!!! Wtf are they playing at!!?? Good ol' Etsy.

[PersonalizeStation]

I didn't think of this until now, so I doubt Etsy has....

Okay so there are sellers with mature content.  Some do what they are supposed to and blur out specific "things" in the first photo. What about the rest of their photos? In this bundle of tests gone stupid, any of the mature content listing photos could pop up. 

Most of us know that the most innocent keyword could lead us to something barf-worthy at any time. 

I don't want to find out. It just happened to cross my mind. 

[WishesontheWind]

@stuartroadvintage YES i got the same confirmation today that is a test.  Now what?  Unclear what to do, as of course not everyone is in the test so think I will just leave my images alone for now.  Not happy of course to see pics of boxes as main image.  This is crazy.  

[stuartroadvintage]

Yes, we should probably not waste out time, because who knows what buyers are seeing.

I gave quite a lot of feedback on it, so that felt good!

I still can't believe they are doing it intentionally and that it might even increase sales?? Not so far..

[PersonalizeStation]

My friend and I first noticed this last Tuesday. I think it went back to "normal" after 6 or 7 days.

I think with the increase in forum threads over the past few days, it's safe to say it's moved to a different group or additional group. 

Sucky!

[stuartroadvintage]

I still think this test has created some bugs, but I noticed one of them (other people's photos as my thumbnail) is no longer showing. Hopefully the data will show that it's a bad idea.