Non-Traditional Listings Research (Post Flow)

Guidelines [External]
last edited: 6/3/2019

Context

The purpose of this project is to gain a better understanding of the prevalence of multi-item listings in the buy/sell groups
(BSGs) ecosystem. We are specifically interested in knowing two things:
 HOW these listings manifest (Q1)
 WHAT these listings contain (Q2 and Q3)

Input

You will be given the following information:

 a single post
 first 5 comments

Instructions

Q1: The Listing Method - What type of multi-item listing exists here? [MULTI-SELECT]
Answer Choice Definition
1 multi-item listing w/ no photos User sells multiple items within the same post; does not include any images.
Text only.

2 multi-item listing w/ single photo User sells multiple items within the same post; includes a single photo of all of
the items, some of the items, or just 1 of the items.

3 multi-item listing w/ photo User sells multiple items within the same post; includes a series of photos.
album
(!)NOTE: When you see a photo album, you must check that it is non-
traditional. This means the photos are of different items, NOT different views
of the same item.

4 multi-item listing using User sells additional items in the comment thread.
comments thread

5 multi-item listing via small User uses a post to promote a continuous sale; post author has 'infinite' number
business of items. The post must contain language that shows positive signal of a small
business; this could be a name for their business.

(!)NOTE: When you see photos in the comment thread by the post author, you
must check that it is non-traditional. This means the photos are of different
items than described in the post, NOT different views of the same items
described in the post.
 6 NA The post is NOT a multi-item listing.

The post is:

- a single item for sale, trade, or free
- a service
- an ad or spam
- housing

7 not reviewable The post is in a foreign language or does not render properly.

(!) NOTE: some photos will render as "not available." This is okay - please
continue to label the job as long as some photos render (if photos are included
in the post).

If you selected any option that is NOT option 6 or 7 (meaning the post is indeed a multi-item listing), please answer the
following questions regarding the items.

Q2: The Types - Are there different types of items here? (If multiple answers apply, select the one highest on the
list.)
Answer Choice Definition Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
1 yes: garage sale (all different types) User sells a variety of a shirt, a a hair a stationary
unrelated items. motor dryer, a set, cat
engine, and keyboard, litter, and
a water and a car hand lotion
bottle
2 yes: related items (different types but User sells a set of related a shirt, computer, a motor
related) items. shorts, and keyboard, engine,
socks and mouse wheels, and
car paint
3 no (single item type) User sells only 1 type of item. 3 water 10 different 8 statues of
bottles pairs of different
shoes animals
(!)NOTE: Related items here do NOT refer to items that naturally come in a set or are just variations of one another.
Items that naturally come in a set or are variations of one another are considered “1 type of item.”

Example:
 Related items:
o dress, necklace, and shoes
o pen, paper, notebook
o soccer ball, shin guards, cleats
 Natural sets that are considered as “1 type of item”:
o a single pair of shoes
o stationary set
o eating utensils
o 100 crayons
 Variations of an item that are considered as “1 type of item”:
o see examples below for “yes: variations” in Q3

Q3: The Quantity - For each type of item, is there more than 1? (If multiple answers apply, select the one highest
on the list.)
Answer Choice Definition Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
 1 yes: variations (different versions of User sells same type of product, 5 different 10 different 8 statues of
same type) but different variations. laptop sizes or different
stickers styles of animals
shoes
2 yes: bulk (same version of same User sells same type of product 5 of the 10 of the 8 of the
type) and there are no variations. exact same exact same exact same
laptop pair of penguin
sticks shoes statue
3 no (Single item per quantity type) There is only 1 of each item. a shirt a pet collar a phone
case
(!)NOTE: Variations can come in size, color, dimensions, brand, material, etc.

Graphic Explanation

Examples

Example 1
Listing Method: Multi-Item Listing w/Single Photo
Item Type: Single Item Type
Quantity: Bulk
Reasoning:
 Item type = Single Item Type because there is only 1 type of item here (rain barrels).
 Quantity = bulk because for the particular item type (rain barrel), there is more than 1.
Example 2
Listing Method: Multi-Item Listing w/Single Photo
Item Type: Single Item Type
Quantity: Variations
Reasoning:
 Item type = Single Item Type because there is only 1 type of item here (shoes).
 Quantity = variations because for the item type (shoes), there are different variations. Note, the jeweled patterns
on all of these shoes are different.

Example 3
Listing Method: Multi-Item Listing w/Single Photo
Item Type: Single Item Type
Quantity: Variations
Reasoning:
 Item type = Single Item Type because there is only 1 type of item here (yarn).
 Quantity = variations because for the item type (yarn), there are different variations here. Note, the colors and
patterns of the yarns are different. It is true that “bulk” also applies here (i.e. we see the exact same color/pattern
of yarn multiple times like the gray/white one), but “variations” is higher on the list and therefore should be
selected..

Example 4
Listing Method: Multi-Item Listing w/Single Photo
Item Type: Single Item Type
Quantity: Variations
Reasoning:
 Item type = Single Item Type because there is only 1 type of item here (puzzles). It is true that from the image it
is unclear if the basket is also for sale, but since the description only states “puzzles,” we assume the basket is not
a sale item.
 Quantity = variations because for the item type (puzzles), there are many different kinds here.
Example 5
Listing Method: Multi-Item Listing w/Single Photo
Item Type: Related Items
Quantity: Variations
Reasoning:
 Item = related items because all of these items fall under the baby/kids supplies category. If you only look at the
photo, you may be inclined to select “NA” because you only see shoes, but notice that the description says they
are also selling children's clothes, toys, books, etc.
 Quantity = variations because for each item type (shoes, toys, clothes, etc.), there are many different variations. It
is true we cannot confirm this for toys, clothes, etc., but we can confirm this for shoes from the picture, and so
therefore we have a strong positive signal for variations, which is highest on the list of answer choices and should
be selected.
Example 6
Listing Method: Multi-Item Listing w/Multiple Photo
Item Type: Related Items
Quantity: Variations
Reasoning:
 Item type = related items since these all fall into the category of “music” or “entertainment.” Additionally, the
cables in the last photo are assumed to be used for the item in screenshot #3.
 Quantity = variations because in screenshot #1, we can see many different variations of records. It is true that all
the other item types are singular, but “variations” is higher on the list of answer choices and should be selected.
Example 7
Listing Method: Multi-Item Listing w/Multiple Photo
Item Type: Related Items
Quantity: Single item per quantity type
Reasoning:
 Item type = related items because the 2 items being sold all fall into the category of “home goods and furniture.”
 quantity = Single item per quantity type because for each of the item types (sofa and fireplace), there is only 1 of
each.
Example 8
Listing Method: Multi-Item Listing w/Single Photo
Item Type: Related Items
Quantity: Variations
Reasoning:
 Item type = related items because there are 2 types of items (dolls and books) but they are all related by brand
(Barbie).
 Quantity = Variations because for each item type, there are different variations of each.

Example 9
Listing Method: Multi-Item Listing w/Multiple Photo
Item Type: Garage Sale
Quantity: Variations
 Item type = garage sale because the items listed fall into many different categories (entertainment, sports
equipment, clothing, books, collectibles, etc.). Again, note that sometimes users will post something as a garage
sale, but when you read what items they are trying to sell, the items may actually be related, so don't judge based
solely off the words “garage sale” or “yard sale.”
 Quantity = variations because in the description, the user lists multiple types of comic books, vintage collectibles,
etc. If this list did not exist, we would have NOT have a positive signal of “variations,” and in that case, we would
select NA.
Example 10
Listing Method: Multi-Item Listing w/Multiple Photo
Item Type: Garage Sale
Quantity: Variations
Reasoning:
 Item type = garage sale because these items fall into 2 categories “homegoods/furniture” but
also “fashion/clothing.” This one is tricky since most of the items are homegoods, but notice in screenshot #4,
they are also selling a purse. So here, we see positive signal for both “garage sale” and “related items,” but
since “garage sale” is higher on the list of answer choices, we would select that one.
 Quantity = variations because here we can see multiple variations of couches, as well as the vases.