eBay made some minor changes to its policy of sending non-winning bidders email announcing similar auctions by other sellers. eBay said that although the "Recommendations Email" policy, instituted two weeks ago, was well received and increased bidding on its site, "we have also heard from users who have suggested a few improvements to the feature."

Changes to be made over the next few weeks include a name change; an option for sellers to "opt out" of the feature (it already allows bidders to opt out); and a delay of in sending the notice to a minimum of 24 hours in order to provide sellers the opportunity to re-list the same item or post similar items to the one they just sold.

The Recommendations Email policy had one power seller so upset he posted the infamous "Jacket Auction" which criticized the feature in the auction description. Many sellers were upset with eBay when it pulled the Jacket Auction, and sellers are still posting protest auctions. (See previous Newsflash stories.)

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/marketing.shtml