eBay is finalizing plans for testing new ways to give Store items exposure in eBay.com searches, according to Chris Tsakalakis, Vice President of Advanced Solutions. Tsakalakis posted on the eBay Announcement Board on Wednesday, stating eBay will begin testing "a few different implementations" with a small percentage of buyers over the next month or two. While Tsakalakis said he could not be specific, he stated eBay is hoping the new search will take effect before the holiday season.

In his posting, Tsakalakis referred to seller complaints that sales have been down since eBay rolled back the "Stores in Search" initiative at the end of March (http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y06/m03/i29/s01). AuctionBytes has been hearing similar complaints about lackluster sales from a number of eBay sellers since the rollback, though several said they have seen some intermittent bursts of increased sales since Friday. Tsakalakis blamed the sales slowdown on seasonal factors, saying:

"We understand the frustration felt by those members who have seen a decline in sales since the change. For many members, the initial sales boost and the subsequent dip that accompanied the launch and removal of Store Inventory in search has been compounded by seasonal sales cycles. We understand that some of you are very upset by these factors that may be contributing to slower product sales. Please know that we are committed to growing your business and are actively looking at options to do just that."

The anecdotal reports of slow sales cannot be analyzed to determine the cause or even the extent of the problem. However, speculation among sellers is rife on discussion boards. Some believe eBay Express may somehow be affecting eBay.com searches, and some are opting out of the program to see if their sales increase.

eBay CEO Meg Whitman and her team will have to face sellers in less than 3 weeks at the fifth annual eBay Live conference, where sellers don't hold back on voicing their concerns. She may find herself tasked with convincing sellers that eBay Express is safe to use.