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eBay referral

How and why is my site getting referrals from eBay?

         

mckcd

3:12 am on Jun 13, 2003 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



I have just noticed that I am getting referrals from eBay.
?
How?
Why?
Perplexed!

Jenstar

3:16 am on Jun 13, 2003 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



I have gotten referrals from eBay through user's "About Me" pages. When you create an "About Me" page using the template, it asks you for three of your favorite sites. A few have listed my site, and they show up as eBay referrals in my stats.

mckcd

3:21 am on Jun 13, 2003 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Jenstar,

How did you figure this out?

Chris_R

3:21 am on Jun 13, 2003 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



If you look at the logs - you should see the page it came from.

I suspect that someone has stolen one of your graphics and is hotlinking it. This looks like a referal in some stats programs.

Either that or they are linking to some data your site has to offer. Or it is a typo. Looking at the full log entry should let you know why.

That is assuming you aren't linking to your own site from an ebay auction - and then you should be able to figure out why.

Jenstar

3:27 am on Jun 13, 2003 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



When I checked the full referral URL, it even shows me exactly which About Me page the referral was from.

If you don't block remote hosting of images via your .htaccess Chris_R is right that it could be someone using one of your images to list in an eBay auction. If you check your stats for image views, you might be able to figure out which image it is. Then do a search on the product to find the specific auction that is using your image. Once you have the auction #, report it to eBay, and they will automatically end the auction for copyright infringement and unauthorized third-party image hosting.

Perplexed

6:06 am on Jun 13, 2003 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Jenstar
Are you "Perplexed"? I thought that was me.:)

I get many referrals from ebay on my logs, when I click on them it takes me to the actual auction page that the link came from. It happens because they refer to my site as a useful information source on what they are selling and it is something I actively encourage.

Could this apply to you as well?