As usual, we have no idea whether this is a test or a new search feature, or whether it will eventually roll out to all listings....

Article here:
Link

I was able to duplicate what AB was seeing simply by searching for one of the items in the screen shot: hello kitty pink flip flops

A couple of things to add to Ina's article:

1. Are we actually getting closer to a Shopping Cart? It would be very easy to add a "Place in Cart" button to this pop-up. (Notice that it makes it easy to add the item to your watch list as well.)

2. The pop-up I looked at included more information than the one Ina looked at....it included all the details from the item's Item Specific list as well. Once again, it is clear that IS is important, especially for commodity items.

3. The pop-up includes a "See More Like This" link.....if one clicks that, one is shown 25 "similar" items. Obviously, this list is pulled from a larger number of similar items, and similarity is determined by the search engine.

I haven't had time to really analyze this, but....just a thought....I have always maintained that eBay will only go to a zero or near zero listing fee if eBay feels it has sufficient control over search display to avoid a repeat of the SIC disaster. I wonder if this is a step in that direction. Note that you see only 25 items (even if there are possibly many more) Note that they are in Best Match order and there is NO option to change search order , as there is when looking at the previous, larger search result set.

I believe I am still in the current SIC test, so I think I am seeing all items (including store)in the initial search results, and in these results.

Of course, if a buyer doesn't find what they want in the list of 25, they can always return to the full search.