Every few weeks I find myself scrolling through Reddit, forums and spotting merchants asking the age old question: “How do I improve my product pages?”
The answers usually fall into three buckets: hire a copywriter, paste in vendor descriptions or use ChatGPT. While we’re all familiar with the former methods (copywriter, vendor descriptions), the latter method (ChatGPT) still remains mystical and mostly only talked about, seldom seen in practice. Could it bridge the gap between bland specs and persuasive storytelling?
So I decided to test this: I put my investigative hat on and looked at several live e-commerce PDPs of real stores. I looked at collectible card, jewellery, supplements, skincare, pet goods and baby goods stores. For each one, I pulled the original copy, then sketched what an AI-assisted rewrite could look like. Along the way I’ve noted what worked (and what didn’t).
This is Part I of a multiple blogposts I intend to write on this topic. This post looks at a collectible card store. Is ChatGPT (GPT-5) is better than a human at writing PDP copy? Let’s investigate.
Methodology
The Prompt
I was inspired by a comment made on Reddit by /u/Made4uo (please see exact prompt there) that asked ChatGPT to create a high-converting product page with inputs. The prompt took in following inputs:
Name
Primary keyword
Secondary keywords
Audience
Voice
Then output the following:
H1
70–100 word intro
5–7 “Feature — Benefit” bullets
Specs
3 FAQs
CTA line
Meta title, description, slug
Internal links
We’ll see the outcomes of GPT-5 in the case studies below.
Concretely, here are the parts of the prompt I changed:
You are an e-commerce copywriter + SEO strategist.
Write a high-converting product page that ranks for my target keywords, drives clicks from Google & social, convinces visitors to buy, and reads naturally.
...
- H1: Front-load [PRIMARY_KEYWORD] in a natural, Amazon-style format: [Product Name/Brand + Model] + key spec + size/color. Keep it human-readable and skip keyword stuffing—let features/benefits live in the body.
...
- Alt Text Guidance: Suggest alt tags for product images using keyword variations.
- 3 internal link ideas (anchor + URL): Cross-sell: Related product. Up-sell: Premium or bundle version. Blog/Guide: Content piece for SEO + authority.
Voice
We’ll also feed in a prompt to summarise the voice of the store we’re analysing.
<One-liner on the store's voice.>Analytical annotations
We’ll use the following emojis to indicate:
Actually helpful improvement: ✅
Unclear improvement: 🤷♂️
Worse: ❌
Case Study
Product: Jersey Fusion: New York Legacy Collection - 2 Cards/Items Per Box!
Store: Sportscards.com
Sports cards bring back nostalgic memories, as I used to love the thrill of opening booster packs as a kid. Naturally, the first case study is a sports cards retailer!
Sportscards.com specializes in trading card mystery boxes and set breaks featuring PSA‑graded cards from iconic brands like Topps, delivering collectible experiences with rarity, excitement, and exclusivity.
We’ve chosen a niche product — a Jersey Fusion box set that could include a Mantle, Ruth, or Gehrig. Jersey Fusion is a lesser known brand than, say, Topps but the BGS Grading may sway the skeptics.
Voice
Before we start with our analysis, we need the voice of the store. A quick ChatGPT prompt yields:
Confident, collector‑obsessed, history‑rich—tapping into nostalgia, prestige, and the thrill of the break.PDP Copy: Original vs AI-enhanced
Below, each dimension features the existing (or assumed) original copy, our AI-enhanced version, and a quick note on why it’s improved.
🤷♂️ H1
Original PDP Copy: Jersey Fusion New York Legacy Collection – 2-Card Fusion Box, BGS Graded Mantle or Ruth Card
AI-enhanced PDP Copy: Jersey Fusion™ New York Legacy Collection – 2-Card BGS-Graded Mantle or Ruth Fusion Box
🤷♂️ Unclear improvement: ChatGPT seems to have added TM for branding and reordered the keywords. Perhaps TM will help convert customers new to Jersey Fusion?
✅ Intro (70–100 words)
Original PDP Copy: (No intro)
AI-enhanced PDP Copy (approx. 85 words):
Imagine unboxing a piece of New York’s storied sports history—two premium BGS-graded collectible jersey cards fused into one sleek presentation. With our Jersey Fusion New York Legacy Collection, you’ll get either a Babe Ruth or Mickey Mantle BGS card, combining unrivalled star power with museum-quality grading. The adrenaline of the reveal meets the assurance of certification—perfect for translating nostalgia into tangible value. Ready to land a slice of the legacy? Open the box and let the legends come alive.
✅ Improvement: Adds context, benefits, emotional appeal, and appeals to collectors through nostalgia. Mentions grading for legitimacy.
✅ Features & Benefits (H2)
Original PDP Copy: (No intro)
AI-enhanced PDP Copy:
Features & Benefits
BGS-graded cards — Unmatched authenticity: Every Mantle or Ruth card is authenticated by Beckett for lasting credibility.
Dual-fusion display — Statement collector’s piece: Showcases two legends in one sleek box—designed to captivate any display.
Limited edition release — Pride in owning rare legacy: Celebrate your fandom with a collector box that few others will own.
Collector-ready packaging — Display-quality straight out of the box: Crafted to showcase your cards without needing additional display costs.
Perfect gift for collectors — Emotional connection meets heirloom potential: A treasured present for fans, passed down or admired across generations.
✅ Improvement: Pushes emotive and practical benefits, perhaps helpful for people buying this as a gift. Weaves in secondary terms naturally, and goes beyond specs.
❌ Specs (H2)
Original PDP Copy:
Each box includes:
(1) BGS Graded/Authenticated Jersey Fusion (2008 UD Legacy Collection, Mantle, or Ruth Card)
1 in 4 will be a Mantle, Ruth, or Gehrig
1 in 6 will be a BGS Graded 9.5
Look for Double BGS Graded Card Boxes! 1 in 24 boxes!
(1) 1930-79 Vintage Card/Item or Flair Parallel/Legacy
Look for bonus cards!
AI-enhanced PDP Copy:
Every Box Includes:
(1) BGS Graded/Authenticated Jersey Fusion Card
From the 2008 UD Legacy Collection
Featuring Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, or Lou Gehrig (guaranteed one of these legends)
(1) Additional Card
Either a 1930–79 vintage card/item or a Flair Parallel/Legacy insert
Chase Odds (Added Collector Value):
1 in 4 boxes: Pull a Mantle, Ruth, or Gehrig as your graded Jersey Fusion hit
1 in 6 boxes: Contains a BGS 9.5 Gem Mint card
1 in 24 boxes: Features a Double BGS-Graded Card Box (two graded hits in one box!)
Bonus Cards: Randomly inserted for extra collector excitement
Packaging:
Factory-sealed Jersey Fusion collector box with protective, display-ready design
❌ Worse: The only reason this suggestion is worse is because it’s not clear whether the box is sealed. If ChatGPT claims it is and it is in fact not, we’ll have a big problem! It’s a small hallucination but significant for trust in the brand.
✅ FAQs (user-search phrasing)
AI-enhanced PDP Copy:
Is this box guaranteed to have Mantle or Ruth BGS-graded cards?
Every Jersey Fusion New York Legacy Collection includes one BGS-graded card of either Babe Ruth or Mickey Mantle—so collect with confidence.Can I return the box if I don't like the grade or fusion result?
As a limited-edition fusion-style collector box, all sales are final due to the unique nature of the product—but the BGS grading ensures you’re getting authentic, high-quality cards.How should I display or store the fusion box for best protection?
Keep it in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. The rigid presentation box is designed for display, but pairing it with a UV-safe shelf or case keeps your piece preserved for generations.
✅ Improvement: I was initially confused about the phrasing of the PDP. I wasn’t sure if I’m guaranteed a Ruth or Mantle because Gehrig is mentioned in the specs. The FAQs clarify this however and it seems to be correct (so I think!). Addresses common collector concerns too, including authenticity, returns, storage. FAQs are search-friendly and has secondary keywords like “BGS-graded cards”. ChatGPT copy is an improvement.
✅ CTA
Original PDP Copy: Only “Add to cart”
AI-enhanced PDP Copy: “Secure your slice of New York sports legend—add to cart now and let greatness shine!”
✅ Improvement: Bit on the fence about “let greatness shine!” but “legend” definitely appeals if you’re a Mantle and Ruth chaser.
✅ Meta Title (≤60 chars)
Original PDP Copy: “Jersey Fusion: New York Legacy Collection - 2 Cards/Items Per Box! - Sportscards.com”
AI-enhanced PDP Copy: Jersey Fusion New York Legacy Collection – BGS Mantle/Ruth Box
✅ Improvement: Mentions “Mantle/Ruth” — really should be mentioned! Adds “BGS”, a selling point of this product. ChatGPT copy is an improvement.
✅ Meta Description (150–160 chars)
Original PDP Copy:
Each box includes: (1) BGS Graded/Authenticated Jersey Fusion (2008 UD Legacy Collection, Mantle, or Ruth Card) 1 in 4 will be a Mantle, Ruth, or Gehrig 1 in 6 will be a BGS Graded 9.5 Look for Double BGS Graded Card Boxes! 1 in 24 boxes! (1) 1930-79 Vintage Card/Item or Flair Parallel/Legacy Look for bonus cards! VIEWAI-enhanced PDP Copy: “Unbox New York sports history with our limited Jersey Fusion Legacy box—2 BGS-graded cards featuring Babe Ruth or Mickey Mantle, collector-ready display.”
✅ Improvement: Starts with a CTA verb, nice. Includes primary, secondary keywords such as “limited,” “BGS-graded,” “collector-ready display”. Overall, looks really clear what I’m buying before I even click.
🤷♂️ Slug
Original PDP Copy:
/jersey-fusion-new-york-legacy-collection-2-cards-items-per-boxAI-enhanced PDP Copy:
jersey-fusion-new-york-legacy-collection🤷♂️ Unclear improvement: It’s possibly worse to remove the 2-card descriptor if there are more of these boxes with different number of cards (i.e. variants). The slug wouldn’t be clear in that case.
🤷♂️ OG Title & Description
Original PDP Copy:
Jersey Fusion: New York Legacy Collection - 2 Cards/Items Per Box!
Each box includes: (1) BGS Graded/Authenticated Jersey Fusion (2008 UD Legacy Collection, Mantle, or Ruth Card) 1 in 4 will be a Mantle, Ruth, or Gehrig 1 in 6 will be a BGS Graded 9.5 Look for Double BGS Graded Card Boxes! 1 in 24 boxes! (1) 1930-79 Vintage Card/Item or Flair Parallel/Legacy Look for bonus cards! VIEWAI-enhanced PDP Copy:
OG Title: Jersey Fusion – New York Legends: BGS Mantle or Ruth
OG Description: Dive into two-card greatness. Our Jersey Fusion Legacy box gives you a BGS-graded Babe Ruth or Mickey Mantle, display-ready and limited edition.
🤷♂️ Unclear improvement: The title doesn’t mention “box” or “collection” so it might miss out on consumers looking to gift or collect. The description is better with a call to action and it’s clearer what I’m getting (Ruth or Mantle).
✅ Alt Text Guidance
Original PDP Copy: Jersey Fusion: New York Legacy Collection - 2 Cards/Items Per Box!
AI-enhanced PDP Copy:
“Jersey Fusion New York Legacy Collection box with BGS-graded Babe Ruth or Mickey Mantle cards”
“Close-up of BGS-graded Mantle card in Jersey Fusion display box”
“Jersey Fusion 2-card fusion collector box packaging featuring legendary Yankees stars”
✅ Improvement: Alt text variations incorporate target keywords and is quite descriptive for SEO and accessibility.
❌ 3 Internal Link Ideas (anchor + URL)
AI-generated:
Cross-sell: “Other Legendary Fusion Boxes” →
/collections/legacy-fusion-series(invites exploring similar high-tier fusion products)Up-sell: “Premium All-Star Fusion Edition” →
/products/all-star-fusion-premium-box(suggests higher-end variant)Blog/Guide: “How to Display Graded Cards at Home” →
/blog/display-graded-cards-guide(SEO authority, helpful content)
❌ Worse: 3x suggestions, 3x 404 pages. ChatGPT hallucinated big time here, so we can’t rely on any of these links, even though these are solid link ideas.
Closing Thoughts
A few things stood out:
AI shines at writing. Good grammar, readable text. No surprises here. Mediocre vendor copy can be made into scannable bullets, FAQs, and meta fields that rank.
AI doesn’t create trust. You still need strong images, social proof, brand story. No rewrite will save the lack of those things. AI can hallucinate and make up stuff! We need a human in the loop to fix made-up specs or links.
Prompt matters. You need to specify your store’s voice, audience and provide lots of context or you’ll get garbage!
AI is useful but it has its caveats. If you’re still writing product descriptions manually or have very few SKUs it’s an excellent starting point for sure. To use AI at scale, we really need to know the small details, so that we can product PDPs that we can trust, gets found, and leads the visitor to buy.
Thanks for reading!
If you’re experimenting with AI in your workflow (e.g. Shopify), want to share your experiences or want to collaborate, I’d love to hear from you. I write more like this at blog.mariohayashi.com, and feel free to follow me on Twitter: @logicalicy.