It looks like they've changed the format for eBay stores. At first I was impressed with it's nice clean look. However, I think it's going to mean decreased sales and a much worse experience for buyers.
First, searches within the stores are useless, including the default search box that eBay includes directly underneath the item specifics. It goes directly to the main store page, showing all items as organized by best match. In other words, it's not searching anything at all, so it just defaults to the main page.
Second. Forget about using internal links to make it easier for buyers to find either "sets", or similar items. That doesn't work either. So as an example, say you're selling vintage postcards and you have a keyword search link to all your items by a particular company or artist, perhaps Ellen Clapsaddle. That doesn't work anymore. Any internal link will default back to the main store page. Those are the same links that eBay previously allowed and actually still has a link generator to create them.
Third. The search box at the very top of the store page, does actually work. It's the only one I've found that does. I've personally never used that when browsing somebody elses store but kudos to eBay for allowing at least some ability to search. That said, it seems that, now, eBay is selling outside advertising within stores. The very first search I tried, returned an off-site "featured ad" in the very top, number one, spot. I replicated it with a few other searches. So, and I'm talking anchor store, it seems we're paying for the privelege of having eBay direct buyers to shop elsewhere. Again, the outside ads were the VERY FIRST thing seen searching within the store.
