eBay

intuitive · ‎04-08-2021

The eBay search engine is not returning results for description searches. Or it is failing to properly index descriptions when an item is listed. (Indexing is the process by which descriptions are assimilated into the search engine database.). Either way, buyers who use title/description search are not seeing all the results that should be returned by their searches if the search engine were working properly. I have performed several tests and in most instances received 0 results for title/description searches when normally I would receive dozens, even hundreds of results. This problem has been ongoing for at least the past 2-3 days.

If you are a seller and your items are suddenly not receiving the bids/views they normally would, this may be why. If you are a buyer using title/description search and suddenly not getting the kind of results you are accustomed to, this may be why.

I urge eBay to please fix the title/description search issue as soon as possible. My buyers rely heavily on title/description search, consequently so do my sales. I am sure thousands of other sellers are similarly affected.

eburtonlab · ‎04-08-2021

Can you provide a link to an example of a search that provides no results when you search the body of the description and a listing that should be appearing in the results?

There are current issues with some sold or completed searches not returning results, but I have only seen one other report of description searches not working and I think that involved a search of a seller's own active listings rather than a standard search result.

magicjohnsonsvariety · ‎04-08-2021

Same here, I also noticed the description search not working properly today.

I have my user name in my description so when people run a search of my name I can be easily found...this is the first time I couldn't search by user name, so I know something's not working right.

intuitive · ‎04-08-2021

I had to message you as the dialog box would not permit me to link an example.

eburtonlab · ‎04-09-2021

I have seen some other reports of problems searching within item description; this may be related somehow to the problems searching sold or ended items.

Searches of combinations of mixed alpha and numeric keywords seems to be a particular problem, and searches of longer combinations of keywords with or without quotes may be problematic as well.

In some cases, trying a variation of your search terms might work better. Dropping search terms in favor or filters or numeric part numbers also seem to work more reliably.

intuitive · ‎04-15-2021

One week has passed since I started this thread and nothing has changed. Descriptions remain largely unsearchable. Based on my daily tests, only the first two or three lines of the description are being indexed by the eBay search engine and/or reported in search results. Just two weeks ago the ENTIRE description was searchable.

The detrimental effect this is having on my sales is enormous and will likely put me out of business in a matter of weeks if not fixed. I have been calling eBay every other day to check the status of the situation but all I am told is "it's a known problem" or "a ticket has been created."

Meanwhile in other threads sellers are panicking because their promoted listings views have plunged dramatically since about the 8th or their sales seem to have stopped. It is surely no coincidence that the drop-off in promoted listings views closely corresponds to the timeframe where the description search stopped functioning properly.

I attempted to call eBay again a few minutes ago but the option of phone assistance has now been removed from the Help and Contact link and replaced by a yellow banner: "Our wait times are currently longer than usual. We’ll be with you as soon as possible. In the meantime, if you’re a seller, we recommend that you check out Seller Help. "

There's not even an email link where I can submit a report of this serious and ongoing problem.

intuitive · ‎04-17-2021

Still broken.

I keep calling eBay, the customer service reps keep promising me they will do an email follow-up to the tickets that have already been created, promising they will stress the urgency of the situation. Meanwhile the description search is still a smoking wreck. Nothing is being fixed. Items of mine that drew hundreds of views when the system was working properly now have view counts of less than 20.

Does anyone from the eBay IT department monitor these boards? Or am I just shouting into the wind?

funds4iroc · ‎04-21-2021

I see the same problem. Partly.....

I most often use a Windows XP computer at home, running Chrome and FIrefox. In that computing environment, the "description search" does not work. The checkbox becomes "unchecked" when the "search button" is clicked. The search is undertaken, but only of the titles.

When I use a Windows 10 PC, running the Edge browser, the "description search" works as we would want, and as the "description search" has worked on the Windows XP computer for at least a decade.

PS: You may indeed be shouting in to the wind.

intuitive · ‎04-23-2021

I often use an XP desktop myself, equipped with chrome and firefox. My title/description search worked fine until the 6th. I have never had the "unchecking" bug you describe. Both my desktop and my later Macbook exhibit identical results (or lack thereof) using the title/description search. I fully expect that if eBay fixed things at their end, both machines would resume properly reporting title/description results.

I spoke to eBay again yesterday. They once again assured me the problem is under review.

missioninnpat · ‎10-14-2021

The search function has been dumbed down. As a buyer and seller on eBay I want to categorize my searches as specifically as possible. For example ebay has combined the category of pottery and glass as one. This is unhelpful as a buyer when I am only searching for glass, not pottery. As a result I am scanning though many pages of items I have no interest in. This combination of categories is unhelpful.

mypalrocco · ‎10-18-2021

I'm getting so tired of this, it's been going on for months! It's especially bad on my Windows PC's, no matter which one or which browser I use, but it's also doing it on my Android phone. I have to refresh over and over and over until it finally does what it's supposed to do! Does eBay even care?

starthomasbright · ‎11-20-2021

So very frustrating, Ebay needs to fix this problem. Because of it we are losing many sales since searchers are not seeing our items. And what is the deal with the items all being shown on the left side and having to scroll down, down, down to see them all which is very time consuming. Also what is with the large black arrows taking up all the room all over the place. Something is very wrong here. They need to fix this problem and fix it NOW. Now is the time for us to sell for the holidays and this problem is taking away our sales. I usually always sell something and this week nothing so far with hardly any views of all my items. Are they hiring inexperienced programmers or what?

starthomasbright · ‎11-20-2021

There is definitely something very wrong with eBay as they do not seem to care about what is happening, and their ongoing problems with search and other areas should have been fixed by now. They are running their business very poorly. I have not sold anything for two weeks and ordinarily sell at least a few items a week. So disappointing. Will have to give up this business if they don't take charge and show that they care about their sellers. You can't even reach them for help when needed anymore. How bad is that? Something is very bad at headquarters.

hyuuga_27 · ‎11-23-2021

Same problem, having this issue for months, i cant find my desired item. The search engine doesn't work anymore... Bring back the old settings.. Always zero results.... Simple keywords doesn't show, when are you going to fix this Ebay???