Our items are not showing up in search, even in search by store (screenshots included)

[zamo-zuan]

A co-worker reported an issue this morning as he was trying to assist a customer and found the items he was searching were not showing up as normal.

He even tried setting it up to search our store directly, and was using search phrases found in our MPN's, Interchange Part Number, and Other Part Number, in product identifiers.

I've found that 3/4 of our computers here are having this issue. Only on a couple of our PC's are our listings showing up properly.

I had them take screenshots of trying to search some of our most popular items as examples:

[rschissler]

Regardless, a number only is a ridiculous search term.  I would never search like that.

[eburtonlab]

@zamo-zuan 

I tried a basic search of your items using my own zip code and saw about 6330 items for sale and in your store.

I then changed my zip code to the one shown in your picture with the empty search, and saw only 361 of your listings total. That zip code corresponds to Puerto Rico, and many of your items exclude Puerto Rico from shipping.

[eburtonlab]

@rschissler 

In this particular case the OP is searching only one seller's items (their own), so a simple part number can be an effective search term, even if you would not use that term alone to search the entire site.

[rschissler]

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@eburtonlab wrote:

@rschissler 

In this particular case the OP is searching only one seller's items (their own), so a simple part number can be an effective search term, even if you would not use that term alone to search the entire site.

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I don't buy it.  The OP is trying to continue the tired narrative that Ebay is hiding his items.

[rockmafia5]

I search just that part number and your motor mount is 18 out of 344 results.

I search 07 Escalade motor mount and you are 20 out of 336

[eburtonlab]

@rschissler 

But in this particular case, eBay is hiding the OP's items -- from users searching in Puerto Rico, because the items do not ship there.

The OP's search keyword has nothing to do with this.

[zamo-zuan]

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@rschissler wrote:

Regardless, a number only is a ridiculous search term.  I would never search like that.

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They weren't showing up in typical vehicle searches at first.

The product identifiers are supposed to be searchable. ESPECIALLY Manufacturer Part Numbers. 

I'm not sure if you are familiar with the industry, but the most common ways of searching in Motors by a mechanic is either by part number, or vin number.

We regularly search our items this way so they are 100% supposed to be appearing when searched by the MPN directly. Try it with your own items, and you'll most likely find them appearing by MPN search as well.

Personal feelings on the search phrase aren't really relevant, when the fact of the matter is, Manufacturer Part Numbers (and all product codes Product Identifiers in general) are intended to be searchable. 

[zamo-zuan]

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@rschissler wrote:

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@eburtonlab wrote:

@rschissler 

In this particular case the OP is searching only one seller's items (their own), so a simple part number can be an effective search term, even if you would not use that term alone to search the entire site.

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I don't buy it.  The OP is trying to continue the tired narrative that Ebay is hiding his items.

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What don't you buy? 

That when you search your own store by a manufacturer part number, that items are supposed to show up?

Try it on your own store and see for yourself.

How is it a "narrative" when we're talking about how software is supposed to function, and it is not functioning as it's supposed to? 

You're confusing facts with narratives. 

[zamo-zuan]

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@eburtonlab wrote:

@rschissler 

But in this particular case, eBay is hiding the OP's items -- from users searching in Puerto Rico, because the items do not ship there.

The OP's search keyword has nothing to do with this.

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Interesting regarding the PR zip code, but if you notice ,we do not have the zip code selected. It was on default.

[whatmorefabric]

You would do yourself a favor by moving the car model before the numbers.   

[zamo-zuan]

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@eburtonlab wrote:

@zamo-zuan 

I tried a basic search of your items using my own zip code and saw about 6330 items for sale and in your store.

I then changed my zip code to the one shown in your picture with the empty search, and saw only 361 of your listings total. That zip code corresponds to Puerto Rico, and many of your items exclude Puerto Rico from shipping.

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I checked the original screenshots and have the full URL that was used for search, to confirm that the zip code was not being searched.

When the zip code search is selected, the URL has the additional argument of: "_sadis=100". I attached the image of the full URL used in search, which was default aside from being set to our store.

I find it odd that it had the default zip code set to PR, while our zip code is 90241. But that is likely besides the point, as the search was being performed by default, and not zip code.

[zamo-zuan]

For any that don't regularly search in Motors, you'll find the MPN/Interchange Part Numbers/Other Part Numbers are a primary way to search.

If you set the category to Motors > Parts & Accessories > Car & Truck Parts > Engines & Components > Motor Mounts, and then try any of the search phrases, you'll quickly find that the listings DO show up by these type of search queries.

Regardless, as eburton has mentioned, the phrase is not relevant, as it's a targeted search.

Even a targeted search of a Manufacturer Part Number is not working. I'm not sure how anyone can argue this is not a problem. 

[eburtonlab]

@zamo-zuan 

Interesting regarding the PR zip code, but if you notice ,we do not have the zip code selected. It was on default.

Although you were doing a "default" Item location search rather than a "within" distance search, the fact that that zip code appears there indicates that your search is using that zip code to calculate shipping charges and dates and to determine whether items should appear in a search.

If you open an item listing that you can see and then check the country and zip code shown in the shipping and payments tab, that is the zip code you will see there. And if you change the zip code to one that all your items ship to, all your items should appear in your search.

[zamo-zuan]

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@eburtonlab wrote:

@zamo-zuan 

Interesting regarding the PR zip code, but if you notice ,we do not have the zip code selected. It was on default.

Although you were doing a "default" Item location search rather than a "within" distance search, the fact that that zip code appears there indicates that your search is using that zip code to calculate shipping charges and dates and to determine whether items should appear in a search.

If you open an item listing that you can see and then check the country and zip code shown in the shipping and payments tab, that is the zip code you will see there. And if you change the zip code to one that all your items ship to, all your items should appear in your search.

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I guess this means one of the questions now should be... Why is the zip code set to PR for 3/4 of the computers here, when we're located in Downey, CA?

It's also a clear confirmation that the listings are being hidden to CERTAIN areas, even when searching by zip code is NOT selected. 

Especially PR, since that is one of the areas that we sell to a lot of customers. It's very disturbing to know that they are not seeing our listings consistently, even if they are not searching by zip code!

For those who are coming here to call these a "narrative of eBay hiding items"... how is this not factually eBay hiding items from certain locations? @rschissler Do you think we should be okay with knowing that customers in PR can't see our items?