Possible Glitch? Not showing all listings

[fairystonevintage]

I found something strange, not sure if this is a new glitch.  For some search terms, I can't view all the listings.  For an example, when I search for "kenwood km x1" it says 4 results but shows only 1 listing. If I change the sort method, it shows different listings.  Mobile App search results correctly show all 4 results.  What could be causing this issue? I don't have any filters assigned. I've tried on 3 different browsers, and 2 different eBay accounts. Same result.  It does the same thing to other long tail search terms as well.  Some general terms do show a correct number of items. 

[downrightspecialkids]

It would really be aweome if ebay took responsiility and compensated sellers when we lose sales and money/income. When these glitches happen and my items are not visible, I am not making money. This is my only income. 

I have tens of hours yet to put in for vanishing photos, and now I can't find my items in search at all. 

It just isn't right. 

[retroplanet87]

I read all that when the information first came out about the product based shopping experience. However, there is one important issue ... there is a big difference between what Devin Wenig "said" would happen which is that a selection of the top four products would be called out on the Product Page itself (Brand New, Like New or Other New, cheapest Used, and either a Best Value chosen by Ebay or a listing with Best Offer or Promoted Listing). What "actually" happened, was not what was planned or explained. These 4 listings with premium placement in buy-type boxes were supposed to be shown on the famous Product Page which was supposed to function as the landing page from Google (hey - no need for a landing page from Google if Ebay doesn't advertise in Google). However, what we're seeing today is ONE not Four Listing show up as search results and the product page either doesn't exist or is not being shown at all. So no matter what was originally intended, that's not exactly how the programmers made it turn out. However, I do think it might be a test, and it's a test that is so disastrous for both buyers and sellers it should be ended immediately!

BTW has anyone heard anything more from the Ebay contact alan@ebay for this board since this morning when he said he was going to check on it?

[brian@ebay · Accepted solution]

Hi everyone! It appears that this issue is now resolved. Please verify this and let me know if you continue to encounter a problem or if this occurs again. Thanks for your reports, they definitely helped out 

[bdbq_reborn]

nope 

not resolved as of 7-19-2018

[bdbq_reborn]

no it is not as of 3pm 7-20-2018
type crystal covered beads
should have 1080
shows less than 200

[bdbq_reborn]

how about Our technical support team is currently FIXING!

one week later still not fixed

[bdbq_reborn]

some thing cool actually happened from all these issues with the search engine only showing a fraction of the listings
The sponsor link on the bottom sent me to ETSY where I found exactly what I needed and CHEAPER so thanks for that

(7-20-2018 9pm still SNAFU )

[kluvslli]

I'm a buyer. But when you look something up and says there's 2000 but when go to next page or filter shows no results . eBay is killing it's self.

[eburtonlab]

@kluvslli

Can you provide a link to a search that is broken? Or a description of what you were searching for?

I have had some bookmarked searches that broke in the past when eBay changed how some of the search parameters worked, but there was usually a way to alter the search so that it worked correctly again.

I do a lot of searches on eBay, so I am very interested in cases where the search results are not accurate. Currently there seem to be some issues with items from some foreign sellers not showing up correctly in search results, and some possibly related issues with some sellers in Alaska as well.

[design2k]

We have encountered a similar problem - some of our listings do not show up in a search - we actually started a thread on this topic with a letter to Mr. Scott Cutler, SVP America, but have had no answer from him or ebay.  Here is the latest post I added:

Regarding SEO (Search Engine Optimization), ebay recommends: 

"Your listing title is a key factor in natural search. Include the most important keywords or keyword phrases in your listing title."

I agree but obviously ebay no longer agrees.  We specialize in mid-century modern items and since these vintage items do not have a UPC, etc, buyers search by manufacturer (ie, Knoll), designer (ie, Saarinen), design name (ie, tulip chair), etc. - so when we list two expensive collectible pieces of furniture by Jens Risom we expect that a search for "Jens Risom" will show all listings with his name in the title - but, alas again, our two listings DO NOT SHOW UP!  

Your newest project of product placement (can't remember exact title) will not work for vintage items and all of us who look to ebay to buy or sell vintage items will have to find other venues - is that what your stock holders want?  Does this mean ebay recommends that before listing an item the seller should check to see what category the majority of the sellers use?  Is that your new algorithm?  A SEARCH SHOULD SHOW WHAT A BUYER IS INTERESTED IN - PERIOD.  

We apologize if we misunderstand the current debacle.

[design2k]

Regarding SEO (Search Engine Optimization), ebay recommends: 

"Your listing title is a key factor in natural search. Include the most important keywords or keyword phrases in your listing title."

I agree but obviously ebay no longer agrees.  We specialize in mid-century modern items and since these vintage items do not have a UPC, etc, buyers search by manufacturer (ie, Knoll), designer (ie, Saarinen), design name (ie, tulip chair), etc. - so when we list two expensive collectible pieces of furniture by Jens Risom we expect that a search for "Jens Risom" will show all listings with his name in the title - but, alas again, our two listings DO NOT SHOW UP!  

Your newest project of product placement (can't remember exact title) will not work for vintage items and all of us who look to ebay to buy or sell vintage items will have to find other venues - is that what your stock holders want?  Does this mean ebay recommends that before listing an item the seller should check to see what category the majority of the sellers use?  Is that your new algorithm?  A SEARCH SHOULD SHOW WHAT A BUYER IS INTERESTED IN - PERIOD.  

We apologize if we misunderstand the current debacle.

[eburtonlab]

@design2k

A search for "Jens Risom" (without quotes) from the eBay search bar turns up 104 results -- but the search limits itself to the "Midcentury Modernism" category of Antiques. If I rerun the search in "All Categories", I get 202 results, and I can see your Y-pulls Walnut Cabinet, which is in the "Collectibles - Vintage - 1960s" category. A search for "Jens Risom cabinet" (without quotes) defaults to "All Categories" and does turn up your items.

If you want folks to find your items by searching for "Jens Risom" alone, you should list them in the "Midcentury Modernism" subcategory of Antiques.

[design2k]

Thanks for your analyses - but that is the point - search results should not be a function of categories - we do not consider mid-century modern items to be antiques.  This proposed ebay change would be rather problematic for these vintage items and may cause buyers and sellers to favor other venues that are more user-friendly; we would never consider searching Amazon for mid-century modern!

btw, having been on ebay since 1998, I never realized that when searching for anything and seeing "all categories" to the left of the search button, that it does not mean "all categories" but instead a default determined by ebay; perhaps the heading should indicate "select category"?

Just a thought...since antiques are generally considered to be 100 years old and most antique dealers are offended finding all this "fifties stuff" in that category, perhaps in addition to "Antiques" there should be a "Vintage" main category - but only if both those categories are specifically defined as to time period.

[mam98031]

@design2k

The Cassini search engine on this site has all kinds of issues and certainly not just in antiques.

Try this one, in regards to fragrances.  Type in Burberry Body and you of course get your return.  Note how many you get.  Now type in Body Burberry and see what you get.  It is different, but it shouldn't be.

In my own listings I can search for Mr Burberry, but I will not get anything in the return.  But if I go to the active listings from my Seller Hub I can see the listing.

[eburtonlab]

@design2k

@mam98031

These sorts of search engine quirks should only be an issue when searching with one or two fairly generic search terms. Rather than return hundreds or thousands of listings, Cassini attempts to predict what the typical user is looking for, and then narrow down the category. When the searches are specific enough, Cassini stops second guessing.

Once you know what Cassini is doing, it's up to you to decide whether the best course of action is to debate with the folks at eBay whether those categorizations are appropriate, or to list your items in the categories the search engine is pointing the buyers at.

Cassini does other things which are harder to circumvent; such as maintaining lists of terms that are considered equivalent. If you exclude a term from your search, Cassini will also silently exclude listings with other terms that it considers equivalent, even if they are not.

I would prefer it if Cassini made explicit its assumptions, and allowed users the opportunity to bypass its assumptions. Sort of like how if you search for "boockase", the search results say "we found thousands of listing for bookcase, but if you really meant to search for boockase, click here".

[mam98031]

@eburtonlab

These sorts of search engine quirks should only be an issue when searching with one or two fairly generic search terms. Rather than return hundreds or thousands of listings, Cassini attempts to predict what the typical user is looking for, and then narrow down the category. When the searches are specific enough, Cassini stops second guessing.

To me that makes no sense at all.  The examples I used in my other post are not generic nor none specific.  The word order should not return different items.  Besides Cassini can't even distiguish / include plurals.  Search for some specific type of bead.  Use Bead in one search and Beads in another.  You get different returns.

Once you know what Cassini is doing, it's up to you to decide whether the best course of action is to debate with the folks at eBay whether those categorizations are appropriate, or to list your items in the categories the search engine is pointing the buyers at.

When there isn't a logic to the return, it is hard to figure out what Cassini is doing.

Cassini does other things which are harder to circumvent; such as maintaining lists of terms that are considered equivalent. If you exclude a term from your search, Cassini will also silently exclude listings with other terms that it considers equivalent, even if they are not.

What does that mean?  Please be more specific.

I would prefer it if Cassini made explicit its assumptions, and allowed users the opportunity to bypass its assumptions. Sort of like how if you search for "boockase", the search results say "we found thousands of listing for bookcase, but if you really meant to search for boockase, click here".

I personally would prefer Cassini to be more organic and return what I asked for instead of making assumptions that may or may not be true.

And none of this answers why when searching my own listings that certain things just will not show a return at all unless I go to active listings.