Search completely broken?

[terrycanarsky]

There have been multiple threads on the seeming broken Search function --- and little acknowledgement by eBay that there is an issue. 

Today I was working on listings which still have http problems.  As always, I ran a search to check on competitors and our place in the queue.  What I found was interesting - in a bad way.  alan@ebay or any other blue, is there a reasonable non-tinfoil explanation for this?  Limiting visibility is one thing if a seller refuses to jump through all the hoops.  Utterly refusing to show listings is a whole different kettle of fish.  There is a problem here, eBay.

Exact same general (with noted exception on the second photo) search parameters.  No preferences set, as you can see.  FIVE results are reported, but only one shows.  This is not our listing.  (As I was typing this, two more results were returned but only as numbers, not actually anything which can be viewed.)

No filters other than "new", the mfr and the part#

Only filter added was "free shipping" - which returned an entirely different listing than above with the same search parameters.  I did not change the search term - it changed itself (removed 'Total Source')  when I clicked "free shipping".  Again, our listing doesn't show even though we offer free listing.

Same exact search only with free shipping

[bluemoon-half]

Yes, I just noticed the same problem when searching for a CD I wanted to buy, I can only see 2 of the 5 listings.   This can't be good for our sales.  Every day there seems to be some new glitch or change that is hurting sales!!

[mrosurplussales]

Search is completely broken, that is a fact.

No way, the seller should have to pay fees this month, according to the buyer always being right.

We are the buyers and are not being satisfied = ebay should refund store fees.

[terrycanarsky]

alan@ebay

A critical update to this issue.

Yet another twist.  Notice how neither of the listings I show in the screenshot show the new "X new & pre-owned from $Y" even though there were multiple results 'showing'?  I just did a search wherein that showed up.  When I clicked the (in this instance) "4 new & pre-owned from $y", it took me to the only listing which was showing in the search.  But at the bottom of that listing were all the rest of the search results. 

The key to this, I believe, is that the only listing which showed in the search used the ePID.  Neither of the two listings I show in the screenshot earlier, however, have the ePID although the non-visible listings show on the visible listing, above the description and item specifics.  Rude of eBay, but they don't acknowledge that, either.

Moreover, when I look at a listing I'd fixed the formatting on earlier today, it now shows with the ePID --- even though we are NOT using, have not used, nor plan to use the catalog at all, period.

Not well done, eBay, not well done at all.  Something that isn't even supposed to be live yet (according to the blues here) has broken the search function altogether.  AND we're being unwillingly and unknowingly opted into the catalog which has been nothing but trouble since it was first tentatively put out.

~M

[paincorp]

Just adding to this 'Fun'. Ebay is itching for a class action if they don't refund some fees for the troubles over the last 2 months. We shouldn't be paying for a platform that consistently doesn't work. We pay for a service to WORK. Things happen, but this is consistent failure to provide a quality product. It's hurting people's livelihoods. I certainly don't see ebay understanding that with most of the responses or actions I've seen. 'Apologies' and 'Sorry' don't pay my bills. The few times I call in, all I get is polite arguments until I lose my mind, then get a band aid resolution that always ends with more phone calls later! Ebay would make hand over fist money if: 1. They would simplify their platform (Kill Cassini) 2. Go back to rewarding good sellers instead of taking away discounts, raising fees and then giving back a bloated, broken system with a service staff that doesn't understand 1/2 of it. 3. Be EBAY and not TRY to be AMAZON! Anyway....Having the same issue: 

[surferbear04]

I was on the phone with ebay over the issue and the rep didn't want to acknowledge that her screen was showing the same result, I think because they may be afraid to say something their not supposed to. I tried getting a supervisor to no avail. 

[paincorp]

To add some tech info I've noticed in my specific search: 

I was looking for a "Flotsam and Jetsam Cuatro Cassette". When I enter that, I get the glitch. If i enter just 'Cuatro Cassette', I can see all 9 listings plus a few unrelated. 

I tried another option by using the subcategories on the left side. I changed the search to take out the word 'Cassette'. When I did that, I had all forms of the item (CD, Cass. LP. etc) on the left. Using the categories on the left, the CD category when clicked showed all results. Same for LP. When I click on Cassettes though, I get only 1 out of 9 results again! That tells me it might only be certain subcategories that are affected. Not sure which ones, but it's what I found. 

Not sure ebay cares anyway. 

[obtanium_enterprises]

"they may be afraid to say something [they're] not supposed to"

Yeah, that essentially all of eBay is HOSED, at least for now.

And my sales have fallen off a cliff again; what a coincidence!

eBay rolls out search preference for TRS+ and Promoted Listings... View counts disappear... Search is broken... Our sales fall off of a cliff... And eBay wants us to believe this is all unrelated.

Hey eBay: I have a few hundred new items ready to list, and I was planning to open a store to take advantage of the free and discounted insertions, but after all of these issues - ESPECIALLY SALES OFF OF A CLIFF AT LEAST HALF OF THE TIME - I'm taking a lot of it TO TWO FLEA MARKETS THIS WEEKEND. (To sell it off-eBay, heaven forbid!) How do you like them apples!

[mrosurplussales]

try this search term > 5.8 oil cooler gasket

[obtanium_enterprises]

"try this search term > 5.8 oil cooler gasket"

And while you're at it, change the sort and you get different results.

[jaaron7]

Same issue here.  Did a search for "NORMAN LH2400 LAMP HEAD" and it shows there shoud be 5 items, yet only 2 of the items are displayed.  Did a seach by Lowest First and then only 1 item displayed!

[jaaron7]

alan@ebay Hi Alan, this is a serious issue, even more so than the view counter that is still broken.  Has the technical support team gotten back to you yet?  

---

alan@ebay wrote:

That is a strange one, @terrycanarsky. We've sent a report over to our technical support team for them to review. 

Thanks for calling this out. 

---

[seeking_the_timeless]

What I discovered is that if you put one of the words (pick the most important) in " " it will give you all the search results.   But nobody should have to do this!!  Also, if there are many items it seems to show you everything (even without the " " marks) but if searching for something where only a few items exist that is when you get the 1 item only screen, although there are more.

But if you change the sort criteria it will show the others depending on where they fall in the criteria.  For instance, if it is the lowest price, highest price, etc.  Bottom line -- If people can't find our items, we can't sell it and eBay loses out too.  So I would think it is in their best interest to get this resolved fast.  

I am waiting for a callback now.  Will let everyone know what I find out. 

[digitshop]

searched using one key word and sort using distance nearest first, none of my item shows up. I have the lowest sale of the year today. This is ridiculous.

[kimberlykolbe]

Experiencing the exact same issue! The search results says there are 9 matches, but I can only see 1. And the one I can see changes depending on whether I select "Best Match" or lowest price, but I can never see more than one match at a time.

[shopologie]

It definitely has something to do with how you search for something. For example, if you type in "Collier Campbell pillowcase," the number of visible listings matches the results. However, if you type in "Collier Campbell king pillowcase," you get 8 results, but only one visible listing, which changes depending on how you sort the listings. It looks to me like whatever listing would normally show up first still shows up, but no listing after that one.