Search engine absolutely useless, how do we complain about this

[krislim2002]

Unbelievable. 

A seller puts up an item for me, sends me the title  and item number, neither was found when i searched, he had to then send me a web link, 

I've had these problems before with items I've saved for later, I can click on them, yes they are still for sale, I'll search for them to see if any others like it are for sale and the search comes up with nothing, not even the one I was just looking at, WTH??

[ajs_coins_and_alchemy]

A new listing just posted by a seller is unlikely to show in the search results immediately. It needs go be "indexed" (if i have my term correct). It essentiay gets put in queue with all the other listings that have been published and they get added to the site and it isnt instantaneous.

Don't get me wrong, it's a live listing, it just isn't "searchable", and that is why a link works and a search doesnt.

I believe the delay can vary also based on seller reputation. A new sellers listings will take much longer than a long time seller. I dont know if its human review or what but i know it gets reviewed some how.

My first listings took 24hr to become searchable...now mine are up and searchable within minutes to hours...i never keep exact track because i dont really care but i know they are live pretty soon. 

I have a good seller I source wholesale from, any time he posts an auction he messages me immediately, he always has to send me a link because it isn't searchable or even available on his store until later (and I'm always anxious to see it immediately, LOL). So this is just a normal thing. At least now you'll know and be better equipped.

[krislim2002]

Thanks, the guy has been selling constantly for years, 27500 feedbacks, t was about 1 hour then 2 hours i checked, I can't understand how it can't find listing that are definitely older and in my watch list, when I search the exact title to see if there is anything similar 

[eburtonlab]

If the seller modified the listing before it completed indexing, that can delay indexing further by sending the listing to the back of the line.

If you have the item number, paste the number into an address like this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/115491076508

As long as the listing is active (or else ended within 90 days) you should be able to see it using a direct link, even if it has not been indexed and is not otherwise searchable.

[ajs_coins_and_alchemy]

If you're searching the exact title of listing 'X' to find similar listings, I'm not surprised if you may not find similar listings if title X is unique or has an obscure title.

If you search title of listing 'X' and it's an active listing and listing 'X' doesn't even show up.... then I have no clue and I will not speculate as to why. I mean I know there a bunch of factors like filters and such if you've applied them, but i dont know.

I always try to be more vague in my searches ... using keywords from titles and not the exact title even if im looking for that exact listing i already know exists. Mostly because I know if i search the exact title i need to have it 100% perfect w/o typos and....I'm not perfect...

As for how long it takes Mr. 27,500 feedbacks to have his listings show, 🤷‍♂️, thats why I said it could be factors beyond how established he is. I also believe the volume of listings sent in at the time effects it. Being put in queue with the rest, if there are 1,000,000 listings submitted vs 10,000 ... the line is longer or shorter. His experience probably speeds him up, but still at the mercy of ebay.