firefox search results missing

[iamtoplease]

i have noticed that when searching for items using firefox, results are missing (even though the # of search results showing is correct).  For example, if you search "moonlit savior booster box", i get 19 results in both firebox and chrome.  however, if i actually count the number of listings shown in firefox, there are only 16 listings...vs 19 in chrome.  i noticed that my items weren't being shown in firefox, but when i enter the exact same terms in chrome, my items show up. 

i have called CS about the issue, and they mentioned that there are compatibility issues between firefox and ebay but nothing could be done.  i hope someone at ebay IT would look into this  and see what can be done.

[hurryagain]

That is strange.  I only use firefox and I looked up the item that you gave as an example and it does say 19 items - and I counted 19 items.  When I run into issues, my firefox needs to be updated or I need to clear my cache/history and things work okay again...

Maybe you can try updating/clearing?...

[beautifulbeauty2012]

Has something to do with algorithm eBay has implemented, there has been a problem for a few months now when eBay doesn`t display all inventory by search.

Don`t ask me why they are doing it, but sales are the worst I have ever seen (usually Summers are slow, but now even 40-50% down compare to last year). If potential buyers don`t see what they are looking for because of an algorithm, they can`t buy it, meaning no money for either sellers or eBay.

[eburtonlab]

@iamtoplease 

Are you doing the exact same search in both browsers? Try copying the URL from one into the other.

I am at a loss to explain why your search would show one "number of results found" but show you a different number of actual items, unless some of those results are multiple variation listings. That does not appear to be the case here, though. Here is the search I performed:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=moonlit+savior+booster+box&_fsrp=1&_sop=10

I currently see "19 results found" and 19 total listings. I am using an ad blocker to block sponsored listings, but I am not sure that that matters -- if one of your browsers was showing more than 19 results, it might be an extra sponsored item showing up in one search; but that would not explain less than 19 items being shown. I pasted the same URL into several different browsers and got the same results in each.

If you use a "low priced" sort, sometimes eBay will hide some of the items, but eBay displays a message at the top of the search when that happens and gives you a link to see all the results, but in any event I did not see that here when I tried that sort -- I still saw 19 items.

Identical searches with the same keywords can give different results in some cases. If one browser has a different address used for calculating shipping that can affect which items are shown (but the number of "results found" should still match the number actually shown). If the browsers are signed into different accounts (or one is not signed in at all) that might make a difference; or if one account has a PO Box as a primary address, some results that do not ship to a PO Box might not be visible.

Incidentally, if I change the "Item Location" filter from "default" to "worldwide", I see 28 total items.

[iamtoplease]

so i played with the search some more on firefox.  what i've been doing is performing the search (exact same copied and pasted keywords between firefox and chrome)....and when the search comes up, I would do a control-F and search for my ebay ID.  what i noticed (sometimes) is that i could see my listing on firefox search results for a fraction of a second.  but by the time i search for my ebay ID, the listing is gone again.   i have cleared cache and nothing changed.

however, when i do the search in firefox's private window, everything works.  i see all results, including mine.

which reminds me, i purchased an item this morning with firefox.  i wanted to look at the listing again after the purchase, and when I put the exact item title into search, I would get "1" result, but there would be no listings in the results page.  i thought it was odd at the time...

[eburtonlab]

@iamtoplease 

however, when i do the search in firefox's private window, everything works. i see all results, including mine.

Try deleting your eBay cookies in Firefox -- the private window does not use the same ones used by your non-private window.

Are you signed in to your account in the private window?

I was going to suggest disabling your ad blocker, if you use one; it is possible for an overly broad element hiding rule to block unintended things (usually menus, but it is possible to affect other things). But if your private window works, I would think that it would be using the same ad blocker, and have the same issues, unless it is specifically disabled in private windows.

[eburtonlab]

@iamtoplease 

what i've been doing is performing the search (exact same copied and pasted keywords between firefox and chrome)

Try pasting the URL instead the key words -- that should ensure you are using the same search parameters and filters.

[eburtonlab]

@iamtoplease 

i wanted to look at the listing again after the purchase, and when I put the exact item title into search, I would get "1" result, but there would be no listings in the results page. i thought it was odd at the time...

Something definitely sounds wrong with your Firefox browser, or your browser's profile at the least. You might consider backing up your bookmarks, and trying a browser refresh (see under Help: Troubleshooting). Try a refresh, or starting in safe mode (add-ons disabled) and see if that helps.

A malware scan might not be a bad idea, either.

[iamtoplease]

ok, so this is strange.  I disabled my ad blocker on firefox (uBlock Origin) and ran the search...my sponsored listing (ie promoted) listings now show up, but not my non-promoted listings.  When in firefox private windows, my ad blocker is still running, but my normal listings show up and my promoted listings are hidden.    If I disable ad blocker in private windows, the promoted listings still do not show up.