Item not found in search results when searching the title...

[xxsunnycaliforniaxx]

Searching for item my using the basic item listing title (DJI Mavic 2 Zoom) does not result in my item displaying.  Yes, I've made sure that no filters are applied to my search results.  The listing has been up for days and that has not changed.  It's an auction with a generously low starting price, yet I have few page views and bids, and I have no doubt this is going to drive down the final sale price What is the problem?

[katzrul15]

When I search - your listing for the Mavic 2 Zoom, it is right there......no idea why not showing up for you?

[eburtonlab]

Whether your item appears in a particular search depends upon how you search for it, and how it is listed.

A search for dji mavic 2 is steered into the following category:

Cameras & Photo > Camera Drones

You listed your item in this category:

Toys & Hobbies > Radio Control & Control Line > RC Model Vehicle Parts & Accs > Other RC Parts & Accs

If you want your item to appear in the search when users use those search terms, you should list in the former category rather than the latter.

[coolections]

Like I told you when you posted this a few days ago. Different ID ? If you are going to sell a drone put the word drone into your title.

[aprilmoviebuf2000]

As someone else stated, you listed your item in the Toys & Hobbies category, when the default category is Cameras & Photo.  So unless someone changes the category to yours in the drop down menu, it is somewhat lost.  

I did find your listing, but only by using that filter.  Most potential buyers won't.

A couple of things though noteworthy of pointing out in your listing description.  You state "I can request additional insurance at buyer's cost".  No, you can't after the fact.  Insurance is for you, the seller.  If you want additional insurance over and above the standard, you would need to build that into your price/shipping charge.  Also "Buyer responsible for any loss or damage in shipping".  Again, no.  If an item is damaged in shipping and files a case with eBay, you would be expected to handle that case with your buyer, then file the claim for damage with the carrier.   Hopefully your auction goes well and you are pleasantly surprised.  

[xxsunnycaliforniaxx]

All,

If I'm not mistaken, that category was selected for me by the sale form, rather than by me.  While I did take note of the odd category, I assumed it was driven by the item description and felt somewhat comfortable that all similar items would end up in the same category.  Also, I see no place to manually update the category now - must be too late.  It's been forever since I've sold something on EBAY.  This new format pretty terrible.  And thank you for all your help, and for pointing out the listing information I gave that is contrary to policy.  What a disaster this was. 

[aprilmoviebuf2000]

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@xxsunnycaliforniaxx wrote:

All,

If I'm not mistaken, that category was selected for me by the sale form, rather than by me.  While I did take note of the odd category, I assumed it was driven by the item description and felt somewhat comfortable that all similar items would end up in the same category.  Also, I see no place to manually update the category now - must be too late.  It's been forever since I've sold something on EBAY.  This new format pretty terrible.  And thank you for all your help, and for pointing out the listing information I gave that is contrary to policy.  What a disaster this was. 

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Yeah, they are kind of wonky sometimes.  If you had put the word "drone" in your title it certainly would have helped too.  Also, when researching comps, take note of the categories in solds.  Not foolproof, but it helps.  You can't do those kinds of updates now though if you have bids.  Good luck.  

[714ricki]

Your listing is actually there. I see the listing. However, please keep in mind that your listing could be hidden by the system algorithm or buried way down in the pages. Don't worry, your listing will have eyes on it.  Hopefully, it sells soon for you. Just make sure you have the best search words in your listing title to give you a better chance in the search algorithm.

[luckythewinner]

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@xxsunnycaliforniaxx wrote:

All,

If I'm not mistaken, that category was selected for me by the sale form, rather than by me.  While I did take note of the odd category, I assumed it was driven by the item description and felt somewhat comfortable that all similar items would end up in the same category.  Also, I see no place to manually update the category now - must be too late.  It's been forever since I've sold something on EBAY.  This new format pretty terrible.  And thank you for all your help, and for pointing out the listing information I gave that is contrary to policy.  What a disaster this was. 

---

Unfortunately, eBay's search is programmed to automatically change the search category based on the terms that a user enters into a search. For me, "dji mavic 2" automatically switches the category to Camera Drones. This has been a constant source of confusion and frustration for sellers. 

Since this category switch is driven by the buyer's search criteria and not by the item title, is certainly possible that eBay steered you in the wrong direction when you first listed the item. We cannot help you fix that - all we can do is help you understand why your search terms are not finding your item. 

You can change the category of a listing, but since eBay has a bunch of different listing tools (browser, phone, simple, advanced, etc.) so we really can't help you unless you give us an idea what listing too you are using to try to change it.

When I revise a listing from the seller hub, I can change the category like this: 

[nobody*s_perfect]

eBay does sometimes choose to show the search results for just one selected category. They call this "implicit category navigation" and it's apparently dons because eBay thinks buyers might be overwhelmed if shown all of the results. You can see a comment by an eBay staff member in post 44 in this thread:

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Archive-Weekly-Chat-with-eBay/Weekly-Chat-with-the-eBay-Mobile-Team-Oc...

For the search for DJI Mavic 2 Zoom, eBay chooses to show only the Camera Drones category even though it has 306 results in contrast with the category you chose, Toys & Hobbies, which has over 2,000 results. Unfortunately, most buyers overlook the categories list that appears on the left-hand side of the results page.

[greatstuff80]

If stores with big ad budgets have promoted thousands of items at higher PL rates than yours, their items will show up first in searches no matter what you do. Your items could easily be pushed way down the pages.  The price you set may have little to do with it. Even when searching lowest price, promoted listings will come up first.  I actually find it easier to search with google for ebay items than using ebay's search tools. It wasn't always this way on ebay but it is now. 😐

[inhawaii]

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@coolections wrote:

Like I told you when you posted this a few days ago. Different ID ? If you are going to sell a drone put the word drone into your title.

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Put what the item is in the  title?

You my friend are a genius!   😉

[xxsunnycaliforniaxx]

The item sold for approx 60% of the average sale price for similar items, effectively costing me several hundred dollars.  In my opinion, I got ripped off by Ebay.  If I come to Ebay, enter the item I am looking for *without selecting a category*, and Ebay then selects a narrow category for me and hides the exact item I searched for in other categories that it is doing a disservice to both the buyer and the seller.  If I search for "Best Widget 555", and no other filters, as both a seller and buyer I expect my search results to be ALL of the "Best Widget 555s".  And when complete the sale form and Ebay assigns my item to a category that it doesn't assign to all similar items with similar, easy to understand titles, it's just icing on the cake.  Sorry, but what Ebay is doing here is ripping people off.

Thank you to all responders.  I wont be repeating the mistake of selling anything on Ebay again.

[kensgiftshop]

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@xxsunnycaliforniaxx wrote:

The item sold for approx 60% of the average sale price for similar items, effectively costing me several hundred dollars.  In my opinion, I got ripped off by Ebay. 

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Then you didn't start the auction at the right price.

You should have started it at the price you wanted.

[xxsunnycaliforniaxx]

...you don't start an auction at the price you want.  If I wanted an exact price, I'd have listed a buy it now.  Ebay is overly injecting itself into the process and being deceptive by withholding a true list of search results (their locations, conditions, prices, etc), and also by auto-categorizing items and giving me no opportunity to override that using the form they presented me.  And now, the person I'm going to send the item to can turn around and flip the item for the correct price, assuming he can navigate the hurdles.  Ebay effectively, potentially, handed hundreds of dollars of my hard earned money to the buyer.  I'm livid.  What you see here is what happens when you let the wrong people run a business.