Just a "pain point"...what would you do?

[baxterbog]

We have been with ebay for about 10 years.  We were operating as an Anchor Store until April of this year.  Things were going along fairly well until last year's Spring Update when we lost the ability to see our own listings in a generic search.  As it turns out, being from Alaska (zip code 99603) was the problem.  In order for us to be able to see our own items, we need to change the zip code in our default search.  So every time we login we do a generic search and change the zip code to 11234.  Then and only then can we see our listings in a generic search.  Our store was another story.  We could see all of our items without toying with the zip code.  We began working with ebay support in July of 2017 to address this issue.  Ebay acknowledged the problem and was kind enough to waive our subscription fee while they worked to correct the issue.  In February of this year, ebay concluded their research and let us know that the issue is just a "pain point" and that the issue should have no impact on sales.  Ebay also indicated that they may get around to fixing the issue at the end of this year.  No guarantee, though.  

We were not about to start paying an Anchor Store subscription fee for a flawed service.  So we took down around 10,000 listings and downgraded to a basic store.  We received our new store look the other day from the 2018 Spring Update.  And to our surprise, we now must change our zip code in a generic search before we are able to see our items in either a search or in our store.  Our wheel up here in Alaska didn't squeak enough I guess.  I think we have been shown the door.  Anything else we can do?   

[dtexley3]

brian@ebay

[goodluckselling]

In my opinion the pain point they mentioned simply means although you maybe seeing one thing actual buyers who have a different IP address than you are not having this issue.  I am sure on there next overhaul before the holiday selling season they might correct the IP identifying issue. 

Actually they are doing you a favor because each time you search for your items and they show up in a search result but do not get any engagement from the use puts a demerit on your listing because a potential buyer did not view your listing which means they did not find it enticing enough.  ebay tends to show listing that engage the buyer albeit if only just to open the listing from the search result to view it.  They want to see even more than that but at least that shows interest from the buyer.  Buyer engagement is very important to a marketplace with over 1 billion active listings 

As far as your search and finding your item. 

• I would start by clearing out your cache Internet files and rebooting your computer. 
• Try searching when you are not signed in
• search from a mobile device instead of a home PC or visa versa
• do the same search in google or bing or yahoo external search engines
• You might also opt out of the new store format then opt in again.  This path has solved other issues when the new store format first went live a few years ago.

What would I do?  I would not disable my eBay business because you disagree with the engineers who told you it did not have any effect of your sales.  That should tell you it is a cosmetic issue that actual buyers are not seeing. 

Good Luck Selling!

[jason_incognito]

clearly you need to sign up for the global shipping program.

[baxterbog]

Thanks for the suggestions.  We have tried all of them in the past eight months to no avail.  Even installed 2 new computers that give us the same results.  As I mentioned, ebay acknowledes the problem.  They just can't or won't fix it.  I guess I need to read the fine print in the user agreement.  Somewhere in there it must say that ebay services may not work properly in some locales so sign up for a store subscription at your own risk.

[luckythewinner]

Just a "pain point"...what would you do?

Since whether I can see my own listings or not has no impact on my sales, there is a no way that I let that influence whether whether to take listings down or change my store subscription. 

I would base that decision entirely upon whether I was generating sufficient sales and sufficient profit to justify those listings or that store subscription. 

Nowhere in your entire initial post did you mention anything about whether your sales had been affected, or whether your anchor store was was profitable. To me that would be the primary consideration.

[baxterbog]

My apologies.  A sales decline was implied when I stated that things were going along just fine up until the 2017 Spring Update.  Furthermore, ebay acknowledged the problem and waived the Anchor Store subscription fee for six months while 'researching' the issue.  And with their solution being that this should just be considered a 'pain point' we initiated the downgrade.  We will hang around through June to see how this latest round of updates goes.  Thanks for your suggestions.

[pjcdn2005]

There is a similar thread from a seller in Hawaii so eBay seems to now treat the two states as being international.  In the Hawaii seller's situation she can see her own listings because she sells internationally but as you sell within the US only, your listings would be hidden from all "international" buyers. I can't find that thread right now but if I find it I'll post a link.

I would be frustrated as well although I wonder if the drop in sales is coincidental since those in the continental US should still be able to see your listings.

[baxterbog]

Thank you for the reply.  I too have seen posts from folks in Hawaii complaining that their searches for local ebay items (items from Hawaiian sellers) come up empty.  I can't even see my next door neighbors items without toying with the zip code.  I truly hope ebay gets this fixed in the next month or so.  Though it looks like they have more problems than they can handle right now.

[berserkerplanet]

It's not just cosmetic, or an inconvenience where you can't see you own listings without a lower 48 zipcode. It's possible some or all buyers in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, all the other territories, and APO/FPO can't see your listings.

Granted, all those buyers combined are not a huge buyer base (approx 6.5 million population about the same as state of Indiana), but it is not an inconsequential number.

Depending on what you sell could be very significant. If you sell snowshoes, beartraps, touques, and venison jerky, those possibly missing 3/4 million buyers could be your main buyer base. Samoans and Hawaiians not so much.

[baxterbog]

Yes.  Another odd thing about our issue.  When we had 10,000+ listings up, around 180 of them would show without toying with the zip.  If we used one of the listings that did show and created a new listing using sell similar, the new listing would show without toying with the zip.  Now we have 250 listings up.  Of them, 11 show without toying with the zip.  We did share this info with ebay.  Shortly after ebay ended their research and called the issue just a 'pain point'.   

[ymeagainlord]

WTH is a "pain point". Sounds like one of their new buzz words. Pain for the seller so it doesn't matter maybe?

[whatmorefabric]

I have searched a few listings for cards using generic tersm such as Jeter baseball card etc.    In the 6 cases that I searched,    your cards were at the top.

My husband says that just because you can't find them on your computer and from your location,   it does not mean that others can't.

Some of his  simpliest explanations are  that there are probably not a lot of Alaskans searching for Derek Jeter cards.       You have probably searched for your items so many times and not purchased things,   that it is discarding you as a viable buyer for your listings.

He also went on to some very technical things,  including  your internet provider,   that I don't understand because I can turn my computer on and off. 

[whatmorefabric]

BTW,      would not touch a Yankee card for all the Tea in China

[berserkerplanet]

Check to see if you offer international shipping on the ones you can see using your Alaska zipcode.