Recently, my items are getting less views. I have to enter 3 words to see my items in a search? Why?

[it8ezbngrn]

So all my items view counts have dropped to nearly zero. I can't see y items if I search for them using two words from the title. It must be three or more. I have a good status. Yet, someone with a feedback of 8 selling the same item, his shows up. So my 2,500+ sales and 18 year history is getting trumped by the guy who's maybe selling for his first time. 

I've called eBay and they can't tell me why. I listed a few items from a second account using the exact same information and I get the same results. 

An example, I'm selling an New HPI Racing Blitz Flux ....   So I search for HPI Blitz and one comes up. Not mine. I change my title on both accounts to mirror his title and search again. Nothing. I search for NEW HPI Blitz, it comes up or if I search for HPI RACING BLITZ, it comes up. 

On some of my other auctions it takes 4 keywords before my auctions are viewable.  And yet  using two keywords from my title I see other sellers items. Some of the sellers are new and etc. Not all of them are top rated or stores. This all seems to be very recent. My views on a hot item are now in the less than 20 range and some are worse. Its like I have ceased to exist. 

[it8ezbngrn]

Did that. I also copied the titles of ones that did show up. I also just changed it to Axial SCX10 II and SCX10 II just to see what would happen and yes I waited 12 hours to check so the website would update. I also created duplicate auctions with another account and had the same issues. The other account has low FB, around 158 and a 0% rating because it has been dormant.  

I also spoke to someone else who is having similar issues and they follow all the "best practices" and have a store. 

[it8ezbngrn]

I don't trust eBay and neither do others. 

I have seen eBay wipe 26+ NFBs given by one guy, he also opened several false claims. This was all in a few months time frame. It cleared all the NFB from the sellers but also gave him a clean slate as well. He ironically was also a seller. His account never skipped a beat. He was not suspended. He tried to screw me for $400 and I contacted all the others he wronged. So I was tracking him to see how eBay would handle it. 

Did eBay wipe his feedback to protect our reputation or theirs?

I received two NFBs from a buyer because I decided to hold him to the standard that eBay semi-enforces. I made a buyer who, often bids then backs out after the auction closes, pay for his items. I told him he had a choice, pay or receive two non-paying bidder strikes. He paid and immediately left NFB. I reported it and him, several times, and it still stands on my account. He refused the delivery. Turns out that if you refuse delivery, eBay doesn't care what happens next. I'm not a thief, so I refunded what was left after, paying for the shipping costs (twice, there and back), my eBay fees and a 20% restocking fee, cause Paypal also doesn't care either. As long as they saw some sort of refund, they could care less. 

[luckythewinner]

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wrote:

On my HPI, where there are fewer, it doesn't show up when I search for HPI Blitz and sort from hi to low. Smart buyers sort.  

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Check to make sure eBay hasn't switched the category on you. 

I searched in All Categories. 

[it8ezbngrn]

You are the winner! It was changing the category. Well, that stinks though because I am in the right category and it's changing it to "parts & Accessories" on its own. So this very well may be my issue of why I'm not getting views. If the average joe is just typing two words into the search bar, it's choosing the category for him and I don't know why it would narrow down to parts and accessories instead of leaving it at Toys and Hobbies. 

I need to try this with my SCX10 II now. 

Thank you!!!!

[it8ezbngrn]

I apologize. I missed this and it turns out the for the HPI Blitz question/issue you are correct. Thank you. 

[it8ezbngrn]

Thank you for your help. I apologize for being rude but I sincerely felt like that person was reading right from the eBay employee handbook. Also, I am not hiding my identity. If anyone here is that scared then they need to a) stop or b) hide their identity on their seller account and PayPal account. 

I don't list my real number, I have my name misspelled, I use my address but have thought about getting a PO box. That's what you guys should do if you're that worried. Oh, you should also use an email account that you only use for eBay because you can be found off of that too if you're using it elsewhere. Say as a logon, same goes for your seller ID. I wouldn't use anything here anywhere else if you're that concerned. 

 To change your name in PP just do a simple "fixing of a misspelling" option and change it to something slightly different. 1-2 letters max and it will let you do it. 

[coolections]

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wrote:

Wow, your response is a textbook example of what an eBay representative would say. Let's look at the facts. 

Member since 2011

328 transactions (low for 7 years)

1600 posts. 91 solutions. 

Seems like you like the forum more than selling. 

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It was actually the best response, the most sensible response, the most accurate response, and the most helpful response. You should have marked it as the accepted reply. Do what you feel is best but don't blame those trying to help you. BTW, most do not search for an item using the words you have in your title, or the words you used to locate your items.

[it8ezbngrn]

It was not the corrective action. It was a regurgitation of eBays best practices they promote to be more like Amazon. Two others provided the solution.

I am in the hobby. I know what they search for. I haven't had an issue till recently. 

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

The category switch thing is one of the worst things Ebay has ever changed. I think both buyers AND sellers are losing money because of it.

Please remember to keep an open mind. The poster you accused of talking like an Ebay employee actually took the time to go to your listing and make suggestions. If they had been Ebay they would have just thrown something out there that may have been a lie just to make you go away.

Nobody is hiding here for any reason than we've all seen malicious interference from our time on the boards. Posters have had their businesses damaged for weeks on end by a determined person who didn't like what they said or that they posted to a particular thread. There is good reason many of us use posting ids. After nearly 20 years on the board you would not believe what some people will do when they're angry.