cancel
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

why am i not first in best match search?

ok i am trying to understand ebay search. maybe this is fruitless, but i am trying to learn. i did a search for  Dansco 7161. I have one for sale. there are 27 listed. mine listing comes in #6. i dont understand why i am not first. i am a trs, 1 day handling, free shipping, 30 day returns, 100% feedback, and the lowest price by far. i made the price lowest to test the search. I want to understand why my sales are very low. right now i only have that 1 listing but in the past i have had up to 1500+ listings at once but very low sales.

anyone have a clue?

Message 1 of 38
latest reply
1 BEST ANSWER

Accepted Solutions

why am i not first in best match search?

Afternoon,

Yes I have an idea.

Ebay's search engines DO NOT work by logic...they are full of favoritism...many of us no longer are ebays "favorites"

The system is no longer based on the merits of the seller but rather the merits of what the programmers THINK everybody REALLY wants.

Mr C

View Best Answer in original post

Message 2 of 38
latest reply
37 REPLIES 37

why am i not first in best match search?

Afternoon,

Yes I have an idea.

Ebay's search engines DO NOT work by logic...they are full of favoritism...many of us no longer are ebays "favorites"

The system is no longer based on the merits of the seller but rather the merits of what the programmers THINK everybody REALLY wants.

Mr C
Message 2 of 38
latest reply

why am i not first in best match search?

I never understood best match or why a buyer would even use it?

 

Best match for whom - certainly not the buyer at least not that I have ever seen.

Message 3 of 38
latest reply

why am i not first in best match search?

thanks mr c seems you have a very logical answer. I dont know my "favorite" rating but i think it is very low.
Message 4 of 38
latest reply

why am i not first in best match search?

"ok i am trying to understand ebay search"

 

This is like discovering the fountain of youth.  Old-timers, dating back to the Alien-like spawning of Cassini, have given up trying to understand this.

 

If, IF, there was a pat on the back to hand out, it would be for Cassini!  Something so utterly nonsensical (?) and easily manipulated.  Pure, diabolical, genius.

Message 5 of 38
latest reply

why am i not first in best match search?

That's a FANTASTIC question I would love to see answered by someone who works at eBay!

 

Yours is cheaper, 30 day returns and you;re top rated.

 

No reason your item shouldn't be 1st on the list. . .Well, unless someone is paying to be promoted.

Message 6 of 38
latest reply

why am i not first in best match search?

FWIW, in my expereince the lowest priced item is almost never the top "Best Match" result.

 

All things other being equal, the search programming appears to assume a price first buyer will sort by that option and instead uses the "Best Match" to present an item in line with the trending price - avg sale price.  Greater revenue for the site from the higher sale price too. 

Message 7 of 38
latest reply

why am i not first in best match search?

It shows conflicting info.
14 day return
30 day return
Buyers pay return shipping
You charge sales tax

Which is it?

Everyone has options. Just be sure the best option is right for you.
Message 8 of 38
latest reply

why am i not first in best match search?

None of us actually have the inside track in HOW Cassini ranks listings on the page.  It looks to me like those other sellers are all pretty good, and certainly a few of them are HUGE sellers for eBay with thousands and thousands and thousands of positive feedbacks.  Who would you suggest eBay kick down below you in the search?

 

But the real thing is that using different search words, in different orders, produces different search results and placements.  So different placement depending on what the searching buyer types in: 

(1)  Dansco 7161

(2)  Dansco 7161 Album

(3)  Dansco Coin Album 7161     ... etc.

 

So when we search for our own listings we strongly tend to use search words that have also strongly influenced our choice of listing title words.  That usually shows our listings high-ish on a page.

 

But for all the buyers out there that search using words we may not have included in our titles, our listings may be wayyyyyyyyy down on the page!  When I search for Dansco Coin Album 7161, your listing doesn't get seen until I've scrolled down to the THIRTY-FIFTH listing shown on the page!

 

Title words DO matter, but the hard part is trying to foresee which words the majority of buyers might use when they're shopping here.  Depending on the search words they use played against the title words we've used in our listing, we may show up top or be relegated to the end of the page.

Message 9 of 38
latest reply

why am i not first in best match search?

For one thing the #1 listing with that search has 36 previous sales, it's going to take some time to knock them off the top.

 

How is your Views/Impression ratio? That is one of the key metrics for Best Match ranking.

 

FYI - I did that search 10 minutes ago and you were #4, I just ran the search again and you are now #7, all the people who are searching "Dansco 7161" and NOT clicking on your listing are hurting your Views/Impressions Ratio especially as in my case I actually clicked through to the #1 listing which improved their Views/Impressions ration and hurt yours.

 

You also need to understand that Best Match is partially dependent on the who is doing the searching, it might show as #4 to me and #6 to somebody else.

 

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
Message 10 of 38
latest reply

why am i not first in best match search?


@thenobletuckylife wrote:
Afternoon,

Yes I have an idea.

Ebay's search engines DO NOT work by logic...they are full of favoritism...many of us no longer are ebays "favorites"

The system is no longer based on the merits of the seller but rather the merits of what the programmers THINK everybody REALLY wants.

Mr C

This is completely fake news. 

 

It actually is much more based on the sellers performance as well as a few other very important factors and a few less important ones.

 

Try this link for more info   -   How the eBay search engine works    I hope that helps a bit.  There is a lot more to learn than this link can provide but it has very good info in it.

 

 

Good Luck Selling!

Message 11 of 38
latest reply

why am i not first in best match search?

"What are your click-through and sell-through ratios"

my guess is this plays a factor in the search. The more people that click on your item and the less sales the less likely you will have a good placement.
Message 12 of 38
latest reply

why am i not first in best match search?

Not sure what the difference is between 1 & 6 position matters.........being on the first page is the important thing....  Plus, from a logical standpoint Ebay isn't going to let an item that doesn't sell dominate the first position/s for any length of time, if other like items are selling.... IF buyers are passing that listing by to buy the same thing, so would seem something in that listing is putting them off............

 

But placement in search doesn't guarantee sales........and in your case, I think your price is so much lower than other sellers, buyers are leery of "too good" a deal, plus you have virtually no description and too dark pictures of the item......  The other sellers have extensive, professional looking listings, good pictures, and some have repeated sales on the listing......those things give buyers confidence. 

 

The item has been up less than 2 days, and I don't know how fast these normally sell........so I wouldn't give up the ship yet....  but if it doesn't sell........  I would work on description and pictures a bit......

 

just my thoughts. 

 

 

Message 13 of 38
latest reply

why am i not first in best match search?

If you want to be #1 in best match end the listing and hit sell similar put it in 7 day auction format same price same terms and fish for one bid one kill...

Message 14 of 38
latest reply

why am i not first in best match search?

Item generates a sale once every 7.5 days so active supply far exceeds demand and hopeing to make a sale is like looking for a needle in a haystack....

Message 15 of 38
latest reply