posted on April 10, 2001 11:43:53 AM
Half my three dozen or so saved searches are description searches. I don't search every single one every day, but I check often enough that I see the 5-10 day auctions with a few days left -- supposedly. More and more, I'm first seeing many auctions with only a day or hours left (and yes, I check what the overall range was meant to be). Now I realize maybe I should check every day, and that's my problem, but the combination of my going a couple days between each check and eBay going a day or two before finally indexing something means I'm often left with insufficient time to decide (in which case I always default to not bidding, as opposed to making a hasty decision).
One of several reasons my buying is down, I'd guess. Plus, some of my description searches are older, and eBay stopped supporting the program/URL on their site that these search links were based on, as of two weeks ago, so now I have to redo those searches, when I get the chance.
----
What's being done in the name of direct marketing nowadays is crazy.
The above are all just my opinions, except where I cite facts as such.
Oh, I am not dc9a320 anywhere except AW. Any others are not me.
Is eBay is changing from a world bazaar into a bizarre world?
posted on April 10, 2001 12:30:18 PM
I listed a batch of auctions Sunday night and yet today only about half are showing up in description search.
I have done NO revisions to them.
This is frustrating, no wonder I can't get any bids on my $1.00 No Reserve auctions
posted on April 10, 2001 12:44:21 PM
What really ticks me off, is I never checked description search...just title. I always get into title search quickly, because I list early afternoon eBay time.
Still... I use a personal gallery with my email address...which is within my description. So if my personal gallery shows up, then description search must have found my items...right? Arghh.
I will note that my personal gallery usually doesn't show up until the next day.
posted on April 10, 2001 12:57:37 PM
Yes, that use to really tick me off when my picture gallery would'nt show up for over 24hrs later. I also used my e-mail address for my search word. I finally changed all that, I now put my key word in my title and the pictures show up in gallery as soon as the auctions are indexed.
I decided to do that when about a month ago about only half my stuff was showing up in gallery at any given time.
I just wish for once we could get what we pay for.
Yeah, I remember talking about that. How many letters or numbers did you end up using...or was it a combo? If you recall, my only reservation at the time was taking up space in the title...
posted on April 10, 2001 01:46:08 PM
Hi Toke,
I use a combination of 3 letters. Thing of it is I ended up changing my user ID so the letters would make sense. I did a search on the 3 letters for about a week first to make sure nothing else would show up. I like it...I've learn to adjust to the lost space in the title it is well worth it.
Its to bad we have to do it this way because eBay can't get their act together.
posted on April 10, 2001 01:52:11 PM
Thanks, packer...glad it's working so well for you... I'll give it some more thought. I'm doomed anyway, if eBay decides to disallow email links in our auctions...which I figure they will.
posted on April 10, 2001 02:14:34 PM
The sickening thing is that it's not just us whose auctions are suffering on account of the description index snafu -- it's potentially everyone. Yet only some of us know about it because apparently many, like toke, don't check whether their descriptions are coming up in search. They take it for granted (as well they should be able to).
Maybe some people don't think description searches matter much. I know eBay likes to downplay the importance of description search, but I am certain that most of my bids are the result of description searches. In fact, I've always been able to tell without checking whether or not my item description has been indexed yet because on the day it is, bidding generally takes off.
Here's just one story that illustrates the importance of the description search feature: Last year I sold an old post card for $67, not because of the subject matter but because of the publisher. The buyer zeroed in on my card because they did a description/title search using the publisher's name (which I listed in the description). Apparently they are trying to acquire all cards ever published by the firm.
That's just one story. I hear stuff like that all the time from my bidders. That's why it kills me to know that the damn feature isn't working well anymore.
And I think eBay is gilding the lily when it comes to telling the truth about the severity of the problem. 24 hours behind? Like hell. It's days behind, and they know it.
posted on April 10, 2001 02:42:08 PM
Toke,
Yah, my old ID was my e-mail address so I figured I might just as well change it now before I'm forced to. When that happens there will be a big frenzy with people trying to think up a new ID. Since the one I'm using wasn't taken I thought I'd better get it before someone else thought of it.
spaz,
Description search is very important, I wish they had description search on ended items as well.
I do most all my searches with Title & Description. Crips, look at all the good deals were probably missing out on.
All of my bookmarks for my personal collecting are title/description searches too.
I'm really surprised that this thread isn't taking off through the roof with people expressing anger and frustration. Description search is critical for both buying and selling.
Does anyone know if there are discussions on the eBay boards about this problem?
posted on April 10, 2001 02:57:30 PM
I feel so foolish for not knowing this. OTOH...now I will have constant aggravation. Description search is mightily important for antiques...
My auctions have been in search within 18 hours since this thread started and I have been paying attention to them.
One was missed. The info eBay gave me on this last time it happened was to revise the auction. I did that and the one that was missed was indexed within 18 hours.
posted on April 10, 2001 04:47:27 PM
And to think of that big ebay daylight savings time screw-up, when ebay was so concerned about adding and hour to give everyone 7 days x 24 hours of exposure.
posted on April 10, 2001 11:30:09 PM
Yah, well...I think eBay wants to get that extra dime out of everybody for the 10 day auctions so you will end up with 7 days of exposure.
You can bet there is a method to their madness!
posted on April 11, 2001 08:18:41 AM
To add some more numbers as a buyer, half my searches are description searches, and I think probably at least that many of the items I bid on and buy are on the basis of things mentioned in the description but not the title. Cut my chance to see the item in the first place, and it lowers my chance of bidding (I am not a last minute bidder, I like to have at least some time to decide).
This has been getting very annoying as a bidder. Why isn't eBay fixing this? I hope it is NOT favoritism over Gallery or other premium placement services. "Premium" means (or should mean, IMO) adding something that's better than the basic essential service that already exists, not letting what exists get worse, at least IMO. Having reasonably up-to-date search indices (within 1-4 hours at most for something like auctions that last only 3-10 days) would be, IMO, a basic, essential service, not a premium.
[ edited by dc9a320 on Apr 11, 2001 08:19 AM ]
posted on April 11, 2001 12:30:00 PMpacker The shame is for some auctions you have no choice but to list them for 10 days due to the nature of the auction item. But, ebay knowing that implements the 10 day fee, despite their changes to the site which causes downtime at the sellers/buyers expense. We lose they win. Nothing like rewarding someone for a lousy job done.
I wouldn't pay a plumber for doing a lousy job but yet we're usually forced to pay ebay for these auctions that are affected by downtimes or function problems within their system. Ought to be a law.
posted on April 11, 2001 04:04:38 PM
I haven't been reading this board that much lately and not seen this post. I just did a quick search of some of my items that were posted 22 hours ago and half of them are still not showing in search - they are in my seller's list though.
I am absolutely ticked about this. Apparently, it has been a problem for some time now - which might explain the drop in sales for me lately.
I have emailed Ebay, but I'm sure I will receive the typical impersonal Ebay form letter in response.
I have never listed on other sites, but am certainly considering it. I realize that Ebay pretty much blows the other sites out of the water as far as exposure and the number of potential buyers. But, if half of my items aren't even going to be found when a potential buyer does a search, what is the freakin' point!!!!!!???????
Is there a solution to auctions not showing up in searches? A reason they don't? A time frame on when this problem will be solved? How about a phone number where I can reach someone at Ebay?
**I had to vent about this! OK, I feel better now!**
posted on April 12, 2001 12:48:22 PM
Here's no big surprise:
------------------------------------------
User: [email protected]
Date: 04/11/2001
Time: 19:42:25 PDT
*** Description Search Delay ***
Indexing for certain items in Description Search is still behind. While we had anticipated an earlier resolution to this issue, Description Search is now expected to be back to its normal 10-14 hour indexing cycle by early morning on Thursday, 04/12/2001. We continue to work to correct this situation and will keep you updated as to the status.
Title Search continues to index during regular 2-3 hour intervals and is not affected by the issue impacting Description Search.
But you know what is affected by the issue impacting Description Searches? OUR SALES! This problem has been ongoing for a week or more. What does it take to fix this? What are they doing out there? Consulting with Stephen Hawking to see if the root of the problem might be related to a black hole?
Gotta love their "oh well, at least you still have title search" attitude towards this problem.
posted on April 12, 2001 07:21:10 PM
I wonder if "normal" 10 to 14 hours behind for indexing is an average for a seven day period ? Seems to me that 10 to 14 hours might be the number for perhaps Tuesday, Wednesday, and some Thursday listings, but not for mid day Thursday through Monday after the scheduled down time on Friday mornings. I wonder what the actual "behind time" is between coming back up after maintenance on Friday and getting back to "normal 10 to 14 hours behind" ? What I would like to see eBay give us is a day by day chart that would read something like:
If you list an item on Sunday between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM the average indexing time is 24 to 30 hours.
If you list an item on Sunday between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM the average indexing time is 22 to 27 hours, and so on.
A 7 day chart with all of the scheduled indexing runs and the averages. eBay must keep a statistical profile of indexing for both Title Search and Description Search, but I am sure we will never see it.
I have reached the conclusion that there is no "good" time to list on eBay. There is only time, and no matter when you list you it is a gamble.
I'll give it some more thought. I'm doomed anyway, if eBay decides to disallow email links in our auctions...which I figure they will.