Are tags no longer being used in search?

[MoonstruckCottage]

I searched for one of my items using three words that are in the title and one word that is in tags only. My item was not there. There are only 114 results (3 pages) so I didn't miss seeing it. I checked a few times, including incognito on a different browser.

[ChillwolfArt]

@MoonstruckCottage  I've searched for certain phrases (which are in my Titles and Tags), and I will see my items (or most of them anyway). Then suddenly on another day (like today), I'll put those same search phrases in and my items are nowhere to be found (same device, desktop computer). The same applies when others do a search for my items. Now you see it, now you don't. I know we all get different search results. But people can't buy what they can't see. 

[MoonstruckCottage]

People can't buy what they can't see. Correct.

[asundrynotion]

Same here & ditto: People can't buy what they can't see + can't buy if checkout is dysfunctional, which seems to be happening too frequently. Both entirely unacceptable for any online selling venue.

[MoonstruckCottage]

Okay now this is weird. I searched for my item using three words that are in the title (vintage rag doll) plus one word from tags (fall). Etsy automatically selected the Vintage category for my search. Okay, good. My item is definitely in the Vintage category (Vintage from the 1980s). But my item is not there. But when I click on where it says Showing rag doll fall in vintage. Search instead for vintage rag doll fall in all items, my item IS there on the first page. So is something going on with the Vintage category in search? Why wouldn't my item show up in my first search?

[ChillwolfArt]

I'll do that search (vintage rag doll), and let you know what I see. I'll be back:)

[MoonstruckCottage]

@ChillwolfArt  Please put in the word fall too. Thanks!

[ChillwolfArt]

I went thru Pg. 5 (vintage rag doll), and I don't see yours...Boo Hiss.
I'll go back in and do vintage fall rag doll.

[OneEyeCatStudio]

"My item is definitely in the Vintage category (Vintage from the 1980s). But my item is not there. But when I click on where it says Showing rag doll fall in vintage. Search instead for vintage rag doll fall in all items, my item IS there on the first page."

I just replicated that. 

How very, very strange.

[MoonstruckCottage]

@OneEyeCatStudio  Yes, isn't it though? At least I know I'm not losing my mind lol. Maybe this is one of the reasons why many sellers are reporting low sales. It could be affecting vintage sellers in particular. Thanks for checking!

[BagmakerSupply]

@MoonstruckCottage:  Searching 'incognito on a different browser" does not mean that Etsy does not have a reasonable certainty that it is still you.

When the algorithm learns that you are not purchasing the items it shows you as a result of your search query it will eventually stop showing them to you.

[ChillwolfArt]

I keep getting marketing emails which show my own items. It happens frequently.

[MoonstruckCottage]

@BagmakerSupply  I never search for vintage rag dolls. I don't even know what made me decide to do it today. Had some time to kill while I was waiting for a friend to stop by.

Anyway, that doesn't address the issue of why it wouldn't show up in the Vintage category in search (it is definitely listed in Vintage from the 1980s) but DOES show up in the "all items" link.

[ChillwolfArt]

I put in vintage fall rag doll, and I don't see your items thru Pg. 4 (the results don't go higher than Pg. 4).
Another thing that's interesting, I'm seeing chopped off items in photos, and we were told about the importance of photos.

[MoonstruckCottage]

@ChillwolfArt That's what I'm getting too. What happens if you click on the link near the top that says:  Showing rag doll fall in vintage. Search instead for vintage rag doll fall in all items.

[DragoninKnots]

Something is glitchy. I just searched "fall rag doll," and it's showing one item, an ad. It flashed a page of items and then just showed the one.

ETA: I can click through to page 2 and later pages, but it still won't let me access that first page that it flashed.

[MoonstruckCottage]

Yes, something is screwy with search. Something more than usual lol.

[DragoninKnots]

I'm trying other searches and same thing - both on Firefox and MS Edge. Just one item on page one

[ChillwolfArt]

@MoonstruckCottage  "What happens if you click on the link near the top that says:  Showing rag doll fall in vintage. Search instead for vintage rag doll fall in all items." 
Yay! I found her, Page 1.

[MoonstruckCottage]

@ChillwolfArt THANK YOU! That's not how it should work. She should show up under Vintage since she is vintage and listed in vintage. How many people will click on that link or even see the link?

[ChillwolfArt]

@MoonstruckCottage  I agree. That link has tiny font, and I have a large screen on my desktop computer.

[TheVintagePineapple]

I tried several ways.  First with ''vintage rag doll fall''.  Nothing on the first 8 pages.

Removed vintage and chose ''physical'' in the filter, got 918 results.  Nothing again.

Chose NY for your location and only 8 listings showed up.  Yours was not there.

Changed the search term to include ''primitive''.  Yours was in the first spot.

How many buyers would go thru that tho??

[MoonstruckCottage]

@TheVintagePineapple Thanks for doing all that! Yes, buyers will not do all that.

[TheVintagePineapple]

@MoonstruckCottage No problem!  

Forgot to mention -- when I included primitive to the search term, I removed your shop location.  It went back to 900+(?) results and yours was first.  Not bad!

[MoonstruckCottage]

@TheVintagePineapple Thank you! Still don't know why it's not coming up in a straightforward search though. And under Vintage. No buyer is going to go through all those attempts.