Category: Uncategorized

Updates will be posted here.

The viebuy.com site is now ready.  We are waiting for eBay to increase the limits for the app.   Our prior limits were not migrated to the new eBay service, so the app has already burned thru the small default allotment they give for new apps.

The site sould start working automatically once the rate limit is completed.

BINSniper Sidebar will have to go thru Mozilla review, which should begin by 24 April.

What happened?  

eBay deactivated the old APIs (software we use to get listing data).  Unfortunately, this happened while we were out of town for an extended period, due to a death in the family.  This combined with tax season, dealing with estate issues, and a bout of the flu, delayed things quite a bit.

To make matters worse, some compatibility issues on the server came up and everything on the backend had to be worked out.  We had a performance update queued right before this all happened, so that had to be coordinated with the updates for eBay.  Things got a bit complex, and just about every piece of the system was upgraded.

Upside, we expected a bit better performance from the new system.

Thank you for your patience.

 

Changes

Due to changes in the eBay APIs, a few features are no longer supported:

• • Top rate sellers filter is no more.  Top rated listings is still available.
  • Description search is now disabled by default.  You can turn it one with a checkbox.
  • Worldwide item search is gone too.
  • Category limited searches were used by many people.  This feature is now limited to one category.  You can get around this by configuring duplicate searches for each category you want to monitor, or by selecting top level categories using the Channels dropdown in Filters.
  • The option to hide variation listings (duplicate items, same item in different colors, etc) is not available.  We will review this for workarounds.
  • If you view item details on our landing pages, the format has changed to reflect information that is no longer available.
  • Viebuy images have not been available on the search results page for some time.  eBay changed their linking format and has not responded to requests for a streamlined way to link to image thumbnails.  We will continue to monitor this.  Images remain available on the landing pages.

 

 

 

 

The normal keywords OR syntax is

case (black, blue, red)

which will find items that include black OR blue OR red in the title.

Some users have been using this OR syntax for negative/exclude keywords. (doesn’t contain black OR blue OR red):

case -(black, blue, red)

We recommend that you use this single word format for maximum forward compatibility with eBay since the group format has not always been supported:

case -black -blue -red

The two formats are functionally the same. Our system and eBay currently support both forms.

Model number search behavior appears to have been modified at eBay to support partial keywords in any position in the model number:

clevite MS981 will match these: MS981 MS-981 MS981A MS981P20
clevite 981P20 will match these: MS981P20 MS-981P-20
These are examples and are not all inclusive. Other similar numbers may match.

But it looks like matching is based on the full letter and number groupings. Partial groupings do not match:

clevite S981P20 will NOT match MS981P20 because the M in MS is not included.
clevite 81P will NOT match because the 9 is not included.

The search algortithms appear to be treating the model number MS981P20 as MS 981 P 20 which can be searched in combination in order sequence only. e.g. MS20 will NOT match.

Hyphens and dots/periods are ignored and can be skipped or included in search filters as is common in text searches.

Strings of numeric values can be matched multiple ways. Consider this listing title for automotive fuses:

Fuses Assorted 15 pcs 5A 7.5A 10A 15A 20A Pack

Any of the following search phrases would match this listing:
10A 15A 20A
A15A20
15A20A

While this has some advantages to doing wildcard style searches, it can also result in false positives.