I have two Electronics reviews which greyed-out overnight; one DVD player and one remote control.

The Google links are still there. The DVD player link indicates there were 10 reviews present; but, the link took you to the review tabs page rather than an individual review. Since that listing is now greyed-out and not showing up in site search, the Google link now takes you to a site search page with no, direct listing for the product. (Site search doesn't even have the dreaded "No Longer Available" listing pushed down in the results.)

The link was the 1st result on the 2nd page of Google results by typing in the product + the word 'review.' Now, with site search finding it and the Google link being provided an SdC-like result (search results page with no relevant listing), the ONLY way readers are going to find it is to stumble on to the links on the 10 member profile pages.

The same with the remote control link; except that was the 3rd result on the 1st page of Google links.

These are not 'media' products where people are at risk of losing 'pennies.' These are ELECTRONICS products that have 'reasonable' IS every month.

There is no link that would be sorta/kinda legitimate to move the remote control review to. There's one that starts the same, but has an additional letter and the remote in the product photo LOOKS substantively different.

There is a 'new' listing for the 'new' version of the DVD player that one could, conceivably be moved to as the 'new' version was being reviewed under the 'old' listing. (The two models are virtually identical in appearance, with an 'extra' letter in the model designation for the 'new' version; but, I have no idea what the difference is beyond about $5 in price.)

The problem is that, once again, the well-established Google link will be lost and 10 members will have to move their reviews, hoping readers will find them under the 'wrong' listing. (The local Wal-Mart still has a shelf full of the 'old' model.)

The listings were NOT greyed-out yesterday. March IS is now showing on the listing. So, it had to have happened overnight.

Is there anything that can be done to bring those listings back?

A book review I had grey-out in December was finally moved to a Sports & Outdoor listing for the same book that I finally found.

I just moved it to that listing not all that long ago; sometime around the beginning of March.

Now, that listing is also greyed out.

Moving it last month brought more hits than it had been getting since December.

I now see that I have 3 Book reviews greyed out as well.

That's 6 reviews, from 3 categories (Electronics, Sports & Outdoor Gear, Books) greyed out overnight.

The search engine had some issues the last 48 hours. It was resolved this morning.

This is the third search engine issue in the last two weeks.

Good thing the new search engine will be released very soon.

damon

epi eng

Yesterday, I added Green Eggs and Ham to my wish list so I could post a review there later in the week. (Guess who saw his niece this weekend.)

The link, which had almost 100 reviews on it to date, is now vanished completely.

Is there a fix for this coming?

Mark

The 'message boards' link is not at the bottom of the page, so I must be on the Beta Search Engine.

The DVD Player review was fixed a day or so after the original post; but, it's now greyed out... again. (The Google link is no longer working... again... taking you to a search results page with no listings for the product.) That makes 6 people (the Google link says 10 reviews, but there are only 6 at Epinions) with a greyed out Electronics review.

This time, the remote control review is still tagged to its category.

The same book review that ended up moved to Sports & Outdoor Gear after it was greyed out awhile back is now greyed out... again.

The same three Books are greyed out again from that category.

The interesting thing is that I also noticed that a review posted the other day by a newbie and one posted by a veteran on the Sports & Outdoor Gear Just-In page are also greyed-out. There is no drill down above the review and there is no image on the Just-In page.

However, when I go to the veteran's review, I can see the advisor badges on the ratings for everyone but me. (No advisors have rated the new one yet. I was going to, that's how I noticed the grey-out. There's no drill down or star rating for the newbie's review either.)

Just to put another wrinkle in it, if I go to the newbie's profile page, it shows as greyed-out on the profile page. If I go to the veteran's profile page, it doesn't show as greyed-out. (Incidently, when I return to the veteran's to see if there is a star rating, my advisor badge showed; even though I was still, theoretically, on the Beta since there was still no 'message boards' link at the bottom.)

Evidently, whatever someone thought they fixed the other day with the 'new search engine' is still having issues; once again, 'randomly' (or other) greying out reviews in at least 3 categories. Now, you also have the new 'twist' of the advisor badges, grey out/not greyed out on profile pages, etc. (Different servers with the Beta?)

Yes. I also find having to go to the member center to access a link for the message boards 'irritating.'

I have a number of book reviews that never cleared up. Several that did clear up are now gone from sight again.

Mine are back.

But... I'm no longer on the Beta. (The Message Boards link is showing at the bottom of the page.)

After posting last night, I happened to notice another member's profile page where it looked like approximately 1/4 of their reviews were greyed-out. All but two are now back.

The Google link, once again, works for the DVD Player. (The trouble is that it started the month at a 'fair' pace in terms of hits. Ever since the first grey-out, it's struggled to pick up another couple.)

I also managed to try a few searches with the 'new' search engine. I felt like I was back in the SdC Beta with a much better layout for the search results screen; though decidedly no better results than I had at SdC.

(The search results pages at SdC are horrible. 4 listings across, 10 down on a single page. Drill downs are almost useless and you have to pan the cursor across every result to get a sense for which are reviewable listings. At least it seems that Epinions is going to stick with the straight up/down list and it's relatively easy to determine which are reviewable and which aren't.)

Several times, when trying to search from within a specific category rather than "all categories" - "We're sorry, there's been a problem. Please try again later."

I picked one product that I was actually hoping to find a listing for. All categories = 35 pages. I dutifully went through ALL 35 pages and found not a single listing. I then tried drilling down from the left and got about 3 pages of results, many of which I had NOT seen in the 35 pages.

I tried searching for a couple of other products and ended up with a system that knew enough about the specific product to offer me several, legitimate alternative search strings (despite my not having entered the product type, just the product name, it gave me alternatives with the specific type of product - i.e., the system 'knew' what is was supposed to be); but, it couldn't find ANY listings for the product.

The trouble is that on the one product, I can find the Express Review by coming in through Google. On the other, it's one of four new offerings in that brand which became available last month and, in certain circles, is an actual 'hot item' in the sense that the brand loyalists have been waiting for it since it was 'announced' almost two years ago. (The final form is now available, but we got no listings for it and with SAP about to be put on hiatus for an indeterminate period of time, that could prove problematic.)

In short, my experience with the 'Beta' search engine seems to put it in something of a "Twilight Zone" where reviews are being greyed-out; impacting individuals minimally or extensively depending on the individual's 'catalog,' but cutting across categories. The search results layout is better than SdC in terms of being more 'readable.' But, the actual results seem to be, well, we screamed enough about it during the SdC Beta and given that it seems to be more than a little 'weak' on finding existing reviews (one was from right around Black Tuesday and in the 'old catalog,' but others should have been there)...

Let's just say that I don't think it's ready for prime time yet.

I'm evidently back on the 'Beta' - no Message Boards link at the bottom of the page.

Same reviews (mine and others) greyed out.

Images not loading this time.

Some pages only partially loading this time.

Frustrating, to say the least.

I'm on beta now, and I'm finally seeing what everyone else is seeing. Yes, definitely aggravating. (Not that I was doubting anyone, just adding my "Me, too.")

Mark

There's a bug in the release that will be fixed tomorrow that is causing the recent slew of orphan reviews.

The bug is completely unrelated to the new search engine.

damon

epi eng

Thank you for the update as well, as I had issues with a review earlier.(Cars). Still do, can't delete a paragraph through an update. Oh well, at least eventually :). Thanks Damon,

Mike

Make me another one. I was wondering why everything was under Computers & Software...

Most beer and spirits reviews are greyed out, too--and I can't see comments left.

I have been traveling and not able to track this issue. I see this morning that I am in the same boat. I have several electronics reviews that are greyed out.

John