Category Refining in MP Search Not Working?

[Caprice]

I'm not certain if this is a 'thing' - but I'll let @Scott decide if it is and belongs in this forum.  (I didn't have much coffee today, so jump in if I'm mistaken)

There are signs with the tags "beach starfish ocean" - for example this person's product: Aqua-teal blue starfish-coral-custom wooden box sign | Zazzle  When you put "beach starfish ocean" in the Z MP search box, it brings up 23,111 products.  If you go down to "Refine by Category" , "plaques and signs" do not appear under HOME & LIVING - which is where those products 'live' in the MP.  ????????

[BKMuir]

Caprice - as your search revealed, the HOME & LIVING category does not show under the refinement.

Add "Signs" to the search and the hits are revised to 631 where the refinement shows HOME & LIVING with several sub categories for signs. ???

[Caprice]

Actually  - for me, HOME AND LIVING does show - but plaques and signs do not show beneath it.

[ColsCreations · Accepted solution]

You have to drill down farther in the Category filter:

[beach starfish ocean] in search = 23,112 results

refine by category

First click: Category filter: Home & Living --> Home Decor --> 2,203 results
 - your example product is on page 2 and is also the image icon for a suggested search filter term

Second click: Category filter:  Home Decor --> Frames & Displays -->
your example listing is #1 of 110 results -->

Third Click: Category filter: Frames & Displays --> Plaques & Signs -->
your example listing is #1 of 65 results -->

Fourth Click: Material filter: Wood
#1 of 38 results

I've always thought this was a problem with the Category filter, that it doesn't show you the next branches in the tree until you get there so there's a lot of guessing as to what to choose and back-tracking. It took me a long time to realize that after narrowing down by Cat filter you can click the Cat filter AGAIN to see sub cats and keep going that way until there's no more subs listed. I don't think it's very intuitive and wonder how many new customers think to go up and click it again to reveal more sub choices.

[Caprice]

Ooohhhhh.  I see.  I thought the choices under HOME & LIVING would list them all.  It didn't immediately occur to me that the subset would have subsets.  Well done!

As for how it plays with a customer looking for plaques and trying to find them....I dunno.

[LMGildersleeve]

@CapriceScott has asked us not to tag him or other mods in the forums unless it is an emergency.

Just passing this along.

[Caprice]

Yes- I saw after posting this thread.  Thx.