New search is installed! Plus, PIF and new categories/tags
Hi all,
Just wanted to let you know that the new search function has been installed on the site: here. As you’ll see, you can now sort search results by price, stocking time, ending time, or alphabetically by store name. In addition, searches can now be filtered by stocktype. Finally, there is now a store-level search that allows shoppers to see which stores carry the item they are searching for, and allow them to expand a store’s listings dynamically. Give it a try and see what you think 
A few notes on the listings that show up in the search table:
- only stores with paid dates within the past two months are searchable
- only listings with end times within the past two months are searchable (also HC Multi items with undefined end times)
- for HCS stores, only items with preview set to 1 or stocktimes in the past are searchable (in other words, items you’ve set for future stocking, but don’t want previewed won’t show up)
- for HCM stores, only items with “Show” checked will be searchable.
If you have any items that should be showing up in search but aren’t, please drop us a line at support@hyenacart.com and we’ll take a look at it.
In other news, Prudence at Cuddlebug Cloth brought the Pay it Forward movement to my attention. She outlines the idea on her listing here. I think it’s a wonderful idea and would love to see more PIF listings on HC. And remember, we have three-letter search now, so shoppers will be searching on “PIF” Let’s spread that good karma around!
Finally, I’d like to update the HC categories (i.e., the ones listed on the main page). Please comment here with suggestions. If we have enough stores to fill out a category, we’ll add it in. Also, if you have suggestions for more tag words to include on the search page, please post those as well.
Thanks everyone!
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:17 pm
I love the new searches and i’ll definitely be adding some PIF as soon as i am over summer-time craziness around here. Thank you!
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:55 pm
I would love to have a category that better suited my HC. I mainly offer interlock wool items and while I am currently under the cloth diaper category, it would be nice to either be under a wool diaper cover category or something like that. I don’t exactly fall under the clothing category nor the knitted items so the diaper category is the only possibility. LMK if I can make any of that more clear. Thanks!
June 22nd, 2009 at 11:49 pm
I love the new search, it’s amazing, thank you! Also, I would still love to be listed under more than one category. I really think that would broaden my base of customers as I offer mama items such as nursing covers, but children accessories as well. I think that would put this all over the top for me.
I’m so pleased with all of the improvements you’ve been doing around here. Your hard work is really showing!!!!
Thank you!!
June 22nd, 2009 at 11:51 pm
I’m very happy with everything. Keep up the great work.
June 23rd, 2009 at 12:29 am
I love the new search options! It took me a few tries to get used to them, but I am really liking it now.
I am currently listed in the “Little of Everything” Category. I sell recycled wool diaper covers and other recycled wool accessories. I also sell Mei Tais. I am not sure what category the other recycled and interlock wool makers use. I don’t fit in the diapers or knit categories. I would need a different category. Are there enough recycled wooly makers yet to have our own category? I also think it would be great to be able to select more than one category for a store. For example, a store like BabyGO! sells Mei Tais, but also sells great bags for mom, bibs for baby, running skirts for mom. So that shop could show up when a shopper selects categories Carriers, Mama Items, Clothing, or Accessories. It would help stores to have more hits, help shoppers by not excluding stores which could have the item they want, and it would cut down on the number of stores lumped into the “little of everything” category.
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:13 am
I’d like to make a suggestion that we change the wording of the “mama items” category; I’ve never liked the idea of sounding like we’re selling things that are only for moms. It’s women’s stuff, whether they want to ever have babies, or if they can’t have babies.
Every time I see the phrase, or a reference to mama cloth (which I sell) I always think of someone I know of who has tried very hard to have children but has had many heartbreaking setbacks. I don’t want her to look at something like this and feel hurt or excluded. And, well, they are still full-on women whether they have babies or not, and most of this stuff is for them just as much as anyone else.
Thanks for considering this, and thanks for all you do!
June 24th, 2009 at 3:23 am
love the PIF idea! Also, new search is awesome. I second what Denise said about women’s items.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Hooray for the new search!
What is an undefined end time for HCM? Right now I just pick a random date a couple years ahead.
When you try to remember a store name and type it straight into your browser window, eg. http://hyenacart.com/tryingtoremember a generic HC page not found comes up. It would be great if it could point straight to a search page!
June 28th, 2009 at 9:28 am
One small additional comment- I have seen a number of HC customers state they couldn’t FIND the feedback anymore. And in stores that have chosen to have a link to their own, hand-picked & never negative feedback (& why do that unless you’re worried about real feedback) people think the made-up feedback is the REAL HC feedback. Several times on other forums, I’ve seen people mention how all they can find now is that weird cut & paste feedback, & they question whether HC has feedback anymore. A completely new customer wouldn’t even know to wonder where it went.
I think that’s a problem, TBH- I DO love the storetop menus. I just think they’re overly unobtrusive to the point of sometimes making shopping more difficult for people instead of facilitating it.