"Help!   I listed my widget 5 hours ago and I can't find it in searches.   Where is it??"

All auctions need to be indexed.   Indexing is based mainly on listing category, title keywords, and description keywords.   Depending on what's contained within your listing, it can index very quickly or it can take several hours --as much as 12 hours.   Part of the indexing process also involves scanning the content for inappropriate words, banned items, misuse of brand names, etc.

Use of high-end name brands, celebrities, or sought-after electronics will cause longer delays.   A listing for "used toolbox, with tray, good condition" will index almost immediately.   A Sears Craftsman rollaround tool box with iPod sockets, autographed by Michael Jordan, with an extra Guicci bag for your IMAC notebook will take much much longer to process.

If you have a bunch of clothing with different brand names specified, that's going to take a long time to index.

One-day and three-day sales are subject to VERY tight scrutiny as that format is often used by scammers.

Computers, iPods, cell phones, and other electronics are subject to VERY VERY close scrutiny.

Buy-It-Now listings will take longer to index than auctions.

Sellers with low feedback or low DSR ratings will often have slower indexing

Use of non-alphanumeric characters (such as *, #, $, ^, !, /, -, +, @) in your title or description can cause problems.   "Large widget +extras" won't index well because there's no such word as "+extras".   Changing it to "Large widget + extras" will make a world of difference in indexing because there's a space between the character and the words.   Even better would be "Large widget plus extras".

Using words like "L@@K" or "$ave big buck$" is also not the best idea, either.   Catchy titles may appear to be "cute" but they're wasted when someone does a search.   The buyer has to FIND your listing before they can see the title.   Face it, when was the last time you did a search for "L@@K!" in the title?   Remember that most searches are for keywords in the title.   You have so few characters available, use them wisely.

Remember, also, that if you revise, it goes right back to the end of the line for re-indexing.   If you revise the listing, you have changed the ORIGINAL submission and it's a "new" listing as far as indexing is concerned.

If you want to eliminate the indexing time, schedule your listing and do not revise it during the last 24 hours prior to the release.   According to ebugs, scheduled listings are indexed while in the waiting period and will display in searches immediately after its release.

One more thing to consider:   spelling and typos.   It your listing contains a banned word, it will NEVER index.   Drop the "r" in "shirt" and see what happens.   NOTHING will happen, it won't pass the bots.   So check your spelling!