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There are recent complaints at WebmasterWorld that Google Shopping / Product Search in the UK is showing way too many U.S. based stores.
One Google Merchant said:
I'm seeing this more and more recently. If I do a search for something (I'm based in the UK and using google.co.uk searching 'the web' rather than just UK results), I used to see primarily UK-based results - especially if the search was product/shopping based.Now I'm seeing lots of US sites in the results, and as a user it's very frustrating.
From a webmaster's point of view it's also highly frustrating. The question is if this is a temporary situation or if Google has truly lost the plot in terms of some of the results it's showing.
Many other webmasters confirmed seeing the same issue. I personally cannot replicate the issue, but maybe that is because either it is fixed or I am searching on the wrong words?
Do you find this to be an issue?
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
Comments:
David Amerland
09/28/2011 12:52 pm
The Google Index is undergoing an update as the data from the Google+ network is being integrated. There are two underlying issues here. Google is building greater contextual search and it is currently sensitizing its algorithm for (ironically enough) localisation and relevancy. While this is going on the index behaves funny with results appearing all over the place. I saw the same issue a week or so back with wild fluctuations which are usually an indication of work and updating being carried out. It should start to settled down as we heads towards the all-important Christmas trade period.
JHSCarpets
09/28/2011 01:53 pm
Certainly seen this in standard Google results. Can't think of what I was looking for this morning but the top results were all US based and I had to use the 'Pages from the UK' filter.
Andy Francos
09/29/2011 11:10 am
Check the following query showing AU results when searching from a London IP: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&source=hp&biw=1276&bih=702&q=southbank+restaurants&oq=southbank+res&aq=0&aqi=g6g-s1g3&aql=1&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=51l2621l0l3099l15l12l1l0l0l0l480l1690l6.3.1.0.1l11l0 Its been like this since the big shake up in June 2009 - but Google just ignored it.
seoxpertsuk
09/30/2011 10:17 am
So do I. What is particularly frustrating is that you have the option British before completing the initial search instead of selecting before you look. search engine optimization services
Amazer98
05/03/2012 06:04 pm
Ironic-- I am in the US and Googled for bicycle lights. All the top responses were UK sites! Google has its head up its arse!
alan jones
04/22/2013 08:17 pm
Just renewed Chrome and still I cannot do shopping in the UK. All sites are USA and in dollars. The best thing about old Google was the very helpful shopping side. I used it to get many many items. As a Geri I find Google Chrome not age friendly. Just tried to shop for a Nokia, all items were stateside.
al_yeah
06/01/2014 11:26 pm
Fucking google twats. I'm in the UK, use Google.co.uk and I'm looking to buy something. I don't want to drive to Califuckingfornia to buy it. Clowns. It seems google is defaulting to american stores.