I found this problem about a month ago, but then forgot about it. Now I tracked it well. I am searching by keyword, with New sorting. I am searching for my own pictures, because I know the dates of approval.
On page 3 I see image 2114674** approved on August, 18.
On page 4 I see image 2121668** approved on August, 22. How did it get there? It must be on first page! It's only about 9 hours after approval. And it's 500000 times younger. How can my new images sells better, when they're under older ones?
On page 12 I see image 2114833** approved on August, 18. Why not, right?
Another keyword, another pictures. I just picked up random images and their page numbers. They're not only mine now.
Page 1 - 2122187**
Page 2 - 2121170**
Page 7 - 2118580**
Somewhere here must be my image 2118098** (August, 20). But it's not. It was here, when I thumbed through catalogue for the fist time. But now it's gone.
Page 9 - 2117566**
Page 14 - 2114454**
On page 20 I see my image 2121668** and almost all my batch approved on August, 22. A also see it on page 22
. Where it must be? On 2 or 1, I think.
Conclusion: New images can be messed up and mixed in sorting for a few days, until they loose their freshness.
Similar experience, anyone?
PS: Post was written on SS forum two days ago. I checked searches from above again - images are in the same order, just gone deeper.