A zero-result scan usually means Tactical Arbitrage completed the search, but the products were filtered out or skipped.
Before assuming the search is broken, start with the settings that are most likely to hide results. The goal is to run one wider test scan first, then narrow the search again once you confirm TA can return products from that source.
Start by widening the search
Strict filters are one of the most common reasons a completed scan shows no usable results. For a test scan, temporarily:
Lower your minimum ROI
Lower your minimum profit
Remove strict sales rank limits
Turn off exclusion filters
Run the scan again. If results appear, add your filters back under the Results page one at a time until you find the setting that removed everything.
💡 Beginner tip: Avoid over-filtering, as it is better to start with wider settings, review the results, then add filters slowly post scan. If you begin with strict ROI, profit, rank, and exclusion filters all at once, TA may remove every product before you get a chance to review them.
Check cache vs live search
In TA Classic, you can choose between Live Search and Cache Search.
A Live Search checks current product information from source websites, but it can take longer. A Cache Search checks saved scan data from TA’s cache, so it is faster, but the data may be older or incomplete.
If your scan returns zero results, check whether the search used cache data only. Try switching to Live Only, shortening the cache period, or turning off Cache Only Search where that option is available.
📝 Note: Live Only searches can take longer than cache searches, especially for large categories or source sites with many products. We recommend starting with a smaller category first.
In TA Lite, the search flow is more guided and may not show the same cache controls as TA Classic. If you are using TA Lite and keep seeing zero results, try running a smaller test scan, check your filters, and review the scan details in search History.
Use a cleaner source URL
If you are using a Category URL search in Product Finder/Search, avoid copying a URL after filtering, sorting, or searching on the source website. Instead:
Go back to the supplier or retailer site.
Open the main category or subcategory from the site navigation.
Copy that cleaner category URL.
Run a small test scan.
📝 Note: If the page requires a login, location selection, or session-specific pricing, TA may not see the same page you see in your browser.
Test your Amazon connection
If you just started, go to Settings > Amazon Authorization, select the correct region, and use Test The Connection.
If the connection is not correct, reconnect your Amazon account and run a small test scan before restarting a large scan.
Review the scan details
Open the scan in the search History and check the available details, such as Watch Logs or Filter Analysis.
These can help you see whether products were skipped because of:
Filters
Duplicate settings
Missing product data
Match issues
Source data issues
Still seeing zero results?
Try a smaller category or a different source URL. If the issue continues, contact support with your scan details and scan logs.