Greg, can you explain what your issue was? I think I'm having a similar issue. One of my users cannot find certain items when searching via REF#. I can search just fine.
I don't think it's an Access/Sharing problem. I can send a direct link of the object to her, and she can see the object. Is there a different setting between View and Searching?
I don't think it's a local issue to her computer. I logged in as her (in both Chrome and IE), and my searches were unsuccessful (when I could search fine under my profile).
It might be a timing/cache issue, but she's able to search by REF# for items submitted immediately before and after the problem object (Although, a few hours later, everybody was able to search for it, so I can't duplicate the error now)
Vincent Goodwin The Capital Group Companies