Can someone please tell me why i create links with the standard joomla/virtuemart format fyi:
"MYSITE/our-products?page=shop.browse&category_id=83" I can go thru and change hundreds of links manually all over my site but I feel there should be a quick fix for this.

When i disable joomsef these type of urls work fine as they should, but when I enable the component... all of these types of urls redirect to my main "our products" page.

I have purchased and installed the virtuemart component.

Truth be told, im really not familiar with this component at all, i was not the person who set it up but now i have to get working correctly. I actually had it disabled for a long time because I didnt know how to fix it.

Im sure its a simple answer but I just need some help please. Its greatly appreciated.

In menu and HTML source you should always use the original link format
"index.php?option=..."

The appropriate Joomla SEO handler (either built-in Joomla router, or JoomSEF) will then convert the links into the correct format.

You should never use the SEO format or semi-SEO format, such as the example you gave: "MYSITE/our-products?page=shop.browse&category_id=83" as then it cannot be processed automatically e.g. if your settings or preferences change.

I guess in your case, you are mixing functionality of built-in Joomla SEO router with JoomSEF.

If you are using VirtueMart, you should simply
1) install JoomSEF
2) install VirtueMart SEF extension for JoomSEF
3) keep all links in menus or articles as "index.php?..."
and then everything should be working just fine.

Does that require that I go through all my links and change them manually or is there some setting in the virtuemart add on that I can change?

Hi, if you have created them manually, then you also need to fix them manually.