Search nightmare

[pulseofthedead]

So.. I rarely buy new but I really needed a new jewellers loupe and was recommended by a local jeweller than 10 x was a good magnification.

So I typed in jewellers loupe 10 which should have whittled down to a few and UK only to whittle down to a few more but alas it did not. It gave me many listings with jewelers.Which I then realised that although the item said uk stock, they were not in fact uk sellers and basically even though they had a gb VAT no, hardly any had seller details and the ones that did had a Chinese address. 
Then there were a few actual uk sellers but were “private” sellers of all new items so bypassed them.

So why when I typed in my initial search of “jewellers” did it give me jewelers or even jewelry.

i did eventually find after clicking on many listings, there were  only a few uk sellers with uk  seller details and bought said item…knowing that if there was a problem it could be dealt with easily…

No wonder people get fed up with search…

[4_bathrooms]

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@pulseofthedead wrote:

So I typed in jewellers loupe 10 which should have whittled down to a few and UK only to whittle down to a few more but alas it did not. It gave me many listings with jewelers.Which I then realised that although the item said uk stock, they were not in fact uk sellers and basically even though they had a gb VAT no, hardly any had seller details and the ones that did had a Chinese address. 

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The "Item location" search filter does exactly what it says - it restricts search results to items located in the UK. It does not filter out non-domestic sellers with UK stock who will always be displaying a VAT number due to HMRC's Fulfilment House Due Diligence Scheme.

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@pulseofthedead wrote:

Then there were a few actual uk sellers but were “private” sellers of all new items so bypassed them.

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There is another search filter that allows you to filter results so only results from private or business sellers are shown. 

That said eBay's search results are often wide of the mark. The "best match" Cassini results are usually anything but unless you know how to use the search filters. They even managed to screw up sorting by price when they introduced the BPF as the BPF isn't taken into account when listings from private sellers appear in the results being sorted. If I'm looking for something specific I often have more luck searching eBay via Google.

[pulseofthedead]

Thankyou. I thought though that all businesses on here had to display details, not just a VAT no.

I must have spent a hour today at least looking for the right item and time wasted for me really. I will search via google next time.

[4_bathrooms]

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@pulseofthedead wrote:

Thankyou. I thought though that all businesses on here had to display details, not just a VAT no.

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Businesses that aren't registered in the UK are not subject to the UK's consumer laws (and neither are their buyers protected by them). That said they often display either the business's registered overseas address or HMRC's Aberdeen office as Aberdeen deals with VAT registrations for "Non-Established Taxable Persons".

[magpiecorner1]

Google eBay Cookson gold.

They are based in Birmingham and sell quality loupes.  I've been buying from them for many years.

[pulseofthedead]

Thankyou. My 2 choices, was that seller and the other that I bought mine off. 

[strangestash]

My biggest issue so far is that more expensive, private items are getting bumped above business sellers at the lowest price when you sort by lowest price to high. eBay support are refusing to log this as a 'bug' but have hinted it may be an 'oversight'. I would please encourage any business sellers to phone support and report it as a 'feature request' they want changing so eBay take notice. Full discussion below:
https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Business-Seller-Board/Private-listings-are-getting-listing-sort-orde...

[pulseofthedead]

I filtered out by highest price first. As a buyer I always look to the better seller when buying new, not just price.
I go to the same packing box seller, not because he may necessarily be the cheapest but maintains a 100% feedback and I am happy with their products and service,

I know this comment is slightly off topic to your reply but I do not always go to lowest price first…If it is an oversight…then they should be fixing it….