Search - is anyone else finding it as useless as me?

[ian_w42]

In the past few months I have found the search function to become nearly useless.

I often search for specific computer hardware components, I usually use the exact model number, brand name, memory size etc in the search. An example would be "NVIDIA RTX 3060 12GB " but applies to every search I make.

Nearly all of the results will be irrelevant and not related to the search terms at all. Different brands, different models etc. Most of the results will not contain any of the keywords I searched for.

You can of course refine results using the filter checkboxes but it's annoying and doesn't even cover every thing you might be searching for, the options are quite out of date.

I know ebay is "streamlining" search results but this is beyond that, it also does not seem to listen to quotes to force inclusion of certain keywords.

[date80211]

Of course they do, and do you suggest sponsoring changes whether the search actually works?

[eburtonlab]

@date80211 

"Newly Listed" is a sort order. If you have 10,000 results, sorting by "Newly Listed" will show you all 10,000 results sorted from the most recently listed to the last.

My eBay makes no mention of your 10, 50 or 100 miles.... feel free to say where those choices cam from: specifically, what version of which browser were you using, on which version of what operating system?

I am using a desktop browser on a Windows 10 machine. Firefox 138.0.1, but I get similar results using other browsers.

If I perform a keyword search using a desktop browser, scroll down the left side of the search results page I see an Item Location filter. Using ebay.co.uk and a UK location to search, that is where I see options to search by "Default", or "UK-only" or "Continental Europe" or "Worldwide".

One of the options will say something like "Within 25 mi" with the underlined portion being an active link. Clicking on that will provide additional options for other distances.

Here is what I see. Perhaps your options are different.

If you really want to, you can edit the search URL to try a different search radius using the sadis parameter (Search Area DIStance, presumably).

Here is a search for cars within 13 miles of that postal code using that technique:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_stpos=MK3+6EB&_nkw=cars&_sacat=0&_sop=10&_fspt=1&LH_PrefLoc=99&_f...

[frazer199310]

For me, using Chrome and Windows 10, the 'Within x miles' option has disappeared:

[eburtonlab]

@frazer199310 

For me, using Chrome and Windows 10, the 'Within x miles' option has disappeared

Odd, I still see that option in Chrome, even when not entering a UK postal code to search, and even when not signed in at all.

Does the option appear if you use a private or incognito Chrome browser window? Or another browser?

Does the option appear on the Advanced Search page? There I see km mentioned, but when I search, the distances are actually calculated and displayed in miles, not km.

Does the feature work if you use my previous search link?

Or this search of private sellers only?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_fsrp=1&rt=nc&LH_PrefLoc=99&_ipg=240&_stpos=MK3%206EB&_nkw=cars&_s...

[jah24green]

No need to be condescending. You are totally missing the point. E-bay search facility and the various filtering on search function USED TO WORK BRILLIANTLY but now it is trash. Some fool has paid to change it from excellent to trash - how about that!

[frazer199310]

Okay, I have cleared the cache in Chrome, opened Ebay on a new tab without logging in to my account.

New search by Category 'Cars'.

The filter bar is now horizontal and half way down the page, rather than vertical on the left hand side:

Clicking on 'Filter' opens the vertical selection panel, but there is no 'With x miles' under Location and no possibility to restrict to either Private or Trade seller:

Using Advanced search does show the 'With x miles' option but it doesn't work.

Using Microsoft Edge there isn't even the option to select 'Filter!

Very strange and bloody annoying!

[helva56]

Not wishing to sidetrack the ongoing conversation,, but another thing that is notable when trying to initiate a search is the way things you are trying to eliminate from a search for example;  if you ask for a search on ,,lets say a vauxhall car, you get a volvo, or a ford listed as "not a vauxhall" thus making the search for the original car by elimination of other makes , somewhat pointless.

[date80211]

Me, condescending? And that from you who seems to have diametrically mis-read what I Posted!

I wasn't missing the point… I was supporting what frazer199310 said, and asking that anyone trying to check what wrong, compare the exact parameters given.

If other points were equally unclear, please say so.

[eburtonlab]

if you ask for a search on ,,lets say a vauxhall car, you get a volvo, or a ford listed as "not a vauxhall" thus making the search for the original car by elimination of other makes , somewhat pointless.

Sellers are not supposed to include keywords that do not apply to the item being sold, but of course that does not stop some from doing exactly that. Such listings are reportable under "Search and browse manipulation", but enforcement of such rules is not a particular priority for eBay, apparently.

Buyers wanting to eliminate such listings from search results have some options, though: narrowing to a specific category that excludes non-Vauxhall results, or using specific exclusions to eliminate listings with unrelated keywords or strings.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/9858/i.html?_fsrp=1&_from=R40&_nkw=vauxhall+-volvo&_sacat=9858&LH_PrefLoc...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=vauxhall+-not.a.vauxhall&_sacat=9858&_fsrp=1&_odkw=vauxhall+-...

[helva56]

Ebay  seem quite lax on a considerable number of rules ,eh!

like when you stipulate "UK ONLY" and discover just how many Chinese sellers seem to  live in London, but it still take a fortnight to arrive, and the postage label has Chinese writing on it and has been through customs. 

[eburtonlab]

like when you stipulate "UK ONLY" and discover just how many Chinese sellers seem to live in London, but it still take a fortnight to arrive

eBay's "UK only" filter option refers not to "seller location", but to "item location" -- and that location information is provided by the seller, not by eBay. 

While some overseas sellers may have a warehouse in the UK to ship from, if a seller is registered overseas that raises the likelihood of an item shipping from overseas, particularly for multiple quantity listings of commodity items of the sort that are often manufactured overseas.

But even some UK-registered sellers may be drop-shipping items from overseas without making that clear by providing an accurate ship-from location as they should.

If you are concerned about how far away items are actually shipping from, there are generally many clues to be found on a seller's feedback page if you are willing to look for them.

[helva56]

I'll wager you can see for miles,eh!