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checkboxes but it's annoying and doesn't even cover every thing you might be searching for, the options are quite out of date.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.

[eburtonlab]

@ian_w42 

The "streamlining" or filtering is a result of using the "Price plus Shipping: Lowest first" sort order; avoid that sort order if you want to see all results. You may see a "see more results" link at the top of the results -- use that to avoid the filtering; but the link may not always appear as it should.

The "Best match" sort order lately seems to have the opposite problem: too many unrelated results compared to other sort orders.

The other sort orders, Newly Listed, Ending Soonest, Nearest First and Highest Priced seem to provide much more consistent numbers of results.

If you want to sort by price, try using a price range to limit the numbers of results, then sort by Highest First and jump down to the end of the results, and scroll upwards from there. This avoids the problem with variation listings that include an inexpensive unrelated item so that the listing appears at the top of the "Lowest First" sort. Sorting "Highest First" will sort your results by the highest priced variation that falls within your desired range, which most often is the variation of interest.

eBay considers any listing with your keywords in the title or item-specifics to be a potential match to your search, though sometimes a search is steered automatically into a particular category. If you do not see your keywords in either the title or item-specifics of the search results, eBay may be using keyword substitution or even a spelling correction to change your search keywords. This can be helpful if you have made a typo or if there is an alternate keyword associated with the same item, but in some cases a less popular keyword you are searching for will be substituted with different, more popular keyword with a similar spelling or part number.

If you want to avoid any keyword substitutions, try putting one of your search keywords in quotes when searching; this should force eBay to provide only exact, literal matches to all your search terms. You can also put quotes around multiple keywords to ensure they appear in exact order with no intervening keywords. Dashes between keywords can also be used for keywords that need to appear in consecutive order without eliminating the possibility of a keyword substitution.

Using appropriate keywords, selecting the right category, and then using category-specific filter options can narrow a search and save time having to weed out unwanted search results.

Using your example keywords, try a search like this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/27386/i.html?_nkw=NVIDIA+RTX-3060+%2212GB%22&_sop=10

[a1once]

Search is completely useless and has ruined my enjoyment of eBay. I have tried everything to get results in the same way I used to. At first I thought it was a rare glitch. I used to click on the category for musical instruments. Then guitars and basses. Then see all. Then make the distance within 20mls of my location. I like to collect guitars in general, not a specific make or model. I just look for a bargain and something that takes my fancy. Then I can collect, so no risk of damage in the post. All this changed a few months ago.

    Now, it just takes me round in circles. I have tried the Local tab at the top of the page, but then, can not find a musical instruments category, try as I may. So, I go into Musical Instruments and select guitars and basses and it comes up with Best Match, sometimes including chairs and motorcycles. So, I select Nearest first and just get Top Brands, which is no use when I am not looking for anything specific. So, hit Best Match again then Nearest First again and so on and so on. Once, I got 164 pages of guitar parts, which were exactly the same as what you can get from AliExpress. Same pictures etc..  No use to me.

     I imagine that some cleverer person than me, knows how to get the results I want. But, I have lost the will to carry on searching on here. I will have another look in a month or so (for guitars), and see if things have improved, because, fo me, this is a major error and step backwards for eBay.

Best wishes to all.

[thesmokingrunner]

Hi @a1once 

Try the following:

- Type (for example) 'Guitar' into the Search box at the top of the page (I started with my My eBay - Watchlist page) and <rtn> (for info that search returns 1,700,000+ listings for me).

- Click on the 'All categories' drop down list, select 'Musical instruments & DJ equipment' and then click on Search.

- On the left hand side of the screen, under Categories, click on 'Guitars & basses'

- Page down 2 or 3 times and select 'Collection in person within x mi' (you can change the distance by clicking on x mi but I can't see an option for 20 miles - the closest I can get is 25).

Note: The final result of the above was that I had 775 results in the Search list, though at some point the Sort by criteria changed to 'Nearest first' - just changing it to 'Best match' returned 1,300+ results. No, I can't figure that one out either...

Anyway, I hope the above may help solve your problem. If nothing else it might get you out of talking to the in-laws on Christmas Day... : )

[nigel_paul_wright7557]

I was looking for an n gauge model loco and put n gauge in the search.

I found one that was a good price and bought it.

When it arrived it was OO gauge !

I had a look at the listing and sure enough it was OO.

So I did the search again and OO loco's were coming up mixed in with n gauge loco's.

The worst searches are multi listings where your baited in with a 99p item then the item you want is £9.99 !

They all start at 99p so any search is useless.

[a1once]

Thank you. That has made me happy. It has got me the results I like. I can even select Ending Soonest.

The guitar hunt is back on.......

[eburtonlab]

@nigel_paul_wright7557 

Try bookmarking this as a starting point for N-gauge train items:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=model+railways+%26+trains&_sacat=180250&rt=nc&Gauge=N&_dcat=2...

From there you can narrow by subcategory or change search keywords or add additional filter options.

One potential issue I see with that search is that some sellers enter N/A as the gauge, and those items will appear in that search, so you will still want to examine the listings closely before making a purchase to make sure the gauge is correct.

The worst searches are multi listings where your baited in with a 99p item then the item you want is £9.99 !

They all start at 99p so any search is useless.

If you can limit your search to a reasonable number of results by using category and price range filters, try sorting your results by "Price plus shipping: highest first" and then go to the last page of the search results and scroll up instead of down. That forces eBay to sort the results by the highest priced variation in each listing, and does not give sort preference to the listings with an unrelated 99p variation.

[555njp]

This issue has been discussed to death on the Seller Central and Business Seller boards.

The problem with search is that it’s heavily manipulated to direct you to promoted or sponsored listings that should you buy, will earn eBay more money.

Chances are, whatever you are looking for is listed, but unless ‘promoted’ it may be completely hidden from search results, no matter how you filter.

Also, when searching, you click on an item you are interested in to read the description, only to find it plastered with sponsored ads, often not even relevant to what you were searching for!

Manipulated search and promoted listings are slowly but surely destroying the site.

Buyers can’t find what they want so go elsewhere. Sellers have listings hidden, don’t sell, so leave the site. Those that do stay have to increase costs to cover cost of promoting making their items less attractive anyway.
Constant downward spiral, reported to eBay several times through the weekly chat and on the selling boards, but it seems that eBay really don’t care.

They just want to earn as much from each sale as they can, not realising that initiative is just driving both buyers and sellers away.

Some have suggested searching google as a better way of finding specific items on eBay as it bypasses eBay’s ‘screening’.

[bittyboy101]

Agree with you 200% !

I now use Pic Click to get around eBay's useless Cassini search engine...

https://picclick.co.uk/ 

[555njp]

It’s so weird though. I only have 20 items listed on my business account at present. I do a search and 80 items, including most of mine appear. None of mine are promoted yet some of my items appear immediately under the first 5 or so, meaning I’m already very high up on page one 👍👍 Keep scrolling down and there are other unpromoted listings, then the last few of mine, THEN more sponsored ones appearing well down on pages two and three!! So what are those sellers actually paying for?
Maybe to get their items plastered over everyone else’s if clicked? As they are certainly well down search and behind several non-promoted listings. Makes zero sense to me 🤷🏽‍

[bittyboy101]

---

@555njp wrote:

It’s so weird though. I only have 20 items listed on my business account at present. I do a search and 80 items, including most of mine appear. None of mine are promoted yet some of my items appear immediately under the first 5 or so, meaning I’m already very high up on page one 👍👍 Keep scrolling down and there are other unpromoted listings, then the last few of mine, THEN more sponsored ones appearing well down on pages two and three!! So what are those sellers actually paying for?
Maybe to get their items plastered over everyone else’s if clicked? As they are certainly well down search and behind several non-promoted listings. Makes zero sense to me 🤷🏽‍

---

"So what are those sellers actually paying for?"

Promoted listings = SELLERS ARE PAYING FOR OLD ROPE !

[jenni-4-more]

Yes ebay's search function is RIDICULOUS that's why I've left, this site is now a joke.
It takes ages to shift out the *bleep* that comes up as the cheapest on a specific search.
I have reported it to ebay on several misleading false listings and ebay claim its acceptable WELL ITS NOT BYE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bittyboy101]

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@jenni-4-more wrote:

Yes ebay's search function is RIDICULOUS that's why I've left, this site is now a joke.
It takes ages to shift out the *bleep* that comes up as the cheapest on a specific search.
I have reported it to ebay on several misleading false listings and ebay claim its acceptable WELL ITS NOT BYE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

---

The searches also show tons and tons of Collection Only items with still no way to filter them out 😞

There was a topic about this on here about 9 years ago "Why can't we filter out Collection Only items ?"

Almost 10 years later and eBay have now changed just about everything (and not for the better either !) but they won't give us their LOYAL USERS an option to filter out these pesky Collection Only items which are very taunting when you see just the item you've been looking for, only the seller won't post and some of them really stick to their guns when you ask them nicely if they could be kind enough to sort out some postage within the UK mainland and let me know the cost.

Saying that, some sellers on here have been absolutely brilliant and most decent when I've messaged them to nicely ask them very nicely if they could post their collection only item to me, as it is just what I have been searching for ! and I am happy to pay the extra cost and take full responsibility if the item gets lost or broken whilst in transit to me...

Then they are some sellers who just ignore you, or they message back by saying "Sorry no." or "If you want it you can send a courier to collect it, I'm not posting this" 

To be honest, I'd much rather not see any collection only items, only to be tormented when a seller refuses to post and eBay then send me an offer  to buy it £5 - £10 cheaper !  😞  😞  😞 

[jah24green]

yes - it is diabolical.  I am pretty sure that the the web site designers have all died and the replacement idiots are useless.  But seriously, what they are doing is making all us "customers" shift over to using their app - which is designed for mobile blooming phones and not laptops / pc's which have decent sized screens that you can read easily and make excellent use of the previously excellent search menus and filters.  We are all doomed but what will happen is that less people will use ebay (I certainly use it an awful lot less than I used to) and eventually somebody will realise what is happening and hopefully start up an alternative to e-bay with all the features that ebay used to have.  Unfortunately too, e-bay does not have any specific route to lodge a real complaint against their web site and so you are left to this community  method which is therefore just a place to have a moan and sod all gets done as the community are just members like me and you who cannot do a single thing to get things changed back to as good as they were.  Pretty rubbish really.  If anyone knows where to lodge a complaint on the technical aspects of e-bay and expect a proper investigation and response with a resonable chance of having a corrective action taken then please let everyone know.  Every large (and a lot of small ones in UK) are ISO9002 or whatever it is these days accredited and as such MUST have a proper and formal complaints process that results in review and action.  E-bay is / was at the pinacle of their market so how come they do not have a conforming complaints system?  I have wasted a lot of time puting forward complaints and comments via this community approach and yes a lot of folk like what I have stated and agree ....... but nothing gets done.  PLEASE HELP Mr / Mrs E-BAY!!!!!

[gowllandtg]

Yes absolutely hopeless. It is purely luck if your search brings up what you want! The recent changes are ridiculous. Even when you precisely describe the item you are searching for it may not be returned in your search EVEN when you know the item is listed somewhere. Also you have to wade through products that are brought up in your search that are totally irrelevant to the product you want. Why and how has it gone so wrong recently? I haven’t got enough time to waste to work through all the permutations of search criteria that are now needed to find  the products I wish to buy. It used to be simple …but  NOT NOW.

[eburtonlab]

@gowllandtg 

I haven’t got enough time to waste to work through all the permutations of search criteria that are now needed to find the products I wish to buy.

What are you searching for? How are you searching now?

[jah24green]

The engine I need is also used in many other cars such as a Peugot 207cc and a Peugot 208 but you don't get a category showing Peugot. Also previously you would have an additional filter button to the right of the drop down filters that would allow you to further filter results - this is no longer available and so you just have the set dropdown filters which for example if searching simply in a price range you only have the 3 possibilities whereas you could enter your own range which was very handy as you could enter say £60 - £325 which would drop out a lot of the breaking for spares stuff that I would not be interested in. The old search facilities were far more superior - it would be great if e-bay re-instated this. Even replying to this e-mail of yours is stupid as it seems to operate like messaging by my mobile phone i.e. when you press "enter / carriage return", the e-mail sends rather than just go to a new line. It is all so frustrating. I just went to the bottom of this message and pressed carriage return and it did not send (which was good) but it has to be a glitch if it sends 1st time then doesn't next time. Anyhow, that is insignificant to the issues with the search / filtering issues. Am I right in blaming all this detrimental development being because e-bay want people to use their APP rather than the traditional web site approach? E-bay can surely afford to maintain the web site approach and operate / develop the App approach, then everyone would be happy.

[cid:emf362422e-0a66-451f-bbfa-4730c7cfd64a@5ea3e1ef.com] [cid:em4ea01efc-15ae-44a5-ab44-cc315527df24@5ea3e1ef.com] [cid:eme64fae37-ef44-44c1-a89f-c8db2cc5b093@5ea3e1ef.com]

[eburtonlab]

What search terms are you using for that engine search?

Here is a search using Peugeot engine:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=Peugeot+engine&_sacat=33615&_udlo=60&_sop=10&_udhi=325

[dukeofnukem]

Yes, for quite a few months now the search has become pretty much useless. You ... or at least I ... cannot go to a particular section and search withing that section as it immediately switches to searching the whole of Ebay ! I If you are lucky, as you type in the search it does offer a list of possible sections it *thinks* might be appropriate but generally aren't, and of course never lists the category you are currently in !

For a while there was a trick where, after doing the search, you could manually edit the url by inserting the category number (if you knew it) but that no longer seems to work.

On the plus side, I'm saving a lot of money as since searches are no longer fit for purpose I'm buying way less than I used to. To be fair, other Ebay changes I suspect have caused fewer of the items I'm looking for being listed in the first place, but then again I've stopped searching for some things as its just to big a PITA.

[eburtonlab]

@dukeofnukem 

For a while there was a trick where, after doing the search, you could manually edit the url by inserting the category number (if you knew it) but that no longer seems to work.

Try searching using keywords; then on the search results page, choose the category from the tree on the left side of the page if you are using a desktop browser.