Ebay Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrh

[Shox Dr]

Just been searching for Coventry Die Head stuff...

So first search string is "Coventry Die Head" brings up 1236 listings. Yet the string "Coventry Die" returns only 958.

I thought a broader search string would return more hits

 

[Cyberprog]

Their search used to be helpfully useless. Now it's usefully helpless.

 

[captain-destructo]

drives me mad
you put 2 to 3 words in the search box and as you are scrolling down the results the amount that dont even contain the words you entered

 

[rkde]

I have started to use Google site search on eBay as it works better

 

[Pete.]

Just been searching for Coventry Die Head stuff...

So first search string is "Coventry Die Head" brings up 1236 listings. Yet the string "Coventry Die" returns only 958.

I thought a broader search string would return more hits

There's a good reason, and it's not eBay's fault.
Some people use 'diehead' instead of 'die head'. eBay search is clever enough to associate 'diehead' with your 'die head' search, but ignores it for your 2-word search because 'diehead' doesn't match either 'coventry' or 'dIe'.

 

[steviec_lj]

Ebay, and Google search algorithms are a shower of the brown stuff. Google now give priority to https:// domains now!!

Ebay incorporate a search algorithm that shows you item "related" to your search, that could be anything from what someone else has looked at in the same week, month or possibly even year, I've yet to figure out how they've got it so wrong..

 

[tlovatt]

Ebay search is really good if you use it properly, you can search for x and (y or z) but not w in a single string and build up some good searches to focus on what you want

Items in braces () separated by commas provide an or function - within this if you are searching for more than one word you enclose them in more braces
put a - in front of something to exclude it (searches must have one positive, not just negative terms)

so for example

iphone (4, 4s, 5, 5s) (16gb, 32gb) -64gb

Would bring up anything in the title that had iphone as well as either 4, 4s, 5, 5s and then 16gb or 32gb and finally exclude any results that contained 64gb

Used properly you can get some great specific searches

 

[mr migwire]

just for s##ts and giggles you should tick the "search title and description box" it will enter you into a world of mobile phones and dog pyjamas when all you want is a gas lense for a wp9 .......

 

[rtbcomp]

How to use Google site search http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/how-to-search-the-forum.30691/

 

[CRB]

?What is the point of being able to choose the years of the vehicle you want, when what you get is everything you did not want included too?

I specify 1975-96 and get a load of stuff from 2000-14, and not even the correct marque.

I ask you

 

[rtbcomp]

Sometimes advertisers include keywords to attract a search, for example someone advertising a Clarke welder may put "not SIP, Wolf, Sealey" in the advert to attract people looing for those makes as well.

 

[richie00boy]

I hate it when they do that, makes me not want to buy their item.

 

[Robotstar5]

Sometimes advertisers include keywords to attract a search, for example someone advertising a Clarke welder may put "not SIP, Wolf, Sealey" in the advert to attract people looing for those makes as well.

I found that recently while searching for quad parts, some advertisers use "like" and add other makes.

 

[wookie]

Yeap they have ruined the search, I find I'm using ebay less and less as it's harder to find what I want and not what eBay thinks I want.

I used to use the wildcard '*' in searches a lot but they stopped that working, for awhile if you tried a wildcard search you got a pop-up saying it wouldn't work and to click here to leave a comment explaining why you were using it. I left comments several times, waste of time, I guess it was just a box ticking exercise so they could say we asked the users for their opinions.

Just remember eBay isn't there to make it easier for you, just for them to maximise profits for themselves, the sooner someone comes along with a better auction site the better for all of us, hopefully Alibaba will go worldwide and threaten eBay's dominance.

 

[steviec_lj]

Sometimes advertisers include keywords to attract a search, for example someone advertising a Clarke welder may put "not SIP, Wolf, Sealey" in the advert to attract people looing for those makes as well.

They will remove the ad, if you report it to them. I forget which listing policy its against, because there are far too many now.

I use Bing.com now, loads quicker than Google, and easier..

 

[puffernutter]

A favourite trick from some advertisers is to use white text on a white background at the bottom of the advert, so it will show up in a wide variety of searches. I first came across it in the model railway area where I was searching for a particular make e.g. Wrenn, but 10's of adverts came up with no obvious mention of "Wrenn". It then became clear how this was being done!

Cheers

Peter

 

[mr migwire]

They will remove the ad, if you report it to them. I forget which listing policy its against, because there are far too many now.

I use Bing.com now, loads quicker than Google, and easier..

KEYWORD SPAMMING and they do take it seriously if you report it, i am pig sick of ebay users doing the "like" in the description, the other one thats cracking me up at the moment is the "Barn Find" or "Attic Find" in the title or description. were not stupid ,,, i have never seen a Mk2 escort in anyones loft......

 

[ukracer]

I hate it when they do that, makes me not want to buy their item.

Its also against ebay policy...

 

[ukracer]

Just remember eBay isn't there to make it easier for you, just for them to maximise profits for themselves, the sooner someone comes along with a better auction site the better for all of us, hopefully Alibaba will go worldwide and threaten eBay's dominance.

I have never understood why ebid has not taken off more. Low fees and free listing its strange how folks follow like sheep.

 

[lshigham]

I have never understood why ebid has not taken off more. Low fees and free listing its strange how folks follow like sheep.

There's nobody there because there are no buyers, there's no buyers as there's no sellers and so the circle goes round.

When I was an eBay seller I had my entire stock on there, eBay sales outstripped eBid by 4000-1.