Advanced search option has disappeared

[thecatspyjamas48]

As of this morning, I don't have the Advanced search option in the upper right corner of my page.  I haven't changed any settings, but the search box and blue button are both oval shapes now instead of boxes, and the underlined "Advanced" option is gone.  I've cleared cookies, and even shut down and restarted the computer, to no avail.  Talked with eBay customer service and was told they could see it fine when they pulled up my screen, but had no idea what changed or how to correct it.  They opened a ticket and told me I'd receive a call  back in 48 hours or so.

Does anyone know what may have happened, and more importantly, how I can reset this?  Thanks!

[eburtonlab]

eBay seems to be fiddling with the page layout.

You should be able to see the link again if you expand the window or reduce the page zoom level.

Or if you go to your Message inbox and use the link there -- for some reason that page still has the old format if you use the Classic message format.

More discussion of this here:

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Ask-a-Mentor/advance-search-feature/m-p/34314252/highlight/true#M62533...

[tobaccocardyahoo]

They are rolling out this new format.

First posts on the issue were Fri or Sat.

Most of the concerns voiced when I last looked were about the loss of the search by category. In order to do that you will have to click shop by category.

At this time I have the new round edge search but still have advanced at the right.

[thecatspyjamas48]

Thanks for your help!  I opened 2 tickets with eBay about this (they closed the first so I reopened).  They kept telling me they could see the previous "old" rectangular button and the Advanced link when they looked at my screen.  Then there was the usual advice to clear cookies, etc., which I'd done several times.  I even shut down and restarted my computer, but still had the oval format.  They asked me to send a screen print, which I did.  Then they wanted me to use a different browser, even though I've been using Firefox for years...Anyway, the problem still existed Saturday morning.  I was away from the computer for several hours, and when I returned in the afternoon, the screen display had "reverted" to the previous format.  A miracle??  Obviously, I didn't touch anything, so I have to believe eBay changed something back.  I waited a couple days to confirm it was corrected, then sent them a note back today with the above info.   I also suggested they ASK users (sellers in particular) if they want a different format, or at least provide the option to opt out.  It'll be interesting to see if I get a reply about any of this! 

[stainlessenginecovers]

Still the exact same OLD way on my computer- using Edge signed in and Chrome not signed in. 

[hotelt]

Thank you- now using message page-have struggled with the loss on main page for days.

[eburtonlab]

You are most welcome.

It might be worth bookmarking the Advanced Search page, and putting the bookmark in a toolbar so you can easily reach it without having to go to the Message inbox page first.

[barkuti]

Hello? I just ended up here because, after a long time without taking a look at eBay, the Advanced Search which I am seeing now is GARBAGE, honestly speaking. With the old format, I could quickly pack all my search options in a single line with search operators, like “eBay sucks (butt,ass,**bleep**,big time,poo) -nothing” and there was a page describing the usage of the search operators somewhere. The new advanced search may be somewhat easier for the bumpkin, but it has lost functionality and power; and in essence, IT SUCKS. 😒

If eBay were wise, they would have renamed the old advanced search by preceeding it with “Legacy”, “Classic”, “Old”, “Power User” or whatever “Advanced Search” and kept it, but instead these @#$% had to remove good ol' Advanced Search and replace it with a downgraded version. FLIck that, for the love of God, fLIck that! 😒

[eburtonlab]

With the old format, I could quickly pack all my search options in a single line with search operators

You can still do that from any search page -- no need to specifically use the Advanced Search page unless you are using a particular option that only appears on that page.

there was a page describing the usage of the search operators somewhere.

eBay's Help pages have not been updated, and some of the old pages are indeed gone, but you can find lots of helpful search details by searching the community pages, or by asking a question here.

What specific changes are you experiencing with search? What could you do before that you find you can no longer do? Chances are there is still a way to do it.

[barkuti]

Thanks for answering, eburtonlab; I must honestly admit that I somewhat rushed with my complain, as I definitively could make the search work properly.

The information about search operators should be more easily accessible, though. Search operators (and advanced search) are very valuable, with them you can narrow down a search to the results you are really looking for easily.

It must be that

P.S.: In my previous message, the censored word with **bleep** is ar se (you are now seeing ar se because there's a hair space in between). So ass passes the censorship filter, but ar se does not; seriously? By the way, censorship is bad; period.

[eburtonlab]

You are most welcome.

The information about search operators should be more easily accessible, though. Search operators (and advanced search) are very valuable, with them you can narrow down a search to the results you are really looking for easily.

I certainly agree with you about that, which is one reason why I read and post here about search issues.

By the way, censorship is bad; period.

Every public forum has rules and limits about what can and can't be said. Different people can disagree about which forms of expression should be out of bounds, but most people agree there should be some limits to what can be shared in front of everyone, and that there are some things that should be removed if posted, or prevented from being posted at all.