Any reliable way to monitor new listings for specific items, besides the alert "follow this search"
I found that alert email is always delayed, or not happening at all, if I monitor some hot items like certain old thinkpad laptops or collectible figures.
I am wondering if there is any more reliable way to monitor newly listed items based on saved search or keywords? maybe any 3rd party tools/services available? I tried some research and didn't find any.
Just curious anyone else got similar problems, or found a good solution?
3 comments
mudshark61369
·10 months ago@jacobheretang ,
I buy a fair number of older figures on ebay, and have also found that the saved searches do not return timely results. What I do is, to do my own Advanced search for items using the Time: newly listed filter, Often twice a day. Since I use a computer usually after I start typing in my search it opens pre-filled previous searches.
I do note when the last newest item listed was, so I can start my search from that date/time, on the results page. The only drawback is having to search for specific figures or more generally figures made by a specific Mfr. with the year of release. The results are dependent on seller's filling in the details / keywords I search for. I use the ones most generally posted by sellers.
Ex: X-plus, Cold cast resin figure, Ray Harryhausen. > Toys & Hobbies then on the results page I select, Time: Newly listed. If there is a specific figure name, it will often turn up on the results page in the left column list so clicking on that gets specific results.
eburtonlab
·10 months ago[I replied to this on Reddit, but for anyone else interested in this topic I will include my response here as well.]
There are third-party search tools that will provide text or email updates more than once per day that are seemingly more reliable than eBay's saved searches. Some will let you run a number of free searches every hour or every fifteen minutes -- or more if you are willing to pay. Once per day is generally enough for the sorts of obscure things I search for.
Google automated searches eBay for some potential options.
I find such services best for hard-to-find items that are not listed very often, but that can be found in a targeted search without generating too many false positives. The last thing I want is to flood my email inbox every time someone lists something that is not quite what I am looking for. The sort of item that is typically snapped up very quickly by someone else if I do not get to it first -- hence the need for a timely email or text.
stephenmorgan
·10 months agoI have been successful using the Saved this Search function. Sometimes I have received a notification as soon as something is listed and then other times it seemed like the notifications are only sent out once or twice a day.