New eBay Motors search sucks.
What if I don't know or care about what specific car or type of car I want to buy. I just want to see what's there. This has never been a problem and I used to buy a few cars a year. Now, I have to click a specific type of car. Coup is not even listed as a category. I just want anything in a price range that maybe needs some work. This now has to be filtered inside each body style category. It takes forever and I'm just not going to do it.
I prefer just putting in a price range and seeing everything. Also, when you could choose from a FULL list of Manufacturers was better because at least you didn't have to filter trash you knew you would never buy and you might see something you hadn't considered lately outside your price range.
38 comments
styloroc2000
·3 months agoI haven't used ebay motors since the last time I looked for a car (2019) and the search is terrible now -- for exactly how you put it.
decobear34
·11 months agoIt sure does suck. It used to be easy to search make model and year range and now I can't even find cars I know are listed even after multiple attempts using my Google pixel 9 and eBay app. Seriously!
eburtonlab
·11 months ago@decobear34
Have you tried searching using a browser instead of the eBay app?
Or using the eBay Motors app (not the regular app)?
https://pages.ebay.com/motors/motorsapp/
styloroc2000
·3 months agoBrowser doesn't work -- even if you search within ebay (as opposed to going to ebaymotors).
If you search through ebay, it takes you to the old search engine: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=car&_sacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p4439441.m570.l1313
HOWEVER, even if you put information in there, it takes you to ebaymotors, which doesn't allow you to browse for cars within a certain zip code -- you are required to either put in a make or type of car, which is incredibly frustrating because like the OP stated, I just want to look for all cars in my area and then filter down to certain aspects. I don't want to browse for a car on my phone because it is not convenient to do research -- I shouldn't have to use an app to do what my computer is fully capable to use.
eburtonlab
·3 months ago@styloroc2000
Try something like this, for all cars & trucks within 100 miles of 90210:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_stpos=90210&_nkw=cars+%26+trucks&_sacat=0&_fspt=1&_fcid=1&_sadis=100&LH_PrefLoc=99&_sop=10
Use that as a starting point, change the zip code to your own, set a range to search within, add filters for the options you want to see.
jndhall
·1 year agoThe car search isn't that bad...
As long as you are looking for a toy car, or pretty much anything else.
The people at ebay motors, however, assume that everyone who want to buy a car always has a particular make, model and year in mind, No one would ever, ever, possibly be interested in hundreds of DIFFERENT possible cars. That NEVER happens.
ukfan4sure!
·1 year agoI totally agree. It used to be so easy to search by model, year, or newest to arrive at auction. Now, they try to run you through all of these predetermined categories all set up how they think it should be. And half of the time when you click on one of those predetermined categories, it's a fail anyhow, showing you nothing but looping you right back to where you just started from. I get so frustrated, half of the time I just quit. EBay, it doesn't have to be a pain. You had it right at one time, and you goofed it all up. Don't corral your searches into categories or brands. Let the USER define their own searches and let it go. It ain't that hard.
brgr-883640
·1 year agoI second this, it is nearly impossible to search for a car. Put it back the way it was! I don't even look on eBay motors anymore
eburtonlab
·1 year ago@brgr-883640
I second this, it is nearly impossible to search for a car.
What kind of car are you searching for?
ukfan4sure!
·1 year agoIt doesn't matter what type of car he's searching for... maybe a RED one? Used to be you could actually see 5000 red cars by clicking on that box that says RED. Now, you can't do anything except filter the way eBay sees you should, as if they know everything about what you want.
eburtonlab
·1 year agoIt doesn't matter what type of car he's searching for... maybe a RED one?
Red:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=cars+%26+trucks&_sacat=0&rt=nc&Exterior%2520Color=Red&_dcat=6010
ukfan4sure!
·1 year agoWhy are you asking what kind of car? How about "any" car in "any" set price range? How about "any" car new listing within the last 24 hours? How about "any" car ending today? How about "any" car FSBO only? ALL of those used to be available with a few clicks of the mouse through "all" filtering. Now, they narrow your searches into very small categories before you can even get results. It's got to be all Fords, or all Chryslers, or all Hondas. Or better yet, a car in their pre-determined categories, like Classics. So, what cars are in this Classic category? Oh, only eBay knows that, and you have to go through the listings to see. I laugh at what they consider Sports cars, or Classics sometimes, as they are none of the such for either category.
eburtonlab
·1 year agoWhy are you asking what kind of car?
Because I want to know what search that user is try to perform so I can provide a search suggestion to find it and demonstrate it is still possible.
How about "any" car in "any" set price range?
OK. Here you go:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=cars+%26+trucks&_sacat=0&_sop=10
How about "any" car new listing within the last 24 hours?
Here you go:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=cars+%26+trucks&_sacat=0&LH_Time=1&_ftrt=903&_ftrv=24&_sop=10
How about "any" car ending today?
Auctions for cars ending today (since BINs don't end):
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=cars+%26+trucks&_sacat=0&LH_Time=1&_ftrt=903&_ftrv=24&_sop=10&rt=nc&LH_Auction=1
How about "any" car FSBO only?
Here you go:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=cars+%26+trucks&_sacat=0&_sop=10&rt=nc&For%2520Sale%2520By=Private%2520Seller&_dcat=6001
There is more than one way to conduct a search. If one is not working, try another. Then let eBay know what is not working for you.
queen-ebabe
·1 year agoIt's is HORRIBLE! can't refine search for any specifics. Total failure ebay!
eburtonlab
·1 year ago@queen-ebabe
Try searching by keyword instead of browsing.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=cars+%26+trucks&_sacat=6001&_sop=10
There are currently some problems browsing by era or using the Vehicle Find tool. You can report those from your search results using the "Tell us what you think" link.
ukfan4sure!
·1 year agoTell us what you think? Been doing it for years. I suspect that is always responded to with a big middle finger from eBay.
ukfan4sure!
·1 year agoInstead of asking the buyers to jump through hoops in their searches, let's ask eBay for a functioning eBay Motors? It's not like it's that hard, they had one that worked great not long ago. The "Tell us what you think" link is like reporting spam text messages to Apple, they just keep coming. Why does eBay keep insisting they hose up their own site? Don't get me started on their mobile app.... It's horrendous. Even FINDING eBay motors on the app is terrible. Then, once you find it, unless you want a specific brand or specific "category" of vehicle, you can't even search. It's just a mess anymore, and I've stopped using it altogether.
eburtonlab
·1 year agoInstead of asking the buyers to jump through hoops in their searches, let's ask eBay for a functioning eBay Motors?
Haven't you done that yet? What are you waiting for -- go ahead and ask eBay to fix the search if you have not already done so.
You can do both, you know.
While you are waiting for eBay to fix things, you might as well try an alternative search method that still works.
Even FINDING eBay motors on the app is terrible. Then, once you find it, unless you want a specific brand or specific "category" of vehicle, you can't even search. It's just a mess anymore, and I've stopped using it altogether.
Try entering cars & trucks into the search field in the app. eBay will suggest searching the Cars & Trucks category. eBay will suggest all sorts of filter options at the top of the search results. Seems to work for me.
Or you could try using the eBay Motors App.
ukfan4sure!
·1 year agoSo, will other eBay buyers know how to filter with this search criteria as I sure didn’t. My point is, instead of telling us how to technically circumvent eBay’s mess that THEY created, how about they simply FIX the issue? Many people would want to browse, but they follow the sh!tty menu system eBay provides instead of using a search bar, me included. They used to have a “Newly Listed†radio button. That showed you all new vehicle listings in the last 24 hours. How nice. Now, you have to search through every brand one at a time. And they categorize by type of vehicle like Classic, or whatever. So, who determines which cars go into that category? My experience tells me you have to go in and find out. So, it’s a filtered category and you have no idea what’s in it.
eburtonlab
·1 year agoMy point is, instead of telling us how to technically circumvent eBay’s mess that THEY created, how about they simply FIX the issue?
If you know how to get eBay to fix the issue, by all means please do that.
If you don't know how to get eBay to fix the issue, then I guess you are stuck with trying circumvent the mess like the rest of us.
tony1963
·1 year agoI can assure you that no one at eBay cares. As someone who has been a board contributor for the past 25 years, I assure you, these posts are simply protons and electrons in the continuum of time and space.
jodam_791
·1 year agoAbsolutely the worst user workflow for searching for a car!!! It was as perfectly fine, before!!! Horrendous!!! Too much emphasis on parts and other crap!!! And the parts guarantee is a scam; I don’t have the time and patience to return the wrong crap!!! I’ve been an eBay User since 1999!!! I’ve found and bought three used cars via eBay - the previous workflow and was always looking pleased with the search and experience!!! Please return the previous Car Search workflow!!! Please!!!
eburtonlab
·1 year agoPlease return the previous Car Search workflow!
Which one?
This one?
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=cars&_sacat=0
equalizingman
·2 years agoIf no one ever says anything no will ever know. You have to start somewhere. Most people don't care and give up. I care and believe the search could be better.
I appreciate your response. I have parts that I sell and I also own 3 classic cars. So my searches are general searches and most of the times I get 1,000s if not over 10,000 items in a general search like for1966 Skylark Trim.
I am not looking for shortcuts or tricks. I am just saying the basic search sucks. Too many non related items come up. I am trying to look through the eyes of a new person on eBay. How do they find their way around.
I do have my own thread that I did start about how bad the search is.
Thank you,
tony1963
·2 years agoFrom my perspective, joining eBay in 1998 some 26 years ago, the golden age of eBay was in the 2000s. Many of us doubled, tripled or even quadrupled our fortunes back then because this was the place to sell. As the 2000s wore on, people rotated out of eBay as the rules changed and junk began to show up everywhere.
The creation of eBay Motors was controversial but soon thereafter, you saw lots of junk vehicles and people getting ripped off. Then, it was no longer possible to leave a buyer negative feedback.
Today, no one cares. I quit selling vehicles here in 2016 and found other avenues that were more profitable before "retiring" a second time. Nothing that you say on this board will change anything that eBay does.
Unavailable member
·2 years ago.... i left a note on the bulletin board at the Tracer Dye Heritage Center over in Birmingham... I expect all of this bad search nonsense will be wrapped up and straightened out in no time......
ðŸ‘
redlinear
·2 years ago@equalizingman is correct.
Anybody that lists auto parts on eBay knows there's an issue.
When we search, we are searching in a manner that we think our customers search.
We don't think our customers know all the search tips, tricks, and hacks.
We tend to think they are normal people that just enter words in the search box, and hopefully....they filter or sort at least once.
Got a feedback the other day. My customer was happy and stated that my item was $45 cheaper than any others. While I'm pretty sure mine was the cheapest (just a guess at this point). BUT, I can assure you that I was NOT $45 cheaper. I found several that were $5 higher than mine.
But, that customer never saw those. And that's NOT good.
equalizingman
·2 years agoHey eBay.
Do you hear me? Fix your search or give us an option to pick the crappy search you are giving us now with all the garbage mixed in. Plus an option to search like you had in the old days. A more refined search on the subject matter you are looking for.
eburtonlab
·2 years ago@equalizingman
eBay is not here. This is a user forum.
Did you try searching for a vehicle using the vehicle finder at this link?
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=cars&_sacat=0
equalizingman
·2 years agoEBay should be here to listen to users. I have not searched a car this year. I have listed plenty of eBay motors. Items. I Search sometimes. Less than I use to because the horrible search. Search sucks. Let's face the facts. This is the truth.
Your link leads me to a bunch of pixar cars. That is a vehicle search????
eburtonlab
·2 years agoJust saying that someone should do something does not actually make it happen.
When I use that link I see a "Find a car or truck" tool at the top of the page.
If you are not searching for a vehicle, what are you having trouble searching for?
If you actually want to find something, what do you want to find? There may be some things you can do right now to make your own searches more effective, rather than waiting for eBay to change the way the site works to suit your expectations about how it should work.
If you just want to vent, that's fine, too.
If you want to have a discussion about how search should work, then feel free to start one.
juko1340
·1 year agoThat search leads to a page where model years are listed in random order with number of respective cars. I can not find a possibility to search between years, but need to tick years from that random list. I can not believe how they were able to destroy a fine search engine to this awful mess.
eburtonlab
·1 year agoThat search leads to a page where model years are listed in random order with number of respective cars. I can not find a possibility to search between years, but need to tick years from that random list.
Try selecting a year in the range you are looking for on that page, then use the Vehicle Find tool from the search results.
The Vehicle Find tool seems to be having some problems lately, but if you start from some valid search results and expand the range using the tool, it seems to find results for me.
Report any issues you are having with the search using the "Tell us what you think" link at the bottom of the search results, or by using the "Feedback" / "Comments" / "?" link on the scroll bar.
6364dart
·2 years ago100% agree. It's a mess. Just give me a prompt for make, model, year, price range- like eBay used to, and like EVERY other car website works. The whole eBay motors interface is a mess now. Worst case scenario, keep all the new stuff, but also leave the option to just search like you normally would.
eburtonlab
·2 years agoJust give me a prompt for make, model, year, price range- like eBay used to
Did you try this vehicle finder?
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=cars&_sacat=0
jodam_791
·1 year agoAbsolutely the worst user workflow for searching for a car!!! It was as perfectly fine, before!!! Horrendous!!! Too much emphasis on parts and other crap!!! And the parts guarantee is a scam; I don’t have the time and patience to return the wrong crap!!! I’ve been an eBay User since 1999!!! I’ve found and bought three used cars via eBay - the previous workflow and was always looking pleased with the search and experience!!! Please return the previous Car Search workflow!!! Please!!!
tony1963
·2 years agoSince the mid-2000s, no one at eBay Motors cares what you think. There have been a load of "bright" people come through the ranks at that time and their only contribution was change to the site. Not change for the better, but change.
This is just the way it is. 20 years later, I'm reading the same complaints.
eburtonlab
·2 years agoTry starting here:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=cars+%26+trucks&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0
You can search an entire category by using the category name as your search keywords.