Poor search (when using exclude words)

[validusdss]

Problem: i should be getting Fewer results whenever i add an exclusion to ebay search,  never more results (than wo an excluded word).

The way ebay's search engine handles exclusions is very poor. 

In the example below im using the default search options (ie i have not changed any search options,  for example, search "Title and Description" is off)

If i search:

thinkpad x1 carbon 8th gen

i get 55x results   (however id like to exclude any title that has FHD in it,  so i try):

thinkpad x1 carbon 8th gen -FHD

now i get 143x results!!  (not good)

So i assumed my syntax was wrong,  so i click "advanced" (next to search button),  and fill in:

thinkpad x1 carbon 8th gen    (set to the default "All words, any order")

and i get 55x results (good)

Then under advanced i try same as above,  but in the "Exclude words from your search"  field,  i add  FHD

(i get 143x results!!  -  not good!).

What am i missing here?  (and to ebay;  how is exclusion of words operating in this manor useful??  )

thanks 

[nobody*s_perfect · Accepted solution]

The smaller number of search results is due to eBay selectively showing you only one subcategory.

[eburtonlab]

Using an exclusion has other effects besides just removing the results with the excluded term.

Using an exclusion also disables other "Search Expansion" features -- one of which involves automatic category navigation. Your original search was limited to one small category; adding an exclusion applies the search to all categories, and hence finds more results. If you add the exclusion and then change your search category manually, you will find fewer results.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/177/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=thinkpad+x1+carbon+8th+gen+-fhd&LH_TitleDesc=0

For more details about "Search Expansion" and how using search commands works, see this old page on eBay Ireland:

https://www.ebay.ie/pages/help/search/search-commands.html

[validusdss]

Thanks to both replies-

Not sure how i missed that (the sub-category being selected),  but will watch for that in the future.

I wish i could accept BOTH replies as the solution,  however i choose the one with the image as it makes the point/solution the quickest for others reading this topic in the future.  (ie as soon as i saw his posted image i realized the issue).

The 2nd reply is excellent as well as it explains in more details. 

thanks