A saved (watched) search should find what you are searching for if it exists.

[vitalbodies]

A saved (watched) search should find what you are searching for if it exists.

In the lasted version of the app - or at least one of the latest - the search results dilute the results with way to much unrelated stuff.

Stuff.

Too much stuff.

Example: antique drafting

I would expect to see search results that contain listings with both the words “antique” and “drafting” in the subject/title.

Below those results - as per eBay - I would expect to see RESULTS MATCHING FEWER WORDS. Even if the search only had one word - but that is detail.

The RESULTS MATCHING FEWER WORDS might have any number of random items, but that is not what I am referring too. I am referring to the primary results.

I do not want to see a bunch of other listings that oddly do not contain both keywords.

I am seeing listings that contain neither keyword?

This dilution of the real results is hurting me as a buyer and seller.

I understand if eBay tacks on seeming related/unrelated stuff below the primary results.

Anyone else want to sound in?

[eburtonlab · Accepted solution]

@vitalbodies 

Over the last month or so, many searches have been returning results that do not match search terms, apparently due to inappropriate keyword substitution.

One way to bypass the "smart search" keyword substitution feature is to add a nonsense exclusion term to your search, like this:

antique drafting -octopus

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=antique+drafting+-octopus&_sacat=0

See here for a discussion of the issue:

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Technical-Issues/Ebay-item-search-results-flooded-with-unrelated-items...

[vitalbodies]

Thank you for your response and taking the time to write. I have a sense of “advanced search” on ebay but can always learn more. 

Do you know the story on the recent change? I have about 100 searches I would love not to have to change each and every one.  

I am willing to though if this is the heads up for that. 

Or did you say it plainly? That smart search is now a thing? 

[vitalbodies]

Additionally, that search term (done within the app) resulted with less (way less) diluted results - possibly none. 500-600 results will have to study but likely clean. But what if I am looking for antique drafting tools for my octopus? 

antique drafting -octopus

[vitalbodies]

Definitely helpful! I will um ah hmm? 

What is term? 

Mark this helpful? Check? Vote? Click? 

No matter, I am clicking! 

[eburtonlab]

@vitalbodies 

But what if I am looking for antique drafting tools for my octopus?

Like this?

[vitalbodies]

Oh that rocks it!  Where do I sign up?

[eburtonlab]

@vitalbodies 

Do you know the story on the recent change? I have about 100 searches I would love not to have to change each and every one.

I can only make inferences from what I have seen: the problems seem to have begun in early June. Users began reporting searches returning results that did not seem to match the search terms. Certain categories that are under construction seem to be harder hit; Toys & Hobbies especially, where any character name seems to be treated as equivalent to every other possible character.

It seems to be a problem with "search expansion", since it only occurs when using standard search terms. Using what eBay refers to as search operators (parentheses, quotes or minus signs) will "turn off search expansion":

https://www.ebay.ca/pages/help/search/expanding.html

Not everyone is convinced that the search is currently broken, though.

You might be able to call up each of your saved searches, unsave it from the results page, paste in a nonsense exclusion term, and then save the resulting new search. Probably quicker done using a desktop computer, though.

[vitalbodies]

Ok, so here we are. 

I hope my post alerts the team to a possible issue that might be concerning the many or few. 

Plus others might see this and not have to write this all out. 

That could be “helpful”.  Folks might mark this helpful. 

I received an answer/response that is “helpful”. 

But is it a solution? 

It might be to me now - and it is now. 

Although it is not (or is it) a solution to the issue I brought up as the app still acts the same with my old searches. 

So do you mark this as a solution? 

I would guess not as the issue remains. 

Yet eburtonlab offered a “solution”. 

Do I mark that as a solution. 

I would want to give credit where credit is due. 

And thanks! 

[eburtonlab]

@vitalbodies 

Adding a nonsense exclusion to your search is, at best, a workaround. Not really a solution, I think. If there is a solution, it will likely have to come from eBay changing the way that searches are done.

If you were to mark a solution too soon, some folks might skip over the entire thread, since it would appear to be already "solved". 

In any case, I am happy to provide what help I can.

[vitalbodies]

@eburtonlab 

I am starting to get it. Antique is likely a category and drafting might or might not be but could be. Will have to check. I will add relative modifiers based on your input and not wait for the app or eBay to change. But if antique is a category, that now matters. I think you are winning! I think this is a solution.  

[vitalbodies]

@eburtonlab 

If, as you linked to, “search expansion” is a fact/reality then it seems as though your work around is the solution. The app is simply mirroring the eBay site - the eBay way.  

I personally may or may not like “search expansion” but that is a detail. 

I now have a solution to the problem at hand. EBay does not see this as a problem per say. If I do, I have a work around. You mentioning it is certainly how I came across the solution. I had not heard of search expansion and likely would not have thought of it. Your help is THE help that mattered/matters. 

Hopefully “solution” will bring people to the thread for the answer they need. 

Again, thank you! You rocked it! 

[eburtonlab]

@vitalbodies 

If, as you linked to, “search expansion” is a fact/reality then it seems as though your work around is the solution. The app is simply mirroring the eBay site - the eBay way.

I personally may or may not like “search expansion” but that is a detail.

Previously search expansion was much more targeted and useful -- helping to find close synonyms and alternate terms that match your search words -- but it appears to misfire badly more than not, at least lately.

In any case, thanks for the helpful votes, and marking my post as the solution. You may be right that having a solution marked may bring the thread to the attention of other users having the same problem. I hope eBay is able to fix the underlying issue with keyword substitution at some point, though.

[mobile_feedback]

---

@vitalbodies wrote:

Definitely helpful! I will um ah hmm? 

What is term? 

Mark this helpful? Check? Vote? Click? 

No matter, I am clicking! 

---

We are trying to reproduce the issue in your screen shot. Can you let us know what country the app is set to and a screen shot of the filter open for that search.

[eburtonlab]

@mobile_feedback 

We are trying to reproduce the issue in your screen shot. Can you let us know what country the app is set to and a screen shot of the filter open for that search.

I am not the original poster, but I can give it a shot. I am in the US.

Try a search of "antique drafting" (without quotes), sorted by "highest price". Using either the desktop site or app, I am currently seeing 86,000+ results, most of which have nothing to do with drafting.