Anyone else noticing a change in the SEARCH function?

[schilt1]

I use the SEARCH function a lot to decide what products to offer.  Lately, when I search on what I believe are pertinent details I get a lot of results that are nothing like what I'm looking for.  For example, I searched on "Morse Cutting Tools Tap 34008" which represents the brand, tool type, and part #.  Ebay returned almost 100 items and I couldn't find one that matched my criteria.  If there aren't any available, eBay used to tell me that.  I spoke with eBay and the CSR said nothing has changed but I think something most definitely has changed.

[eburtonlab]

If there are no results that match all your search keywords, eBay will try to expand the search by dropping keywords until there are some results to display, but eBay may not know which keywords are critical and which are not.

If you see lots of results that do not appear to have your keywords in the title or item-specifics, eBay may be substituting or correcting one or more of your keywords. To see results without any substitutions or corrections, try putting one of your search terms in quotes to force eBay to return only literal matches of your keywords.

Try this search:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=Morse+%2234008%22&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0

[schilt1]

Hi, thanks for your reply.  The quotes recommendation is helpful.  The issue I'm having is that previously eBay would say there are no matches and then show a bunch of listings with less than all of the matching words.   I found that useful.  As it stands now, I have to go through 97 listings to see if any are legitimate matches.

[eburtonlab]

As it stands now, I have to go through 97 listings to see if any are legitimate matches.

Unless you use the quotes.

[coldplay2484]

A little late but I think I figured out your issue. I was having the same problem. If you click "advance" next to the search button. Under keyword options you can select "Exact words, any order" and this seems to eliminate all of the results not matching your exact keywords.

[eburtonlab]

Under keyword options you can select "Exact words, any order" and this seems to eliminate all of the results not matching your exact keywords.

Yes, indeed. If you use that option, and then examine the resulting search, each of the individual keywords shown in the search bar winds up enclosed in quotes.

And since using quotes on any keyword will prevent substitutions of all other keywords in that search as well, this gives you the same result as using a regular search and putting any one of your search keywords in quotes.

[usmintjr.]

eBay has in ongoing effort to improve, fixed what DID NOT need fixing,  now when you search no more targets you search ALL **bleep**

[usmintjr.]

You know search worked fine until the eBay profit wonks want you to buy more garbage.  Quotes no sir, you cannot search a single category you get ALL he need to parse it down from the huge list.   **bleep**

[ebooksdiva]

This thread is from November of 2023. 

[eburtonlab]

you cannot search a single category you get ALL

Once you search using keywords and the results load, then change the category using the links on the left side of the page (using a desktop browser) to search just that category.