eBay

dedicatednetwork · ‎11-07-2023

When searching for "EX4400-24T", with the exact same filters and best match, I'm getting different result numbers. I tested this with cleared cache on Edge along with Chrome. I went a step further and did the same search on different computers, same location (not logged into the VPN), both edge and Chrome... all 4 instances displayed different search results.

eburtonlab · ‎11-07-2023

What is the difference between the top and bottom image aside from the number of results?

From your description it is not clear if the difference is due to searching at different times, using different browsers, different computers, different networks or different eBay accounts for each search.

wastingtime101 · ‎11-07-2023

According to image file names, top is Chrome, bottom is Edge.

Top one has an ad and more results. Bottom one no ad and less results. That's all I'm immediately spotting.

You mentioned applying filters @dedicatednetwork ? Which filters did you apply and did you apply them in a different order on each browser?

GLORIOUS!

dedicatednetwork · ‎11-07-2023

The eBay filters are identical.

ltldpr · ‎11-07-2023

". . . not clear if the difference is due to searching at different times . . ."

Wait, searching at different times of day or night changes the search results when searching for the exact same thing?

I read a transcript somewhere on these boards where Griff said (paraphrased) eBay doesn't show us all of the items matching our search because eBay doesn't think we need to see them all. I did not know that times of day or night also causes us to see fewer results.

Wish I had a time machine to go back and just stay there, before bleeping AI and stupid algorithms deciding what I should see or not were the "norm".

eburtonlab · ‎11-07-2023

Are you using the same search URL in the same eBay account in different browsers? Is that browser type the main difference between the two images?

Are you using an ad blocker? The same ad blocker in each browser, using the same filter subscriptions? Any custom filters that might be in one browser and not the other?

In some cases an ad blocker can affect the results shown, and can even hide sponsored listings (and from time to time, non-sponsored organic listings as well), but that should not actually affect the actual number that eBay displays at the top of the search results page, I think.

I generally avoid using "Best match" as eBay does not really disclose how "best" is determined, and because "Best match" may suppress organic versions of sponsored listings -- which sponsored listings can be sometimes be hidden by an ad blocker.

If you are using two different eBay accounts, or if one browser is signed in and the other is not, that may cause different results to appear, as "Best match" may take into account a user's search history when determining what results to display in that sort.

Do you get differing results when using "Ending soonest" or "Newly listed" rather than "Best match"?

eburtonlab · ‎11-07-2023

Wait, searching at different times of day or night changes the search results when searching for the exact same thing?

If one were to perform a search of active listings at one point in time, and then perform the same search again at another point in time, one might expect that the two searches could show different results if there were any items listed, sold, ended or removed within that interval. That is all I was alluding to.