I must have missed something! What is going on with the search function? "No exact matches found."

[dasarock]

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@eburtonlab wrote:

@coolections 

Here is an example of a search that currently returns "0 results" and "No exact matches found" and a few "Results matching fewer terms" some of which match all the terms:

MARVEL super Heroes Figures MGA

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=MARVEL+super+Heroes+Figures+MGA&_s...

Here is the same search -- the only difference is a nonsense exclusion term added, which now finds four matches:

MARVEL super Heroes Figures MGA -octopus

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=MARVEL+super+Heroes+Figures+MGA+-o...

If eBay's search is working correctly, these searches should both return the exact same results. The first search does not find items which contain all of the keywords in the title. The second search finds four with those exact same keywords.

Adding a nonsense exclusion term has the effect of disabling the eBay "smart search" feature -- the feature responsible for keyword substitution, keyword-to-item-specifics matching, and keyword-to-category substitution. That is why I believe these search issues are related to the "smart search" feature.

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... so much for ebay's much touted 'intuitive' search results ...

[coolections]

@eburtonlab 

No they should not both contain the same results because they are different searches. How to search 101: type marvel super heroes. Once you get the results go to the left of the page and narrow your search down. Another option is add a single word in the search as you.

[coolections]

@ersatz_sobriquet 

No matter what the subject or what the required thing to do there will ALWAYS be dingbats that just cannot figure it out. There is no way of getting around that. It is not rocket science and actually Ebay has a simple search function most buyers can handle.

[coolections]

@greg5000 

You and your other I.D. are wrong but that's OK, I will agree to disagree with you and your other I.D.

[greg5000]

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@coolections wrote:

@ersatz_sobriquet 

No matter what the subject or what the required thing to do there will ALWAYS be dingbats that just cannot figure it out. There is no way of getting around that. It is not rocket science and actually Ebay has a simple search function most buyers can handle.

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I don't think name calling is helpful, especially to those that are here with concerns and issues they need help with.

[dasarock]

@greg5000

I am just waiting for cool to train every buyer to search correctly so we get more sales

[greg5000]

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@coolections wrote:

@greg5000 

You and your other I.D. are wrong but that's OK, I will agree to disagree with you and your other I.D.

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I have one User ID/Posting ID which is my Buying Account and is visible to all here.

Please don't make innuendos and false statements.

[greg5000]

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@dasarock wrote:

@greg5000

I am just waiting for cool to train every buyer to search correctly so we get more sales

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I think cool will find ... You can't teach an old dog (or millennials) new tricks. 

[this*old*attic]

There shouldn’t be workarounds- do they think our buyers hang out on the boards??? 🙄

No wonder I got new Chinese woks looking for “vintage glass spice rack” a few weeks ago..... WOKS!!!

[gramophone-georg]

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@coolections wrote:

@ersatz_sobriquet 

No matter what the subject or what the required thing to do there will ALWAYS be dingbats that just cannot figure it out. There is no way of getting around that. It is not rocket science and actually Ebay has a simple search function most buyers can handle.

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Actually... the "dingbats" are the ones that keep trying to figure it out. The ones who realize that their time is valuable go elsewhere (which is pretty much absolutely any/ everyplace else) where search is intuitive and will show you what is keyed in. Those people likely never come back.

[this*old*attic]

Well.... that's not entirely true. Betsy's search is quite limited in functionality.

But I very much disagree with cool on this one. I've been on Ebay 17-18 years, I know how to search - but I've had a serious struggle a few times in the past year, and downright went elsewhere on one item. Actually, make that 2 items.

And I'm a seasoned user with a stake in the site!

The intentional narrowing/focusing of search results into very tight, specific returns impacted sales as soon as it was introduced, and now the darn thing doesn't even do THAT right!

[goldy-marie-locks]

I understand that, but when "cuisinart" is after coffee pot, I get NO LISTINGS. So if some nit-wit isn't familiar with exactly how to search, they will not find what they are looking for.
I've been on eBay for over 20 years and have never had to do an exact search for items.

[goldy-marie-locks]

All I'm saying is that if a buyer has to enter words exactly as they are presented on eBay, they will not get any where near all the sales that are available.  I cannot imagine why eBay would do that purposely.  Exact searches cut out a chunk of listings.

[abfabvintage]

@dasarock 

Thanks for replying...and with the lead in to buyers: -hello dingbats. Just not right. Now we are down to name calling. SMH. 

[luckythewinner]

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@goldy-marie-locks wrote:

I tried looking up "Cuisinart Coffee Pot" and got a page full.  When I looked up "Coffee Pot Cuisinart" I got No exact matches found.

Same thing with a woman's top I was looking for....if I put the complete manufacturer's name I got a page full.  If I put the color first I got nothing.

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In one of those searches eBay chooses to switch the category. In the other, eBay does not.

In my experience on these boards, category switching is the #1 thing that leads sellers to believe that eBay is "hiding" their listings.

IMHO category switching was a terrible idea.