Question

[lawnmowerpartsstore2]

I entered part # 430-798 in the Ebay search bar and received 92 results. Then i entered the same part # 430-798 in the Ebay search bar and checked the little box (include description) then i only received 62 results. Thats never happened before because i always get more results when checking the box. Sounds a bit backwards ...... 

[simply-the-best-for-you]

Yeah, I can duplicate that, except it's now 97 & 62.  That is really strange.  I haven't used the 'include description' box in forever, so IDK if there has been a change to how it works, but those are extremely odd results & should never happen if the box is working properly.  It should be the same or greateer.  

I tried it with this search:  chico's green purple top 

and it works properly 117 without the checkbox, 306 with.   

I suspect it has something to do with the fact that it's a part number, as I've seen eBay's search do numerous wonky things with part numbers.  I wonder if @zamo-zuan  has ever seen this before?  He has more familiarity with part numbers than I do & knows search, as well.  

But, yeah, looks like a bug.  That should never happen. 

[redlinear]

430-798 search will pick up 430-798 in Item Specifics.  (430-798 is not in most of the Titles).

430-798 include description search will exclude Item Specifics.

1st search looks in Titles and Item Specifics.
2nd search looks in Titles and Descriptions.

[b86fiero]

Search can be really wonky.  

I get different results when using the singular spelling or plural of a word (cup vs cups). Also different depending upon choosing Buy It Now or free shipping or best match or lowest price plus shipping or include description.

I wasted almost an hour this afternoon searching for Halloween black cat cupcake picks and finally gave up. eBay did not show me any but search included listings for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

[redlinear]

What I don't have an answer for is:
Best Match: 59
Time Ending Soonest: 92
Newly Listed: 92
Lowest $ first: 46
Highest $ first: 92
Nearest first: 92
    IMO: All of those should have the same number, just sorted as stated

[simply-the-best-for-you]

---

@redlinear wrote:

430-798 search will pick up 430-798 in Item Specifics.  (430-798 is not in most of the Titles).

430-798 include description search will exclude Item Specifics.

1st search looks in Titles and Item Specifics.
2nd search looks in Titles and Descriptions.

---

@redlinear  Why would it exclude Item Specs?  I think this is likely the answer, but I don't think it works that way in Clothing for example.  I don't have time to test it right now, but that seems very strange to me. 

[redlinear]

@simply-the-best-for-you 
Don't know, but it did.  I checked several to be sure.

Just ran two different searches in the same manner though.  And it pulled up the Item Specific entry both times.

SO, I have no idea.   Cassini is a complicated creature  

[simply-the-best-for-you]

---

@redlinear wrote:

@simply-the-best-for-you 
Don't know, but it did.  I checked several to be sure.

Just ran two different searches in the same manner though.  And it pulled up the Item Specific entry both times.

SO, I have no idea.   Cassini is a complicated creature  

---

@redlinear  Yeah, but I am a pretty close to a search expert & this is bugging me LOL.  What you encountered the second time is what I've always experienced in my category.  Well, at least you saved me the time & trouble of proving it, thank you! 

I do know that searches that are all number OFTEN bring up wonky results.  I'll wait & see if zamo pops in, if not I might page Ebay on this one. 

[redlinear]

---

@simply-the-best-for-you wrote:

---

@redlinear wrote:

@simply-the-best-for-you 
Don't know, but it did.  I checked several to be sure.

Just ran two different searches in the same manner though.  And it pulled up the Item Specific entry both times.

SO, I have no idea.   Cassini is a complicated creature  

---

@redlinear  Yeah, but I am a pretty close to a search expert & this is bugging me LOL.  What you encountered the second time is what I've always experienced in my category.  Well, at least you saved me the time & trouble of proving it, thank you! 

I do know that searches that are all number OFTEN bring up wonky results.  I'll wait & see if zamo pops in, if not I might page Ebay on this one. 

---

I only confirmed that in the initial OP part number search.   Other searches, the theory does not hold true.
I no longer trust my search results to be accurate.  Not without trying several different options.
Finding an item is easy. Finding "THE deal" is increasingly more difficult.