Search Results showing way more than keywords?

[wrm827]

Maybe this is common knowledge here already but every time I search for an item I get way more broad results including other part numbers, sometimes hundreds of results but when I sort by lowest first it shows the actual results with only my specific keywords. It makes researching out in the field a real pita and sometimes I forget to sort it and think the ratio of listed to sold is too lopsided so pass on the item only to realize later there's fewer listed than sold. Also, if this is a pain for us sellers I can't imagine the headache buyers are experiencing not to mention it would explain my (at times) poor sales/views to some degree.

[bc_techworks]

Sadly wild results are the new paradigm for Google and Ebay adopted it as well. 
They found that giving sponsored results and other such things satisfies their sponsors percentage and advertising needs and may get you to see something else you may also want, thus maybe increasing sales. 
It sucks but it's their way of trying to make more money from searches. 

[mybigsale]

@wrm827 

...every time I search for an item I get way more broad results...

At one time, the purpose of search (for eBay and others) was to provide the most relevant search results based on the provided search terms. Search is continually changing, but the goal now is to provide the best marketing results to sell something - not necessarily what you want to find.

Sometimes sorted searches give better results, a little more challenging for adding the marketing spin and now you often see: 

"We’ve streamlined your search results to show you the best listings." ie what eBay wants you to buy.

eBay promoted listings in search results used to be listings from the search results that were moved up in search and promoted.  Now, there are many more loosely related promoted listings thrown into the search results that don't actually match all search terms.

All bad news for buyers and sellers who want relevant search results. Unfortunately, this tactic appears to work for eBay (and others) to sell more product. It will not be fixed. It is intentional.

[sebring8ups]

Same here, so sick of this. I'm a buyer and sell very little. Can't find what I'm looking for because of Ebay's search results nonsense. It's intentional and annoying. I'm starting to look elsewhere.

[eburtonlab]

@sebring8ups 

Can't find what I'm looking for because of Ebay's search results nonsense.

If none of the replies in this thread prove helpful to you, perhaps you could share a link to a search that is not working for you or describe what you are searching for. Others might be able to provide some practical suggestions of alternative searches.

[sebring8ups]

I'd like to be able to set it to "exact words, any order" in advanced search and have it stay that way

[sebring8ups]

G: search on "revox b710 tape deck" without setting anything..

[eburtonlab]

I'd like to be able to set it to "exact words, any order" in advanced search and have it stay that way

You can basically replicate that kind of search at any time by putting one of your search keywords in quotes. That should force eBay to provide only exact, literal matches for all your search keywords with no substitutions or corrections.

search on "revox b710 tape deck" without setting anything..

This search will find listings with all those exact keywords:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=revox+%22b710%22+tape+deck&_sacat=0&_sop=10

Some of those results will be parts listings or print advertisements, though.

If you just want to see tape decks, you can try narrowing the category and removing some parts listings with exclusions:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/48645/i.html?_nkw=revox+%22b710%22+tape+deck+-for+-parts&_sop=10

That search may miss some listings in other categories, such as Vintage Electronics, however.

A slightly better search that finds another listed as a "cassette deck" rather than a "tape deck":

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=revox+%22b710%22+deck+-for+-parts&_sacat=48645&_odkw=revox+%22b...