Are there any other eBay browsing tools out there?

[hamburglar]

It's funny how we've gone backwards in time for user interfaces with websites. Maybe there was too much complexity in PC applications and the simplicity in websites is a good thing, but, man, these things can be awful.

eBay is a good case in point. Completely trivial user interface (probably supported by 5000 programmers), buncha stuff it really should do. If nothing else, you ought to be able to mark off stuff that you don't ever want to see again (like the 300 $5.00 impact 'professional' socket sets I don't care about) like newsreaders have always been able to do.

So, are there any other ways out there to search on eBay's database without using their user interface that provide a batch of good features? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[chad s]

Here are some ebay search tips:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/find/search_commands.html

 

[dxdexter]

If I am looking for a particular item, I will save the search and have eBay e-mail me everyday or when an item meeting the search criteria comes on the market. Make sure you eliminate all the items you wish not to appear by placing in a minus sign in front and all things that may want to include within brackets.

For example this is the search criteria I use for Snap-on tools:

("snap on", snapon) -nokia -motorola -fits -apple -lg -blouse -clock -manual -vintage -mug -spanners -cartridge -pants -mugs -occ -lens -dale -light -razr -glasses -diecast -calender -bank -replica -belt -belts -calander -spanner -software -case -samsung -shirt -sanyo -hot -faceplate -scanner

When I search for Gray Tools I use this one: (very few on eBay)

gray (socket, wrench, ratchet,tool,tools,canada)-board -cable -pants -powder -dyson -jays -oil -shirt -cnc -canada -cross -electrolux -gerber -leatherman -housing -faceplate -knife -hat -multitool -leather -eyes -nokia

I will just adjust the parameters if I keep getting the same seller popping up with unwanted items, just by adding a - sign and a keyword.

 

[jerryW]

Go to http://dxxl.com/ and scroll down to hardware, locks and tools.

Click on tools and it will bring up tool auctions for older tools.


jerry

 

[hamburglar]

If I am looking for a particular item, I will save the search and have eBay e-mail me everyday or when an item meeting the search criteria comes on the market. Make sure you eliminate all the items you wish not to appear by placing in a minus sign in front and all things that may want to include within brackets.

For example this is the search criteria I use for Snap-on tools...
etc.
.

Yeah, I've got a bunch of big complicated searches myself. One problem is that the cheapie tools use such generic words that it's difficult to screen them out (ironically, '-professional' is a good start).

I should probably just sit down and figure out how to write my own eBay user interface. I've got some definite ideas in mind that I can't find out there anywhere...it could well be that the programming interface that they've designed makes it difficult to do much beyond what their own UI accomplishes.

 

[PAToyota]

I go back and forth on my eBay searches... You want to weed out all the stupid ****, but sometimes if you weed out too much you miss some good ones as well.

For awhile I was doing things like subtracting Ford, Dodge, and Toyota from searches for Chevy trucks because certain spammers (like the ones selling those snake oil "boost your mileage" products) would put all vehicle makes in their ads. Then noticed that some of the people would post "Chevy truck for sale - bought a new Ford" or "Chevy truck for sale - downsized to a Toyota" and I'd be missing those.

Some of my searches end up being fairly complex with all the subtractions and search terms - both including the common mis-spellings that I could think of.

I agree with the OP about being able to "mark" the ones you don't want to see.

 

[Danglerb]

Fact is ebay doesn't want anybody efficiently searching their site, but I suspect can't afford to block google, so I do a fair amount of searches from google to target ebay.

 

[Jbullfrog]

I try to mispel and mangle the name i am searching on e-bay. maco gets me alot of deals. I have a group of searches that I use, and have added new -(terms) as needed.