Find Specific Items for Sale

While eBay makes it easy to browse through the numerous categories of merchandise offered for sale, there are so many items listed in most categories that browsing in this fashion is virtually impractical. It's much more efficient to use eBay's search function to search the millions of active auctions for those particular items you're shopping for.

Using eBay search is like using the search function at Google and similar sites. Enter one or more keywords into the search box on eBay's home page and then click the Search button. Items matching your query are then listed on a separate results page.

Using Advanced Search Operators eBay automatically searches for items that include all the words in your query. (It's the old "assumed AND" search.) If you instead want to do an OR-type search, or search for an exact phrase, or exclude words from the search, then you have to use advanced search operators in conjunction with your keywords. eBay's accepted search operators are detailed in Table 16-2.

Using eBay's Search Page

You can also perform more detailed searches from eBay's dedicated Search page, shown in Figure 16-3. You access this page by clicking the Search link on eBay's Navigation bar.

The Search page offers seven tabs designed for seven different types of searches. These tabs—and their functions—are listed in Table 16-3.

Basic Search Advanced Search Bv S&lter Bv Bidder Stor&s

Search keywords or item number (required)

[AlI of lîiese words v | Search ] Leam n

Refine your search (optional) Price range(S) from Category Expand search Item type

Ali Categories

O Trtie and description

□ Completed Items only

□ Buy It Now Items only

□ Quantity greater than 1 Display format (optional)

View results

Was this article helpful?