Practically Classics Forum

You can clear a lot of the repetitive stuff from search results by using a minus sign.
Eg:
rover (p6,2000sc,2000tc,2200,2200sc,2200tc) -(catalogue,decal,brochure,test,news,manual,cd,microfiche,keyfob,mug,model)

This is my search for P6 bits that doesn't show junk like mugs and keyfobs. It wouldn't be difficult to block those wiper blades or coloured leads in the same way.

What I'd really like to do is block results from specific sellers. As a seller you can block buyers that you don't like, but I haven't found a way of doing the reverse.

Interesting, isn't it? Over here in France the auction element of Ebay never really took off and it has been pretty well wiped out now by the free classified ad sites like leboncoin.
Maybe the novelty of on-line auctions is wearing off, partly due to 'sniping' software I would guess, and Ebay is now forced to make its money by other means.

NOt sure if it's been mentioned....

But the Related Search facility has also been removed but only on some listings?

It was a handy thing to have to simply click between listings for Triumph Dolomite and then click to Triumph Toledo.

Strange that they should decide to remove this only on some listing categories but not in others though.

When I put in Renault 5,all I get is pages of modern stuff.I have to put in GT Turbo and hope.

Some sellers use an annoying trick of inserting "not" before a list of other car names which makes their irrelevant post crop up on your search.

needstlc wrote:Some sellers use an annoying trick of inserting "not" before a list of other car names which makes their irrelevant post crop up on your search.

That's supposed to be against eBay policies. It's called "keyword spamming". Dunno if they actually care enough to remove the listings if you complain, but you could always try.

Sadly, the likelihood of eBay's removing listings or forcing sellers to amend same is inversely proportional to the seller's feedback score, so by default, to that seller's likely revenue earning potential.
See for yourselves; use the native search to find sellers with, say, a feedback score below 200 then check using Toolhaus for any listing infractions against those names.
Perform the same exercises for sellers with scores above, say, 2000 and suddenly, once eBay has realised which side its corporate bread is buttered, there are far fewer demerits than there would have been - in percentage terms - for the less experienced users.

Cynical? Me? no.

dannyhopkins wrote:We will do something on this in the next issue. If there is any way to get rid of multiple identical listings for wiper blades, multi coloured hi tension leads and the like... I would be one happy editor.

Hi Danny,
If you want to search for, say Jaguar MK2, to delete wiper blades etc from your search you would type 'Jaguar MK2 -Wiper Blades'. You just put a negative in front of whatever you don't want to see.
It's Christine by the way, we spoke via email recently about this issue. I will be glad to see something printed in the magazine for all to see.
It sounds like we will all be giving ebid a go in the coming weeks.
Christine aka Cornishwreckersclassiccarspares

Hi Danny
I agree that on some searches you can use your make and model to narrow it down,but I have recently been searching for a interior light for my Austin A55 mk1 Cambridge.Now I know that like so many other manufacturers from this period they sourced identical parts from say Lucas , Smiths etc.This means that the light I require has been used on several non BMC vehicles.When I first began looking on ebay I could begin by putting INTERIOR LIGHT and search ALL CATEGORIES.This would produce roughly 17000 items ,however if I then selected CLASSIC CAR PARTS it would reduce about 200.With this category now removed I am left with just CAR PARTS to select and this gives me approximately 5000 (predominantly modern vehicles) to trawl through.That is not progress.
Nice one ebay.
Perhaps your sister paper Classic Car Weekly could get on to this as well.
By the way ,good luck with the Westies.

cornishwreckers wrote:If you want to search for, say Jaguar MK2, to delete wiper blades etc from your search you would type 'Jaguar MK2 -Wiper Blades'. You just put a negative in front of whatever you don't want to see.

Not quite. That would result in a search for 'Jaguar Mk2 Blades -Wiper'
You'd need to put Wiper Blades in inverted commas like this:
Jaguar MK2 -"Wiper Blades"