RF Generation Message Board

Collecting => Collection Connection => Topic started by: Hungrymoose on July 05, 2012, 12:48:06 PM



Title: eBay Tip
Post by: Hungrymoose on July 05, 2012, 12:48:06 PM
So, I search eBay a lot for various things and I got tired of typing in searches for each and every thing.  And then you have to weed through the crap that has nothing to do with what you want to find.  So, I did a little research and testing and came up with a good way to refine my searches.  This may not be new info to most of you but I  thought I'd share it anyway.

This example is just for NES games cause that's what Is earch the most.  When searching use this format right in the search field:

NES +(1942,1943,Abadox,"Action 52","Addams Family") -(vidpro,famicom)

This searches for NES and then narrows it down to the items in the first set of ( ) and then eliminates the items in the second set of ( ).  The quotes are only necessary if you're searching a game with more than 1 word.  You should be able to add as many items as you want to the ( ).

anybody else have any good searching techniques?


Title: Re: eBay Tip
Post by: Shadow Kisuragi on July 05, 2012, 02:37:19 PM
eBay has an API...you could always find an existing program or write up your own little application to notify you once something meets your search parameters on a timed interval, in case you care about BIN auctions.


Title: Re: eBay Tip
Post by: Sirgin on July 05, 2012, 02:51:00 PM
Heh, I thought that was common knowledge. I always search for things on eBay like that. Especially for computer related things. If you just search for "keyboard" for example, you'll get a million results for junk like keyboard protectors, replacement laptop keyboards, cellphone keyboards, etc...

I ocassionally do the same thing on Google.


Title: Re: eBay Tip
Post by: Hungrymoose on July 05, 2012, 02:57:55 PM
eBay has an API...you could always find an existing program or write up your own little application to notify you once something meets your search parameters on a timed interval, in case you care about BIN auctions.
That would be cool but since I know balls about programming I'm outta luck. lol

@Sirgin I'm frequently the last to know things.


Title: Re: eBay Tip
Post by: RobotCowhand on July 05, 2012, 03:14:33 PM
I didn't know about the multiple terms within the brackets. Very useful.


Title: Re: eBay Tip
Post by: Crabmaster2000 on July 05, 2012, 04:31:04 PM
eBay has an API...you could always find an existing program or write up your own little application to notify you once something meets your search parameters on a timed interval, in case you care about BIN auctions.
That would be cool but since I know balls about programming I'm outta luck. lol

@Sirgin I'm frequently the last to know things.

You are second last to know this time. I was completely unaware and super psyched to give it a go next time. Thanks moose!


Title: Re: eBay Tip
Post by: BadEnoughDude on July 05, 2012, 05:08:38 PM
I used to have several searches like this saved, but they mysteriously disappeared one day. I never bothered to remake them.

Super slick, though. REALLY helps weed through a good chunk of the junk that people post.


Title: Re: eBay Tip
Post by: techwizard on July 05, 2012, 06:39:08 PM
i just normally use the filters on the left, that usually gets rid of most of the junk


Title: Re: eBay Tip
Post by: Hungrymoose on July 05, 2012, 08:02:49 PM
i just normally use the filters on the left, that usually gets rid of most of the junk
The thing with that is that you have to click on each filter.  That gets annoying after a while. :D


Title: Re: eBay Tip
Post by: techwizard on July 06, 2012, 12:43:33 AM
good point XD