choice eBay Searches.

mclemore

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One of my strong interests is eBay searching, and the optimization thereof. I have had a private application for several years that I've invested tens of thousands of dollars in that does all sorts of eBay magic for me. I'm probably going to release it for everyone to use within the next few months. But first I want to optimize/improve upon it. So before I show it off ( ace.com/iam/ was based on a VERY small portion of it), I want to learn how everyone here searches eBay.

Take a look at the KLOV Labs - eBay Searches Page. It has a couple simple searches to things like "prototype" games, or games from the 1970's.

What other searches bring up treasures on eBay?

Thanks,

Greg
 
I search for misspelled game titles.

If you had a dictionary of common misspelled titles like tubin/toobin/tubing etc., it could run a search on all 3. This may not be the best example, but you get the idea.
smile.gif
 
Heh... but that'd take away our deals!
wink.gif
Actually, I check for misspellings, wrong section (especially vintage games), and searching for games listed as "arcade game" or "stand up video game", etc...

DogP
 
Somehow the eBay browse feature is broken at the moment. Very odd. I'm out of town and will fix it on Monday.

But that's why the report has not been updated since the 19th.

Greg
 
You should get rid of the adclick stuff. That's not exactly honest, making us click a link that credits you with an ad click and potentially opens us up to spyware/adware in the process. Link it directly to ebay.
 
prOk…in short, and as polite as possible, your message makes both an inaccurate and unnecessary accusation (questioning my honestly) and statement (suggesting the links are potentially dangerous).

Yes, the links do credit KLOV with incoming traffic to eBay. eBay uses the intermediate URL to tell where the traffic came from. If a sale results, eBay contributes back a small fee.

The link-tracking system you see was designed by Ebay in conjunction with ValueClick/CJ, one of the oldest, largest, and most reputable ad networks. It does NOT "potentially open (users) up to spyware/adware in the process". The links ARE official links to eBay, and thus are as reputable as eBay itself. Additionally, I would figure you would find the KLOV and WebMagic reputable, since you have been an active message board member for three and a half years. There are also some simple javascript techniques that could be used to make the complex URL link look like a simpler one.

No code is installed on your computer when you use the tool or the links, no pop-up box asks you if it is 'OK' to install something. If we (eBay and us) wanted to be sneaky or "not exactly honest", we could have hidden tracking information inside third-party cookies and had simpler URL links. The web browser cookie system does have some hardly-known ways to set third-party cookies on a web browser without creating an error or warning message and without being automatically blocked.

Our search reports are a win-win-win process. Our visitors get 'smart searching' in a way that doesn't exist on eBay. eBay gets more exposure to itself and to listings. And the KLOV gets a small amount of extra revenue to help build-out more features.

WebMagic has over a decade of experience working with ad networks. Our size allows us direct access to the best ones, and we don't work with unknown, unnecessary, and disreputable resellers or middleman (which is where many problems on the web tend to come from).

We only work with the top 1% of companies, like Yahoo and eBay. I have a personal relationship with both Yahoo and eBay and have personally spoken to –several- staff members -from each- as recently as last week.

We don't sell info to spammers, we don't send you to automatic unrequested pop-up hell, and we think there is a special very hot place in the afterlife for purveyors of spyware/adware.

The KLOV site has traditionally lost on average about $1000 /month (mostly in hired labor to process submissions). Some months cost twice that, some nothing. I would like to see it be simply self-sufficient and break-even. Minor revenue contributions, plus an upcoming improved system to let volunteers help with the KLOV should allow the KLOV to be largely self-sufficient (hopefully within the next 6 months). The revenue isn't why I created the eBay search report system--I've been using an enhanced version of it for myself for years. If eBay is willing to contribute $ for sending traffic to them that we would send them anyway, it's a plus.
 
I second these comments. you simply can't be an Ebay affiliat without using CJ (comission junction).


Almost got a job there 6 years ago. Wow they've grown!
 
Sorry if my post came off negative, but anything that is going to involuntarily track my actions (don't tell me it doesn't, i'm aware of the program as well) or puts money in someone else's pocket without telling me I am aprehensive of. If you do something that does either of those things, put a disclaimer on the page, just good web practice. If you tell me that clicking here is an 'advertisement' link then at least I know up front what is going on.. i'm not going directly to where the link says, i'm being rerouted somewhere along the way that could be tracking any number of things.. This is the part that if not made public that I view as somewhat dishonest and not being a good web citizen. There's enough tracking crap going on without having to deal with it at a video game site too. Look at almost any of those search links, draw out the final url that it points you to, and you do not need the adfarm stuff to get there, it's not required by anything.

I work for a pretty big company myself, but just because someone's big doesn't make it acceptable behavior. Just be up front about it.
 
I wish that there was a way to find out and sort by distance.

Even the people that don't put locations or stupid locations that don't make any sense to anyone but them.

-Tim
 
Our upcoming eBay utility that allows everyone to set up their own saved searches does what you are looking for. The real distance based magic is a couple months out though.

Greg
 
I search for misspelled game titles.

If you had a dictionary of common misspelled titles like tubin/toobin/tubing etc., it could run a search on all 3. This may not be the best example, but you get the idea.
smile.gif

missle command, Space dual ... I have seen them alot.

Dave
 
I look for mispelled as well. I just found a Ms Pacman on ebay. The guy never mentioned arcade in the auctions, mispelled cocktail tabel as "cocktable", and they but Mrs instead of Ms through the auction. Plus he put it in the vintage games like the home NES and atari systems. Got it for $300, which I didnt think was a bad deal.
 
I'm working on the distance thing right now.

In the mean time, I put up an eBay misspelling checker.

Ace.com IAM/KLOV page

Do a search for "Star Wars" and you will find hundreds of people that spell it wrong. Many city names are misspelled too. The video game section actually looks relatively clean.

Is there anything else anyone can suggest to make eBay searching better?

Greg
 
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