Is there any way to turn off "so we searched in all categories"?

[whitewingtrading]

The "0 results found in (category), so we searched in all categories" is INCREDIBLY annoying. At the moment I am searching for a particular bicycle frame, which is quite uncommon, so there is very seldom a result in the bicycle frames category. However the name is very commonly used elsewhere. So every time I get this "so we searched in all categories" and get a flood of irrelevancies. And I can't even save the search because when I do it doesn't save the search in the bicycle frames category, but the all categories search.

Any way to fix this utterly broken system?

[pocomocomputing]

What were the keywords used?

Did you use advanced search in eBay? Sometimes it makes a difference.

Last, I find if I use Google advanced search with the domain eBay.com selected, I get items to appear that never appear in eBay erratic search engine. You may have to use - remove keywords in the search that do not apply.

[owlgebra]

There's no way within eBay settings themselves, so you'd have to use some method that changes the URL, either manually or automatically, so that &_rusck=1&_arr=1 is part of the URL.  A less technical thing you can do is make a search, click the "Return to orignal search", and save in your Favorites/Bookmarks.

[whitewingtrading]

Thanks. I finally defeated it by using advanced search and including completed listings, which turned up one result, so the search didn't feel compelled to find me watches and tableware instead which was a relief.

[tht707]

This is definitely one of the most annoying "features" of the new interface.

I am amazed at how little eBay seems to care for the users' experience about the usability of their site, given the volume of auctions and sales they host.

[femmefan1946]

On the third hand, the Other search may find items that were not put in the correct category, either on purpose (avoid!) or accidentally (some good bargains there).

This is a glass half full sort of day.

“There are, it has been said, two types of people in the world. There are those who, when presented with a glass that is exactly half full, say: this glass is half full. And then there are those who say: this glass is half empty.

The world belongs, however, to those who can look at the glass and say: What's up with this glass? Excuse me? Excuse me? This is my glass? I don't think so. My glass was full! And it was a bigger glass! Who's been pinching my beer?

And at the other end of the bar the world is full of the other type of person, who has a broken glass, or a glass that has been carelessly knocked over (usually by one of the people calling for a larger glass) or who had no glass at all, because he was at the back of the crowd and had failed to catch the barman's eye. ”
― Terry Pratchett, The Truth