eBay Search Autocorrect Gone Wild
UPDATE 3-14-23
Major disruptions to eBay's search functionality are ongoing with @askeBay telling impacted customers it's a "known technical issue."
Hey there 👋 This is actually a site wide issue that our IT team are working on at the moment. If you'd like us to add you to our open ticket, just pop us a DM with some example screenshots. Thanks so much! ~ Jessica
— Ask eBay (@AskeBay) March 14, 2023
This issue has also been added to the list of ongoing technical issues in the eBay community.
Multiple members reported issue with search as the keywords getting autocorrected (March 13, 2023)
Reference ID: ALERT14516
Provide Member ID:
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eBay buyers are frustrated by autocorrect running wild in search and returning inaccurate results.
I'm trying to search for an item that isn't common, and the app is changing my search terms to something else when I type it. Very frustrating. Is there a way to turn this off?
Someone messed with the autocorrect feature on the eBay app, and this person should straight up be fired. I physically CANNOT search certain terms. Ex: It’s turning “athleta Cabo shorts” to “athleta camo shorts” and you can’t change it back. the available listings supposedly show both, but when you go to sold it shows the autocorrected keywords. Second ex: “figs salta” to “fig salt” so instead of a scrub top I’m seeing flavored salts. It was even annoying before, but I get it. Now it’s impeding on my abilities as a seller, and it needs to be fixed asap.
I search for bailey zappe and it auto corrected to bailey zapper I can't veiw newly listed or ending soonest
When I type in the name of a basketball player it automatically switches and therefore I can't go to buy it now or auction because it will switch to the other person that I'm not searching for does anyone know about how to stop this from happening or how I can get a hold of a real person that works with eBay not them just relying on other customers to do their job
I don't understand what eBay is doing with autocorrecting search keywords. As an example, if I search for Matty Beniers rc, it changes to Matty Benier. Then if I try to change the filter to newly listed to save a search, it changes to Matty Bender evertime. Finally if I try and use quotes, I will only get 1 result when there are many. I don't understand what eBay is doing, let us search on what we want.
Buyers have also been tagging @askeBay on Twitter what is going on with autocorrected search results.
@AskeBay the search automatically adjusts the title from Colas to Colts and when I want to click on Oscar Colas auto it doesn’t work, any ideas? pic.twitter.com/1mZYy6RPob
— Amichai (@Kicky80) March 12, 2023
WTH @eBay, the auto correct (to the wrong name) while I’m searching on my phone is making me crazy! Why is this happening? I can’t be the only one this is happening to!@CardPurchaser
— Bill Enck (@camdensgoneyard) March 12, 2023
@AskeBay Your autocorrect keeps changing specific search terms like names and does not allow a manual override. This is new and a terrible feature that is preventing people from finding the items they are looking for. It hurts both buyers and sellers. It needs to be fixed ASAP pic.twitter.com/DlzSEsjWwC
— Caffeinated (@Disgruntled_vot) March 12, 2023
While searching on ebay now, @eBay will change your search term or add a suggested similar term!? WTF @AskeBay !?!?!? Example: I’m looking for mousketoy (very specific, limited # of listings) but ebay shows me those + mouse toy, 82,000 results to scroll thru! Why can’t it B easy!
— jennifer hanson (@gopherpuckfan) March 12, 2023
When I do an @eBay search for "Widespread Panic DPAC," I get a message saying you searched for that AND "Widespread Panic DAC" (whatever that is!). Why add a second search I didn't enter? Worse yet, when switching to completed listings, it ONLY searches the "DAC" search! @AskeBay pic.twitter.com/ysWmSoL4Jl
— less than three records (@RecordsLess) March 11, 2023
If you're experiencing problems with getting accurate results from eBay search, you can put quotes around any word in the search and it should force eBay to search the specific keywords entered without any substitution.
Are your eBay searches being autocorrected to incorrect terms, returning inaccurate results? Let us know in the comments below!
As many of the items I sell are £10 or less, this makes it not worth the bother and I'll probably have to give it away to the charity shop.
Add that to the "buyer protection" fee they've added on - and the costs are making it untenable for people trying to clear the house, or make a few bob from old bits and pieces. Not happy at all and there doesn't seem to be a way of opting out.
The sooner these sleazebags at the top can be got rid of, or some community-run buy/sell/swap sites come up - the better. We don't need ebay.