What's a good way to find miscategorized items on eBay?

[lpbk2713]

To be specific, items that could have been posted in a better location on eBay more pertinent to the category under which the item is being offered. For an example, a computer hard drive being sold under 'Consumer Electronics' instead of 'Computers and Networking' just to give the general idea of what I'm referring to. Seems like I have heard of a website before that gives links to items like this. What I'm thinking is, if these items aren't listed where the people who would be looking for them might find them, then they would probably sell for a very low price. Thanks in advance for your help.

[Duer 157099]

1. The best way is just time, patience and creative thinking

It takes a long time though. Any automated tool that you find is going to use algorithms that are somewhat obvious, but it'd be a good starting point. I know of one tool that specifically looks for mispellings (I don't have a link, it's been years since I used it and forgot about it, but I bet Google can find it for you)

Also, it depends of the category of item. Lately I've been immersed in design and trying to find unmarked works by various designers, and the only way to find them is to look at their functional description or a visual description. And in both cases, I need to put myself in other shoes and think about how someone would describe something if they didn't know what it was.

Don't forget to liberally (because we are liberal, afterall) use the "-" sign in your searches, so you're searching for items that "don't* contain the obvious key words. That's also a very good strategy.

This problem has gotten so much worse over the years because ebay has added so many categories, and with higher fees, people are reluctant to list in multiple categories, so it really is a crap shoot sometimes as to where they'll list stuff. Do your search, and then look for the category that has the fewest results and go check those out.

I hope some others will chime in with other tips they might have.

Although, be aware that DU is best buddies with the google, so bear in mind that things posted here can become very visible to the rest of the non-DU world.

[Whoa_Nelly]

2. Chiming in :-)

Also, consider using the * at he end of one of the search terms, without completing the full spelling of the word.
It sets the search to wildcard, such as entering the terms vintage luggage croc* (for crocodile)
I use the * and unfinished spelling because many times sellers are poor spellers.

I also use the wildcard * instead of a plural ending for an item so I get the most hits, both singular and plural.
I expand the "more categories" at the bottom of the left frame area, and go in to each category that may have a connection to the item (Example: a vase could be found under Antiques, Art, Home and Garden, Collectibles, Pottery and Glass, Everything Else.)

As dotcosm said, it takes time and patience.
I went on an almost weekly search over a 4-year period to find a doll I had given away to Toys For Tots when I was 10.
I not only found the doll, but it was MY doll! She had the blue pen mark on her forehead, and the little bite mark from me on one of her hands. I had had her since age 3, and a couple of times took my little girl frustrations out on her (pen poke on forehead, bite mark on hand.) I asked the seller where she found her. Turns out my donation had gone to a little girl who kept her all those years until selling her in a garage sale to the eBay seller from whom I bought her.

So, the upshot of all this is: be patient, be creative, and keep looking. :hi:

[Duer 157099]

3. Whoa Nelly, what a story!

That's amazing!! Inspires me now to go looking for all the childhood things that I wish I had back now, lol.

Also, good point on the use of the * - I use it alot too, mostly because *I'm* the poor speller, lol

[grasswire]

4. amazing

Someone ought to write a book of stories about this kind of sentimental aspect to eBay. A very sweet story indeed!

And what about the painted plate, Dotcosm? Any update on that story?

[Whoa_Nelly]

5. And you, grasswire! Any luck on Garland Studios?

Have been searching using the info you posted about that vase mark. Not in Lehner's, not in Kovel's Marks, but am going to look into my Kovel's price guide books (have 4 of'em.)

Can you post a pic of the vase and the mark? :hi:

[grasswire]

7. I'm having some camera troubles

It's not a really significant piece, just a pretty little painted thing. No luck finding the maker or the studio, which is odd, I think.

[Duer 157099]

6. Well, I got the book and started reading it

but didn't come up with any pertinent reference from a first scan through, so I need to look more carefully before ruling it out.

I have a huge list of dangling mysteries, lol -- I pick ones off the list periodically to revisit, then put it back down and so on. It's a process. And this section of DU is sort of the repository I use for when I resume research on something, which I why I post so much here :D