Help Searching On Ebay

Oh of course bobby131313, I should have done that. In my example I originally had one neg, and after previewing it I cut and pasted a couple more. Still works anyway.

To smoothen the code as per Bobby:

(1695*,1696*,1697*,1698*,1699*,1700*,1701*,1702*,"$1 loon","$2 polar","$5 moose","$8 grizzly","$1 deer","$1 walrus","$2 falcon","$2 horse") -(flag,flags,"maple leaf",atm) +canada

Bee See, My apologies, it does avoid categories.

Bobby, thanks good tip indeed.

I agree about the useless wasted space lot number business but sellers running businesses that have to report to Revenue Canada or the IRS or some such entity do have to keep their books in order for them and lot numbers are a easy but confusing way to do it. For them. For searchers it is maddening.

I do not use lot numbers. I divide each months sales into it's own database (my limited knowledge of databases comes into play here) so even if I use a similar title the date will keep it all separate.

The revenuers do want and like things to be sorted by day and month anyway.

Another point, the space allowed for a title on ebay is limiting to sellers for describing their stamp items. I do wish ebay would increase the length of title allowed like on their rival DelCampe, thus increasing the chances of a better described item or at least an item title that has more terms to search for in it.

Simple is nice and maybe most people don't read a long title but it sure does help when searching. If one person searches for letter and another only searches for cover and a third searches for a strange term like Missive then a seller needs to, in order to reach a wide as possible an audience, include many terms in his titles. Simple eh?

So, if the title is only so long because people don't read past the forth word or something like that then . . .oh bother. I think I should start up my own ebay and hire Bobby. Probably too late.

The Pond, aka The Puzzler's Pond, the New place to Find what you need!

edit: typos and abbreviations

Puzzler, you are right about the limited space ebay has in the description field. That is what makes useless wasted space lot numbers some sellers add so useless, they are taking away valuable real estate that should be helping, not hindering the searcher. I remember one seller who had his own lot number AND user I.D. in his description - I sent him a scathing email!

I work with databases and programming: it is so simple to keep track: Use the ebay assigned number! And as you said Puzzler, add your own number if you like in your own database!

Whew!
Is SCF the place, or not?

There has been substantial effort in this thread, and I would like
to thank Puzzler, Ryan and everybody else.
Fantastic and very much appreciated.

Thanks Rod and Bee See and Bobby amd Ryan, I am always learning and it is good to see other viewpoints. Broadens one's appreciation of what is possible.

Thank you also to this forum for being here.

Who knew that such an innocent(?) question would produce this response. Thanks all. Most informative, and I think that now I will have a better idea of how to search.