Welcome to Finding on eBay!

Before you begin looking for what you want, it’s helpful to know some basic information about finding on eBay.

• Finding – Basic Steps

• Key Concepts about Finding Items on eBay

• Where to Learn More about Finding Items

Finding – basic steps

No matter what you’re looking for, your journey will start in one of two ways: by searching or browsing. Learning how to effectively search and browse will make your finding experience more pleasant. The basic steps for finding an item on eBay are:

• Step 1: Search or browse.

• Step 2: Review your results.

• Step 3: Narrow your results.

• Step 4: Select and view the item page.

Step 1: Search or browse
To begin finding items on eBay, you need to decide whether you want to search or browse. Each method has its advantages, depending on what you’re looking for.

Search
If you’re looking for a specific item, searching can help you find it fast. When you search on eBay, you enter two or three descriptive words about the item into a search box, and you receive search results that match those words. Searching also offers sophisticated options and commands that allow you to narrow your search in a variety of ways.

To start searching, do any of the following:

• To quickly start searching, visit eBay's Home page, type two or three words that describe the item you are looking for in the search box, and click the Search button. For example, to search for a DVD player, type new DVD player and click Search or press the Enter key.

  Note: Pressing the Enter or Return key on your keyboard does the same thing as clicking the Search button.

• To see different ways you can search on eBay, see Using Search Options.

• To learn some tips for searching, see Tips for Searching.

• If you’re comfortable using more advanced search options, see Search Commands.

• If you still can't find what you're looking for, tell millions of sellers what you want by creating a Want It Now posting.

Browse
If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, or if you just want to window-shop or scroll through items, browsing is the way to go. When you browse on eBay, you click through categories and lists of items, exploring as you go, until you find something you're interested in. Learn about the different ways to browse.

Step 2: Review your results
When you search and browse for items, you get a list of results that includes a lot of information about each item. Learning about your search or browse results will help you understand what you are seeing.

Step 3: Narrow your results
Searching and browsing on eBay can sometimes be overwhelming due to the large number of items found. You can reduce the number of items in your search or browse results by using tabs, lists, links, and other options to filter and sort the information. Learning how to manage your search or browse results will help you find exactly what you’re looking for. Learn about narrowing your results.

Step 4: Select and view the item page
You can click on an item title to see the seller’s listing displayed on an item page. The item page shows you not only details about the item, but also contains important information about shipping and payment. You can also learn about the seller’s reputation and how your purchase is protected. After you read the listing you can keep looking through your search list, or decide to bid on or buy the item. Learn more about the item page.

Key points about finding items on eBay

When finding items on eBay, keep in mind the following:

• eBay includes thousands of items, so finding what you want can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. You can save time finding what you want by using search options and search commands to make your search more precise and saving your Favorite Searches.

• Sellers list items on eBay, and sellers think differently. When searching for an item, try to think of the different ways a seller might list the item. For example, think of different keywords for an item like sofa, sectional, or couch; different spellings for a description of an item like gray and grey; or even common misspellings for an item like setee instead of settee. Learn more by reading Tips for Searching.

• Use the eBay resources that are available for helping you find an item, including different search options, search commands, and tips for searching.

Where to learn more about finding items

To learn more about finding items on eBay:

• Visit the eBay Learning Center and take the Successful Searching Audio Tour.

• Connect with other buyers from the eBay Community.