h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Is there a way to search all of eBay for items? I want to see everything which is 'ending soonest.'

I believe it can be done, but I'm curious as to why you want to search *everything.* The list og thngs ending soon might include piles of manure, 200-ton steamships, ladies' nightgowns, cracked teapots, etc. Wouldn't it make more sense to go through the categories one by one and select "ending soonest" for each one?

Have you never looked in the 'bargain' section of a real-life shop? The 'search' criteria there is the price, not the category. I want to do the same with eBay, because there might be any number of things I would like that I might never even think of; novel birthday ideas, unexpected innovations, bands I'd forgotten about.

I would also like to search 'everything' by 'closest first'. Maybe if there's a new car, collection of houseplants or greenhouse on my doorstep, I'd be tempted to nip out and get them.

you can buy bands?!

My resident ebayer says that it is possible, but she's little unclear as to how. Would leaving the search box empty and then clicking the search button work?


Geggs

I've just done a bit of digging, and it isn't actually possible.

The nearest solution is that you can view whole categories at a time. Leave the search box empty, select a category, and hit search. You can then re-order the list to see the item which is ending soonest in that category. If you then select another category that sort order should stay in place.

I know it's not the answer you wanted, but it's the nearest available solution, I think.


Geggs

As someone who has used ebay twice, I can be classed as a complete novice. Sometimes this is best when you're looking for a feature as you have no preconceived notions of where it should be.

That said, I didn't find that feature.

However, I think I can take Geggs's idea slightly further. Once you've left the search box empty and hit search, and it's brought the list of categories, scroll down to the bottom of the page. Over on the right click on See Item Counts. Up near the top you should now have some drop-down options. Under Format select Auction Items and under Listings select Ending within 5 hours. You still have your category listing but you can see how many items under each category are ending in the next 5 hours. At least it narrows it down a bit.

Although actually, now I've tried both methods, there's not much in it!

Deb