Search Terms

[CasualGroove]

As a shopper, how do you search and exclude words from the results?

I'm trying to search lighted signs and want to exclude neon signs. When I search "lighted signs" -neon, all I get is neon signs.

[ChillwolfArt]

I never searched using the minus sign.  But I remember seeing posts about it, and I thought the way you stated above is the way it was supposed to work.  But I'm getting De Ja Vu about seeing some posts state that it used to work that way, but no longer does.  (Let me see if I can find something).

[ChillwolfArt]

Here you go.  Looks like the minus sign hasn't worked in a long time.

https://community.etsy.com/t5/Technical-Issues/Using-the-minus-sign-in-front-of-a-word-no-longer-wor...

[BagmakerSupply]

@CasualGroove: As @ChillwolfArt mentioned, search modifiers such as the plus and minus signs seem to not work for some time. Besides, it appears that search now returns what it thinks you really want not necessarily what you are actually searching for.

[ThePurplePuppy]

Minus signs do not work. I figured this out years ago--I think it changed maybe oh--10 years ago? I do remember the change happened when they bought that search engine that I think was called "Blackbird"?

[C20Ceramics]

Use google to search for items on Etsy, not etsy search which will give your mostly irrelevant results. 

[ChristmasIsLove]

@C20Ceramics Here's the problem with using Google to find items on Etsy: If you end up buying from a seller you find via Google, the seller may be charged for an offsite ad, for any item you buy from them and for the next 30 days. I never click on Etsy links in Google and never use Google to search for Etsy items for that reason. Same for all other browsers/search platforms.

[C20Ceramics]

@ChristmasIsLove possible....but the Ads are always identified as such .....even though many wont care. Using Etsy search there is not much of a chance you will find what you are looking for  

[AmbleBooks]

Try sorting by "price", not the default "relevancy".

[OmasFabricStash]

I remember searching for Christmas bath towels last year. I tried a number of places, even google. I was hoping to get just Christmas bath towels or 2 out of 3 words. Nope, any item that had 1 of those words in it showed up. I got a bunch of Christmas decorations, some nice bath tubs, and everything from hand towels to beach towels. 
Search seems to not really work any place. I want Christmas bath towels. What part of that make them think I want a bath tub or fake Christmas trees?  
Rant over, I’m going to get some more coffee. Thank you for listening.