Waxy.org is the sandbox of eBay offers the option of e-mailing new results of saved searches, but they're very sporadic and incomplete. Instead, I whipped up a PHP script that queries eBay for a set of keywords and converts it to an RSS feed for syndication, allowing you to subscribe to recent eBay search results ordered by date or high bids. The code is here. (Just rename it to ebayrss.php and drop it somewhere on your own webserver.)
You can test it out for a short time on my server, but this is a very temporary demonstration. Please don't abuse it.
By the way, I don't see why developers should have to pay the ridiculous fees for the eBay API, especially when augmenting eBay's own broken functionality and developing free software that makes them money.
July 8, 2003: eBay removed the Javascript array that I was parsing to gather the auction data... I don't have the time to modify the script, but please feel free to e-mail me a patch, and I'll post it here.
December 28, 2003: The script is fixed, but eBay may eventually break it again. It's broken again.
April 12, 2004: This script is no longer maintained. I recommend FreeBiddingTools.com, which hosts RSS feeds for eBay searches.
August 19, 2004: RSS Auction is a new site that does the same thing, in a much more flexible way. Go use it.
10:17 PM
And thousands of ebay addicts were never heard from again.
I am so tempted to drop a link to this entry over on some of the excessive knitting boards, where people routinely start bitchslapping fights over bargain-priced mohair auctions.
7:04 AM
Sweet! I'm tempted to modify it, store several differnt searches on my server and slam the rss feed in my handy-dandy rss aggregator so I can keep up on the latest "stuff I need" on ebay. I don't think my wife would appreciate that. =)
7:30 AM
I'm not really a PHP guru, so any improvements are welcome. All the heavy lifting for the script is handled by one regex that pulls all the relevant auction information out of a Javascript array on eBay's auction listing page.
1:52 PM
oooohhh, ok a javascript array. I just now looked at the code in detail, and I was like "hey! where is he getting this stuff???". Now that you say that and I look at the ebay soure it makes sense now. =)
1:05 AM
If the script does not work on your server, you may need to declare the variables in the new fashion:
if ($_GET['search']) {
$sort = $_GE['sort'] ? $sort : 'MetaNewSort';
$rss = parse_html($_GET['search'], $sort);
(Affects those who have global variables turned off)
6:14 PM
You did a great job with this script. I hope to piss my host off by using it excessively.
6:36 AM
is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that the results returned are for auctions that have ended? even when i ask for 'newly listed' i get auctions that have ended 7 days ago.
6:47 AM
update: nevermind, it's just using the 'start date' as the ending date. my bad.
4:55 PM
Is there any way to get this script to search completed auctions? I would like to see what I should be paying for stuff.
12:46 AM
how about adding the following:
ability to specify the number of results returned
ability to store the data in mysql
1:11 PM
THANKS ALOT: I am enjoying the Ebay feed from someone else who is generous enough to share it. I cannot get it to work. Was wondering if you have any idiot proof instructions.
REQUEST: AN Ebay feed by User ID. THis way I can monitor my auctions so I know when they are bid on. PLEASE!
6:54 AM
I tried your program it was working for few days but stop to genrating out-put today (07-06-03).
It fitch the correct content, but there is nothing in the out-put string.
I think the problem is in this line;
if (preg_match ("/eLn/", $line)) {
Please explain what are you seeking in the $line ?
Thanks
John Slater
11:04 AM
I hope someone fixes this excellent script soon.
7:16 PM
Has anyone run across the "dSI" function? Please comment http://www.stanford.edu/~torque/blog/archives/000142.html#more, any ideas are much appreciated. Let's get this thing working again.
6:34 AM
Nice idea, but it doesn't work anymore :(
11:45 AM
very interesting...many people on ebay are using it to make a living
2:34 PM
I seem to be getting the dSI pages if I add the 2 following headers to the HTTP Request:
wc.Headers.Add("User-Agent", "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT
5.1; .NET CLR 1.1.4322; .NET CLR 1.0.3705)")
wc.Headers.Add("Cookie", "ebay=js/1; lucky9=241756; search=Set-Cookie:
search=st2; minMax=; keepmesignin=in; Listing=itemtime1; etfc=1; count=1")
4:51 AM
This Script doesn't work. Even on my server. Why?
7:08 AM
11:47 AM
Has anyone fix the script to make a working version?
9:55 AM
Any update on this? I need to link tickest to my site, thanks so much!
12:26 AM
Well, I think we should be a bit more patient till the script will be fixed... :)
6:12 AM
I wonder how long we should be waiting for this script to be fixed?
We are all expecting for your soon results!
3:55 PM
I wonder if there is an xml feed that will link to eBay and allow my visitors to see actual auctions that they can click on? Not sure if I worded it correctly, but any assistance would be great! Thanks JC
2:28 AM
I'm using this dSI. It exists in the results page however you send the eBay cookies (for example, if you visit www.ebay.com and then the search results, dSI exists, if not, is all HTML, no JS).
7:32 PM
Check this ebayrss.php script from http://www.2rss.com/software.php?page=ebayrss . It's freeware and documented.
9:52 AM
We have created a simple eBay RSS feed for those who just want the RSS results. Simply enter any keyword search and an RSS feed will be generated.
1:02 PM
I've just developed a new site to create custom RSS scripts. Very reliable, updated every two hours. Create and save a custom search. Then, choose to receive your results via email or an rss feed. The site is http://www.powertothebuyer.com. We are an eBay Certified Application.
2:48 AM
Hi I like powertothebuyer - we also have eBay RSS feeds on http://www.snapsearch.com. rgs devendra
11:34 AM
Easy to use custom ebay search delivered in rss. http://ebayrss.getitdaddy.com
7:53 AM
re. RSS Auction - does anyone know if it's good for lesser techies that want to have an eBay affil id - or does it only provide their id - for them to get commission?
11:06 AM
RSSAUCTION.COM is the best. However, they are down ALOT. They have been down for at least 5 days now. I am switching to ebayrss.getitdaddy.com, which is the second best out there.
10:13 AM
We just launched our site, MarketGizmos (http://www.marketgizmos.com) that creates numerous types of eBay RSS feeds including search results, featured items and hot items. We have been certified by eBay as an eBay Certified Application as well.
8:49 PM
My site at www.quickfeeds.com has an RSS feed creator that shows items from your eBay account, including items you are bidding on and items in your watchlist.
2:31 AM
having problems running ebay keeps coming up with lucky 9 please set cookie i have no idea what this means been intouch with e bay help (long winded) thay said i have to mamy old cookies on my computer, deleted these and still have the problem.ebay cant help any more this has been going on for a month now can any one help me
9:37 PM
Saved Search Pro does the same thing, but it allows you to make much more in the way of refinements to your searches, drilling the category structure, using item specifics, and even multi-selected values. Check it out here.
6:49 PM
Hello all.
Here is a good question for the group.
Is there a line of code, html, java, etc. that I can put in my eBay listing that will make
the listing come up on the first page of search results rather then the 30th page? LOL!
3:11 PM
The script is working good but is only displaying 1 result is there a way to make it display lets say 20 results?
Jim
4:14 PM
I'll pay you to get this working. Ebay's RSS feed is hosed and I use it all day long for work. You interested in helping?