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Anyone know how to force Google, Amazon, et al to search for my exact search term?

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  • Anyone know how to force Google, Amazon, et al to search for my exact search term?

    So, I've noticed that whenever I search for something online, I get results for a lot of irrelevant stuff. I can't put my search term in quotes to force it to look for exact matches only. That used to work but doesn't anymore. I can't even put a minus sign in front of a word to exclude matches with that word. Earlier today I tried to use Google shopping to search for behentrimonium chloride but kept getting results for behentrimonium methosulfate instead. So I searched for ["behentrimonium chloride" -methosulfate] and still got results that were primarily behentrimonium methosulfate. It's infuriating. On Amazon, I was looking for a very specific soy wax formulation from a specific manufacturer who gives their products a number designation, and using a search term that includes a number will return results that have any random number in it, not just the one you search for. AAARRRGGH.

    So, what am I missing? How do I force searches to give me only the results I ask for? I used to be able to put things in quotes but I don't remember the last time that worked.
    Curiosity never hurt anyone. It was stupidity that killed the cat.

  • #2
    After searching in quotes, do you get a message saying "searching instead for xxx, search only for xxx?"

    I get that often when I am searching for something similar to a more common search term. Look for that message and see if you can tell it to search for what you wrote.

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    • #3
      This is what I got

      search.jpg

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      • #4
        Originally posted by Ronson View Post
        This is what I got

        search.jpg
        When you click on the shopping tab, what do you see?

        ETA: BTMS is behentrimonium methosulfate. I get mostly results for BTMS.
        Last edited by QuantaFille; 10-06-2020, 07:16 PM.
        Curiosity never hurt anyone. It was stupidity that killed the cat.

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        • #5
          Originally posted by Ronson View Post
          After searching in quotes, do you get a message saying "searching instead for xxx, search only for xxx?"

          I get that often when I am searching for something similar to a more common search term. Look for that message and see if you can tell it to search for what you wrote.
          I usually only see that if I've misspelled something.
          Curiosity never hurt anyone. It was stupidity that killed the cat.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by QuantaFille View Post
            So, I've noticed that whenever I search for something online, I get results for a lot of irrelevant stuff. I can't put my search term in quotes to force it to look for exact matches only. That used to work but doesn't anymore. I can't even put a minus sign in front of a word to exclude matches with that word. Earlier today I tried to use Google shopping to search for behentrimonium chloride but kept getting results for behentrimonium methosulfate instead. So I searched for ["behentrimonium chloride" -methosulfate] and still got results that were primarily behentrimonium methosulfate. It's infuriating. On Amazon, I was looking for a very specific soy wax formulation from a specific manufacturer who gives their products a number designation, and using a search term that includes a number will return results that have any random number in it, not just the one you search for. AAARRRGGH.

            So, what am I missing? How do I force searches to give me only the results I ask for? I used to be able to put things in quotes but I don't remember the last time that worked.
            Try using Google's advanced search: https://www.google.com/advanced_search

            <edit>
            Sorry, I didn't notice that you were referring specifically to google shopping.

            The answer to your question might be to use the regular google search engine, with the term: products using "behentrimonium chloride"

            Last edited by Stoic; 10-06-2020, 07:40 PM.

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            • #7
              1.jpg
              2.jpg

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              • #8
                Interesting. I get the same results whether I search for behentrimonium chloride or behentrimonium methosulfate

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                • #9
                  I could lend you The Pin™.


                  Securely anchored to the Rock amid every storm of trial, testing or tribulation.

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Stoic View Post

                    Try using Google's advanced search: https://www.google.com/advanced_search
                    All that seems to do is add the quote marks for me.

                    When I use it in Google shopping, I get a single result for chloride, a single result for BTMS, and LOADS of results for what I'm guessing are finished products that contain this as an ingredient.
                    Curiosity never hurt anyone. It was stupidity that killed the cat.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by mossrose View Post
                      I could lend you The Pin™.
                      That might work!
                      Curiosity never hurt anyone. It was stupidity that killed the cat.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Stoic View Post

                        Try using Google's advanced search: https://www.google.com/advanced_search

                        <edit>
                        Sorry, I didn't notice that you were referring specifically to google shopping.

                        The answer to your question might be to use the regular google search engine, with the term: products using "behentrimonium chloride"
                        I don't want products that use it. I want to purchase behentrimonium chloride by itself (with whatever kind of alcohol it's normally blended with). I have several varieties of BTMS already in different concentrations, and it's not the same thing.

                        And none of this addresses Amazon, which has a particularly awful search algorithm. Once, when looking for cold brew coffee brewing systems, I got a search result for windshield washing fluid for airplanes.
                        Curiosity never hurt anyone. It was stupidity that killed the cat.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by QuantaFille View Post

                          I don't want products that use it. I want to purchase behentrimonium chloride by itself (with whatever kind of alcohol it's normally blended with). I have several varieties of BTMS already in different concentrations, and it's not the same thing.

                          And none of this addresses Amazon, which has a particularly awful search algorithm. Once, when looking for cold brew coffee brewing systems, I got a search result for windshield washing fluid for airplanes.
                          Try: buy "behentrimonium chloride"

                          (Can't really help you with Amazon)

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                          • #14
                            Try "behentrimonium chloride" -BTMS
                            "Obama is not a brown-skinned, anti-war socialist who gives away free healthcare. You are thinking of Jesus." Episcopal Bishop of Arizona

                            I remember WinAce. Gone but not forgotten.

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Stoic View Post

                              Try: buy "behentrimonium chloride"

                              (Can't really help you with Amazon)
                              Weird. When I use that, I get several results for people selling it, but they're international. I still see the one seller in the US, but their actual website this time instead of their Etsy shop (Making Cosmetics). There is one that is probably the manufacturer, but in my experience when you purchase a "sample" direct from the manufacturer instead of a reseller, you're talking about a drum, not a little baggie.

                              But most of the results are still just web pages about the ingredient, instead of sites that sell it. Are there really so few sources of this stuff?

                              Regarding Amazon, I have tried using Google to search there, but the way I shop I like to sort results based on price and average customer review, and you can't do that if you use Google to search Amazon.
                              Curiosity never hurt anyone. It was stupidity that killed the cat.

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