How to search for Pokemon Cards on eBay

Basics

To search for any product on eBay we type the item into the search.
i.e. searching for a charizard holographic card from the base set number 4/102                                                  

• We'll usually type into the search the KEYWORDS: Charizard Holographic Pokemon Card Base Set 4/102

More results

How can we find EVERY single Charizard Holographic card?

First, we need to understand that eBay search ONLY searches what you type in with the ITEM TITLE of each listing.
Listings are restricted to a certain number of characters (not very generous) so often sellers are unable to fit all the details of a card in the title and the search omits such listings because it is (apparently) not what you're looking for.

Secondly, we need to understand Pokemon Card LANGUAGE. Believe it or not, Pokemon Cards need a dictionary of its own!
Look at our key words again for Charizard Holographic Pokemon Card from the base set number 4/102

• Charizard: No other/alternate keywords
• Holographic: Holo | Holofoil | Foil | Shiney
• Pokemon Card: TCG
  
• number 4/102: #4 | 4/102 | 4

Advanced Searching

So we've learned how to use basic functions of the eBay search AND alternative naming methods of the same Pokemon Card (i.e. holo, holofoil, holographic).

Now let's learn eBay's MORE advanced searching mechanism.

SUMMARY
Basic search: Pokemon cards - This searches POKEMON "AND" CARDS
One form of Advance search: (Pokemon, Cards) - This searches POKEMON "OR" CARDS


The "OR" command is by BRACKETING the words you want to be interchangeable separated by a COMMA.

Let's see how it helps our search for
Charizard Holographic Pokemon Card from the base set number 4/102

We can type this instead to broaden our search:

Charizard (holographic, holo, foil, holofoil, shiney) (Pokemon Card, Pokemon TCG) (4/102, #4, 4)

This would search for about 30 different combinations of a search for: Charizard Holographic Pokemon Card from the base set number 4/102

In one handy search! That's x30 faster search speed! (sounds like a broadband/cable internet advertisement, only difference is that this is actually true.)

eBay STORE SEARCH

A vast number of cards offered by LARGER sellers is listed in their eBay stores; hidden from the normal eBay search.
eBay only searches Fixed price/auction type listings when you use the search bar on the home page.

Larger sellers can not afford to list their items up using those above mentioned methods because it is just too expensive!
An Pokemon Card worth $9.95 to be listed as FIXED Price with image is about $1.00 (only lasts a maximum of 10 days).
To list the same Card in an eBay store it would cost $0.11 (and lasts one month!).

To compensate for this cheap alternative, buyers must KNOW to look for store inventory items or else these eleven cent listings are hidden.

To search for store inventory items you need to click on the skinny blue text "advanced search" next to the eBay search bar.
Once there, on the right navigation under STORES select items in stores

Then just type in what you've learned above:
Charizard (holographic, holo, foil, holofoil, shiney) (Pokemon Card, Pokemon TCG) (4/102, #4, 4)

You may be amazed at how many results show up!

FINAL NOTE

If you just want to general search for one Pokemon Card Character i.e. Articuno, then keep your searches balanced (not to broad and not to precise).
A Basic search for: Articuno Pokemon Card                                                                                                                    
Should give sufficient results
Then remember to always check out the STORE search for the same thing. Often, stores provide cards at MUCH cheaper prices. Additionally, since stores sell LOTS of items, they usually offer combine shipping discounts, often free shipping for additional singles.