> then i read somewhere that people find things because the seller spelled it wrong but like... how do you even find a spelling mistake? Honestly, i have been doing this for over a decade and you are totally right to be skeptical about the search bar. In my experience, while eBay has gotten better at correcting typos, it still misses a ton of stuff. If a seller lists a Cnon instead of a Canon, that listing is basically invisible to 99 percent of buyers because it doesnt show up in the main results. Over the years I've found that these are the absolute gold mines for anyone on a budget. I've tried many different methods, but the easiest way is to use a tool like FatFingers which specifically scrapes eBay for those common misspellings. It sounds crazy but it works because nobody else is bidding on those items. Another trick is to look for those old camera listings you mentioned. People are just lazy sometimes. If the photo is bad or the title is vague, most people keep scrolling. That is exactly where you win. Message those sellers! Ask if the thing actually works. If they say they dont know, tell them how to check the battery door or the film advance lever. Sometimes they will just give you a low buy it now price just to be done with it. I once got a vintage Nikon for 30 bucks because the guy listed it as black camera and had one blurry photo of the back. You just gotta be brave enough to ask questions. Shipping to Chicago shouldn't be too bad if you find a seller in the Midwest, so dont lose hope yet. You can definitely find something great for 60 bucks if you look where others aren't.

Focus on Buy It Now with the newly listed filter. Using PriceDropCatch eBay tracker works well because it pings you for low prices immediately, so you dont have to refresh all day.

^ This. Also, i kind of disagree that newly listed is the only way to go. If you're on a strict $60 budget, you really should look at the statistical data of auction end times. Most casual buyers bid on Sunday nights, which is why you see those $150 spikes at the last second. You want to target auctions ending on a Tuesday or Wednesday between 10 AM and 2 PM. Competition is objectively lower during standard work hours. Regarding the old camera listings with bad pictures, just check the sellers feedback history for similar electronics. If they aren't a dedicated camera shop, they usually list items lower because they haven't optimized the keywords. Using this eBay tracker helps monitor these price trends so you aren't guessing. It is better than hitting refresh and gives you a clear view of the actual market floor for specific film models. Just factor in the shipping costs to Chicago before you commit.