If you shop for used camera gear, audio gear, Apple devices, or anything else online, the annoying part is usually not the search itself. It is doing the same search over and over again on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, B&H Used, Adorama Used, and whatever other sites you trust.
I wanted a faster way to type one product name once and have all of those searches open at the same time. Alfred makes that possible with custom web searches and workflows.
Quick Answer
The short version is this: create custom web searches in Alfred, replace the search term in each site's URL with Alfred's `{query}` placeholder, then connect those searches inside an Alfred workflow. After that, one keyword or hotkey can search several used gear sites at once.
In my setup, I use a keyword like `shop camera` or a keyboard shortcut. I type something like `Sony A7 IV` or copy `Sony 24mm` to the clipboard, trigger the workflow, and Alfred opens separate browser tabs for each used marketplace.
What Alfred Is Doing
Alfred works a lot like Spotlight on the Mac, but it can go much further if you use its extra features. In this case, I am using Alfred to take one search term and pass it into several website search URLs.
For example, instead of manually visiting Facebook Marketplace, B&H Used, Adorama Used, and eBay one by one, Alfred opens each site with the same search already filled in.
That means one search for `Sony A7 IV` can instantly show used listings across multiple places. If the term is too broad, you can always make it more specific, like `Sony A7 IV body` or `Sony 24mm lens`.
Create A Custom Search
The first step is to create a reusable custom search inside Alfred. This is useful because once you create a single site search, you can use it by itself or reuse it later inside larger workflows.
In Alfred, go to the web search area and choose to add a custom search. Alfred needs three main things: the search URL, a title, and a keyword.
To get the search URL, go to the website you want to search, run a normal search, and copy the full URL from your browser. Then find the actual search term in the URL and replace it with `{query}`.
For example, if you search Best Buy for `Sony`, the URL will include `Sony` somewhere in the search string. Replace only that search word with `{query}`. Alfred will swap `{query}` with whatever you type later.
- Search the site once manually.
- Copy the full search results URL.
- Replace your test search term with `{query}`.
- Give the search a clear title, like `Best Buy`.
- Set a keyword, like `best buy`, so you can run it quickly from Alfred.
Test One Search First
Before building the full multi-site workflow, I like to test one custom search by itself. In the video, I used Best Buy as the example.
After saving the Best Buy custom search, I opened Alfred, typed the keyword, entered a search term like `iMac`, and Alfred opened Best Buy with that search already running.
That small test matters because it confirms the URL is built correctly. If the single-site search works, it is much easier to reuse it in a workflow.
Build The Multi-Site Workflow
Once the individual site searches are working, the next step is to create an Alfred workflow. My example workflow is named around shopping for camera gear, but the same idea works for almost anything.
Inside the workflow, I use triggers and actions. The trigger is how the workflow starts. The action is what Alfred does after the trigger runs.
I used two trigger styles. One is a keyword trigger, so I can open Alfred and type something like `shop camera Sony A7 IV`. The other is a hotkey trigger, so I can copy text to the clipboard and run the search with a keyboard shortcut.
Each site search is an Open URL action. Instead of rebuilding every search URL from scratch, Alfred lets you choose a custom search you already created. That keeps things cleaner and makes it easier to reuse the same site searches in other workflows later.
Using A Keyword
The keyword method is the simplest to understand. I open Alfred, type my workflow keyword, then type the product I want to search for.
For example, I can type `shop camera Apple TV`, and Alfred opens multiple tabs with used Apple TV searches across the sites I connected.
This is a good option if you are starting from scratch and already know what you want to search for.
Using The Clipboard
The other method is even faster when the product name is already on screen. I can select the text, copy it, and then run my Alfred hotkey.
In my setup, I used Command-C to copy the text and then Command-U to trigger the used gear search workflow. Alfred takes what is in the clipboard and runs it across the connected sites.
That is handy when you are reading about a product, comparing gear, or pulling a model name from another page. You do not have to retype anything.
Sites You Can Add
In my camera gear example, I searched across Facebook Marketplace, B&H Used, Adorama Used, and eBay. I also showed how to create a Best Buy search from scratch.
The broader point is that this is not limited to camera gear. Any website with a predictable search URL can potentially work.
I also use the same general idea for other searches, including 3D printing parts across multiple sites and audiobook searches. Once you understand the Alfred pattern, you can build a workflow around almost any repeated search.
A Few Notes
Alfred itself can be downloaded for free, but some of the more advanced workflow features may require Alfred's Powerpack. In the video, I was using the Powerpack version.
Also, the order of the workflow actions matters. Alfred runs through the connected actions from top to bottom, and the last opened tab may end up as the active tab in your browser.
This is not a price tracker or inventory tool. It is a faster way to run the searches you would already run manually. You still need to compare listings, check condition, watch for scams, and verify the details before buying.
Key Takeaways
- Alfred can search multiple used gear sites from one keyword or hotkey.
- Create each site as a custom web search first, using `{query}` where the search term belongs.
- You can reuse those custom searches inside Alfred workflows.
- A keyword trigger is useful when typing a search manually.
- A clipboard hotkey is faster when the product name is already selected on screen.
- This works beyond camera gear if the site has a usable search URL.
Watch the Video
The video above above for the full walkthrough of building the Alfred custom searches, connecting them into a workflow, and running the same used gear search across multiple sites.
