Here is a sampling of the results:

Sprint Navigation for the BlackBerry Pearl 8130

I was desperate, so I decided to scroll through the results. Not one of the results on the page is for Sprint’s standard GPS navigation software, but it got me thinking of some of the ways that good search experiences have completely spoiled me:

• I constantly look for search kiosks in grocery stores.
• I get mad when I do a local search and it doesn’t bring up a OneBox result.
• I refuse to click next page if I don’t find what I want.
• I only type in a few letters to most search boxes and anxiously wait for suggestions.
• The first thing I look for on a complex page is a search box.
• I suffer anxiety at the thought of having to browse through a directory.
• I have become very, very bad at finding anything in the Yellow Pages.

I’m a little extreme, but I’m also part of a very valuable segment online for all kinds of businesses. There are a lot of us, and there is a lot of bad search. As a retailer, I’d want to know exactly how that segment felt about the experience I was providing, and optimize it as effectively as I could.

How much money do you think Sprint loses to bad search?

(I know, I know. Buy an iPhone. On it.)

I’m pretty sure it’s the latter. Check out the “Ad” text next Sears, KMART, and PC Connection. The links all go through Google Affiliate Network.

I’m all for Product Ads, I’m excited for the program, but this execution isn’t something I ever expected to see. Note that the results are sorted by relevance. KMART is not the second most relevant result here. For instance, they don’t have shipping or tax charges.

Google has always maintained that paid inclusion would undermine confidence in search results. Based on how this looks – I agree.

Thoughts?