I used to shop a lot there, but also have found it difficult lately. Like you say, lots of similar items to the one you are actually searching for are in the listing. And the prices of items and even more so the cost of shipping are really higher now.

I feel the same way - not my favorite place to shop unless I am following a specific link on a recommendation. Over the years I've Liked/Followed/Favorited quite a few vendors and have made purchases but it's not my go-to place for sure.

I start with a general search term and then use the filter function to narrow down my results before I start clicking. I've purchased quite a few things lately and haven't had an issue with finding what I need. There were a few things that had ridiculous shipping costs that weren't apparent until I started the checkout process, which was annoying.

Are you using the Etsy app, or viewing it on a browser? I just tried the app on my iPhone and it seems to work fine. I use my PC to shop Etsy most of the time due to vision issues and I like it better. I do think Etsy is terrible to view on a mobile device.

Hmmm, ordered something yesterday and it went smoothly. Maybe it depends on the shop?

Also, so sorry to hear you have a stomach bug, hope it isn't too terrible.

Hope you feel better soon.

With Etsy, if I am searching for a vintage European etching, it now brings up shops selling "vintage looking" digital downloads you can buy and have printed. >:( Even if you check the "vintage" box. I've started checking "United States" for seller location. So yes, it is harder to use now than in the beginning.

Their search logic is terrible. I buy from there only when a Google search points me to something specific.

I agree that Etsy's search logic is terrible plus the clutter from sponsored ads. It is inclusive rather than exclusive. I have the same problem with Pinterest which is why I seldom use either site. I dislike most mobile sites and would rather access them through a browser as they are more fully featured. I will use a general browser search and will follow a link to Etsy rather than trying to use Etsy's search.

(Looks like I just repeated everything @1929Spanish-GW said.)

Yes, I find checking "united states" weeds out a *lot* of junk, but alas some good things too of course. I only check "handmade" and I search from high to low price. ..again to avoid the absolute junk. I don't buy from a vendor with only a few offerings or a few ratings ... not always trustworthy.

I most often shop by a specific store or artist -- and I usually get there from google images. Sometimes I will suffer through a few pages of a general search until I find an artist i want to dig into. I just don't have the patience.

I do hope you feel better soon, Kswl!

Oooops, to answer the question, I don't find Etsy difficult to use, but I'm used to it. When I'm a buyer, I use my laptop. I find it easier to navigate than with a phone.

I know of a few really talented software people who have gone to work for Etsy, so I don't understand how their search engine can be as poor as it is, but IMO, it's always been spectacularly awful (much like the one here, tbh).

Come to think of it, I usually end up on Etsy based on a Google search. IMHO, no one can compare to Google Search, period.

I dont see my earlier reply, I probably forgot to press send since I was also on a confernece call LOL, I shop at Etsy a lot. I dont think I find it more difficult, there is more junk there was when it started when EVERYTHING was crafty. Alas, I stil use it a lot for the many gems I find. I do tend to filter on Handmade or Vintage. I also limit the sellets location, I often start with the NE States and then expand to US. Though I have purchased things from Ukraine, England, Israel off the top of my head so that is clearly not a hard and fast rule.

Etsy is being absolutely bombarded by people selling junk from ali express. However, it's still a great place to find handmade goods, better than any other site I can think of (besides buying directly from an artist's own site). it's just annoying to have to sift through all of it. I think their search algorithm is the absolute worst.

One thing I immediately do is filter it for US sellers only. Not to knock foreign sellers, but it will filter out a lot of the cheapo crap (or at least it does for the kinds of things I search for).

You can also ask an Etsy seller questions, they're usually very responsive.

One other tip is to find one thing you do kind of like, and scroll to the bottom of the listing. Look for "you may also like" and it will have suggestions that may be more narrowed down to what you're hoping to find. (However, it will show listings from all over the world so be aware of that if you're trying to avoid slow or expensive shipping.)

I've been on a bit of an Etsy tear recently. I bought a memorial key chain personalized with a pet name for an Instagram friend who unexpectedly lost her pup. It was a small shop, her work looked lovely, she shipped it to my friend directly with a note containing my name and it all went smoothly. I also ordered a handmade cat "kicker" toy for DD's kitty that arrived immediately and this for DD to wear with a sage green vintage jacket I bought for her on my recent visit. I can't recall how I stumbled across this - I wasn't looking for crocheted jewelry! I think I was looking for a quilling kit for her - which I also found on etsy and is on its way. I've had some lovely interactions with etsy shop owners and am still a fan.

I shop on Etsy quite a bit, and my biggest complaint is similar to @Allison0704 that when I'm looking for original art, the results are full of digital downloads. Ugh. It's a good thing I'm accustomed to "the hunt" and patient enough for it. I think the app works a whole lot better on my ipad than going directly to website. Just bought a really nice phone case from Etsy, and I get all sorts of stuff there that I love. Dip-dyed rope dog leashes, handmade fabric pouches, tooled leather belts, brass candlesticks, and I could keep going. I still love it.

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. I am always amazed when huge, well-funded commercial sites have online platforms using software not updated to work with mobile devices as they are improved or just clumsy and dysfunctional for all devices. Why they don’t take into account the visual clutter and overall appearance of their sites is a complete mystery to me, like my recent rare visit to a Target store. It was well before Thanksgiving and the store was a wreck. In the children’s department NONE of the clothing was organized by size and I was told by an employee that they don’t merchandise it that way? I will not be returning to Target, and if I can’t get better results by turning on filters I guess I will be giving up Etsy too unless I have a specific link for an item. My brand loyalty these days is less loyalty and more internet burnout—- I go online where I’ve shopped before and know I can at least search the site successfully for merchandise that will be described, dimensions given, and quality guaranteed.

Barncatz that is a really unusual necklace!

As both a buyer and seller, you can’t beat the search logic on eBay. That being said, they all are just platforms for individual sellers, so results may vary!

@DawnInCal I don't know if this would work for you, but others are selling on IG. Payment is via Venmo. One IG is four sisters that I have bought several things from. It was semi-local to me (before we moved) and she would either ship or bring the next weekend, with all the other sold items, and do porch delivery.

Thank you for that suggestion, Allison! I recently joined a selling group on FB that looks promising and I've been thinking about giving my long neglected IG account some badly needed attention. You may have given me the push I need.

One nice thing about selling on FB/IG is that there are no commissions charged when one makes a sale, at least not yet. All of the proceeds go to the seller. :)

One of the things about eBay and other platforms that take a commission is you have some protection against fraud/scammers and they cover sales tax. You just have to keep up on your profits because they are going to 1099 all sellers with over $600 in annual sales.