Etsy Search Broken?

[luola]

Does anyone know if there's been conversation about Etsy's broken search function? If I search for something, the results are packed with results which do not reflect my search. For example, searching for "vintage christian dior silk scarf" shows over 1,000 random silk scarves in addition to the dior I want to see.

How can we expect our customers to find what they're looking for?

[NanaLetha]

Etsy search has been that way for a long time.

[luola]

Which is why I was asking if it's being remedied.

[OneEyeCatStudio]

Why do you think sellers are constantly complaining of low sales?

If they can't find it, they can't buy it.

Between the way that they are currently making it so extremely difficult for buyers to find what they came here to buy, and the way they are constantly and monetarily penalizing sellers, it will surprise me if the site is even here next year.

[BagmakerSupply]

@luola: It is because the Artificial Intelligence behind search knows better than you do what you are really searching for.

[JMOldeVintage]

Etsy's search has been in need of a tune-up for so long, I'm surprised it isn't parked on the side of the road with its four-ways on by now.

@luola  - For your search term, realize Etsy's search does not see it as "the item you want". Search has decided you want to see silk scarves, scarves in general no matter what the fabric. Search likes to take each word individually & not as a phrase, in context. If you typed in a color you would probably get to see every piece of clothing here and then some in that color in addition to scarves. 

There is a reason my two August purchases were from eBay sellers & not Etsy shops. 

[MissPussinBoots]

@luola No, according to Etsy, the search feature is NOT broken, it is working 'as designed'. They will not be 'fixing' it now, or in the future.

Even though buyers & sellers have been complaining for YEARS that no one can find anything, even when copying/pasting the exact title into the search.

It's beyond frustrating.

[luola]

Thanks for the clarification, that's pretty much what I figured. Still, it's strange that they don't see how frustrating this is for customers. In my experience as both a buyer and seller, finding what you want easily is paramount.

[OrangeGroveBeads]

I have the same thing happen all the time. It's particularly bad if you are searching for a particular brand. I like one particular brand of vintage clothing but my searches bring up so many POD listings and other brands that are NOT what I want to buy that I've given up shopping for it on Etsy. It's too bad because I know there are listings out there but I don't have the time or the patience to sift through the flotsam and jetsam in Etsy's search results. 

[PrevntProducts]

Listen to the 2023 2nd quarter investor call. There are multiple mentions of "finding what the buyer means, not what the buyer searches for"

Link to the Q2 investor call: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0-CSDoRT3s

All of these changes, are being driven by AI ML models that haven't been trained long enough. The short/lack of training these models is mentioned in the calls as well. 

[PrevntProducts]

The real concerning part of all of this is most of the "irrelevant" items being displayed are always advertised listings. This is why most people are experiencing drastic drops in ROAS in their advertising campaigns. Etsy's revenue from seller's advertising budget is up 21% year over year...

This is why they are pushing the urge for sellers to be their own affiliate marketers w/ the new "4%" off fees program. The stock price is reflecting the reality we all know is happening.