I Did a Search for a "Vintage Small Bathroom Sink," and Was Shown Hundreds of Rugs

[MadGirlRetro]

I did a search for a "Vintage small bathroom sink." If your shop is slow, this could be why. I was shown hundreds of Turkish rugs. They were right up top, then there were a few sinks, and then hundreds more rugs. There were pages of them. Rugs, rugs, rugs. A lot of them were Etsy seller ads, but not all. I was bored out of my mind. I got to the point that I just kept clicking through all the pages looking for a single sink. I finally got to the end. I knew they were out there. On bottom it shows you "Because you viewed," and suggestions. There, I saw some sinks. I started clicking on those. There were lots like what I was looking for. 

Etsy tries to make a lot of improvements because if we sell, they make money too. Etsy, I think it would behoove you to show the shopper what he says he's looking for. Please?

[hopeandjoystudios]

That is the result of many more niche searches. Not a lot of returns so Etsy crams in a bunch of rug ads..oh and since you are looking for a sink, how bout these rugs? It seems rug sellers take out a lot of ads to the point Etsy just crams them in where ever to "spend" them.

[FallenAngelBrass]

I see a lot of vintage sinks for that search, but also a few rugs.  The rug sellers have included "bathroom sink rug" in the titles that I looked at. 

[MadGirlRetro]

Yes, I figured that. In the old days, we could see the tags they used but not anymore. I am sure you are right. But whatever the reason, customers must be frustrated. 

[PoochandTabby]

All the rugs have "bathroom sink," "bathroom rug" etc. in them and since Etsy already said they're moving to showing you things associated with a search term, I am also seeing pendant lights, bowls for holding wash cloths, soap dishes, etc. 

It also tells you above the results: Showing small bathroom sink in vintage. Search instead for vintage small bathroom sink in all items.

If you click on the search in all items, then you get a ton of sinks.

Also, if sellers have slow sales, they should look to their own shops first and make sure they are following Etsy's recommendations, especially with regards to images, before considering outside factors.

[MadGirlRetro]

I'm sure they do. But I am not going to blame sellers for a search you need a tutorial to figure out.  

[SewlyButtons]

add some epoxy resin and I betcha you could make a rug sink!

[cindylouwho2]

I mostly get sinks when I do that search; very few rugs. You may have seen a test or may be getting personalized results. 

As others have mentioned, the longer the search terms and more niche, the more likely you are to get odd results. I'd never include "vintage" in the search terms when we can just filter for that - filtering is almost always more accurate, because you will mostly skip things that are described as "vintage-style" etc. 

[MadGirlRetro]

Sometimes I filter but it's usually quicker just to write "vintage." And what about the customers? Will they know that? Yeah, maybe I was in some kind of test because I tell you, there were pages and pages and pages; so many pages, I called my husband to come see. 

[EightMileVintage]

I did the search and I see a ton of rugs. So I sorted for price and the 3rd listing was a chandelier and then rugs rugs rugs.

[JJewellerySuppliesUK]

WTH?!!

[MadGirlRetro]

That's what I'm talking about! lol

[PlatypusDream]

Try searching for sewing patterns by brand name and number!

POD tshirts, IP infringing "Frozen" digital downloads, gemstone necklaces, baby bibs... and yes, rugs from a certain specific country.

And I search for patterns ALL THE TIME.

I always have to filter to "Price: low to high" if I want all of those spammy unrelated items weeded out.

[MadGirlRetro]

You and I know how to do it. We know the tricks. But what about our customers?!

[Hertfordweaver]

So, if i want to advertise my rugs, I guess I need to list them as sinks. Got it. Could be you have searched for rugs in the past?

[MadGirlRetro]

No. I have never ever searched for a rug. Or sold one. I've seen these before. All the Turkish rugs. But man, not like this. 

[LandKbeads]

Well, I just found something interesting: I changed the search to include a single quote before and after the query string with no spaces: ‘vintage small bathroom sink’. The results were very different and definitely more sinks on the first page.

I’ve tried single quotes before without good results so this surprised me. However, as it’s been pointed out, search works differently for different users.

[moonbeamgifts]

I think we all know the search is borked beyond belief (yes, realizing it's "how Etsy wants it to function") but I'm also not sure I'd think of Etsy as a go to for a functional sink that wasn't dollhouse decoration or something.   

If the inventory of the target search is low, it's going to expand and I can understand why sellers would tag a rug as bathroom, kitchen, etc.  

[MadGirlRetro]

No Moonbeamgifts. I actually got to the end of all the pages and saw very few sinks and not what I was looking for. Then I saw down bottom where it says something like, "Because you looked at," and there was a sink like I was looking for. But it wasn't in any of those search pages. When I opened it, I was curious to see if it was vintage or not because I typed in "vintage." I figured maybe it didn't come up because it was "handmade." But no. It was in the vintage category. Then I started searching through that listing--I hope that makes sense--and I saw lots of sinks. 

[OneEyeCatStudio]

I know.  Not everyone puts a rug in their bathroom sink.
But lots of us do (obviously, as Etsy knows this). 

I find that the cats like it better when I do.

[SeasideRoseCreations]

Mine prefer the sink rugs to cat beds!

[SmudgePlant]

And no more clogged drains. Just get out the vacuum.

[Jewels2at]

I see bathroom sinks and rugs.

Etsy's search has been broken for years.