ICYMI Shopping on Etsy Sucks Now
Dec 10, 2025
In this discussion with Amanda Mull, a Senior reporter at Bloomberg Businessweek, listeners learn about the decline of Etsy from a unique handmade marketplace to a platform flooded with low-quality goods. Amanda critiques the overwhelming chaos of online shopping, from AI-generated listings to the rise of sponsored search results. She highlights how frictionless buying tricks consumers and discusses the impact of free shipping on small sellers. Amanda also suggests that local craft fairs and vintage shops may offer more authentic shopping experiences.
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Google Shopping Feels Overbearing
- Amanda Mull recalled searching for latte stencils and finding a top-heavy, sponsored shopping experience on Google.
- She compares the experience to over-eager store employees interrupting a browsing customer.
Bypass Sponsored Links To Verify Listings
- Avoid clicking only sponsored results: open sites directly or find non-sponsored listings to verify authenticity.
- Kate Lindsay and Amanda Mull suggest using known retailer pages or opening new tabs to bypass opaque sponsored listings.
Frictionless Shopping Encourages Impulse Buys
- Friction in shopping helps people pause and make better choices, and the internet has removed much of that friction.
- Amanda Mull argues that frictionless buying benefits platforms, not necessarily shoppers, by driving impulsive purchases.