Etsy. Ever since the 2017 activist investor event, it feels like they've been trading good will with sellers for profits.

I used to be able to buy amazing handmade items for reasonable prices and reasonable shipping from actual people running small storefronts on Etsy.

Now it’s just another e-commerce site that’s been completely and utterly overrun with marked up Aliexpress junk and low quality copies of anything novel that gains the slightest bit of popularity. The few remaining authentic sellers now charge so much it’s laughable unless you’re wealthy enough that cost isn’t a concern.

Where do you find authentic sellers?

I'm assuming you're being sardonic, but remarkably it's still a great place to buy live cuttings of succulents and other plants from enthusiasts.

In contrast to buying seeds off Amazon or eBay, where the plants that sellers are claiming they're shipping you seeds for are often just random weeds rather than the hilariously photoshopped or non-existent flowers/fruits shown in the product listing.

e.g. https://www.amazon.ca/Glamaours-Climbing-Strawberry-Deliciou...

or

https://www.amazon.ca/Rosepoem-100pcs-rainbow-vegetable-Non-...

Thanks for answering. I was not being sardonic; it was a genuine question.

It began with the IPO; the investor takeover was just the logical conclusion.