[iClaudiusX]

Using the search/filter options on the site is useless now.

Most recently I was looking for a countertop hot plate/burner to replace one that finally broke (filament burned out after 15 years). Searching within the Appliances / Cooktops category, it is filled with random apparel like t-shirts and dresses for < $1. Try filtering by price to any interval and it's random kids' toys, arts and crafts supplies, tools, and sex toys. You're lucky to see one or two actual cooktops per page. Filter by 'Fuel Type: Electric' and there are only 5 actual results plus an impact socket even though there are hundreds of actual electric cooktops if you filter by brand name or surface material. It's insane.

Most of the sellers and brands have names that look like someone mashed their keyboard. At this point the only way to use the site is to already know the exact brand and model you want and search from google.

[manigandham]

What? That sounds really strange. Do you have a browser extension messing with the page?

You can just use the search from the homepage. Typing "hotplate" gave autocomplete for "hotplate for cooking" which is hundreds of products: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=hotplate+for+cooking

Or if you want to browse, the category homepage has all kinds of filters: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=&ref=nb_sb_noss&rh=n%3A3741261

[nitrogen]

Search and category browsing have different purposes. Search is not a substitute for a decent taxonomy. Unfortunately, MS (start menu) and Amazon seem not to realize that.

[hbosch]

Search is better than category browsing... you can spearfish instead of cast a net. If you had typed “hot plate” into search, you would have avoided your entire frustration... you already knew what you wanted.

Amazons web site is a mess for sure, but finding a specific product is not one of those problems. The search is quite good...

[nitrogen]

If you don't know what something is called, then you need categories to find it.