Well I don't use it much but I guess I'll still have to from time to time. Most of the people I buy from on there are in countries other than the US and don't have a separate storefront.
I suggest reverse image searching whatever you like on Etsy. A lot of it is just dropship stuff where you can buy the original and cut out the dropshipper for pennies on the dollar. Depending on what you're looking for you may have to buy a minimum, but 9/10 the minimum is still less than the Etsy price. I buy a lot of craft supplies and 50/50 an Etsy listing the says "handmade" "artisanal" "bespoke" is never even touched by the seller. Additionally, if the person is not just a dropshipper, you might find their actual website where you can get things for less or at least make sure they get the full amount without giving Etsy a cut.
That's not the kind of stuff I buy on Etsy. I specifically go for individual, small business or artisan shops. I've gotten handmade goods from the UK, Turkey, Ukraine etc.
If there's not a similar artisan or small business where I live that has what I'm looking for I treat the Etsy app like a large artisan market.