u/Extension-Listen-633

I recently ordered what looked like a handmade ceramic mug from an Etsy shop. The listing photos were clearly professional shots showing detailed craftsmanship and a really unique glaze pattern. What arrived was obviously mass produced and looked nothing like the photos: thin walls, uneven base, and none of that glaze work shown in the listing.

When I reached out to the seller they were polite but basically said all sales are final and that photos are for inspiration purposes only. That phrase was buried at the bottom of the listing description in small print.

I opened a case with Etsy and honestly wasn't sure what to expect. They sided with me and I got a refund, but the listing is still up with the same photos and I assume other buyers are still getting the same thing.

I reported the listing but have no idea if anything will actually happen. Has anyone else dealt with this and found an effective way to flag these shops so they actually get reviewed? Also curious whether sellers think the current reporting system is working or if there are obvious gaps that let this kind of thing go on too long. Would love to hear both sides.

So I hit a full year on Duolingo yesterday and my first reaction was excitement, which lasted about thirty seconds before I started wondering if I actually have anything to show for it.

I've done Spanish every single day for a year. I can read simple sentences, I recognize a lot of vocabulary, and the lessons feel easier than they used to. But when I tried to have an actual conversation with a Spanish speaker at work last week, I completely froze. My brain just went blank.

I know Duolingo isn't meant to be a complete language learning solution on its own, but I assumed a year of daily practice would get me further than this. Has anyone else felt this way after a long streak?

I'm curious what people here do alongside Duolingo to actually move from recognizing words to speaking them. Shows in your target language? A conversation app? A tutor? I feel like I've built a solid foundation but something is missing between my head and my mouth in real time.

Would love to hear from people who hit similar milestones and figured out what finally made things click. And congrats to everyone else grinding away at their streaks.