On Google if I search “Mens Boots” I immediately see lots of results from shops in Amsterdam and near me selling boots.

When I use DuckDuckGo the results are useless unless I add “Amsterdam” and then it only shows me Amsterdam results, instead of Google which would also show me shops from Germany etc. That has quick delivery times etc.

What are my options? (Non-American would be great)

  • NIB@lemmy.world
    0·
    2 months ago

    I just use ddg and for when i want to search something important, i just use Google(in incognito).

    • KalSeth@lemmy.ca
      0·
      2 months ago

      I thought it was agreed Incognito mode does nothing useful. You are still tracked.

      • Samsy@lemmy.ml
        0·
        2 months ago

        Incognito just doesn’t add the history to your browser, the tracking is the same, correct.

        • NIB@lemmy.world
          0·
          2 months ago

          For tracking to be useful, it needs data from multiple sources. If it is a brand new incognito session, then it will only have the data you create from that search. If you disable Fingerprinting, it wont have much data and wont be able to reliably and accurately attach or combine that data with other data and accounts.

  • Che Banana@beehaw.org
    0·
    2 months ago

    In Spain I have to put .es at the end for local results.

    However, I use Amazon to source the product I want then find the resellers website and buy directly from them.

    My last purchase like that was an 80kg capacity bike trailer that was delivered from Germany and cost the exact same, and the company didn’t have to give Bezos any cut.

  • spacewave@lemmy.ml
    0·
    2 months ago

    IMHO there is no perfect solution for this, but I switched to Searxng (which can be selfhosted) and Im happy with the results. Please note that Searxng is a Meta Search engine, that basically means its using multiple other search engines with less tracking afaik…

  • oo1@lemmings.worldEnglish
    0·
    2 months ago

    Hmmn. If I wanted search results for stuff in Amsterdam, I’d expect to add “in Amst . . .”

    Moving quickly on, there’s bound to be some European SearXNG. https://searx.space/ seems like a list.

    I think that still uses google though among others. It’s FOSS so you could self host it and set it up how you like I think too if you’re into that type of thing.

    I don’t regularly use searXNG though I use DDG - so I cannot vouch for the quality of the results.

  • Tieas@lemmy.mlEnglish
    0·
    2 months ago

    I’ve been using Kagi for a near a year now and it’s pretty good. Reminds me of old Google

      • LWD@lemm.ee
        0·
        2 months ago

        CEO: Why would we take your data, you directly fund us so obviously we will only focus on providing the best search experience

        CEO: dumps money into AI and a T-shirt factory

    • dave@programming.dev
      0·
      2 months ago

      Kagi has been amazing, I’m so disappointed every time I try to search for something on my work computer on Google.

    • Rodneyck@lemm.ee
      0·
      2 months ago

      Kagi

      Isn’t it a paid service and ran by a Silicon Valley corporation…like Google?

      • Parptarf@lemm.ee
        0·
        2 months ago

        Yeah, I find it more varied and there’s less ads. Ads are still there though, but they’ve been relevant to what I’m searching for so far.

          • Parptarf@lemm.ee
            0·
            2 months ago

            They’re not relevant to me specifically, that would mean Qwant would need to collect data. But they’re relevant to the thing I’m searching, sort of.

            Google ads were scary specific before I degoogled myself almost completely.

  • hansolo@lemm.eeEnglish
    0·
    2 months ago

    Startpage works well. You also need a VPN and to use private mode in a browser with a low fingerprint.

      • hansolo@lemm.eeEnglish
        0·
        2 months ago

        Start page is Dutch. And skimming Google search results isn’t exactly a huge value add for Google, other than the stripped down results will include some Google-oriented SEO. A good ad blocker will effectively eliminate any benefit to Big G.

  • Nate Cox@programming.devEnglish
    0·
    2 months ago

    I am not sure why qwant seems to get mentioned so frequently. My experience is that the search results are mediocre at best and they shove ads in your face on every page.

    I highly recommend Kagi, I’ve been with them since basically the beginning and they have been fantastic. I do pay for their service, but the value proposition is absolutely there.

  • myster0n@feddit.nlEnglish
    0·
    2 months ago

    When I do your “men’s boots” test, it looks like I get better results using Qwant, which is European.