full agree; i just avoid the auction house altogether because of these reasons. its been brought up that the forums can be used to advertise needing things before, but most users (including me, especially if often / always on mobile) don't want to deal with forums for constant ads.
its just so difficult to locate basic items and get them w/o having to wait out an entire auction and possibly get sniped a ton... thats not even starting on how obnoxious it is to get any decor items that arent basic. some people really just dont have the time to sit and watch auctions, yet auctions are the only reliable place to see multiple items for sale. i've never been able to decorate my houses how i'd like because i've never been able to get all the items on my own, and any time i try at the auction house i have never won. ive been on pixpet for almost a year now and have the biggest house yet nothing to show for it :')

this issue has been brought up time and time again onsite, adding a 'search user shops' bar would solve so much since it'd make people actually stock their shops, i really hope it can be implemented some day