Wednesday, December 21, 2011

My Relief Valve


I'm sure many of you have experienced the loss of sales as compared to that of the same time in 2010.  Having felt the impact of a dismal 2011 and with all the changes made by Etsy, it's left no doubt in my mind that between such changes and this flattened economy many have suffered tremendously this year.  I'm at 7-9 sales this far into December as compared to 22 at the same time last year averaging 1 sale per day.

On top of the aforementioned is this influx of characters who have become part of the Etsy community that are now (actually have been all year) buying wholesale goods and passing them off as home/handmade and vintage.  Also are the same who seem to have no consideration for those of us who sell genuine handmade or vintage goods.  It lends to the overall experience I had with Ebay.  I'm one just like the other who is thrilled with any sale, however more importantly to me is the complete satisfaction of my customers.

More and more I'm finding that buyers are very concerned about spending or purchasing an item, so they inquire about a given item with questions like, "Is the item just as described?", "Can you ship in time to receive by a specific date?", and "Do you except returns?".  I can understand ones concern and am all about replying in an expedient and informative manner.  What truly gets me is post transaction communication.  Non-existant.  It's something that's happened time after time and accounts for approximately 25% of the feedback lost in a given year.  One would think that at very least a customer would convo telling me that they received their item and were either happy or disappointed, simple.  It's relatively easy to determine receipt of a package/item by tracking systems.  It's the simple fact that some people give a rats ass about how dedicated some of us are in insuring to the best of our ability (sometimes beyond) that we provide a quality product, at a reasonable price, and in the least amount of time possible.

I very rarely rant (ok, maybe once a month?? lol), but I'm just peaved right now and wanted to vent.  I've just seen this "Ebayish" kind of mentality overtaking Etsy this past year and it truly bums me as Etsy is NOT at all what it was when I first joined, many of the new sellers are NOT like that of the vets here.  Alot of the buyers are NOT at all what they were, and those who are allowed to re-sell Chinese and Malasyian crap on etsy need to be banned and strickly enforced.  I for one cannot and have not seen any good or positive come from the changes they've made and allowed this past year and although many are clinging on (including yours truly), I'm afraid if all should continue in 2012 as in 2011, Etsy will suffer of their own demise and so will we.

Thanks for stopping by.





15 comments:

Lyn said...

Great read :0) Merry Christmas Nevertoold I hope the new year is good to you......... Lyn

lorenabr said...

I love the article and I am glad you were talking about! I was sad to discover face products on Etsy- like fake Chanel bags and other designer copy cats and Etsy is Ok with it!
The worst thing is that people go for it and buy!
I joined Etsy because it was about originality, handmade and unique items ... but looks like i's like everything else.

Anyway I wish you a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

autena said...

Well said. I agree that they do not oversee the site better in terms of who is selling. Surely they can find a way. Try to have a happy holiday anyway and hope for a better new year.

onesnevertooold said...

Hi Lyn, Thank you very much and I'm wishing you and yours a Wonderful Christmas and New Year!

onesnevertooold said...

Hi Lorena, Exactly, copy cats, fakes, NON home/handmades? In todays world there is a way to monitor it, period. Although I didn't mean it to sound so much a rant, after writing it, it did. Be as it may I'd been thinking about writing something since April, lol. Your comments are sincerely appreciated! Thank You and Happy Holidays to you as well!

O<|:o)

onesnevertooold said...

Hi Autena,
Oh I am enjoying, but gosh sure hope I've not dampened others spirits as that was not my intent. I actually started a new post with a poem, but did a 180 turn and walla! Thanks so much for your kind sentiments and as always wishing you and yours the very best Christmas and a wonderful and prosperous New Year!

XoXo

Blakenetizen said...

:( such a sad reality, it always bums me out when peeps don't leave feedback too

Anyway Merry Christmas Buddy!

nbrsspot.blogspot.com said...

Hi Dave,

I havent had a good sale in weeks. I made a 180 dollars from a friend last month but that has been it since then. She sent me a personnal check and I sent her, her items out.Then I deleted the items from my site. I didnt have the yarn to make more of what was sold.. I owe on my etsy bill anyway that I cant pay right now because I have no money in pay pal. and Zibbet isnt going any better than etsy for me. I want to so give up some days. but i keep thinking maybe next month will get better but nothing ever moves. I dont want to keep making my stash bigger when the stuff I have isnt moving or selling..

lamazonian said...

Dave,
Thanks for speaking out. Your opinion is well understood, much appreciated and at the same time, very just. I have seen a lot of etsy sellers who felt they needed to under-price their original handcrafted items to compete with the market, as in the market where people resell products from the mass production line. It's a sad thing because at times I almost felt like I was the one who was "over-priced". It takes a lot of critical thinking and reasoning to analyse everything I do with my own business, and "realizing" at the end that I'm not losing my mind.

onesnevertooold said...

Hi Sergio,

Most importantly is the fact that the Etsy powers to be don't want to hear or change any of it, ugh! Ah well, Thanks for reading the post and I want to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

onesnevertooold said...

Hi Nicole,
Thanks for stopping by. I'm glad you were able to make a lil cash, good for you. I know too as I've stopped buying as my inventory is way over what it should have been. I stock up for Nov and Dec but without the sales nothings moving. I hope you've a better 2012 and wish you guys a Merry Christmas.

onesnevertooold said...

Hi Lamazonian,
Thank you for your visit and kind comments regarding my post. You are so right and I hear nearly word for word what you've said from most all my pals that create handmade products. Most don't realize the time and cost involved in creating handmade goods. I've written etsy over and over again regarding various "re-sellers" with not a single response (hmmm, I remember when I did that with ebay on fake LV purses, lol). Yet I've received a handful of emails asking that I provide proof that a given item in my shop is vintage. I'd even removed a couple as I was not positive of their vintagicity. Anywho, I'm rambling, lol. Wishing you and yours a Very Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year!

onesnevertooold said...

I just noticed my comments were coming in under my assumed name "artisanistas" Sheesh, what's next?? LOL!

Lu's Mystic Jewels said...

Dave

Very good point it is really disappointing when I see those products I am not making my items to give them away. I am with artfire locked in rates and now they want us to pay a $1 more a month they can't force us but if we don't they will exclude us from the search. and when the customer checks out it will say on there not guaranteed from Artfire because that dollar is for 100% guarantee but heres the deal they want to give the customer 90 to return product has stirred up alot of rant.

Take care
Lu

onesnevertooold said...

Hi Lu, Don't give up hope as 2012 will bring new prospects!

XoXo