Dear Rokali, Etsians seriously need your help . . .
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Original Post
Rokali, I'm gonna make a quick post, since I know you are following a thread in bugs right now. I have actually been avoiding posting in the fora over the weekend, because I’ve honestly been wondering, what’s the use? But, since I know you are around, I’m taking a chance that you will care enough to respond here. I hope you will take a few moments to ponder the increasingly stormy climate in the fora – and the reasons behind it – and then perhaps address some of our concerns.
When you say
"Trust me, we're right there with you -- we want all this stuff to work flawlessly, and we do our absolute best to make sure of it." (quoted from bottom of this page www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5687775&page=9 )
are you referring only to the particular DNS/ISP issue, or are you referring to the Etsy experience as a whole? Because there are a lot of issues needing attention.
Have you taken a stroll through the rest of Bugs? Through Site Help? Through Ideas? Have you noted the many frustrations and requests for help, clarification, fixes? So much has gone wrong lately, added to the accumulation of many longstanding 'little' concerns (some are actually not little at all,) that users are at their wits end.
We have loved Etsy, been loyal and supportive, advertised and assisted in countless ways. In addition to promoting the overall site, here's a little tip-of-the-iceberg list to give you an idea of how devoted and committed Etsians are:
** flagging
** site help and bug-hunting
** newbie info (courtesy of sagittariusgallery, and a host of others)
** answers to FAQs
** contributions to the EtsyWiki ( www.etsywiki.com/ )
** Etsy Mini gallery of shops ( etsymini.blogspot.com/ )
** relevant search ( www.bestysearch.com/ )
** front page treasuries ( www.flickr.com/groups/etsyfrontpagetreasury/ , frontpagers.blogspot.com/ )
** 'hearts me' info-at-a-glance (Majaba - www.majaba.org/heartomatic.php )
** site news (UEN - etsynews.com )
** site stats (EtsyTools, RIP)
To name just a *few* ways Etsy users - sellers *and* buyers - go the extra distance to benefit *everyone else* here.
As you can see, the community has a great way of pulling together and helping one another, but there is only so much we can accomplish. None of us are paid to do these things. We do them to fill gaps in Etsy services and features, because we NEED these things, and many more besides. How about a little Etsycorp love in return?
It appears as if Etsy has strayed far afield of its original mission statement, which is having a snowball negative effect. And it isn’t just the usual ‘vocal’ users who are dismayed – many members are coming out of the woodwork to voice their concerns. Etsy, for many, seems to be going to hell in a hand(made)basket. What do you say, Rokali, to those who are feeling demoralized and disenfranchised?
To quote a much-espoused sentiment:
"hope breaks your heart on this site."
Posted at 1:54pm Jun 29, 2008 EDT
Responses
"We could be doing a better job, we *should* be doing a better job, and I think we will be doing a better job."
"They are meant to be the beginning of a process that will create solutions. This process will take time, and we're promising you that we'll take the time."
Why do I get the feeling I'm stuck in a political campaign?
Posted at 2:55pm Jun 29, 2008 EDT
I have been an Etsy member since the end of 2006, and it's really only in the last two weeks I have been driven to start posting in the forums, which as well as being time consuming, is also very depressing. 'Badgering the management' was not something I expected would need to be included in my daily timetable. If this is still intended to be a business site (and that is something that seems to be up for debate) it really does need to be run in a businesslike manner.
Posted at 2:55pm Jun 29, 2008 EDT
also- it might be a good idea for you and/or maria to be on hand in a forum thread to answer questions when the article comes out
Posted at 2:56pm Jun 29, 2008 EDT
i think it would be a really good idea for maria to make a public appearance here for discussion
Posted at 2:58pm Jun 29, 2008 EDT
I'm not a fan of fluff.
"Why wait when people are asking you right now?"
This is a good question. Why wait?
First, the answers to these questions require an effort co-ordinated across the entire company. A forum thread is highly individualized, especially when it comes to talking about what our major priorities are at Etsy. I've spent a lot of time with Maria and many other folks here at Etsy talking through the issues, compiling lists, revising those lists; lots of good meetings, lots of planning.
Second, I don't have all the answers right now. By this I mean it's not *me* who has all the answers, as these are issues that require attention from people on every Team here at Etsy. And as a company we don't have all the answers *right now*. We're working on the process and framework needed to meaningfully address these issues.
If I just posted a bunch of screen designs here, along with dates about when all these requested features would launch -- that would be meaningless if we didn't have the organization to make it happen.
Etsy is changing. We're moving from a startup to whatever the next phase is called. It'd be nice if we could close shop on the weekends and use the breathing room to speed up the planning. Instead we're working tirelessly to get there.
To put things in a bit of perspective, our goal is to create a service and a company that will endure for decades. We're three years in, we have important changes to make, and I'm excited to see them catalyzing right now.
Posted at 3:01pm Jun 29, 2008 EDT
Marking to remind myself to look for the Storque articles.
I appreciate Rob's acknowledgment that the issues exist. I will remain hopeful (just bareful, but still hopeful) that we'll see some concrete plans for change.
Thanks, GM and Sherry, for your resolve.
Posted at 3:02pm Jun 29, 2008 EDT
"i think it would be a really good idea for maria to make a public appearance here for discussion"
Maria is spending the day with her fiancee seeing the sights in Brooklyn. As much as I'd like her here, too, it's nice to have at least one day a week to recoup.
"it might be a good idea for you and/or maria to be on hand in a forum thread to answer questions when the article comes out"
Yes, certainly. And we're going to have more places than just the forums for answering questions. Please stay tuned.
Posted at 3:04pm Jun 29, 2008 EDT
Marking to remind me to check Storque next week....thanks
Posted at 3:07pm Jun 29, 2008 EDT
"To put things in a bit of perspective, our goal is to create a service and a company that will endure for decades."
Ebay going into self-destruct mode and sending sellers and buyers desperately looking for new more suitable venues must be helping.
Things must be bad there, I just spent a £10 (20 dollars) voucher they sent me to spend on the site to drum up business. Bought a book with it actually.
Posted at 3:10pm Jun 29, 2008 EDT
Rokali: If you are going to write about it in the Storque, most sellers won't read it because it does not have many fans. I don't understand most of what's written there and the hundreds of articles added each month. And I have abolutely no idea who the intended audience is. And I read 50 articles before I gave up in complete and total frustration. Not one sentence made any sense.
It certainly has not been an effective communication tool.
At least set up a separate section for your statements so sellers can find them and let us know in advance where to go to read them. Please.
Posted at 3:10pm Jun 29, 2008 EDT