Business Topics
Resellers... A Buyer's Point Of View
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Original Post
My good friend, who coincidently introduced me to Etsy in the first place back in 2008, is shopping for jewelry online. I suggested she try Etsy, and sent her a few links to look at. She just emailed and this is what she wrote, verbatim (I asked her permission first):
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"Do you know what really bugs me? Etsy is supposed to be “everything handmade” and there are so many people on there who are obviously NOT artists or creative craftsmen. I feel like writing a letter to etsy complaining because when I type in a search I have to sift through tons of stuff that ISN’T handmade!
That is why I am ON this site!!! If someone wants to open up a site for ‘selling whatever you want including cheap sh*t from china’ then go do it somewhere else!!
Seriously, I am annoyed. It’s so hard now to find stuff that you are looking for because there a million items listed. And probably less than half of them are actually hand made! Numbskulls.
They obviously are making a zillion on all the listings, so they don’t care."
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I'm not trying to stir the pot here, I know this topic has been around for ages. I just thought it was interesting to see the frustration from a buyer-only point of view.
Posted at 4:01 pm May 12, 2011 EDT
Responses
Thanks for sharing! I know it is not a new topic, but it is a real concern for all of us!
Posted at 4:03 pm May 12, 2011 EDT
Funny, I was just thinking the same tonight, when I did a search for something.
Posted at 4:05 pm May 12, 2011 EDT
I cannot help but think of the frustrated shoppers who don't share there thoughts with anyone...they simply never come back.
Posted at 4:08 pm May 12, 2011 EDT
That's my worry too. The resellers reflect badly on the entire site as a whole.
I love Etsy, and it makes me sad that this is happening!
Posted at 4:21 pm May 12, 2011 EDT
It's like going to the farmer's market in your home town and seeing aspargus grown in Mexico and apples grown in China being sold there.
It's cramping the style of the people who actually make their products, and it's totally disappointing.
Posted at 4:31 pm May 12, 2011 EDT
@bluepoppies777 - i really like your point!
(after all the forum and etsy changes, and how facebook it all feels - i am surprized that there is not a "like" option for posts! lol )
Posted at 4:33 pm May 12, 2011 EDT
I recently introduced a friend to etsy and she went ballistic buying all kinds of things and showing me her purchases.. and one of them I could tell is from a reseller. I didn't tell her, but it made me feel sad :(
Posted at 4:34 pm May 12, 2011 EDT
"If someone wants to open up a site for ‘selling whatever you want including cheap sh*t from china’ then go do it somewhere else!! "
I thought that was ebay lol.
Posted at 4:39 pm May 12, 2011 EDT
I suppose the thing is also that this is technically a shopping site, and one that promises handcrafted items, so if a buyer thinks they are paying a certain price for a handmade item and it is some mass produced item it is really sad.
Customer care is important, especially here which is mostly full of genuine and honest sellers!
Posted at 4:53 pm May 12, 2011 EDT