Etsy Bitch

No, its not okay to do it again, Etsy.

2009-11-10T20:17:00.002-05:00

The Gift Guide button is back. This time, its huge, orange and ugly. It draws people away from our shops.

They did this around this time last year and it wasn't okay then. I wonder what made them think it is okay now? Oh, that's right, they don't think. I don't think they have any more common sense than a two year old.

Voice your disgust in this thread here.

Let's Find the Admin Redux

2009-11-10T06:57:00.000-05:00

A little over a year ago we published a list of admin accounts, including those of known spouses and parents. At that time, there were 23 admin with 34 shops between them, and admin held at least 95 usernames. Since that time, at least 14 admin have left Etsy, and many many more have been hired, with admin now holding more than 125 usernames (142 counting alumni) - some having more than one shop that is currently active.

The past year has seen the introduction of titles (CEO, CCO, VP of Product Management, etc) and new department structures. What the past year hasn't seen is better disclosure of admin accounts. There are at least 10 accounts previously said to be admin that have no profile information by which to identify them. They appear to be mainly test accounts, and are possible former admin (in addition to the aforementioned 14), as they are primarily engineers. There are 11 engineers listed on the About page (and one support member) who have no accounts or information attributed to them at all. In total, there are more than 22 engineers working at Etsy. TWENTY-FUCKING-TWO (including one dog...go figure), not counting the unmarked profiles just mentioned and not counting the CTO Chad, and yet the site runs so horribly and they had to postpone an update because the wife of one engineer was having a baby. WTF?

By the way, the About page does not include the new SEO consultant and the EtsyHacks guy, the two most recent hires we're aware of. The about page itself is horribly uninformative.

We've fully updated the admin listing post, now including links to the About articles in the Storque when available, and we'll continue to update the post as admin come and go. We're maintaining the original post in order to ensure that any information we put out there is current, and we're noting the most recent date when that information was altered.

You can always find the list by using the link on the left sidebar.

#etsyfail

2009-11-07T00:14:00.002-05:00

The response to the issues regarding refunds on cancelled sales is still getting the same cut and paste response from Etsy admin. We've seen this before, where Etsy puts up their brick wall and refuses to acknowledge their customers - until they raise a big enough stink.

Well, the stink is going to Twitter (the quoted tweet has one "please" cut for Twitter length requirements):

#etsyfail Please RT Etsy re-think the non-refundable sales fees on returns! http://bit.ly/1gfJOD doubledippingetsy http://bit.ly/3K2lyp

Let's make Etsy rethink their accusatory unfairness and let us pull our pants up for a change.

QYDJ & Other Etsy Myths

2009-11-06T04:00:00.000-05:00

MYTH #1: QYDJ

Only applies to shops making/selling stuff in the distinct Etsy style, working ‘round the clock, and secretly employing lots of "santa’s helpers." An obvious and rather worn out, boring ploy to get more sellers to make & list Etsy-brandable (and usually low-priced) products. You have to be in it (lock, stock & barrel) to win it!

MYTH #2: SHOWCASES WILL GET YOU SALES

Etsy’s added so many Showcases and sub-sub-sub-subcategory Showcases that most shoppers don’t look & don’t care. Hidden in remote corners of the site or obliterated by competing Etsy-controlled promos, they're the biggest cash cow on Etsy, at sellers’ expense. We refer you to the hundreds of forums posts on sellers’ own experiences saying they're not worth the money. In fact, this is akin to opening your window and throwing out a wad of $5 bills with nothing to show for it. Total seller rip-off.

MYTH #3: FRONT PAGE TREASURIES ARE CURATED BY SELLERS

For the last 12 months, more than 50% (at least) of the FPT's are picked by the same Etsy Admins who also pick the FS, GG’s, Finds, and write all the blog posts about a small selection of stores on the site. Rumor is that Etsy also edits the seller-picked-FPT’s that do get to the Front Page. Still wonder why everything looks the same?

MYTH #4: SENDING AN EMAIL TO SUPPORT@Etsy WILL GET YOU THE INFO YOU NEED WHEN YOU NEED IT

A real shot in the dark. Not only does your email go into Etsy cyberspace, you never know who will answer it, when they’ll answer it, and if they actually read your email request to begin with. Caution: Many responses, if at all, will be cut and pasted from Etsy’s list of "take it or leave it" formula answers. (Double Warning: Not the same thing as email to you from content@etsy making (too often false) accusations about violations in your store, hmph, try getting those straightened out before the brick wall descends without notice.) Sometimes, Etsy just likes hassling sellers, it’s fun! Brings out the best in their personalities!

MYTH #5 YOU CAN GET THE HELP YOU NEED IN THE FORUMS

Try finding facts and real help in the forums, we’ll see you after 3 weeks while you look for it. A real hotbed of misinformation, blatant seller-self-promotion, and way too many damn sections that have nothing to do with selling. Avoid the Bug Reports at all costs, because Etsy does too. Go ahead and avoid the forums altogether since "mutes" are contagious (as well as vindictive and ridiculous). Caution: reading the Admin Announcements, aka Edicts, may be hazardous to your health -they’ll send you to read a 20 page blog post (with branded-promo pix!) - avoid them like the plague!

MYTH #6: THE SITE FOR ALL THINGS HANDMADE

Well, we all know what happened to THAT starting in earnest 12 months ago, when the branding frenzy began, turning Etsy into a site for all things in the distinct Etsy style, screw the sellers. Enter at your own peril, shoppers and sellers alike. Remember who’s raking in the dough (and turns a deaf ear to seller complaints with a lock and mute) while you work your asses off with so little in return. Happy holidays with no sales on Etsy! The site that makes it impossible for most sellers to sell!

MYTH #7 ETSY IS JUST A VENUE

Yes, that's what it says in the Terms of Use, but we all know it isn't true. If admin likes you, you'll be promoted left and right; if you aren't completely agreeable, you'll find your fees taken and shop brick walled. Don't try asking questions about SEO, don't worry about mistagging and flagging, and don't try rectifying shopping cart issues or nonpayments...you'll just end up on their blacklist. They're not a venue, they're a popularity contest.

Etsy doesn't allow returns

2009-11-05T15:45:00.003-05:00

One of the 'clarifications' in the changed Dos and Don'ts was regarding cancelled transactions:

The seller may cancel an invalid or void transaction, as defined by these circumstances:
-The buyer did not pay (see Non-payment) at the time the transaction was created, according to the transaction agreement or according to the terms in the seller's Shop Policies.
-Both the buyer and seller agree to cancel the transaction prior to shipment. If the buyer has already paid, the seller has refunded buyer (price paid for item plus shipping).
-The seller has refused service to the buyer (see Refusing service). If the buyer has
already paid, the seller has refunded the buyer (price paid for item plus shipping).
-The buyer paid for the item(s). Although the seller shipped the item(s), the buyer did not receive the item(s). The seller has refunded the buyer (price paid for item at minimum).

But sellers wonder, what about when the sale is refunded because the item was returned? As far as Etsy cares, it was a sale, so they keep their fees... Even if you don't get paid!

Stellaloella says:

The DOs & DON'Ts of Etsy define transactions as such: "A transaction is created when a buyer completes Etsy's checkout process. [...] An Etsy transaction is completed when the buyer pays and the seller ships the item."

Canceling a transaction is linked to refunding a seller their listing and transaction fees. In the case that the buyer wishes to return the item and the seller agrees to a refund, that is still a valid, completed transaction for which Etsy requires fees to be paid by the seller. Etsy has provided a completed transaction service to the seller. If the seller chooses to accept a return and possibly refund the buyer, that does not negate that Etsy has provided an agreed-upon service for which we should be paid.

This was not clearly outlined in our policies in the past, and some sellers took advantage of the opportunity to cancel valid, completed transactions for the purpose of avoiding Etsy's fees or feedback from buyers.

Yep, it's the sellers' fault. Offering refunds on returns like good business people...expecting a completed sale to be the point of a listing. Paypal may do it, but they're suckers!

Don't you all realize that the point of listing on Etsy is to pay them!? All those poor admin working all day and you guys want to take away their fees for doing nothing! shame on you.

On a nonsarcastic note, if the seller doesn't get paid, Etsy shouldn't either. They already received the listing fee for the interaction with the buyer, but if the seller isn't paid for the item (including refunds on returns) then Etsy shouldn't get the percentage cut of the sale price. But then again, Etsy likes to take money that isn't theirs, like the fee for sale prices on weekend deals.

By the way, kind of nice of Etsy to put this policy into play without notifying their members. Hands up for everyone who's gotten an email about the new Dos and Don'ts...yeah, it doesn't matter that I can't see you, I know there aren't any hands up.

Etsy 101: Seller Tips on Spending More Money Than You Make

2009-11-05T01:54:00.001-05:00

Otherwise known as: How to lose a lot of money on Etsy, fast!

Lo and behold, Etsy continues to rake in record profits on listing, relisting and Showcase cash, AND on items that sell for an average of $15.00!

The site is fast filling up with doodads and trinkets priced mostly in the $5-15 range, and we wonder WHO’s really making the money here!?

Especially now, with DXO’s latest project with 3,590 tips for spending more money than you make!

That’s it, folks, the Etsy holiday formula for losing your shirt in that distinct Etsy style! Follow their wacky advice requiring huge gobs of time and labor and you too can get 10 slots in the GG’s, 62 repeats on the Front Page, be included in 29 repetitive Dorkies and those ever obnoxious Etsy Finds! Just keep it cheap and stock up on ric rak for clever, wasteful, but cute packaging!

From your pocket to Etsy’s (free labor included)!

Does Etsy Suck?

2009-11-04T15:21:00.004-05:00

Etsy's been getting some press lately, but not the kind that makes admin look like they know what they're doing.

EtsyBitch and the freedom of expression and frustration allowed here (compared to the Etsy site itself) was discussed in this article at About.com

Anther Etsy-critical site has also been getting press in Entertainment Weekly (EW magazine)...hmmm looks like admin need to pay more attention if they are going to keep Etsy a top tier site in the handmade world.

Too bad they don't listen. Over the past few years, sellers have had suggestions and offered free services to improve the site and keep it clear of resellers. Closing down critical threads, talking down to their customers, and maintaining the hipster status quo has done nothing for the majority of sellers at Etsy.

And people are noticing!

As we posted on our Twitter yesterday, the About article has a poll, which is currently at 75/25% that Etsy needs to open itself up to criticism...

Talking Product - aka Encyclopedia of Etsy BS

2009-11-03T02:20:00.000-05:00

We were so awestruck by the pretentious head of product development, Sara, and her big-bag-of-wind "Talking Product" in this incredibly convoluted and novel-length Dorque post
that we almost thought we’d never get to the last paragraph! The only thing that made any sense was the long, laborious explanation of "code lockdown" and the importance of the holiday retail weeks. But what the hell? Etsy has NEVER paid any attention at all to holidays or, for that matter, paid any attention at all to 95% of their sellers! Heaven forbid a megasite like Etsy thinks about the retail calendar!

Not only is this the biggest piece of pure bullshit (yeah yeah we get it, you're working on it, just like you have been for 2 years), but it doesn’t include ONE THING on the list of sellers’ priorities pinned to a solid date of implementation... shall we repeat what we need? YOUR SELLERS KNOW THE LIST BY HEART!

Whoever you think your audience is, Etsy, it clearly isn’t sellers. It’s ALL ABOUT YOU Etsy, and the sellers are nothing more than the means to an end, to your benefit and not much else.

No wonder you don’t have the time to come up with any solutions for what sellers really want you’re too busy crapping all over the site with a bunch of stuff that shows you have NO IDEA who your sellers are and what they need. You couldn’t care less.

Your capacity for arrogance is astounding!

Boo!

2009-10-31T15:39:00.003-04:00

It's Halloween and nothing's scarier than Etsy admin! Especially when they dress up as their favorite sellers in cowls. And what exactly is Maria dressed up as? Someone who likes to roll in money maybe?!

Be afraid, very afraid, and be on the lookout for cowl-wearing zombies!

The Dorque Gets a Facelift?

2009-10-31T03:47:00.000-04:00

Well, Vanessa, this little ditty just made our day. With the usual accompanying Dorque post that goes on (and on) about the FINAL TOUCHES to ETSY BRANDING that started with a site for selling all things handmade, and turned into a self-proclaimed "online style magazine" for people who are willing to make and list what Etsy tells them to!

Oh my, and here we were, wondering what the hell Etsy Admins do all day, busy as cute little felted furry bees making sure the entire site is a cookie-cutter orange brand statement from its Front Page to its adorable little pencilled characters frolicking though the cupcaked tulips!

Despite the time of year (holidays coming, remember them Etsy?)and the scads of new rules (all the better to bonk sellers on their heads!) we are so relieved to see what’s important to Etsy------- and that’s the Brand!

No new listing template, no more secure shopping cart, no solution to NPB's and resellers, no coupon codes, no customer service department, no new promotions, or just about anything else meant to support and help sellers (other than faves) SELL on Etsy!

The circle of Etsy Fail is complete!

Same ol’, Same ol’

2009-10-30T08:36:00.000-04:00

Oh crap, marymary has decided instead of actually taking the long list of terrific seller suggestions for NEW PROMOTIONS on the site to replace those much hated WEEKEND DEALS, she’s going to let us SUGGEST Etsy Finds for the month of November! Wow!

Digging deep into Etsy’s own, old, tired, repetitive and overdone promotions, here’s a list of November Find topics (ho-hum) for sellers to "review" and "suggest" or, in Etsy Lingo — give us that rubber stamp sellers, we’re gonna do our own thing anyway!

Suggest fresh, new, and emerging shops (isn't that Finds already?)

Suggest Team Events and Happenings (shoppers care about this?)

Suggest unique gift ideas under $50 USD (the promotion every retail site is using this year!)

Black Friday through Cyber Monday Free Worldwide Shipping***

***Oh goody, another wacky promotion that takes more out of sellers’ pockets with free shipping! Hey, that’s kinda like Weekend Deals = sellers pay (and pay dearly) in the end!

The Announcement ends with the usual bull: "Thanks in advance for your suggestions and participation, Mary" oh right, sellers’ suggestions ----- right, Etsy, like you’re suddenly listening to sellers! Suprising? No. Insulting? Yes.

Bitchables: the new dos and don'ts of Etsy

2009-10-29T19:00:00.002-04:00

Etsy was quick, they said a week and it was only a week, to allow review of the new dos and don'ts. But they could do that because they didn't really listen. By the way, why wasn't a mass email sent out to all members about this? Even if it was just to point out that there have been changes? Communication is still on Etsy's to-do list it seems.

Some of the bitchable points of the dos and don'ts?

From Shops&Listings, formerly known as 'selling':

"Etsy reserves the right to request that a seller provide policy information or require a seller to modify unreasonable policies at Etsy's discretion."

Hmmm what would be considered 'unreasonable'?

"Listing prices must be reasonable"

This appears to be an argument against the market and letting shoppers decide what's reasonable, but it's just a bad way of leading to their old policies on the issue:

"You may price an item how you choose; however, a listing should not be created with an inaccurate price in order to keep it from selling"

and Etsy's way of preventing circumvention of their fees:

"The shipping cost must be reasonable for the item"

Why they couldn't just avoid the potentially troublesome header about reasonable prices is beyond me. How corporate of Etsy, reserving their rights to modify both your policies and your prices. It's not your shop, it's Etsy's, you're just the grunt making the pieces in it.

Then there's a whole new section on tagging:

This is an old one
"You may only use multiple words as a single tag if they comprise a single descriptive phrase"

But their example of what's unacceptable is "silver earrings" ?? What if it's a pair of, ta-da, silver earrings!?

And then there's the blurring of tags and categories
"Tags that describe the craft or process used to create an item should only refer to the processes that you personally used to create the item (for example: note cards should only be tagged "papermaking" if you made the paper by hand from pulp, a wooden shelf should only be tagged "woodworking" if you built the shelf)."

But what if you're one of the many sellers with, for example, woodburned items and you need woodworking - burning for your categories?...you may not have made the box, but you sure as hell made it what it is! In the dos and don'ts this is considered unacceptable.

Aren't updates to the policies supposed to help clarify them? We assume these will be optional as usual.

Ah those lazy admin

2009-10-29T02:13:00.000-04:00

Etsy is trying to shake up the same old same old gift guides by asking their Twitter followers to do it for them. Post a link to your favorite Etsy item with the tag #myetsy and they'll consider it for inclusion in the Twitter Picks GG.

Oh, but wait...what's this I see. They didn't even check to make sure there's a picture of the item!

Lazy admin, even when they have other people do their job they can't get it right.

Yup, those new D&D’s are a done deal!

2009-10-28T14:00:00.000-04:00

Top of the pops on the Community (flub) Hub page is the announcement from Stelloella that yes indeedy, the D&D’s are a done deal, despite sellers comments! Oh no, don’t spend precious hours comparing the old D&D’s with the new ----- you’ll go so batty, you’ll start making things in that "distinct Etsy style"!!!

Sellers have plenty of time to figure it out because a "grace period" has been granted by those up on high (until 12/31) to get "with it", or get ready for another year ahead with rules that are open for interpretation (Etsy's interpretation, that is). You know, rules that apply to some and not to all, an Etsy specialty!

Even with some Etsians pointing out that they think a portion of the policies on Feedback are still not up to snuff, well Etsy says Tough Shit! "At this point, the policies stand as they are, and are in effect."

But that’s ok. Etsy goes on with its own trendy agenda quite separate from what most sellers do at this time of year, like getting ready for holiday shows and holiday sales and marketing their stores, and doing all the things that Etsy doesn't do for most stores on the site!

Etsy, what they do all day, we just don’t know.

Quiet Time Might Be Good For You Etsy

2009-10-24T13:13:00.001-04:00

We’re getting pretty sick and tired of the Admin random thought posts showing up every week in the forums that pose more questions than they answer. Most forum readers know what and who we’re talking about.

Is it all a massive diversion trick to keep sellers off of hot topics like the D&D’s and seriously lagging SEO changes? Pull sellers away from trying to get money out of NPB’s? Posting bug reports that have no Etsy response? Continue flagging stores and items that might never be acted upon? Market their stores (because Etsy sure isn’t) and twitter away like mad hatters?

Our advice is to cut the mindless chatter and cute streams of consciousness because sellers really aren’t interested in your pie-in-the-sky pointless whims. They’d rather see the site improvements they ask for year after year, clear as glass.

Stop asking what improvements we want, you already know. Stop asking what type of tools we need to run our shops, we've already told you. Stop musing on trends and themes... Just get to work!

Proposed changes to the dos and don'ts

2009-10-22T22:18:00.002-04:00

Etsy is updating the Dos and Don'ts. In case you haven't seen it, the beta is available for preview. A synopsis of what Etsy thinks is important is in the Dorque. They say it's available for a week so members can provide feedback on the proposed changes, though no thread is linked to and commenting is closed. You have to wander over to the forum to get to Stella's post with a link to a discussion thread and her comments/answers.

We here at EB are currently going over them and will likely post more about it at a later date, but feel free to vent here.

Etsy Holiday Gifts Trendsetter? NOT!

2009-10-22T08:00:00.001-04:00

Just as EB predicted, all that maintenance downtime on Etsy has resulted in a new blog post by tag-errific emilybidwell with her collection of Etsy’s pre-season picks for the Holiday Gift Guides,
which are delightfully described in her words as: "....a small selection of the captivating gift ideas you'll soon be drooling over..."

While we wait in drool-drenched anticipation for these same items to show up on the front page (again) day in and day out in December, anything else in that "distinct Etsy style" you want sellers to start making priced below cost?

Spam for Etsy! Again!

2009-10-19T21:08:00.000-04:00

Hats off to the sellers who tipped us off to the latest Etsy scheme to get unwitting sellers to do even MORE free marketing for Etsy the Brand on all those neat-o "shopping sites" and pack them with suggestions that happen to match all the favorites picked by Etsy for their Front Page, Gift Guides and countless repetitive blog posts!

Shall we just hit copy and paste?

Etsy's Vintage Faux Pas

2009-10-18T14:10:00.004-04:00

Etsy's guidelines on vintage are that the item must be 20 years old or older. So stuff labeled 1990s should be unacceptable.

Unless you're admin and think it's cool. Etsy had a Storque article dedicated to grunge, with labels like "1990s" and "90s"...ummm that wasn't 20 years ago. Now, the items actually featured were those labeled as vintage and appear to be older than 1990 (some look like they're actually from the 70s, real good "grunge" there) or handmade grunge inspired items. So it's not about the sellers chosen, it's about admin's inability to count. Oh, and the fact that it hurts their feelings to be told so.

lisajune closed the "offending" thread with this pity party:

I apologize if you find this feature offensive. Our merchandising team works hard to draw on themes that appeal to a distinct Etsy style and showcase the items in our marketplace in such a way that buyers can't help but admire.

Oh yeah, they work so hard they forgot to learn to count to 20 and to learn the difference between mod and grunge. In fact, many of the items in the feature were mod (i.e. 60s-ish) and not grunge, so they were just using a popular label to get views. Isn't mistagging also against the TOS? Oh wait, that's right, only if you're not admin.

(Thank you to those who sent us the link to the article. You can send tips and rants to etsybiatch@gmail.com)

It’s an Etsy Branded Holiday Season!

2009-10-15T12:35:00.001-04:00

It’s ALL up to you, sellers, to jump on the Etsy Brand "formula for success" & brush up on your Etsy-fication by making your reservations for the rest of the Virtual Labs listed in this post from you-know-who!

We're just thankful that we missed the "better photos" Labs since we already covered them.

Clicking on this intriguing "holiday" topic in the Storque (which is so painfully obvious on the top of the new Community Hub page), we thought we’d see a list of new Etsy promotions designed just for Holiday’09 open to ALL sellers to help them promote sales in a year when most sellers need all the promotion help they can get.

Alas, our hopes were quickly dashed when we saw who the advice was coming from and what topics were included. Aren’t there 350 tips just like that in the never-ending "Etsy Handbook"?

We can add our own seminar for the "Etsy holiday rush" — "If you make and list what Etsy likes to promote (so everything on the site looks the same) we’ll promote you for free!"

The rest of the sellers can do what they always do - forget about getting ANY HELP AT ALL from Etsy for the holiday shopping season. Another Etsy "holiday season" that usually starts on December 15, too late to ship one damn thing.

(And how ridiculous is it that they have a jump page between the community page and the Storque? Why can't they just link directly? They already have server issues! -Righteous)

The Hub - Where Annoyance Gathers

2009-10-13T22:21:00.005-04:00

As many of you have noticed, Etsy unveiled their new Community Hub. With the cutesy Kindergarten sketch border at the top, and the Dorque articles prominently featured as Etsians try to find the forums - lacking a log in link but making sure you can buy crap from EtsyStore - Etsy has pushed branding and confusion to a new low.

So, dear EB readers, what are your thoughts on the Hub?

You REALLY want our suggestions, Etsy?

2009-10-11T12:00:00.000-04:00

This humdinger of a Forum Thread from Etsy following the Weekend Deals FVF debacle is just one more in a long list of "what do you think we should do?" posts that coax sellers into thinking Etsy is actually listening to what sellers have to say.

Oh, it’s a timely question, but dig a little deeper into the motivations behind it – why not deflect seller outrage by asking sellers (again) to come up with ideas they’ve been posting for years? Better yet, why admit you’ve run out of clever ideas and don’t have a clue how to promote the sellers you don’t already promote?

A weekend Indie Feature? So it looks just like every other Etsy feature?

The comments are going up as fast as sellers can write them, running against deals and discounts, and for (thank you sellers!) an emphasis on quality 100% handmade (remember the Etsy mission statement?).

But you know Etsy, this is what sellers have been asking for all along. You just weren’t paying attention until you stuck your foot in the half-assed, seller-rip-off Weekend Deals and got caught with your hand in the cookie jar.

Another Etsy seller survey forum post, another long list of great seller suggestions based on real-life business experience, another puff of hot air. Fat chance any of it will result in a promotion that sellers like, use, and lead to honest to goodness real sales.

Hello DMCA, I think Etsy's forgotten about you

2009-10-10T00:55:00.003-04:00

In May 2007, Sanrio (the people who own the trademark, etc to Hello Kitty) filed a DMCA complaint with Etsy. They specified to Etsy that they must remove all Hello Kitty items or face legal proceedings.

Here, Dillinger, who was an Etsy employee at the time confirms this and calls the removal of Hello Kitty items "Operation: Goodbye, Kitty."

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5097642&page=10

It is now more than 2 years later and Etsy has still to keep current and comply with the DMCA.

Here are the search results for the HK items on Etsy. There's 3,798 items currently listed with the tag of Hello Kitty. I might be wrong, but that's not a very good job of removing those items, now is it?

Also, Dillinger let it slip that MTV, Nickelodeon and other large companies have filed similar complaints. Here's a search for Spongebob Squarepants - HERE

In this thread, RobWhite said that they FULLY comply with DMCA complaints. Sorry bud, you are WRONG! A DMCA isn't a one time deal, it is a continuous complaint and request to keep their copyrighted characters off of the site!

Therefore, Etsy isn't DMCA compliant in the slightest, especially with Sanrio and most likely Nickelodeon and several other companies.

Come on Etsy! You've had over 2 years! It isn't that hard to put a few of your employees on DMCA duty. Its not like you're using them for anything more than tweeting Etsy favorites every few minutes.

EB How-To Series: Session 1: Photography and You

2009-10-07T20:44:00.015-04:00

In this new series, we here at EB will help you make the most of your Etsy store by being your Rosetta Stone of the ways of Etsy so you have the knowledge you need to get the notice you deserve!

Session 1: Photography and You:

Unless your items fit into the personal aesthetics of Etsy Staff you don't get featured. You pretty much need to make the 40 things a couple people in the office love to get that free public handjob and sloppy fumbled tongue kiss from Etsy.

But, if you don't make those 40 items you will need to make your photos look like those of the studios they love to at least get them to cop a feel.

Sales make you sad: Recruit that 14 year old goth waifish, pale, malnourished & depressed family member to model your items. The more you can get her to look like she will turn into dust if touched by sunlight or blown over on a soft breeze the better your pic will be! Remember: More eyeliner = more views!

Kitschy Kitschy CooCoo: Add a unrelated item of kitsch as a bit of pictorial scenery. Selling jewelry? Put in a He-man action figure! Better yet, She Ra! Bonus points if you can work in some irony, after all nothing says "Look at my gorgeous handmade cereal bowl" like sitting it next to a crocheted piece of toast with a smiley face, or a spoon with the word BITCH engraved on it.

More is more: Group your item in an artsy still life with many items not for sale so the viewer has to look at your item page to see what you are selling (any view is a good view!). Better yet, stuff them all into a beaten vintage soda crate so it looks like you pulled it out of the crazy cat lady's trash.

View to a Kill: Pictures shot at weird angles make photos more artsy. Try shooting your pictures hanging from the ceiling upside down, and one handed! Nothing says quality craftsmanship like making your buyer cock their head at a 45 degree angle and close one eye.

Close, closer, closest!: Test your buyer's powers of deduction by getting the oh so important first picture to be a macro so close that it causes their eyes to cross. This disorientation might well last several minutes, and in that time they might accidently click the "Buy" button trying to escape before blindness sets in.

Blur the Facts: Focus on one square inch of your item, letting the rest of the shot blur to the point that it looks like a network news program blurred it's identity to protect it from mob retribution.

If you have more photo tips, add them to the comments!

Look for more lessons in coming weeks. Next time we'll touch on What cheap elements to add to items to make admin nipples perk up and say howdy.

Nickel and Diming

2009-10-05T19:22:00.004-04:00

Well well well, it appears that Etsy is skimming a little off the top.

If you're participating in the weekend deals, you're paying Etsy more than 3.5% on that sale, which is what they're contractually supposed to receive. They want you to refund the buyer through Paypal, but that means they get a final value fee on the original cost!

tsk tsk tsk Etsy, you should know by now how these things work, and I bet you thought noone would notice.

By the way, we saw what you did here, skirting the issue and all. Looks like you're planning on nickel and diming until the end of the month.

Rather than putting together a batch price edit, or coupon codes, or some other way to run a sale, they're just letting you pay them a little extra. Aw, how thoughtful of them.