Etsy Giving Money Back

[kmmcrafts]

I see now if you bring a customer into the etsy site to shop via links to your products on social sites etc. then they'll refund you I think it was 4% of the order total.. Etsy has been losing money this year and they've been trying to make a turnaround.. While I like this option, they still have the issue of showing customers your competitors items on your item pages that I do not care for.. so I bring in a customer and then that customer goes to the bottom of the page and sees "similar items from other sellers" and my work to bring that customer in just went to my competitor.. I quit doing any outside promoting toward my etsy shop years ago because of many of their dumb practices like this. I think that was one of the dumbest things they did.. used to be a lot of people paying for google ads and promoting their stores bring in sales.. then once they started showing the competitors items on your pages who in their right mind would pay for ads for their competition, LOL.. 

 

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

1 hour ago, kmmcrafts said:

I see now if you bring a customer into the etsy site to shop via links to your products on social sites etc. then they'll refund you I think it was 4% of the order total.. Etsy has been losing money this year and they've been trying to make a turnaround.. While I like this option, they still have the issue of showing customers your competitors items on your item pages that I do not care for.. so I bring in a customer and then that customer goes to the bottom of the page and sees "similar items from other sellers" and my work to bring that customer in just went to my competitor.. I quit doing any outside promoting toward my etsy shop years ago because of many of their dumb practices like this. I think that was one of the dumbest things they did.. used to be a lot of people paying for google ads and promoting their stores bring in sales.. then once they started showing the competitors items on your pages who in their right mind would pay for ads for their competition, LOL.. 

 

I do not sell on Etsy but do buy a ton of things for my pen making hobby from various sites there. You are correct about the showing similar items when you start looking . I see your point when you are seller but it is perfect for if you are a buyer. I can not tell you the amount of times I saw another site through that process and was glad I did. I do see both sides. Tough one.  

[kmmcrafts]

1 hour ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said:

I do not sell on Etsy but do buy a ton of things for my pen making hobby from various sites there. You are correct about the showing similar items when you start looking . I see your point when you are seller but it is perfect for if you are a buyer. I can not tell you the amount of times I saw another site through that process and was glad I did. I do see both sides. Tough one.  

Yes I understand both sides too. and I honestly do not care that they do that.. and in some ways I like it because.. I do put effort into trying to make good photos.. a good presentation will sometimes catch the eye of the customer and many times I've had customers say they found me through another page but they liked my work / item better.. so I see it does work for me as a seller too.. However, I'm not going to bust my behind to bring a shopper to etsy only to have them pushed out to others.. That is why I have a stand alone site and where I push my customers to go to if possible.

A newer site to sell on and shop on is goimagine.com this site I feel like is going to go places because they are putting a lot of effort into what "handmade" sellers want.. Etsy got greedy and started opening up to somewhat resellers. goimagine is juried... you cannot just create a account and start selling like Etsy and eBay. Their handmade "opinion" is only as good as the jury folks though and many have various opinions of the term "handmade" that's a different subject though. Their founder said to be considered handmade it has to touch your hands in the making process.. My daughter bought a spare tire cover from etsy for her Jeep a few years ago and the cover had a blemish when she received it.. through the process of getting it replaced we found out the the lady selling them only draws the artwork and emails it to a company to make and drop ship to the customer.. This would not be considered handmade on goimagine.. Etsy calls it "production partners"  goimagine does allow "craft supplies" I believe.. probably not much on there for pen making supplies but never know, might be worth looking into it.