Etsy.com or A Not So Secret Love Affair

[MamaSasss]

It seems most of us, if not everyone, on this board loves etsy.com. We might as well have a thread dedicated to it.

So, what about Etsy do you like?

What don't you like?

What's the best thing you ever bought there?

Who are your favorite vendors?

Do you have an Etsy shop? If so, what's it like? *Sets adorable face into palms of hands and listens intently*

Is it difficult to get an Etsy shop?

I have a list of Etsy vendors that I check out pretty regularly. One of my favs is Tillybloom, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=74423. (If anyone is interested my birthday is in September. Just sayin'. ;))

Who else has some Etsy tips, questions, love to give?

*M*

[kate]

I LOVE Etsy. I am working on building up inventory for an upcoming expo and then will use the excess stuff to launch my own Etsy shop right after. It seems like a great place for a normal person to sell their wares. They charge very little to sell stuff so it's great. If I sell my stuff through a local boutique they will take at least half! Etsy charges 20 cents to list an item and they only take 3.5% of the sale price.

I love Etsy!

[ladyjanewriter]

Like: It's just so damn attractive! Visually it's somewhat easy to follow. I love supporting home businesses. I wish my Gramma could have had this in her life, she would have LOVED being able to do business, but not having to deal with customers face-to-face all the time. And I love the community, and just learned about Etsy Labs.

Dislike: Time Machine runs SLOW. Even on a fast internet connection. It barely works in dial-up at all. I hate the spiral layout one, it just takes forever to load.

Best Thing Ever Bought There: 2 squirrel valentines, from NerdBomber. I ended up squeeeeeing at the computer screen, b/c they were so perfect! She gocco'd them. These are the cards: http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=5109760

Favorites: Bohemia Bath and Candle, Lushbox Inc. - Oh! I see that Lushbox changed it's name to "Lollibomb." I am way overstocked on bath-y stuff, so I can't buy that stuff for awhile.

Bohemia Bath and Candle shop - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5059845

Lollibomb - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=42346




Never opened an etsy shop, or intend to. I <3 Etsy, tho!

[Stefaknee]

I had a look at Etsy the other day, it seems nice.
:rolleyes:
But, I will just stick to running my business through my myspace page.
It is free.
;)

[thinkthinkthink]

i love etsy too. i'm just getting started selling my amazing hand painted tshirts. im waiting on a purchase to come in the mail that im really excited about...its a valentine with a camel that says "wanna hump" haha! im stoked

[peglegparadiddle]

i love etsy because its so easy to find cool stuff!!

i dont like how it is hard to find stuff by new people

i've only bought one thing.... and it has been a terrible experience!! the seller had 100% pos rating, so i thought ok... she keeps her s*** together. her message says that she sends her products out in 1-2 days.... its been 10 and she hasn't sent my order!!! :(

i dont have a favorite seller yet...

i have a shop, but i sell so much more in person. i havent sold anything on my etsy, but i've sold dozens of hats in person!!

[emigma]

I don't buy from it as Its mostly america and the postage would be pretty bad, on top the fact I can't afford the stuff anyway. Its good to browse and get ideas though.

[madonnaontherocks]

i don't really buy because i'm broke poor and too young..

but i have tonssss of favorite sellers!!

WhichGoose (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5649119&ga_search_query=Whichgoose&ga_search_type=seller_usernames) (Headpieces and Vintage)

Sushipot (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=88030&order=&section_id=5008877&page=1) (Ephemera Pendents)

i have lots more.. but i'm too lazy to dig through my bookmarks

[Luai_lashire]

Personally I adore Loveandasandwich: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5290376
And Darkfusionboutique: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5897866


I plan to get an etsy account at the beginning of the summer, haven't decided yet whether I will start with selling jewelry or clothes..... I want to have one shop for each eventually, but I can't decide which one to start with!

[manateegirl]

some of my personal faves are sickonsin thetinyfig wolfbait and simbiosisbyjulia

[MalonB]

Etsy is a great way to get inspiration, that's what i love!! there's nothing much i don't like ^^.
Haven't really shopped there much but i do have a shop; i mostly do amigurumi ^^:
http://malonb.etsy.com
I have tons of fave vendors...too many to list!

Setting up a shop isn't hard at all. If you're registered w/ them your already did 60% of the work, lol. All you need to be a vendor is an acct (to use for payment) and i would also advice to register w/ paypal 'cause it's one of the most used ways of payment(that takes a few days fyi). Then you're all set up to put up shop. You'll need to make a banner for yourself and set up your store's policies, etc if any.

It's the cheapest place i found when selling also, and it's very user friendly. Every item you post up is $.20(cents!) for a listing of 4 months, or until sold of course. After the sale there's a 3.5% fee for the transaction..keep in mind that if you use paypal they have their own fee when transfering funds.

[angrygirlgear]

What I like: Its inexpensive, the administration seems to care (unlike eBay), its got a nice layout, very easy to list

What I don't like: They are working toward building a customer base, but I don't think they're doing enough advertising and promotion-wise to get their name out there. They have a great thing going, more people need to know about it.

I don't do a lot of shopping on Etsy, some fabric, some supplies, a few trinket items from friends of mine... so I really don't have a lot of favorite sellers. I pretty much love my street team, though. We have some talented ladies (and a few guys) and their work makes me proud to be a member.

It's not hard to get an etsy shop. You need to have a credit or debit card to set up shop, which is a problem for some people. They changed their billing system last week to allow for Paypal payments, though, so I'm not sure if a credit/debit card is still a requirement. I'm betting it is...

My shop? Pretty much average looking. I need to get more modeled pieces, I just can't find the time. The traffic is ok - google analytics tells me I get between 100-300 hits a day - sometimes low, sometimes high. Sales are ok. I've had 91 sales in 15 months of operation, but that is misleading because I end up being contacted by people on Etsy, and end up getting the sale through other means...

[saphira]

my faves are gloomth and tinycarvings

[anomalie]

I love etsy. I keep a list of favourite items as a wishlist come xmas/my birthday, because I try to encourage friends and family to give handmade/vintage gifts to me when possible. And I do my best to either make or buy handmade gifts for others, because all the other enviromental/etc benifits aside, it's so much more personal that way.

My boyfriends father is an artisan (he makes beautiful harps), so I understand what supporting one can mean. And even if it's not the seller's living, I support creativity and I like knowing where my money goes. If the world were more creative, everyone would be happier!

My Etsy store is linked in my signature - I just started putting stuff in it last night. Right now it's just vintage items, but when I can afford to stock up on supplies you'll see some handmade jewelry, a few shirts/bags/hats, possibly even handbound books. Really any craft I can pick up and feel I can do well in volume will pop up in there hopefully before long! I really hope I can establish myself enough that I can regularly sell on here. :)

You can also see my favourite sellers from my profile there.

[B!0H@Z@Rd]

Hmmm lets see here.

So, what about Etsy do you like?
That it cost almost nothing to get a product listed.
Free multiple pictures.
No character limitations on the description box

What don't you like?
The etsy bill isn't flat rate and instead 3.5% of the item's sale price.


What's the best thing you ever bought there?
I've never bought anything from etsy. I just sell.


Who are your favorite vendors?
There are soo many vendors I love....

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5623485
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5191694
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5151831

Not to mention our very own Kimmermonroe who sells amazing hair accessories:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5142844

And the list goes on...



Do you have an Etsy shop? If so, what's it like? *Sets adorable face into palms of hands and listens intently*

My etsy shop, is a place where I can offer direct sales from the business my fiance and I run [hazardouscreation.com] for costumers who can't wait for their orders to be made. The first batch of jewelries, clothing, purse/totes, hair extensions ect.. Goes to etsy. And those who missed the first batch can order it from our website.

Is it difficult to get an Etsy shop?

Nope, it was very easy and simple. Getting views and sales how ever is a different story.. That's where TBG comes in ;)

[zeloco]

So, what about Etsy do you like?
It's fairly easy and it's pretty much for everyone... You can also get good ideas from there if you can't afford somehting..

What don't you like?
The paypal stuff has major issues in my country and I'm always scared when shipping an item, because I can't be sure of it really gets where it's supposed to. I'm not really fond that it's partly java/flash based...

What's the best thing you ever bought there?
sadly I haven't had spare money to shop there yet ;(

Who are your favorite vendors?
not telling kheheh ;) (ok, I'm just too damn lazy to check :D)

Do you have an Etsy shop? If so, what's it like? *Sets adorable face into palms of hands and listens intently*
It's cool! ;D

Is it difficult to get an Etsy shop?
naah...

[crafty.rebel]

i just like getting ideas and inspiration of the stuff there. but i can't buy anything 'cause my dad doesn't let me buyanything online >>

[B!0H@Z@Rd]

What don't you like?
The paypal stuff has major issues in my country and I'm always scared when shipping an item, because I can't be sure of it really gets where it's supposed to. I'm not really fond that it's partly java/flash based...


You should get delivery confirmation for the stuff you ship, I do every time even if it's just a small envelope, so can track it and know when it gets to my costumers. It's very conveient.

[mlssfshn]

What I don't like about ETSY is that quite a few people undervalue their selves and others misrepresent themselves ie selling item that are from commercial patterns and claiming they are their own