ETSY please invest in the training of your employees who answer questions from sellers. Every employee answered my questions differently or ignored my questions and gave me automated answers. It is wrong to close a shop at the slightest mistake when your own employees do not fully know the Etsy rules.
I got a warning for having cashmere listed and they are going to request my certification and if I do not have it... I am violating their terms and being deceptive. I sell soap, that is it. I finally found one of my fragrance descriptions that said cashmere woods. I am so tired of getting stuff like this and everyday I wonder if I will be taken down.
I have a number of different technologies I use to create my products. I use a plasma cutter to cut designs in old hand saws. I also use lasers to engrave names in pocket knives, slate coasters, and other things that I purchase. I also have a CNC router and 3D printers that I use to make things from scratch. I often don't know what category to place items. I only have 11 things in my shop right now. Looking to grow.
I use an embroidery machine to embroider designs on tea towels. I don't make the tea towels. People couldn't afford my towels if I wove it myself from wool that I have spun.😊
I am from the USA and the change of "made by" etc. ; I am able to pick which best describes my item/how it is made. It is in the set-up of a listing (how made it,,,); you can choose one of the new descriptions yourself and also change them on old listings. Nice thing Etsy is not choosing for you. I did find one that was missed label that is how I found I can change it. Hope this helps
Thank you for going through this. The definitions don’t really work for a creative platform, lol! I sew bags from raw materials ….but I don’t make the zip so 🤯
Pam, I would say your items are made from scratch. I say mine are as well. In the made from scratch, they include “basic craft materials” in there. I buy blanks, use my original art, print it out on my sublimation printer and sublimate it myself.
The sad thing is that this is allowed and designed for Etsy to fail during the holidays ahead. No one running a business can be this stupid and make the mistakes that Etsy is making. The only thing left for Josh to do is close Etsy down and tell the shareholders they lost their money and it's time for something different to invest in.
I use to made birthday card with designe made by me, sometimes when a customer ask for a custom one, sometimes I put it for sale too, but always with a digital pic done on my pc, will this not be good in the future?should I take real pics of the products?
Thank you, Pam! As always, you are a breath of fresh air. I can't help but be a tiny bit worried that the bots will shut down my listings as I handmake all my items but they show as designed by like your adorable bookmark. It's a little unnerving since we never know what they will do next, lol. 🍀🍀🍀Also, people will be able to filter out all but made by - and that would take my whole shop out of search - yikes.
I tried filling in these sections on a listing to see if it will change the "Designed by" label but it didn't. My mixed media paintings and wood rib cage plaques with flowers, etc are even listed as designed by. Which is weird. I sculpt the ghost and i'm painting, gluing, putting everything together. It is a bit frustrating. I am hoping maybe buyers don't put much thought into the labels and Etsy doesn't do something with search that corresponds to those labels.
You would have to have a final pattern item made (by the seller) in addition to having the instructions on how to make it if you are selling the patterns. Etsy wants you to actually show the item made/ordered. Mockups can be used after the 2nd page. The original picture has to have a personalized name on the 1st page item. Ex: personalized T-shirts. Can't have a T-shirt with "name here" It has to have someone's name on T-shirts. Pam, I feel ya. My items are handmade as well (pillow) but is sitting on a plastic disc (purchased). So where do we fit in all this craziness...The abandoned cart, favorite, & thank you coupon discount system has been a positive impact on my sales. You have to adjust your prices to make it worth using. In other words price your items accordingly to accommodate the discount.
Where a handmade component is combined with commercially bought materials in my shop I'm considering the categorisation from the point of view " is the item with the handmade component interchangeable with a version of it without the handmade component - ie could the same buyer regard them as viable options for purchase? Or is the handmade component a key factor that would go ibto the choice to buy?" Someone wanting a felt puppy bookmark isn't going to be interested in a paperclip. Someone wanting a felt fox wreath probably isn't going to want a blank wreath without the key feature especially not at the price I'm charging for the felt fox to be on it, so not interchangeable at all.. ergo, I class them as handmade from scratch because that's the important selling feature... and i would argue the toss hard with etsy if they disagree. Same with handpicked from nature, if there is processing involved which the seller themselves do which significantly changes the marketability or function of it- drying flowers, tumbling rocks - then those should be handmade because they are not as found nor as picked
Same with fresh bouquets... there's a premium onto the price for the arrangement and human skills involved, so it doesn't belong in the same category as hand picked which would be more like the kind of Freddie's flowers letterbox flower selection that people have to arrange themselves.
I will say with the mock ups they kinda contradict themselves on that one, I personally think having a actual photo of the finished product is best for 1st photo then mock ups following can even see if you can use a customers photo as the 1st photo with their permission of course then nothing out of the sellers pocket that way... I love etsy but they do make it hard to love them at times...
After producing 3D figures (no copyright) that I buy and download from the internet on a 3D printer, I turn them into tabletop metal objects by applying various craftsmanship (casting, welding, cleaning, polishing, oxidizing, personalization text engraving). I do not design the 3D figures. I buy them as 3D data from the designer. Which option should I choose in this case? "It's made from scratch" or "it's assembled from purchased parts" or "it's an item that my shop alters"? I added the independent artist from whom I bought the 3D data as a "Production partner". Is this correct? or is a "production partner" just someone who helps you physically produce the product? is it because I define a Production partner that Etsy puts my products in the "Design by ShopName" category automatically? But I didn't design them... This is not correct for my products.
Yeah that is a very interesting case that I dont think quite fits into any of their categories, from the work you put in and the skill levels I would hope it was considered made from scratch, I think they need to rethink things a little
@@PamDuthie Thank you. One of the examples in the "Made by" category in their newly released policy is 3d printed objects. But do they expect these objects to be absolutely designed by the seller?
I would clearly think that this is "made by" as you are the one who creates the finished product. Everyone one who creates a product follows some kind of protocol (sewing clothing, stitching, creating soaps, needle felting, knitting etc) that they did not create themselves.
@@Laura-je2uw But I buy the design from someone else. I mean, the 3D data. How do I indicate this in my listing? Which option can I choose to indicate that the design is not mine? So what I actually do is turn an existing 3d figure into metal.
@@ahcvea i do not think that you have to indicate that. I buy clipart that i use to create sticker sheets. I buy the clipart, but i design the sticker sheets with them, print the sheets, cut them and send them out. So i made the final product, even if i used designs that i purchased to put on them.
Etsy used to be strictly artisan stuff. It turned into some sort of ebay - wish cross over the years. as I see it there are no grey areas (your examples are clearly categorize. You picked a bunch of flowers and sell it as is (fresh or after you let it dry) is hand-picked, (as in chosen) if you do something creative, arrtsy out of it it's created. It's very simple. I really hope this is going to be strictly enforced because it is a very welcome change (maybe not for the sellers selling $3 wish/temu whatever Chinese crap website item for 10x that, but hen... that's daytime robbery anyway, and seriously misleading as people expect a different sort of item on this website - the image policy again can help a lot with this, not the sellers selling crap with not real photos, but buyers)
I am not sure if it was mentioned, but can customers actually filter the search results for the different categories (made by, designed by etc? I do not think that allowing "sourced by" on etsy is a good idea. No one can control if the seller just puts 100% sourced items in a gift basket. Nothing really handmade there IMO.
ETSY please invest in the training of your employees who answer questions from sellers. Every employee answered my questions differently or ignored my questions and gave me automated answers. It is wrong to close a shop at the slightest mistake when your own employees do not fully know the Etsy rules.
Yes there clearly is a training issue with the support staff
I got a warning for having cashmere listed and they are going to request my certification and if I do not have it... I am violating their terms and being deceptive. I sell soap, that is it. I finally found one of my fragrance descriptions that said cashmere woods. I am so tired of getting stuff like this and everyday I wonder if I will be taken down.
I have a number of different technologies I use to create my products. I use a plasma cutter to cut designs in old hand saws. I also use lasers to engrave names in pocket knives, slate coasters, and other things that I purchase. I also have a CNC router and 3D printers that I use to make things from scratch. I often don't know what category to place items. I only have 11 things in my shop right now. Looking to grow.
I use an embroidery machine to embroider designs on tea towels. I don't make the tea towels. People couldn't afford my towels if I wove it myself from wool that I have spun.😊
I am from the USA and the change of "made by" etc. ; I am able to pick which best describes my item/how it is made. It is in the set-up of a listing (how made it,,,); you can choose one of the new descriptions yourself and also change them on old listings. Nice thing Etsy is not choosing for you. I did find one that was missed label that is how I found I can change it. Hope this helps
Thanks again Pam. Love your vids xx
Thank you for going through this. The definitions don’t really work for a creative platform, lol! I sew bags from raw materials ….but I don’t make the zip so 🤯
Pam, I would say your items are made from scratch. I say mine are as well. In the made from scratch, they include “basic craft materials” in there. I buy blanks, use my original art, print it out on my sublimation printer and sublimate it myself.
The sad thing is that this is allowed and designed for Etsy to fail during the holidays ahead. No one running a business can be this stupid and make the mistakes that Etsy is making. The only thing left for Josh to do is close Etsy down and tell the shareholders they lost their money and it's time for something different to invest in.
I use to made birthday card with designe made by me, sometimes when a customer ask for a custom one, sometimes I put it for sale too, but always with a digital pic done on my pc, will this not be good in the future?should I take real pics of the products?
Thank you, Pam! As always, you are a breath of fresh air. I can't help but be a tiny bit worried that the bots will shut down my listings as I handmake all my items but they show as designed by like your adorable bookmark. It's a little unnerving since we never know what they will do next, lol. 🍀🍀🍀Also, people will be able to filter out all but made by - and that would take my whole shop out of search - yikes.
I tried filling in these sections on a listing to see if it will change the "Designed by" label but it didn't. My mixed media paintings and wood rib cage plaques with flowers, etc are even listed as designed by. Which is weird. I sculpt the ghost and i'm painting, gluing, putting everything together. It is a bit frustrating. I am hoping maybe buyers don't put much thought into the labels and Etsy doesn't do something with search that corresponds to those labels.
You would have to have a final pattern item made (by the seller) in addition to having the instructions on how to make it if you are selling the patterns. Etsy wants you to actually show the item made/ordered. Mockups can be used after the 2nd page. The original picture has to have a personalized name on the 1st page item. Ex: personalized T-shirts. Can't have a T-shirt with "name here" It has to have someone's name on T-shirts. Pam, I feel ya. My items are handmade as well (pillow) but is sitting on a plastic disc (purchased). So where do we fit in all this craziness...The abandoned cart, favorite, & thank you coupon discount system has been a positive impact on my sales. You have to adjust your prices to make it worth using. In other words price your items accordingly to accommodate the discount.
Where a handmade component is combined with commercially bought materials in my shop I'm considering the categorisation from the point of view " is the item with the handmade component interchangeable with a version of it without the handmade component - ie could the same buyer regard them as viable options for purchase? Or is the handmade component a key factor that would go ibto the choice to buy?"
Someone wanting a felt puppy bookmark isn't going to be interested in a paperclip. Someone wanting a felt fox wreath probably isn't going to want a blank wreath without the key feature especially not at the price I'm charging for the felt fox to be on it, so not interchangeable at all.. ergo, I class them as handmade from scratch because that's the important selling feature... and i would argue the toss hard with etsy if they disagree.
Same with handpicked from nature, if there is processing involved which the seller themselves do which significantly changes the marketability or function of it- drying flowers, tumbling rocks - then those should be handmade because they are not as found nor as picked
Same with fresh bouquets... there's a premium onto the price for the arrangement and human skills involved, so it doesn't belong in the same category as hand picked which would be more like the kind of Freddie's flowers letterbox flower selection that people have to arrange themselves.
I think the things I do by hand, I will start wording my titles to reflect that. At least then the keywords will reflect that.
I will say with the mock ups they kinda contradict themselves on that one, I personally think having a actual photo of the finished product is best for 1st photo then mock ups following can even see if you can use a customers photo as the 1st photo with their permission of course then nothing out of the sellers pocket that way...
I love etsy but they do make it hard to love them at times...
Man, the system was already complicated. Instead of fixing something that was broken, they just broke it more. 0_o
After producing 3D figures (no copyright) that I buy and download from the internet on a 3D printer, I turn them into tabletop metal objects by applying various craftsmanship (casting, welding, cleaning, polishing, oxidizing, personalization text engraving). I do not design the 3D figures. I buy them as 3D data from the designer. Which option should I choose in this case? "It's made from scratch" or "it's assembled from purchased parts" or "it's an item that my shop alters"?
I added the independent artist from whom I bought the 3D data as a "Production partner". Is this correct? or is a "production partner" just someone who helps you physically produce the product? is it because I define a Production partner that Etsy puts my products in the "Design by ShopName" category automatically? But I didn't design them... This is not correct for my products.
Yeah that is a very interesting case that I dont think quite fits into any of their categories, from the work you put in and the skill levels I would hope it was considered made from scratch, I think they need to rethink things a little
@@PamDuthie Thank you. One of the examples in the "Made by" category in their newly released policy is 3d printed objects. But do they expect these objects to be absolutely designed by the seller?
I would clearly think that this is "made by" as you are the one who creates the finished product. Everyone one who creates a product follows some kind of protocol (sewing clothing, stitching, creating soaps, needle felting, knitting etc) that they did not create themselves.
@@Laura-je2uw But I buy the design from someone else. I mean, the 3D data. How do I indicate this in my listing? Which option can I choose to indicate that the design is not mine? So what I actually do is turn an existing 3d figure into metal.
@@ahcvea i do not think that you have to indicate that. I buy clipart that i use to create sticker sheets. I buy the clipart, but i design the sticker sheets with them, print the sheets, cut them and send them out. So i made the final product, even if i used designs that i purchased to put on them.
Etsy used to be strictly artisan stuff. It turned into some sort of ebay - wish cross over the years. as I see it there are no grey areas (your examples are clearly categorize. You picked a bunch of flowers and sell it as is (fresh or after you let it dry) is hand-picked, (as in chosen) if you do something creative, arrtsy out of it it's created. It's very simple. I really hope this is going to be strictly enforced because it is a very welcome change (maybe not for the sellers selling $3 wish/temu whatever Chinese crap website item for 10x that, but hen... that's daytime robbery anyway, and seriously misleading as people expect a different sort of item on this website - the image policy again can help a lot with this, not the sellers selling crap with not real photos, but buyers)
I am not sure if it was mentioned, but can customers actually filter the search results for the different categories (made by, designed by etc? I do not think that allowing "sourced by" on etsy is a good idea. No one can control if the seller just puts 100% sourced items in a gift basket. Nothing really handmade there IMO.
100% sourced items in a gift basket is allowed. That's one of the new changes.
@@arianapronin5830 yes, i know. But i dont think that shpuld be sold on etsy. Nothing handmade in that.
Etsy seller support stinks.
It does