AAA Cafe' Daily Chat 12/06/2014

[NaturalClocks]

Welcome to new members, welcome back to returning teammates! If this is your first time here - this is a place to ask questions, share your most embarrassing secrets, or just chat about the slow and boring bits of your day…we want to hear from you!!

Be sure to check out the discussion board. There are games to be played and threads to explore. The more you promote your fellow team mates, the more you get promoted, so be sure to participate on a daily basis. Check out our blog and our Facebook page, as well as the other links provided below.

IMPORTANT LINKS:
* Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/301427606658253/
* Etsy Calculator: salecalc.com/etsy
* Etsyology: www.etsyology.net/
♥ Online Photo Programs: fotoflexer.com/ or www.picmonkey.com/
treasurypin.com./ and editor.pho.to/
arwmedia.net/tools/pixlr_express.php
* Etsy Craft Tools: www.mycrafttools.com/
* Etsy Gadget: www.estygadget.com
* Craftopolis -Edit multiple listings: www.craftopolis.com/#com=ee
* Etsy Banner Maker: bannerfans.com/banner_maker.php?bnew=1&pses=1a256d05
* Craftcount - craftcount.com/teritory.php
* Google+ tutorials blog.kissmetrics.com/personal-google-plus-account/ and moz.com/blog/tips-to-use-google-for-s
* Chrome Treasury Box: brittanysbest.com/treasurybox-chrome-extension/
* Google+ information plus.google.com/communities/112658132414010568954
* Etsy team page: www.etsy.com/pages/aaasupport
* Check your keyword relevancy in search: www.tools4etsy.com/Wall-e/Relevancy/Keyword

Please don't forget to post in the AAA Support Team thread in the promo forum :)) www.etsy.com/uk/teams/21915/promos/discuss/15267796/

Good morning team!

Mary posted a link to this announcement in yesterday's chat www.etsy.com/teams/7716/announcements/discuss/15249203/ , it's to do with the shipping calculator. I can't see anything different, so probably this only applies to US sellers, which suits me fine and I hope that they'll leave the UK well alone as luckily for us the pricing tiers are very simple to handle. In any case, I do hope that whatever changes they've brought in, are being of help to you guys, as I'm aware of what a nightmare getting the correct prices for your shipping can be, with zip codes and so on.

John, I agree with Donna. I like the idea of a border, but I think that I would leave the dark outer border out and just use the lighter border, as I believe that this way the item would stand out a bit more.

Welcome back Dawn and Christy! Christy, I do love your driftwood creations! That stork is just amazing!

My December so far has been pretty disappointing. Sales have been increasing since September, but now they've come to a standstill. Ok, see if this makes any sense: last year was my first year on Etsy, from 12/1 to 12/5 I had 455 views and 7 orders. This year, same period, 1387 views and 2 orders. And, to add insult to injury, last night I received a convo from a UK buyer saying that, 9 days on, he hadn't received the clock yet. Mind you, this customer happens to be in the Channel Islands, which belong to the UK but they do have Customs checks as if you were shipping outside of the EU, so I'm hoping that it's just being delayed because of that. So, that's 2 parcels so far that are MIA, I dread opening new convos these days LOL. Oh well, business as usual anyway, I won't give up just yet :)

Have a great Saturday everybody!

[COLDHAMCUDDLIES]

Don't you go giving up, Val! We'd all be lost without you here - and in any case, these dips are just part of doing business online, aren't they!

Craft Fair over - and results better than expected. Costs covered - well. Having only just moved to the area, this was the first biggie in Kirkby itself, so I regarded it more as an introductory session, with any sales a bonus. The MacMillan Cancer Coffee morning gig in September was in house where I live, and even then I did better than expected there too. However, with Clare's help, we got rid of a lot of business cards, and they were accepted very willingly, as opposed to having to push them. If any or all of those who said "I'll be back", do as they said, the results will be a definite push for the bank balance, but we all know "talk is cheap".

One lead though I'd love to pursue, but in the rush I forgot to take a name or telephone number. Apparently, she (a) knows where I live and (b) lives just round the corner and up the hill (or maybe the other way around!) and is writing a story which she wants to illustrate with hand puppets! The Tiger puppets saga may well yet lead to more t'would appear. Fingers crossed. Meanwhile, I've been paid for four (out of the 8) Puppet bodies today.

So once I've finished Lucy's Cat (the prototype has finally been sewn - he'll be stuffed later and the second one (hopefully quicker and easier because it's not the first example!) will be done and off to her by mid-week next week. Then it's back to the Puppets.

Have got to go and have some lunch. Didn't eat as normal yesterday, and the hunger pangs are catching up.

[naturepoet]

Val,

Grandma used to say, "It will all come out in the wash." and it will. Be patient, don't panic. You have a beautiful shop and terrific products. I will give it a bit of love.

[naturepoet]

Val, I will pray for you to get sales. Works for me. December has been good so far, but for me, November was a disaster.

[ZingRetroFinds]

Hi All,

Isobel, so glad your Craft fair went well. Soon everyone in Kirby will be looking for your little cuddlies.

This is just a quick check in. I wish there was no X in the ABC Game. It holds up everyone. Well that may be overstating the problem just a little...lol

I just received a wonderful 5 star review for a piece of jewelry that I had added patina. "You've done wonders with this piece! It is perfect for my boyfriend. A thousand thanks from both of us for the necklace and the fast shipping!" This is my fourth review so I am very grateful.

Very rainy today in upstate NY. Maybe snow tonight.
Have a good one.

[ItsSewYouDear]

Good morning all!

Val, that announcement is a few months old. It's from the time they changed the shipping costs display to show the shipping cost to your address on fie only without the other destinations shipping costs.

Quite honestly, looking at stats gives more questions than answers sometimes lol. I don't know why your views would up but sales down. The only things that I'd suggest is looking at where the views are coming from; search views are the best for my shop, I know I get most of my sales from there, have your search views been affected by the change Etsy did to the algorithm? Maybe everybody is waiting until Christmas rush is over to order internationally; delivery times are a hot mess right now. I sent a package on the first to MA, priority mail with 2-3 days delivery estimate and it's still not there. It sat at my city's sorting facility until 12/4! I am very very concerned about this shipping issue. But there is nothing that I can do about it. I hope your packages (and sales!) show up very soon.

Isobel, glad to hear your craft fair went well.

Donna, what a lovely review! I love reviews as much as I love sales!

Been sewing for three hours already, grabbing a quick bite and back to the studio for me. Weather looks delightful and I am hoping to take a quick walk later on this afternoon, but for now , I need to work!

Happy Saturday all!

[CherryPicks]

Happy Saturday!

Coffee this morning is very disappointing as I don't have any real sugar. A packet of "chemicals" has been added, but I cringe with every sip.

I had two sales yesterday and one on Thursday. I also had some wonderful reviews. The one craft fair that I look forward to doing every year has been cancelled. They could not find someone willing to coordinate it. Obviously they did not ask me before the decision was made. All the money made from vender fees is donated to our local shelter for battered women.

Christmas is just around the corner. Who is finished shopping already?

[KrochetKingdom]

Hi Team,

Val, please don't quit on your shop. You are at a low now, but it will pick up. You have too many beautiful clocks, etc. in your shop. Give it some time. My shop has been showing the new shipping calculator for some time now, but customers still pay the shipping cost I show and I end up giving a reimbursement. Don't ask!

Isobel congrats on your success at the craft show and afterwards. It is such a great feeling when people engage in your crafts.

Donna - 5 star reviews are exhilarating. You should have a big grin on your face. Congrats.

Any word from Chris lately after his fiasco with his friend?

Have a good Saturday everyone.

[NaturalClocks]

Thank you so much everybody, but no worries my friends, I was actually meant to write "I won't give up HOPE just yet" LOL! No no, I'm not going anywhere, it's just very baffling and a bit disheartening, being December and comparing it to last year, that's all. The good news is that my customer in the Channel Islands got his clock today, it was indeed being held at Customs, and he's very happy with it. Pfiuuuuuuuuu.

Candi, I do hope that that parcel will turn op at your customer's soon. It's not good to hear that USPS is suffering delays at the moment, I hope they'll get their act together, as the workload is not going to ease off for the next few weeks, quite the opposite...

Oh yeah, I didn't notice the dates on that Announcement, I copied it from Mary on yesterday's chat, I'm wondering if this is the one you meant Mary? https://www.etsy.com/teams/7716/announcements/discuss/15678894/

Busy day sorting the small bedroom upstairs to make room for all my crafts bits and bobs, I keep getting sidetracked as I find things and start going through them, so now I have 3 rooms in a mess, not just one. The pile of stuff that can go to auction on ebay is also increasing, got to get my backside in gear and start listing.

I'm glad your Craft Fair went well Isobel, hopefully things will only get better for you.

Donna, congratulations on your review, that's an awesome one.

[Former_Member]

Hello, everybody.

Val, I know exactly how you feel. I had no sales in November, and have been feeling a bit down. Then this morning I got a sale -- from Germany, which is a first for me.

Another thing that got me down was problems with my cat and dog totes. It took forever to embroider all 35 of them, and then it took three tries to get the photos right. The first time, I tried new lights, but all the photos came out too yellow. The second try, I forgot to put the card in the camera (a DSLR). The third time went okay, but some of the closeups are a bit dark. Thank goodness for photo editors! I'll be spending much of today editing them, and then will probably start posting Monday (tomorrow is football day, which is my day off).

Donna, that's a wonderful review. You deserve it!

Isobel, glad your craft fair went well. Hope a lot of sales come from folks who took your business cards.

It has been gray and rainy since Tuesday here, and I am heartily sick and tired of it. Tomorrow I start using my light box. I should probably have started two weeks ago.

Hope everyone has a good Saturday.

[COLDHAMCUDDLIES]

Had a good day in the end. Discovered the problem I'd been having with my computer (yes - again!) could well have been because the surge socket on which it was plugged in had gone for a Burton, so lots of other things weren't going properly as well. The printer isn't talking to the computer still, but that might be because it needs an up to date driver. Will get my techy guyz working on that for me tomorrow: then I can get my overseas Christmas Cards off on Monday, with luck and a following wind.

Prototype Cat has worked - pics sent to Lucy, and will be cutting out the second version tomorrow. Have asked her to let me know if there are any amendments she'd like and will be getting going while I wait. It's things like different coloured eyes, whiskers rather than the overall look. Am quite pleased with the way the feline has worked - because there's no doubt he's given me some grief along the way.

Hope everyone is having a great week-end.

[naturepoet]

I detest Canada Post. Cost $38 to send that planter to CA. It's just not right. CP makes me so MAD, and yes, they do drive me insane. The prices are horrific and they give lousy service. Time for the government to sell it.

END OF RANT.