Daily Chat January 1, 2015

[naturepoet]

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/


Happy New Year to all Team members. May 2015 bring everyone abundant blessings in health, happiness and prosperity.

Since this is the beginning of a new year, I am not going to provide a topic for today. Please tell us how what you are doing today, or talk about anything you like. Since I haven't been starting the thread lately, please let me know what you subjects you would like covered.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"Today is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one."
― Brad Paisley

[NaturalClocks]

Good morning Mary and all!

Thank you so much for this Mary, much appreciated :) Fantastic quote and so true!

I had a friend over for dinner last night, we watched some comedies on tv and then the live fireworks from London at midnight on BBC1. The year has started in a rainy and windy way, sigh, so no walk for Blake at the moment.

Dona, that is such a lovely story, Happy Birthday to Philip!! I really enjoyed reading all your stories on yesterday's chat, I hope you all had a peaceful New Year's Eve, especially Candi, I can see that the extra work load for A&E (ER) is the same all over the world unfortunately on New Year's Eve.

It was mentioned yesterday in the chat, and it's worth mentioning it again, as it comes into effect today: the nonsense of the new EU VAT rules on digital downloads. I haven't been following all the threads religiously, there are too many of them to keep up with, and as it doesn't affect me directly, I have selfishly kept out of them.

One thing has surfaced however, thanks to the digging and hard work of some sellers: it looks like Etsy should ultimately be responsible for collecting this tax, not the individual sellers. Somebody has posted this chart from the UK Government https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/390300/VAT_MOSS_Flow_chart... , which clearly shows that if you are selling through a third party venue or marketplace (which is what Etsy is), the rule changes do not apply to you the seller. The appalling thing is that Etsy are basically not taking any responsibility for it https://www.etsy.com/teams/7716/announcements/discuss/15745090/ and they have done absolutely nothing about it. It may be that their only steps will be to change the digital listings set ups so that sellers will be able to select countries like we do for physical items, thus making them able to stop selling their download to EU buyers.

It's a big blooming mess, the EU are a royal pain in the backside, I understand them bringing in these new rules to stop huge corporations from avoiding paying their taxes (there have been some scandals recently, the last one if I recall correctly being Starbucks), but they really can't do "one rule fits all" and put small businesses like ours on the same level as Starbucks or Amazon. All this could have been solved if Etsy, as a marketplace, had done their research and put people minds at rest, they had plenty of time to get prepared for it, but they haven't, so the speculation continues and sellers are none the wiser.

The rain is heavier now, so I'll get on with some crafting, this afternoon my neighbours are coming to watch some football (ok, soccer for you Americans and Canadians LOL), their team is playing and they don't have that particular sports channel on their Sky, then after that my English team will be playing, so I'll be watching that.

Have a great day everybody and Happy New Year again!

[NaturalClocks]

Ok, I would like to make one thing clear, and it’s good to remind everybody on the 1st of January for the year ahead: taking part in games and promoting our team mates is a huge part of the AAA Support Team but it’s NOT compulsory to fave each and every posted item. If in some cases you don’t like or disagree with the featured shop and items, simply skip the Front Page Push, Featured Shop of the Day and Daily Hop Page in those instances, and wait 5 before posting in the ABC and Colour games if there is an item above you that you don’t feel comfortable with faving.

I'm sure that we all have items and subjects that we don't agree with or are uncomfortable with. We are all entitled to our opinions and every opinion is equally valuable and respected, but there is really no need to get agitated over something that we disagree with and above all please refrain from talking about somebody else's artwork in a disparaging way. Artwork, whether we approve of it or not, is like opinions: it’s equally valuable and should be respected, we don’t have to like it or fave it, move on and come back the day after.

[Former_Member]

Happy New Year, everyone!

I plan to spend the day hemming pants that I bought recently. And watching movies. Probably The Avengers and Cloud Atlas. I can't think of two more different movies!

May the coming year be filled with peace, health, and lots of sales for everyone!

[naturepoet]

Val, I totally agree with you. There is no CALLING OUT on this team. All members, regardless of race, color, creed, talent or anything else are welcome. If you have an opinion about someone else's work, please keep it to yourself. Thanks for your cooperation.

[KrochetKingdom]

I wish this awesome team all the best for 2015. Health, prosperity, happiness and lots of sales.

I am at my daughter's home for the holidays and when i return home will pick up with chats and games on a regular basis.

Have a great day all.

[homecraftframing]

Happy New Year! Lets wrap our collective heads around ways to increase our sales for 2015. I had an excellent year on Etsy and this week, I have to start my paper work for the State of Kentucky, Kenton County and the City of Fort Wright. So I will be going through all the orders and itemizing what I have sold and when. This also gives me the information on what was hot and what was not. Looking back on last year, I was selling lots of 4X6 and 5X7 frame sizes. Although, this year I notice that it was the 6X6 and 5X10 frame sizes.

I am going to clean house of some of my items and hopefully there will not be too much left to remove. I want to make some new frame designs I have and from there hopefully increase my item count this coming year. I have not had the time to list new items during the holiday rush. I have to stop by my competition and see if my prices are too low or high. Although, I am not sure if I will make any major changes in pricing. I think I will have to increase my shipping a little bit. The shipping to the West Coast, sometimes I have to ship by Standard Post and even then I am losing a little money. Thank goodness for the flat rate shipping, that has saved me quite a few times. I did have one package where the glass broke using the flat rate padded envelope. I believe during the rush, the carriers were less than careful handling packages. I returned the cost of the frame but not the shipping. I am sure he was able to get a piece of glass cut of $21.00.

I have to get 7 frames made tomorrow and I would like to get them shipped on Saturday but I am not sure shipping will happen until Monday.

My house could use a real good cleaning but I am dog tired. So it looks like the house will not be cleaned and I am okay with it. I really need a wife to take care of things like house cleaning and cooking. LOL!!!

At 5:04 pm today my son turns 32 years old and I feel like I am 100 years old. Whoever coined the frame the Golden Years was not in their Golden Years when they made that statement.

Well, I have to go cut Ben's hair and I want to go down and put those frames together so the corner can cure over night. Have a wonderful day Everyone and God Bless You through 2015!

[COLDHAMCUDDLIES]

Thanks to a mild night and rain now, all the snow has disappeared, and although some pavements are still like ice rinks, immediately outside our front doors it is safe enough to walk. May be allowed out to get my paper for myself tomorrow morning!! Do hope so, as I need to get to shops so I can buy more haberdashery items for the puppets, and then it will be all systems go afterwards. Slippers that were ordered on Christmas Eve will be posted on Monday. Hopefully, the postal services will be back to "normal" then after the Christmas rush. Got a bunch of post through my box on Wednesday morning, which was a nice surprise as I'd thought that wouldn't happen until Monday.

Was entertained royally by Clare and Alan for New Years' Day lunch: will just need a little something so I can take my pills this evening and when going to bed. Otherwise, it's been a nice, quiet day.

Hope everyone is easing down and getting ready for the off next week. See you all around.

[ZingRetroFinds]

Happy 2015!

I decided to go through my shop and fine tune every listing. Phew! Glad that is behind me.

My daughter's NY eve party was a success. Old college chums drove a distance to make it and then they all slept over. Today, John and I will go to see a new sci fi movie called Interstellar and get a bite. Middle of the week holidays are so disorienting. I always think it is the weekend....

Have a good day.

[CherryPicks]

Happy New Year everyone!

I was in my pj's by 6:00pm last night. I sat in my bed crocheting (still honing the skill) and watched The Walking Dead Marathon. I'm surprised I didn't have nightmares. Lots of celebratory booms and fireworks could be heard all evening.When it turned midnight AMC had a 10 second countdown and then popped up with a Happy New Year sign or I would of never known it was midnight.

Now we all need to remember to write 2015 instead of 2014. I have a friend who still writes 2011 (must of been a great year for her)

I have many things that I need to list and you all know I do not find that particular step fun. It makes me crabby and gives me a head ache. I also need to retake pictures of a few items that I have already listed. I asked for worker monkeys for Christmas but was denied yet again. Oh well, there is always next Christmas.

The sun is shining today but there is a chill in the air. I may put on a warm hat and head out to the yard for an impromptu inspection of weeds and mushrooms. Until I see an actual gnome setting up housekeeping in a mushroom on my lawn, I do not wish to have them in my yard.

I wish you all joy and happiness in this new year and may God bless each and every one of you.

Charity

[DoorCountyVintage]

I was coming in here to wish everyone a happy new years then saw certain comments on a post. This is AAA Support and every member MUST respect every other member, they do not need to like what the other does or like each other period but I will not tolerate ANYONE putting down anyone else. period.

Anyways Happy New Years!

2015 be good to those who look over us. Be good to people who are stopped by the police let fewer senseless death's occur, Let the media driven rhetoric against the police calm so that we do not hate blind and can see some of these men and women do actually give a shit. Let our parents find reward for putting up with the brats they raised, let the woman who you drove away find happiness and you find forgiveness, let the men and women who were hurt by a selfish partners find why the universe finally pushed them to the edge to find the people they were meant to be with. Let us all find better than 2014! Happy New Years!

[Former_Member]

Happy New Year, all and everyone.

I read two references to something someone posted that apparently didn't pass muster for the team. I assume the post in question has been removed. Always good to be reminded that what I post is semi-permanent, so it behooves me to keep my brain on. : )

Reading through some of the threads on the new vat rules, it appears that etsy isn't providing the ability to get two pieces of information from a buyer that are necessary for the new rules. I have yet to discern what those info pieces are. I did a quick search to see what ebay is doing. Ebay is addressing it, but not doing the whole thing as Amazon seems to be. I think. I also have been less than thorough in my research because I don't sell instant downloads so it doesn't affect me yet.
I was surprised to read a few forum responses from EU residents chiding people for criticizing their governments, poster saying they found it offensive.
In any case, this vat thing appears to be a hot mess.

It's sunny and cold here. I plan to clean up part of my domicile today.

Peace.

[naturepoet]

Chris, thank you and Happy 2015 to you. Love your outlook on the coming year. Great stuff.

[naturepoet]

The VAT thing effects me big time but most of my digital images are sold to the US and Canada, so maybe not as much as it could. I wish there was a way to stop people in the UK from buying them, as the instructions for the registration process and collecting of the taxes are about as clear as mud.

[naturepoet]

NEW

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/216860188/collingwood-bone-china-1950s-teacup

[Former_Member]

Stopping in to say Happy New Year! I worked reg job new years and new years day..just got off for the day.I was hoping 2015 would be better~starts off with pay check shorted 2 hours today arrgg they will put in next pay, but dose not pay the rent today!

I have allot of work to do on my shop hopefully will be able to start this weekend trying to figure out tags and titles and description. Hobby's and crafts I'm good at writing..not so much,but will work on it.
Have been doing inventory for tax season..not my favorite thing to do either lol


Have a good night all

[Former_Member]

Happy New Year. Thank you Val for discussing inventory yesterday. Sorry I didn't have a chance to participate but Dona's information helped out a lot. Have lots to work on with re-doing my shop as well for this new year. Also, the ten foot valance I have been custom making is coming along very nice. I really am pleased with it and once all my custom orders I have next to finish afterward, I want to make another wood valance for my wife and surprise her with it.

Seems winter is coming this weekend into next bringing a mixed bag of snow/ice and very cold temps again. I liked it much better when it did not snow so I am really hoping it changes direction and the weatherman get it wrong.

Have a great night!

[Former_Member]

Happy New Year everyone! It's been great being apart of this team and it has really helped me to continue to grow.

[naturepoet]

John, winter has landed in Ontario as well. It is bitter cold here today with a really nasty wind. It's to warm up on Sunday and then by Monday, back into the deep freeze. It's January in the North.

[RedRiverValley]

Happy New Year All! May 2015 bring us all peace and many blessings.

John, we are expecting winter to arrive this weekend too. Sounds like we can expect some measurable amounts of snow followed by frigid temperatures. I'm not sure why we choose to live like this! We should have all jumped in with Glen and headed to the Keys!!

I too plan to rework through my shop. I hope to finish redoing my pictures, which is a project I started last year. I am working on closing a large custom order so fingers and toes crossed it goes through!