Cheaters on Etsy

[Former_Member]

Obviously, I can't name sellers on Etsy, but I just get so mad when I see items in shops or whole shops that very obviously DO NOT sell handmade items when they say they do. I have trouble just letting this go, and keep my nose to the grindstone in my own work when these sellers allegedly break the rules, and ultimately challenge us by their competition and sometimes their prices. Do any of you get mad about this? What can/do you do about it? What do you say to yourself to help you let go of the frustration?

[JewelryArtistry]

I guess the only thing you can do is report the shop. I've done it before when something's obviously not handmade or vintage. Give it a try. Hopefully, if Etsy gets enough reports, they'll figure out how to police this situation & prevent it.

Good luck!

[Former_Member]

I agree, it is frustrating, but like JoAnne said - all we can do is report the shop. The rest is up to Etsy.

[SophiesKnitStuff]

Trust Karma...and report of course!

[Former_Member]

Report is only way we can do something with it. Etsy is still hand made and vintage site, but in Europe we have in ex.: DaWanda which is similar site and there is also hand made & vintage only. But only in theory. Since last year I see a lot of new shops with cheap, plastic products "Made in China". It's not the same site it was before. So don't hesitate to report shops with cheap imitation of hand made.

[Former_Member]

Thanks guys, I feel better. I reported it.

[Former_Member]

I have begun noticing it since getting an iphone recently. I want to purchase a case but so many that I look at on Etsy seem like they must be breaking rules. I mean I can only get a case for $5 at Target's 1 Spot, so how can a $5 case on Etsy be handmade???

[Cabooties]

I think that the consumer is smart enough to notice this too. Shoppers go to Etsy because they are looking for a quality, handmade item. If they wanted the cheapest thing they could find they would look on Amazon or head to the store. I think if it is obviously a mass produced, low quality item then the consumer will keep searching :)

[GabriellasTreasures]

You can report the shop - that's about it. Yes, it is frustrating for handmade sellers as well as vintage sellers (those selling less than 20 yr old items) like me. It used to make me crazy, and I decided to let it go, as we have to! I put all that energy into working my shop.

[Babageacrea]

I feel the same as you! I have reported a couple of shops but they are always there! What I find frustrating is that they are the first in Etsy search, I do so much in promoting, tags, SEO and eventually my listings are buried under all these "handmade"

[Former_Member]

I once reported a shop that was selling a certain "handmade" iPad case. I simply sent links to admin showing that their "handmade" case was a rather expensive one made by a Japanese company, and that it had been available for at least a year through Amazon and on at least one Apple product website. I don't recall if the shop was shut down, but when I searched for the case a few days later I couldn't find it.

[TahoeLeather]

Check out my page!!! I build and stain and press everything by hand.

[kickglassenamels]

My real frustration is with the resellers and also, the people using copyrighted characters like Disney or team mascots and they show up not just first on a search, but take up about the first thirty pages. Buyers would have to wade through pages of junk to get to the artwork. I've pretty much given up on selling enameled switchplates on etsy. The people who do find them are nearly always people who are buying other enameled household items and saw the switchplates in my shop.

[QBeeds]

I have reported a few shops but Etsy does nothing about them!
Huge problem for us who actually make hand made items, OOAK.
:( Money talks!

[ObjectApparel]

report the shop is all you can do!

[BlackCatStudio98]

You mean like the shops who sell bracelets for 99 cents? Yeah it drives me crazy too. I'm fortunate that most of the super cheap jewelry doesn't come up with the keywords I use, but I still get angry when I see it on Etsy.

[GoldenTwinClasps]

I sell supplies, not handmade items, but I have visited many Etsy shops that state things are handmade but look like they were made in China because they are so cheap. I guess somebody handmade them overseas for slave wages.

[dstefanTreasures]

It must be hard for shops who actually sell handmade to compete with "handmade" from China. The same goes for vintage. Very frustrating.

It spoils Etsy's rep too. Even on the other E… site, they put a lot of resources into ferreting out sellers who sell fakes in jewelry and handbags among other things.

I personally don't like being in a position where I'm reporting shops. I'd like to see Etsy take more responsibility for this.

I reported a shop once and felt bad as she seemed like a nice person, according to her personal info. Anyway, it's not something I feel comfortable doing on a regular basis.

[DancingLotusDesigns]

When I see things that are obviously not handmade, I report the shop to etsy, and I don't feel bad about it.