Chickening out of Pattern

[ForestsOfWildflowers]

I kept having a look and chickening out because I don't understand the ins and outs of direct check out and I have heard bad things? (like that it's an etsy money grab and there are more fees and there are orders missing and bugs etc)
Any advice on direct check out? Is Pattern useless? Should I look into my own webpage rather than pattern?

[LeedsRadio]

Paige,
You are not the only one who doesn't understand. Etsy's has done a very poor job of explaining the way Pattern works, its TOS and options. I did a search to try to find out if the fees aside from the $15 a month and could find nothing. I searched to see what the URL would look like if you had a registered domain name and again nothing. It's a big mess.

If you're looking at the horizon and thinking your business is going to grow and your need another tool, I'd recommend a stand-alone website; not another proprietary platform but something where you can control everything. If you don't have the skills or time for set up, hire someone to do it and then teach you how to maintain and edit it.
For $15 a month you can have a website with thousands of items without any fees other than transaction fees. 1000 items on Etsy will cost you $200 every 4 months even if you sell nothing.
The good news is you already have a head-start with the images and descriptions from your Etsy shop. Save them in a orderly way and with logical names for when the time comes.

I have had direct check out since my first day on Etsy and have had absolutely no problems. The biggest piece of misinformation is that people think you have to wait until Monday for Etsy to transfer money to your bank. You do not. The day after someone pays with direct checkout you can schedule the transfer to your bank, and it shows up, almost always, the day after that. It's another payment option. Not everyone likes PayPal. What's really nice about it is that you can pay for Etsy fees and shipping labels on the fly without having to log into another account.

[Former_Member]

I have had no views on my pattern site. I have no idea what good it does, or how people would even know it exists. I direct people through social media to my etsy page....there's no need to direct them to both. I will be cancelling Pattern....unless someone can explain to me how to get one's web site views and sales.

[ForestsOfWildflowers]

Thanks so much for your help Richard. I really appreciate the time you took to explain that to me. I am going to start looking into a stand alone site as you have suggested. And thanks for you input on direct check out too, I never considered how it might make my life + customers lives easier in respect to multiple logins and it actually makes more sense now.

Barbara, I read this in a forum
"Pattern acts as a standalone website, but powered via etsy, so you will not get any traffic from Etsy search or Etsy's advertisement. You have to drive it yourself via your own social media and paid advertising"
Unless you intend to keep it, there probably isn't a point directing people to it.

[CaliforniaCrownJewel]

Paige,
I have decided not to go with Pattern. I don't see any benefit to having double exposure for an additional $15. per month. I also don't like the fact that your url has the name pattern in it. It's weird & unfamiliar.
As for Direct checkout, I love it. I've had it since I opened shop last year & have not had any problems. Shipping is so easy & just takes a few seconds. You have many shipping choices & get discounted pricing through Etsy. Just print your shipping label & mail. No waiting in line at the post office & I don't even have to pay for it yet. Etsy just adds it to my bill along with my listing fees. I have my billing set up to have Etsy charge my credit card automatically once it reaches $100.or on the 1st of the month. But anytime I want I can just push the manual button & pay it instantly as I go & have the payment come out of my shop payment account. I really can't see any negatives at all, especially when you consider the time saved with each sale. I'm all for easy!
Blessings to you,
Jewel

[WilliamsGiftshop]

The only benefit of Pattern, in my humble opinion, is the extra $15 per month that Etsy will make from you.
You get nothing in return. It is NOT a standalone website.
It is just kind of a copy of your shop, with the illusion of a standalone website. You have no control over it and it has no added value. It's like a mirror page of your shop.
Your $15 per month could be spend in much better ways. For instance in other places, where it will buy you a REAL standalone website. Many of those sites will give you the opportunity to import your Etsy listings and to synchronize sales. And, as opposed to Pattern, will give you control over its SEO, the option to add other items (ones that aren't in your Etsy shop), personal info, a shopping cart, choose your own payment system, etc..

Plus, the fact that Etsy tricks its users into using Pattern is a big NO in business.
When you click the button to figure out what Pattern is all about, you have signed up! Which is totally unacceptable legally. They never asked you to sign up, they never asked you for information and you most definitely did NOT agree with making payments. Even if there is a one month trial. Very bad business practice!
They might face legal charges on this one.

[WillowGreen]

wow bea G i am gonna have to check and see if i clicked it- don't think so but better make sure huh! thanks for the heads up, that sounds really tricksterish and not at all ethical.

[Plektra]

I posted a thread a few days ago about Pattern which you might find helpful:

https://www.etsy.com/teams/5002/etsy-success/discuss/17652466/page/1