Frustrated :-/

[Former_Member]

I'm really trying hard NOT to be (frustrated) ...but every other day, I'm questioning WHY I'm doing this. #1-I love making jewelry. I'm very clear about that. However, #2-I know how much time (and money) I've put into Jujubeader...& of course I'd like it to be 'successful'. Yes, I've had sales. Yes, people react positively to my jewelry. So my main 'gripe' is #3-that I constantly see jewelry on the Etsy FP (or various mailings) which are basically a charm on a chain...which means the person who "created" the item (and when I say "created", I'm really using the term loosely)...simply purchased the charm (or pendant) and slid it onto a pre-made chain. This REEEALLY gets me. And I know there have been articles speaking to this....but is anything being done about this?? I'm feeling very betrayed and FRUSTRATED....and although my intention is not to fuel the fire...I'm upset and don't know what to do about it. I really loved Etsy and worked hard at spreading the word (as I know we ALL have). I really need some sound advice because right now...I'm really disappointed. I can't imagine that I'm alone?

[Former_Member]

I totatlly agree with you. Im sure there are alot of people out there that put almost no effort into their jewelry and all and get lots of sales. But there is just so many jewelry sellers (including myself) on Etsy. Just keep your head up!

[Former_Member]

Not all those people who hit the FP have a purchased charm on a chain. A good friend of mine hits the FP with regularity, and she's a PMC artist. She makes those herself. And as far as wire wrapping a briolette, that takes some time to properly learn to do it.

I do understand your frustration. Jewelry is extremely competitive, and unless you're in the inner circle, it's nearly impossible to get in on the big Treasury Teams. I'm just now starting to take off in heartsabustin with the selling, and I've been here nearly four years.

I know you've heard it, but you have to be patient. You have to. It's not easy - believe me, I've wept many a tear over reshooting items, hating myself for ever getting into this mad thing called Etsy in the first place (THANKS A LOT, MOM!!) (HAHAHAH), and wondering if I really suck that bad. (I don't, but you get my point).

This Etsy thing ain't easy.

[Former_Member]

Last month I had NO sale online. I had a craft show and it was no big thingie there. As a jewelry designer I am hitting my head. Here, I try and associate and get designs in my head bring out some unique creations but somehow there seems to be no takers for it yet.

Its really tough and I need to see some cash in my account soon else this passion of mine is going to become one big problem!

[Former_Member]

Erin, I'm really trying to be patient. No, I AM being patient. I'm just frustrated. And I am NOT throwing in the towel. Far from it! I just need to vent...because I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way.

[Former_Member]

Oh, you're not. Trust me. I spent the first two months of this year in almost a depression because of how cruddy I was feeling about myself.

And it is frustrating. It can be very frustrating - esp when I actually venture into our category and see all the mass produced resellers. At least the charm-on-a-chain people did SOME work themselves. The resellers just buy mass produced CRAP and it sits in our category, clogging up the search.

Don't believe me? Go search "owl jewelry" and count how many pieces you see that were obviously not made by anyone, even an assembler.

[Former_Member]

Oh Erin...I totally believe you!!! :)

[Former_Member]

I agree Judy! I was thinking about this the other day. Would we call brownies made from a box "handmade?" No. Would we be mad if someone was allowed to sell brownies made from a box as handmade? Yes. So why is it okay for people to sell these kind of things (premade pendants on premade chains) on Etsy under the guise of handmade? It's the same thing and it's maddening! It is not fair that those of us truly creating handmade items have to compete with these types of shops.

But having said that, Etsy, like most things in the world, isn't perfect. But I still love it and am proud to be here.

[Former_Member]

I've made some PMC charms that people think I bought prefab (even though they're 100% handmade). And I know it takes time and some skill to properly wrap a briolette. I don't knock folks for having a simple design... I can respect the amount of time it takes to run a shop and make products and if you want to make any money out of this and charge a reasonable amount sometimes sacrifices have to be made.

But, I 100% agree with Judy that it's frustrating to put a lot of time into your work, and then see items that are on the fence of handmade on the FP. It's especially frustrating when I go to their shops and see that they're mass produced while the seller says their items are 'hand crafted'. Like I said, I don't blame anyone for trying to actually make money out of their shops by simplifying their design. But I think listings like the one Judy is talking about have the potential to be misleading to customers who think 'hand crafted' means they can't go buy the same necklace on amazon.

I know it's just stretching the limits of the definition of handmade and if Etsy had decided where to draw the line, so be it. But it's still super frustrating.

And, I still LOVE Etsy! All of the complaints people have had lately are just part of working toward a better, more awesome Etsy in the future :)

[Former_Member]

You are so right, Ashlee. Etsy (just as most things in the world)...IS imperfect. And in most cases...imperfection can also be beautiful. But in this case, (IMO)...it's just wrong. And in the case of a charm on a necklace or bracelet...at least in my case...I do something to alter or enhance it. I don't just slide it onto a chain. Anyway...I appreciate y'all giving me the opportunity to vent. XXOO

[Former_Member]

Exactly, (((Kat))))!! Thank you!!

[LittleBitsOFaith]

I just had to add my 2 cents....it is very frustrating, I would agree. I make jewelry as well using my hand made clay beads...If you love what you do, it will get you through these times, and it sounds like you do! =) I haven't sold much and have only been on the fp once. I have seen several shops that sell jewelry (cheap) with many sales, and I have laughed as in the description it even says that shipping will take 2-3 weeks as items are coming from China even tho the shop owner lists a city in the US! Keep your chin up, your shop is lovely!

[Former_Member]

I agree, Judy. When I'm buying supplies, I often stumble across pre-made chains with pre-wrapped briolettes or whatever else, and I've never figured out why some sellers thank that counts as handmade.

And actually, I did do a search on Owl Jewelry, did some searches in Google, and reported a few shops. I get so mad when these resellers have like thousands of sales and pretend their jewelry is handmade. I mean, can't buyers see that??

[Former_Member]

Thank you, Elizabeth...that's very sweet of you to say. I really do work hard at it ...and I DO love doing it. It fulfills me in ways that nothing else can even come close to! So that's why I continue doing it. I really do appreciate the 'validation'.

Kelly, unfortunately...I think most buyers don't have a CLUE...unless they are sellers themselves and/or they are jewelry makers. They just don't know.

[LittleBitsOFaith]

I agree, Judy....I don't think a lot of buyers pay any attention to mass produced items, simply putting charms on a chain, or the complexity of a piece unless you have a personal appreciation for the process or an eye/desire for the original. Personally, I will take one of a kind originals any day! That is why I got into making jewelry....I was always wanting something new and unique to wear. Keep loving what you are doing....there are people who will see that in your creations!

[SelkiePubZines]

I love your shop name! You have great items, as well. I'd have to say, as a non-jewelry maker, I agree that it would be very hard for me to tell the difference (at least on the computer) between truly handmade and mass-produced. But I do agree it matters!

[heartsabustin]

I've got a good friend here whose husband bought a ring for her on Etsy. It was totally factory made, and he didn't know. So, no - I really don't think people know the difference.

Go back to your descriptions - make sure to include YOUR story in there. I, me, and my are very important words in the world of handmade. I look at what I used to make, and I look at what I make now, and I've come a long way, baby.

:)

[RisC]

I get frustrated with it too. I make all my cabochons by hand using resin and molds and it took me a while to figure everything out. It is a lot of work, but I am proud of what I do and how they turn out. The sad part is that most people (apart from a select few) just buy them themselves from China for super cheap (price and quality) and then we have to compete with them.

I have taken time to try and tell my story and try to make it clear how I am different, but lets face it, most people don't read the listing descriptions and can't tell what is truly handmade from something that is mass-produced.

All we can do it keep trying and hope that customers will eventually learn to tell the difference.

[Former_Member]

Dear Judy,

If you handcraft the beads and such yourself include in your descripition. As a toymaker to a looking at a jewelry maker's shop I would be impressed. Like this one

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88548330/sterling-silver-leopard-print-bracelet

Tell me if you engraved this yourself and that will stand out to me! Yes I don't have any extra change right now, but that would be a selling point for me looking on a supposed "handmade" "handcrafted" website