Is it a good or bad way to get new customers?

[HareAndFern]

Today I favorited a nice shop and after a few minutes, I got this message:

''Hello!
I see you favorited my shop! I want to thank you for doing so and appreciating my work. If you find something you want let me know before you purchase and I will make a reserved listing for you and give you a 10% discount on your first purchase.''

What do you think of this? Do you think it is just kind or is it too much? At first I liked it, but hey, if you write it to every person who faved you, it's spamming. Maybe you will get a few new customers this way, but... What do you think? Have you ever done this or would you like to? What are + and - of doing so?

[TOMgirlApparel]

Never done this, I see it as spam and a bit desperate. I favorited a shop then got a similar message and it immediately gave me a bad impression.

[HareAndFern]

Yes, I agree, desperate is the right word... It's like you are screaming: ''I do not have any sales, please come and buy something!"
Hmmm :/

[Former_Member]

I dont do it but ive gotten the msgs before. To be completely honest when I host sales Via Etsy on Sale I wont sell one dang thing till after the sale is over. Strange huh. (sorry I know that had nothing to do with the question at hand)

[Former_Member]

I agree very spam like. I also don't like when I have someone use my item in a treasury and they send me a message that I can get 10% their store.

[Former_Member]

In addition to what others are saying, Etsy views it as spam, according to their TOUs. It's reportable.

[PebbleCreekStudio]

It's both kind and too much. :-O

[DaisyCottageDesigns]

What Kim said :) I guess, though, if I were favoriting (is that a word?) in hopes of buying the item soon, I would appreciate the coupon code and it might help me decide between a couple shops.

[WatchMeWorld]

Yes, definitely a bit spammy and unprofessional. It makes me think they are inexperienced sellers and I would maybe be a bit hesitant to purchase there.

[Former_Member]

I've gotten messages like that (just a quick thank you for "favoriting" my item. No discount or anything.) I thought it was kind of nice, it reminds me that I will be doing business with a person who appreciates my business, not some corporation that couldn't care less about me. I don't personally do it because I didn't want to come across as someone who is just hanging around the computer waiting for someone to favorite my item or shop. But it doesn't bother me to get those messages.

[Former_Member]

No I wouldn't do it because some would see it as being a pushy sales person. I never want anyone to feel pressured into buying from me.

[SelkieCrochet]

this is why I had my favourites set to private for a loooong time - it's kind of desperate

[Former_Member]

In general, I don't like it. In this specific instance, I think it's odd that they wanted to do a reserved listing when they could have just given you a coupon code. It makes me wonder...

That being said, I did get a message like this from a shop I am considering purchasing from, but I would have bought the item anyway. A discount isn't going to make or break it for me. If I do purchase from the shop, you can bet I'm going to dig up that coupon code and then the seller is out a few bucks they would have gotten otherwise.

[Former_Member]

Spam for me

[Former_Member]

I've gotten these messages, some are stranger than others, but they come across a bit too strong for me.

[ForgedMettleJewelry]

It's just spam...

[Former_Member]

Im not really in favor of this and never do it myself. Marketing is great if you advertise your business in the newspaper, but on Etsy it has a whole new meaning to me.......yes, spam comes to mind.

[crazeecowgirlvintage]

Although I ALWAYS thank sellers for adding one of my shop items to their Treasury Lists, this seems a little too much - but I wasn't offended by it. In my short time on Etsy, I've had to deal with a LOT worse - like people convo-ing me to get price "reductions". I'd rather have someone be too nice!

[AllieBlankets]

That is spam. When people do this, it means they are really new or they have so little traffic they are desperate to get a sale from it. Well that's what it looks like to me anyways. It is NOT a good way to promote, especially since it is against the rules.

[Former_Member]

In my opinion, it was a kind offer. This kind of convo is much better than some I have received, where the sender has a sob story and is asking for a reduced price. Those obvious lies (where the information changes constantly) make me feel dirty.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for posting. I've gotten messages like that and was considering doing it myself. Now I won't.

Is it ok to offer customers that have purchased from you a discount via convo???

[BonitaBellita]

It's actually against etsy rules to do that.

Taken straight out of Etsy's DOs and DON'Ts section

~ If someone hearts your shop/item to mark it as a Favorite, that is not an invitation to send a Conversation to that person.

[Crafts2Love]

spam...

to answer Auries: you can offer the coupon in your Etsy shipping notice or printed on your TY card in their package... though for the half a year I did it one person only used it, so I stopped. I rather add a surprise gift to return or multiple item order customers... I had a customer asking for discount on multiple purchase and gladly obliged :)

[olganna]

I did it before, didn't get me anywhere. Have recieved them myself since and realised they don't sound good. I would leave it if I were you.

[denisemcguire]

I agree that it would be spam, and would come across as desperate. It also seems like it would be a real turn-off for hearting an item in the future. If I started getting a bunch of those messages I would stop fav'ing items altogether, or only do it privately.