New Pattern Websites?

[Former_Member]

Have any of you played around with the pattern websites? The idea of them importing my listings is really tempting!!

[fishcouple]

Agree. I'd interested to hear what other shop owners know about this.

So is it like our own website, I mean independently? Everything we list on Etsy goes to that site, what about if I wanted to list something not handmade in that site? Do they automatically copy to Etsy too? How about handmade policy?

[SageNThymeDesigns]

Looking at the two shops they linked the only way you know there's a connection to Etsy is that at the very bottom it says "powered by Etsy". The two shops have a somewhat similar format and feel, but it really does look more like a regular online shop as opposed to an Etsy (or worse, an Ebay) storefront. $15 for a stand alone website isn't too bad, and there's email for communications instead of convos!!

Good question about adhering to Etsy policies...
Do your sales and expenses dump into your Etsy 1099??

[OceansideCastle]

PLEASE! Read the forums & outside sources about Pattern. Don't jump in just because Etsy says this is a good thing. The new shop format was initiated to be compatible with Pattern. Period. If you want or need your own website then buy all means investigate your all the great options out there that are not controlled by Etsy. Pattern is just another add on service to generate $$ for Etsy. Good for them, not for sellers,

[LeedsRadio]

I just took a look. It's not a totally bad idea. It costs $15 a month which is only a little more than hosting a decent sized website. The thing I really don't like is that if you have a really compact domain name something like cat.net the pattern Pattern URL is "cat.patternbyetsy.com/shop"

Imagine if you domain name is longer "FranksCarWash.patternbyetsy.com/shop"

YUCK!

This in the long run will drive you and your prospective customers crazy: It's too hard to remember and can't be easily communicated easily verbally.

[Plektra]

I agree with everything Laura said. Research and double check everything. Especially what the costs will be.

It's $15 a month...who gets this fee? Will you need any important features later on that you can't do without so you have to pay for them? What might these features be? Something Etsy decides or the seller? Etsy makes several changes often...will you have to follow suit on the Pattern site or can you decide not to have those features?

What about payment method? Will it be your own, business payment method or Etsy's? What about Direct Checkout? Will you have to have that there?

Policies is another good point...what will these be? Your own or the standard ones Etsy has now?

What happens to your site if your shop closes? Either by your decision or Etsy's? Will you be able to keep your Pattern site?

Yeah, the domain name seems too long and not memorable. Those who see the name will probably remember Etsy more than your shop's name.

[Plektra]

I'm also wondering whether this new site will create duplicate content on Google??

[Plektra]

Here's something else for you to think about:

Read carefully...this applies to shops that have always accepted payments in their own business PayPal account (not Etsy's) and never signed up for DC:

https://www.etsy.com/teams/7722/discussions/discuss/17609874/page/1