Reselling Item

[Former_Member]

I had another Etsy seller purchase one of my leather cuffs. I always check out the people that buy from me just by going on their name and seeing if they have a shop of their own, or how long they've been on Etsy. It's just something I do. Well, this particular sale went to another Etsy seller who also makes the same bracelet they bought from me. I thought that was really weird. So all this time I've been checking their shop to see if they post it and sure enough it appeared in their Etsy shop. Just as though they made it! Question: Is there anything I can do about it? Who would I need to talk to? Any help would be appreciated.

[maydaylabels]

I don't understand exactly - they make the exact same bracelet? If so, how do you know they're reselling yours?

[maydaylabels]

If they make a slightly different one, just kind of the same style, and now they've listed your exact bracelet, unless they're using your photos, there's probably nothing you can do. If you report them as non-handmade, Etsy may investigate, but all they will have to do is prove they have the supplies and ability to make the bracelet, which, if they make the same kind of stuff as you, they probably do.

I don't know why they'd do that, though - unless they've marked it up a lot, it seems like not a good money-making scheme, buying things retail (and paying shipping!) and then selling them retail.

[Former_Member]

They make the same "style" of leather cuff using a slightly different finishing technique. The bracelet they bought from me - the exact button, leather, all the beads and the finishing touches are exactly the same as the one they bought from me. Exactly, no difference. One can tell the differences people use when they make these bracelets. The only thing they did was lower the price. Go figure.

[Former_Member]

That's very interesting... You can always report the item or contact an etsy leader! I would not, however, tell them something... It could get messy :/

[maydaylabels]

weird, so they're not even making money on it! That is just...it makes no sense.

[Former_Member]

Very weird!

[Former_Member]

Maybe they bought it for product research figuring they could just sell it as one of their own after they looked at it in person? That may account for the lower price - they figured it was worth the loss to learn something from your products, and are just trying to make something on the product. I'd watch their store carefully, hate to have someone copying your designs!

[Former_Member]

If you know for a fact that the item they are selling is the one that was purchased from you, you can report it to Etsy as 'not being made by the seller'.

Just be sure to provide the documentation of the sale.

[WilliamsGiftshop]

Yep, report them to Etsy.

Another thought: if another shop tries to resell your products on the exact same website, your prices must be too low.

[maydaylabels]

BeaG, she said the other seller is selling it for less! Just baffling.

[decembermoondesign]

I would purchase it.
If it's yours, she'll sweat a little.

[WilliamsGiftshop]

Mwuha, I missed the part about them lowering the price!
Idiots!

[WildClementinePets]

I'd buy it too. I bet they would be scared to death that you were on to them.

[Former_Member]

there isn't really anything you can do about copying or re selling of your item in the long run - yes you can report to etsy as not theirs but unfortunately this won't stop them selling it as theirs else where, I would just not sell them anything else if possible and be glad of the sale, it does sound a very odd thing to do though!

[Former_Member]

I really appreciate everyone's input. After quite a few convos back and forth with this person, they did what I asked and took it off their shop. Doesn't mean they won't put it back on some time down the road, but I will keep checking. So for now, they did the right thing. Thanks again, and happy etsying

[onhooksandneedlesct]

You are not alone in checking out your customers. When one of my starting buying my vintage jewelry shortly after I opened OHANCollectibles (On Hooks and Needles Collectibles), I clicked and found she has a store of her own. Lo and behold I saw an item I just sold her for almost 4 times the price I sold it to her, plus 2 or 3 that she sold so fast (within 2-3 days after getting it from me in the mail) that I knew she relisted it instantly.

If your buyer is Linda Perry of Virgina - owner of Working for an Angel, then you should know that she doesn't make anything. She would buy my higher priced items which I thought were being sold at a fair price, then she resellx them for 2 to 4 times what she paid me with listings on Facebook and other social media in addition to Etsy. When she returned one of my items (all my jewelry is vintage and not made by me), she got really mad when I mentioned that I saw my items in her store, and sent me an indecipherable email saying that she is/was selling under BNR (buy 'n resell), an Etsy thing. Apparently she can get away with it as long as she does not say that she made something that you made or that she made it at all for which she could get into trouble.

Like you, I thought I might reciprocate and buy something from her store. I was also curious as to how her sales are so high & wanted to see her ads so I could improve mine. And that is how I found my newly sold items in her store.

I think that is why Etsy has these new articles about copyrights and patents.
I hope that helps you out.
Linda

[maydaylabels]

Well, if you didn't make it in the first place (if it is vintage) and she is reselling it as vintage, there's really no problem - that's what you're doing in the first place ( when you sell vintage). Etsy doesn't care about the provenance of vintage items as long as they're 25 years old.

Selling something you didn't make or design as handmade, though, is against the rules.

[Former_Member]

Linda,
Reselling of Vintage items on Etsy IS allowed. Nobody makes their own vintage items.

And if someone can purchase a vintage item from you and sell it again on Etsy for 3-4x what you sold it for, then that's up to them. They obviously have researched not only their target customer but also the items they are selling and know the current value of said items.

[KiltedWoman]

Isn't this basically what all vintage sellers do, buy from someone (yard sale, estate sale, thrift store) and resell for more?

As far as reselling handmade, did you ask the lady why she was reselling for less? That is a weird mystery. I like the idea of buying it back! You probably break even and she no longer can sell it as hers.