what's going on with the reseller thing?

[ModernHermine]

I was unaware till now that a lot of things are not handmade? I understand vintage and screen printed shirts but soap is bought in bulk too and called hand-made. I am scared where it might be made and with what?

What is considered resellers ... I don't make my own antique bottles I dig them up and add graphics to them? I don't make my salvaged goods I just use them to make new things... I suppose if I blew my own glass from scratch it would be hand made. I don't have time for that ahahah.... If I sew something I still didn't weave the fabric but I could I love weaving!!! Then however I would have to charge 85.00 a towel ahahah

I have seen a ton of treasures this am with products that are all obviously store bought and the descriptions say hand-made.... This is a real eye opener. I suppose I haven't searched around enough on here.... But where is the line to draw here? I bought a bulk amount of tees from american apparel I was going to silkscreen on... It's this the same thing or no? I didn't hand sew the shirts at all..... but I also wouldn't say I did....

[designedbyval]

A reseller is somebody who purchases a completed product and then sells it on Etsy as handmade.

Buying tshirts and then changing them meets Etsy's definition of handmade. The plain tshirt is your supply.

Resellers have been on Etsy since it opened. There was an article in the Wall St Journal last week re: Etsy hiring more people to combat resellers and copyright infringers. If you think somebody is a reseller then notify Etsy Admin and it will investigate.

[Former_Member]

I had no idea there was so much reselling going on either. I thought that wasn't allowed outside of vintage and craft supplies.
I've seen t-shirts and onsies (sp?) that I am assuming the person didn't sew from scratch themselves but purchased made and painted/decorated or somehow embellished to make beautiful and original and not the same old design every other kid /person is wearing. I means something more than gluing on a bead or two of course, and most of those say they're hand painted or whatever - most folks - honest ones any way - are pretty clear about what they've done to create a unique item.

[AtHomeWithLolly]

Sarah, thank you for touching on this subject. I have been feeling the same way. I felt it was fairly clear when I opened my shop that Vintage is 20-20+ years. Handmade was to be created by the shop owner or anyone in their shop, consumables were to be made in your shop, from scratch, meeting any standards Etsy set for Organic, Fair Trade or Natural.

Now I see what you see...plastics from across the ocean. Flowers that are bought in bulk and wrapped with a ribbon. Does this classify as up cycled , does it mean handmade. I just have to walk away and keep doing it my way and not sweating the small stuff....(notice I did not say, sweating the sweat shops ;-)

Love your stuff!

[ModernHermine]

If you think about it things like soap or items going on your face coming in from different counties could have just about anything in them!! ANYTHING

[SelkieCrochet]

I'm sure that there are 'dodgy' soapmakers or whatever in the US too - it isn't just ''different countries''...

[Former_Member]

Not a lot of sellers on here can make all of their materials from scratch. I think the important part is being honest about it. Obviously, I don't make my own Onesies. That's why I list their brand name in the description, and take credit for the hand embroidery. I also don't create any of the supplies from which my coasters are made, but I do assemble them in way I've never seen anyone else do before. The (re)seller at issue here purported to be making her furniture from hand, yet it was found to be for sale in multiple locations and bills of lading were found for ready-made furniture.

We don't know the exact origin of many of the items we buy. I used to think New Balance sneakers were great, until I learned "made in the USA" meant "assembled in the USA of parts from other places." I try to only use Made in the USA tiles for my coasters, but who knows what that even means.

[Former_Member]

Thank you for re-visiting this subject, I sell vintage and then I see a pair of Vera Wang shoes that I could buy at Kohls, being sold as vintage for almost $200.00!!

When I list an item I do my homework, clean it up and try to find its origin, makes me so mad!!

[curiouscatfish]

I have noticed that I am getting convos this weekend asking if I can make multiples of my items. Is this other sellers trying to find out if my items are hand made? I think it is clear that they are but it does seem harder to tell with some items than others. I buy my soap on Etsy too, now I wonder about that? I imagine vintage is also hard to regulate.

[Former_Member]

this is an excellent topic that needs attention. it's nice to see that Etsy is also doing their part to combat this. admittedly, i have reported a few shops for reselling beauty products as handmade, that are clearly off-label and designed for resale.

i think from a buyer's perspective, to protect yourself and know that you are buying from someone that truly made the product, you need to ask the seller some questions. if they can honestly talk about their product, either by description of their process (without divulging trade secrets), origin of materials, function, etc. you can ensure that you are buying from someone that actually made the item. If the response is sketchy or lacks in substance, there is probably a reason to move on and purchase from another shop.

[ModernHermine]

hmmmm well yeah I suppose in various "different countries" they do not regulate the same. Not saying everything in the USA is safe either. But yes I know a lot of people from "different countries" and they have cautioned me on things you shouldn't buy....ahahah yeah....

[Former_Member]

Etsy has a flagging system, and it helps if the members of etsy flag. It can alert the admin about stuff that isn't handmade. Once it is flagged they can determine whether or not it is ok.

I would suggest flagging if you see that stuff. At the bottom of the listing there is a link that says "Report this item to Etsy".

[ModernHermine]

I agree it seems more annoying for shoppers on here. I have only bought one thing on Etsy. But I was looking into home grown spices and herbs to buy. Maybe researching is much more important...

[ModernHermine]

I saw a ton of treasuries on here and they did show tons of multiple items that are all the same. However the treasuries were deleted? Why would they do that? How else can people see that it isn't handmade? It kinda of annoys me the censorship of things on here?

[decembermoondesign]

Educated buyers and sellers can help control the reselling problem.

If you suspect an item you would like to buy isn't handmade and is listed as handmade, ask the seller questions, read their profile, check their feedback, check to see if there's a team for the product (ie.Soap), google the product ...etc.
If you still suspect it isn't handmade - don't buy it, report it.

Non-vintage listed as vintage - You have the choice of sending a polite convo to the seller or reporting the item.

There are 1000's of items listed every day on Etsy, and until the Integrity Team has an adequate number of staff to handle policing this site, we'll just have to deal with it.
Or sell someplace else.

[SelkieCrochet]

it depends what 'different countries' you are talking about, maybe you should have been a bit more specific? rather than talking about general ''outside the USA''? - I am in the EU,where there are high safety regulations with regard to soaps/etc, just as there are in the USA.

I don't make soaps etc myself (as you can tell from my shop name!) but it is so sad to have the whole of the rest of the world lumped in to one generalisation like that :(

[FleurDeLeeDesign]

Confusing! When I make jewelry, I don't make the stones I use but I use them to make the jewelry. Beaders don't make their beads (usually), but they put them together in creative ways to create something.

I think the issue is someone paying for something to be made or buying a finished product then selling it here.

[Former_Member]

How naive am I? I have looked at lots of different product on Etsy and I thought that with Vintage and supplies aside, all products were properly hand made in the artisan meaning of hand made! You live and learn, think I will go have another look round.

[ModernHermine]

Not sure I want to specially label each country I wound't want to buy from ahaha that could start some fire!! So yes I apologize for my huge generalization of the entire world... But soap is kinda personal don't you think you rub it all over your body!!! I don't know I just don't know.....

[Former_Member]

Here's something that makes my heart break:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/70328610/pretty-retro-copper-long-tail-squirrel

and then look at this: http://www.aliexpress.com/product-gs/424977775-New-arrival-vintage-vogue-vivid-squirrel-necklace-Fre...

She's been reported, almost all of the things in her shop can be found on various wholesale websites. But she's still up and running. I don't get that! I love Etsy and it breaks my heart to think that maybe Etsy is taking a blind eye because of the high volume of sales this seller has. Junk like this makes us all look bad.

[Former_Member]

Well, I have certainly been shocked by that one, I just followed the link for the squirrel, what's going on?

[ModernHermine]

Etsy is making money either way. Not sure they would want to sacrifice that? I assume it's a good chuck of change!!

Now that I think about it actually some "different countries" also have higher standards then the USA... I can see what you mean now Rosemary...The standards the USA uses in food grade things is terrible and most European counties and Japan have banned them ..... But not all !! not all.. ahahah

[SelkieCrochet]

isn't a squirrel on a chain ok though if the seller puts the squirrel on the chain themselves?

that's still Etsy-legal

[curiouscatfish]

wow, 18,000 sales. who is buying this? everyone?

[ModernHermine]

I don't know that squirrel thing is crazy I see it's a lot of things now. All those flower rings I wondered how everyone made them to look so nice and similar ... I never thought they didn't make them? Goodness.... am I nuts?