Is Heartsy alienating sellers?

[#1]

So with all the various threads about recent changes at Heartsy, it has made me wonder whether they have a future that looks anything like how they originally started. Someone made the comment on another thread that they weren't sure that they wanted their shop affiliated with a site that engaged in showing pictures without a seller's knowledge or authorization. I'm leaning the same direction with this change plus the seemingly deliberate move away from handmade, which initially I was ok with but I hadn't figured out that it was going to be a daily occurrence. I sort of thought it would be every once in awhile when they had a unique product that might interest Etsy buyers. *snort* Call me naive on that one!

all of this stuff has made me seriously reconsider my VIP membership and also whether I would ever do another deal.

What are others thinking? Has affiliation with heartsy become a liability? And does it even matter? I mean if ultimately heartsy is headed away from having a relationship with etsy sellers, does it matter that sellers feel this way? I know that many sellers are also heartsy buyers/VIP but I don't have any sense for how they account for heartsy's total VIP membership. It may have been a large percentage in the beginning but now I kind of doubt it.

[sugarplusspice]

JulieAnnA says

I can't believe the "Boutique" items are the main focus of Heartsy's page now. And that, plus "newest deals" and a TON of "extended deals" there is honestly just too much on the page that I don't feel like searching through! I counted 21 deals today. Really?

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I completely agree. There is too much stuff out there now and it just looks cluttered and unorganized...as a buyer it's really turning me off. Have the stupid boutique stuff ALWAYS at the top is doubly annoying...at least segregate the two (though I'm sure if they did that, the boutique would still get the prime real estate on the site). I haven't cancelled my VIP membership yet, but I'm close. I just feel completely disengaged from their site now and it doesn't make me want to even look at any of the shops. :(

[PoetryUnspoken]

I made my last purchase on Heartsy today, to use up a credit I had there.
Heartsy has otherwise broken my heartsy :(
Looking forward to other venues :)

[Former_Member]

I also cancelled my VIP membership a couple of weeks ago. I'm seeing less and less offers that I'm interested in buying. I might sign up again if I see a VIP deal that I really want, but it hasn't happened yet.

I agree about the site looking extremely cluttered. I can barely tell what the new daily deals are anymore. Also, why continue showing deals that have expired?

I'm also not especially interested in the boutique.

[Former_Member]

swanmountainsoaps says

I don't understand the whole boutique direction. I mean, a boutique is just fine - but with the loyal following they'd built up for handmade items, why don't they showcase handmade items intheir boutique? So much classier.
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I agree! I know there are (for example) soap makers on Etsy that would be able to produce wholesale quantities of several different items if they are alerted in advance. I'm sure there are artists and jewelry makers who could do that also. I would much rather buy something like that.

[Former_Member]

I've bought less and less over time. It's getting to the point that the VIP won't pay for itself soon.

I've never been interested in the boutique and detest getting hit with it as the main feature. Tres tacky.

[RainGirlDesigns]

yeah, I am not liking the changes. I had considered doing it again at some point in the future but now I don't think I will.

[Former_Member]

Ditto the dissatisfaction with the boutique hoopla. I'm interested in buying handmade from artists and have absolutely no interest in the boutique junk.

[Former_Member]

ive had the same experiences with heartsy--i submitted 3 times and the 3rd time i had over 700 yes def votes and a yes def of 90 some percent from current sellers-- and still got denied! plus id rather purchase handmade items as everyone else and barely log on now

[AprilMarieMai]

i dropped my vip, don't expect to use them anymore. maybe i will if there is a seller i'd really like to buy from, though. currently my budget does not support buying much for fun. :)