Nothing in Particular Thread

[#1]

It seems like there should be a single thread where team members could just gather and catch up with eachother about nothing in particular.  It's nice to have other threads to discuss a particular topic, but would also be nice to have a thread where you could go to see who's around at that moment.

You know, like a never-ending, continuously running thread.

Thoughts?

[vlmkpyae]

psa for crafters. this post.

RivermistCreationsUS

Crafty Poster

5 hours ago

@bradgoodell Cagey?  I am a goimagine founding maker and I give the information I have about my experience there. If it is not perfect statistics, it is because I don't follow perfect statistics, not because I'm being cagey.  All I can tell you is the traffic is increasing and I have seen, according to Google Analytics, an increase over the last 6 months of 150%. I have had 100% organic sales from customers who are not fellow sellers, nor friends or family. My sales there, so far, make up about 20% of my overall sales (Etsy, goimagine, craft shows). I have the goimagine plan that gives me my own website and that is what I advertise. Where else can you get a standalone website and be in a marketplace for $10 a month and a 3.5% transaction fee (you do still have the payment processor fees from Stripe or PayPal)? I am still here at Etsy and have no plans to leave anytime soon. However; there is nothing wrong with diversifying. 

If anyone is thinking about trying it out, to diversify not to leave Etsy, they just announced that the grandfathered set plan program will end on August 18th. Right now, anyone who joins before the 18th can be grandfathered into the plan they choose and if/when it ever goes up in price (it has changed once in the last 2.5 years), you stay at the price you joined at for as long as you choose to remain there. 

[vlmkpyae]

PieceByNumberQuilts

Conversation Maker

an hour ago

On one of the threads about this topic, someone posted what I think is a wonderful idea:  include in your images a screenshot of the item description.  I've started to do this, a few listings at a time. Not the full description, just the first paragraph or two which are the most relevant to buyers.  This keeps it from being overwhelming (I hope!).

On my Mac, I can select just part of the screen to copy by pressing SHIFT + COMMAND (control on a PC) + 4, which then creates a .PNG image which can be directly uploaded as an image.  No special apps / software needed.  

Even if Etsy eventually decides to keep the descriptions where they've been for the last few years, I will probably keep my screenshots as the last image because buyers using their phones often don't seem to find the descriptions no matter where Etsy puts them.  

[psych62]

That is a good idea. Why did Etsy put the descriptions so far down? It was bad enough when you had to click on it to see the full thing. 

[vlmkpyae]

to make life miserable for sellers. to encourage impulse buys that result in chargebacks because etsy gets fees from every sale even if it goes bad. and yes, they are than smarmy. stocks are down, earnings are down, their morals are way down...

[vlmkpyae]

usps got rid of parcel select. so why is our 2 days late bouncing back and forth between two states prime package saying that is how amazon sent it?

[vlmkpyae]

DaysofYoreTreasures

Conversation Maker

43m ago

@SharonsCustomArtwork @FancyTogs 

I have had some success unzooming my thumbnails but I can't guarantee it because the results can be inconsistent.
Edit the listing in the new format and it will show the zoom bar exactly where you left off. Slide it to the left.
Do not use the adjust thumbnail or crop tools again as they will mess it up, so if it doesn't look good in the thumbnail image it won't look good in search.
When I have to make the choice I choose search over my shop and exit without publishing.

Edited to add: With my new listings I have found that the entire image is displayed in my shop, instead of the search thumbnail, so long as I don't use the adjust thumbnail or crop tools, don't move photos around & don't delete & reload images. I make sure the 1st image I load is square with some space all around but not too much. Then I check that the thumbnail looks good too.

[vlmkpyae]

by Amaradorn

Community Maker

45m ago

@WonderousprintsArt you can edit an active listing as many time as you like and then republish and you will not get charged again (so long as the listing has not expired).

[vlmkpyae]

if we want to keep this team people need to post. even a hi, hello, how's it going? i can't be the only one posting...

[vlmkpyae]

now etsy emails you when your item reaches your state? sigh. ding dong! wasn't enough?

[psych62]

I know. Really stupid. My item is bouncing around my area anyway, so the fact that it's in CA is moot. 

[psych62]

Sil I post almost every day, if not every other day.

Where is everybody anyway? Busy with their shops?

[vlmkpyae]

no clue. my co mod has been awol for ages. mary is busy with work and a heatwave, and she has branched out to be on michael's as well. so has purple puppy and other crafters. i hope this is working for all of them. they deserve some good sales.

i hope others chime in some time...

[92shirts]

I haven't posted in a while. I have been busy with work, school, and now we had a crazy fire. I'm on a different island, but our island had fires too. Luckily, I'm okay, but trying to help others in the community while trying to manage my own stuff. I hope you are okay, and nice to read everyone is doing okay.

[MilaSmilasDogClothes]

@92shirts I'm glad you're safe.  It's heartbreaking watching the news of the wildfire an so many deaths on Maui.

[vlmkpyae]

oh, 92, ouch! i have been in shock for days over the fires. i am so sorry. i went to hawaii loa in 1980. the smoke has drifted all the way up here by now. yesterday i could smell it. this is very different than the oregon fires we've been getting the smoke from, which is mostly redwood.

i do not have printable words right now for the fires of maui. i hope the tree survives. i hope the toll is not as high as they fear. and i hope they rebuild safer.

big hugs and condolences.

[psych62]

My item is 3 days late to be shipped out. I messaged the seller, asked for help and even sent her an e-mail. No response. I have purchased many times from this seller before, so I'm puzzled.

[psych62]

Still no response from seller, item is supposed to arrive on Tuesday. Getting annoyed.

[BlueSpruceCrafts]

What is the name of the Michael's site?

[SewNSewSister]

@BlueSpruceCrafts 

https://www.michaels.com/makerplace

They are still in Beta phase. My shop along with many others have opened but not a lot going on sales wise until they are out of the Beta phase. 

Most shops are only offering up minimal listings in their shops at this time. It is definitely a wait-n-see homemade site. I've already had a sale. The last sale I had here was beginning of June. I believe it's worth a shot. Not much to lose even if it doesn't pan out. Good luck and Blessings.

[psych62]

Finally heard from my seller! She apologized, said she was extremely backed up, and promised to work on my order today! 

I have been a loyal follower for years, so I'm glad.

[MilaSmilasDogClothes]

Good morning, thought I would check in with the team.

I was on vacation last week.  I went to Hocking Hills state park in Ohio.  It was a nice inexpensive family vacation and I survived all of the easy to moderate trails.  I wasn't crazy enough to try the difficult trails.

[vlmkpyae]

glad you got a vacation, sounds nice. and i'm glad people are finally checking in here. they said a while back teams have to keep actively posting at least to a minimum.

[SewNSewSister]

A vaca...oooh, I am so jealous! Hope a lot of good memories resulted from your 'inexpensive family vacation.'

[92shirts]

@MilaSmilasDogClothesThank you.

[vlmkpyae]

ok, i have a seller not responding. they have not shipped nor answered 2 convos and the 3 options don't apply. i don't want a refund/replacement and i forget number three but it did not have are you still breathing as an option to put in a help request so i backed out...