Fed up with Etsy?

[Halflyng]

I'm pretty much done with the site, and I've cut my prices so I can clear out my inventory.  I'm not listing anything new or renewing any of my expired items.

Here's why:

1.  When they released V2, they ruined the Christmas selling season.
2.  They're charging more for less time when the site doesn't even work 1/3 of the time.
3.  They're throwing all these big parties, when most of us can't go, and  the site isn't working properly. 
4.  The constitution. 
5.  A severe lack of nice people in the forums.  I can barely stand to go there anymore.
6.  Overrun with Bath & beauty.
7.  Whenever there is a discussion of bath & beauty in the forums, it always comes down to people bashing melt & pour soaps.
8.  This is the straw that broke the camels back - "It may take a *few days* for items to show up"  Are you kidding me?  I pay money for a site that barely works, when there are plenty of sites that work better?

So yea, I'm sick & tired of being abused over there. 

[crackpony]

I closed my old etsy shop before v2 was introduced, and now after reading your list I'm a mite discouraged to open up another

Sure, there's plenty of reasons to appreciate etsy, which should work in theory, but seems to be lacking in practice.

For one, before and after v2, I've always thought Etsy could have done a better job showing everyone's items. For a split second, a customer might glimpse your product in a small row of pics at the bottom of the front page, or, they might find your products in the category it belongs to or through a search, if they have the patience to look through all of the items that have pushed it to the back of the line in the matter of minutes.

Now, I can hear people start to reply: "But you can always do your OWN advertising!"

And this is where my quip with poor in-category organization comes in. The purses and handbags section, for example, is sub-categorized something like "purses, bags, clutches, totes..." etc, but sellers more often than not will put 2 or more of those tags on their item, so you see a mix of more or less the same products in each sub-category.

The knitting section is similarly dissapointing. Sub-categories could have included roving, yarn (hand-dyed, handspun, and by weight: lace, sock, DK, worsted, bulky, novelty/art),etc.

Another problem is the site is flooded with underpriced and/or poorly photographed (and sometimes, I hate to say it, but poorly made) items, which can wear on a shopper's patience if they have to go back 20+ pages to find something they want to spend their hard-earned cash on.

But luckily, yes, there are other options and venues out there to sell handmade goods, but it's a pity that Etsy isn't living up to its potential.

[Halflyng]

I completely agree with the category issues.  Earlier this year Stella was going to completely redo the categories and asked everyones opinion on what should be changed... Nothing has happened, and it's the middle of the year already.

I also agree with the fact that they should advertise more often.  Now people in the forums are accusing admin of taking bribes from people and giving them special advertising (If you ever read the blog, you'll see what they're talking about).  When Etsy Labs first opened, they posted in the forums that they'd LOVE B & B people to send in soaps to be displayed in the Etsy Labs Bathroom... I made them pay for one of my soaps.  Yes, it's advertising, but seriously?  I'm all about sending samples to people that are going to buy from me in the future, but not just for display in a bathroom that I'll never see.

[slb2724]

I agree, but there are alot of positives. The forums are usually quite nice. Just because a few people are rude, doesn't mean they all are. I do agree with the pay more view less thing. It just pisses me off really. I set up my shop, get ready and my listing costs 2 times as much? Less time really sucks, because people usually wait a while longer, especially for those selling seasonal things.......

[redbucket]

i previewed etsy site and slept on it- passed it on to other artist friends and we all agreed not to use it-  points well put.

now then. what other sites do you recomend to sell clothing?

focus on - woman's dresses, kids clothing and causal wear.
nothing frill or lacy girly girl- clothes that people would wear every day-

thinking of a trunk show at a private house--

[Halflyng]

Well, I closed my store.  I'm done with Etsy... I feel much more relieved now

[dreadlocklove]

I created an Etsy account a little while back but haven't listed any items yet.  Does it always take a few days for the listing to appear, and is there really that much downtime? 

[slb2724]

I created an Etsy account a little while back but haven't listed any items yet.  Does it always take a few days for the listing to appear, and is there really that much downtime? 

Usually the items come up right away, that was just a glitch. There really isn't that much dontime at all. And when there is, its only a few minutes at a time.

[cakester]

Don't EVEN get me started on Etsy!!!   

Site is having WAY too much trouble still for being in business for so long. 

Favorites among members with administration, no matter HOW much it's denied.

High school mentality ALL over the place!  Followers of certain members, high sellers say what they want and are never questioned, somebody else says something, and they're jumped on.

Immature administration, not willing to admit they're NOT running the site well.

Parties and craft classes not needed, many silly features on site not needed .. what IS needed is fast efficient browsing and searching, and able to buy quickly and easily.

Talk on forums is getting worse and worse .. raunchy and sickening and has NO place on a forum where customers can read.

That's JUST the tip of how I feel right now! 

Cakester

[slb2724]

Well, I AM in high school, so I do have a high school mentality, but I'm not going to go and act like an @ss on the boards. I admit, there are a selected group of sellers I dislike and refuse to buy from. Admin does pick favorites and there are some power sellers that everyone is buddies with and they practically have the final say on topics...