18Jan
- The picture is so blurry/dark/busy that I can’t tell what you’re selling. I want to see the details! The photo doesn’t have to be artsy or staged like a pro, but if it’s blurry I can’t be sure I’ll like it when I get it. In the next few days I’m going to post my photographing and editing process, so you can see the steps I take and adapt them to your own use.
- The devil is in the details: What is your item made from? How large is it? Your descriptions don’t have to be pretty; clear and concise will do it for me. On items like bead caps and other such supplies, I love to see a scale reference. I can’t always visualize how large those bead caps are, or how long the linkage in that chain is. If you don’t want to use a penny, that’s fine, but use a ruler in one of your pictures so I can see for myself.
- Profiting from shipping charges. I’ve done my fair share of shipping, so I have a pretty good idea of what it costs to ship items. I don’t mind if you pocket some change from my shipping charges, and I also don’t mind paying for packing materials and such; however, I feel that the charge of packaging and the time it takes you to create a pretty package should be factored into your item cost, and not into the shipping charges. That also goes for the cost of taking the stuff to the PO–that’s part of overhead, and should be factored into your pricing structure. It’s not as much of an issue on Etsy as it is on Fee-bay (and yes, eBay sellers, I know you’re dodging fees by inflating the shipping charges: I’m not a dunce, I feel it’s a cheap trick, and I won’t fall for it). It’s irritating to get the package in the mail that you paid $4 shipping for and to discover it cost $1.76 to mail.
- You haven’t filled ANYTHING out in your shop policies, profile, or your shop intro. Etsy is a community. It’s also a business. If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of returns, that’s fine, but let me know (BTW not allowing returns on items purchased, unless they’re custom or final sale items, just costs you customers). I’m not into guessing games. If you only ship once or twice a week, state it clearly in your policies. You don’t have to fill out every section, but pick one and be concise. Show that you care about your shop and your customers.
- Gross grammatical or spelling errors. Copy and paste your description into a word processing program and run spell check. It won’t always catch usage errors (like when to use less vs. fewer, the difference between you’re and your, etc.), but it can remove the glaring errors. And along a similar note: I CaN’t ReAd tHe TiTle WhEN YoU TRy tO MAkE iT CuTe! It makes my head hurt.
These are just a few of the reasons that I came up with, and I’m sure plenty of you might disagree, especially with the shipping charges. What are your pet peeves?
January 18th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
You seem to have nailed ALL of my peeves. I have been an ETSY and EBAY shopoholic for several years and I just don’t understand why some people don’t get it. (shrug) A fair shipping price speaks volumes. I won’t even click on the kooky typing you mentioned in #5.
I look forward to your tips. I have new shop and may have my head-in-the-sand, too, but I think (hope) I am ok on the above 5.
Thanks for the chuckle and validation that I am not the only one getting peeved!
January 18th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Spot on! I am an Etsy stalker, and used to be on eBay. And I am considering a run at Etsy, so these tips are something I desperately want to know. Thanks for your insight! Enjoy the day! Erin
January 18th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
Excellent post!
January 20th, 2010 at 1:48 am
Loved your list, Dot…. the fuzzy pictures always makes me scratch my head.
)
January 23rd, 2010 at 2:19 pm
This is so right-on!
Other wishes for sellers – I love it when the photographs show the effects of gravity, i.e., if earrings, show them hanging off a teacup if not on a person; if a necklace or bracelet, show it on a person or on a prop so we can see how it hangs.
Similarly, if beads, show them strung and not just loose – it’s easier to see how they will look in a finished piece. Pendants and charms are ok flat.
The combined experience of description and visual has to be the next best thing to my being able to pick it up and feel it.
January 23rd, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Forgot one! It’s always disappointing when the photograph shows a greater quantity of items than the listing is for – e.g., 10 beads are shown but the listing is really for two. Sometimes it’s obvious from the price – if it’s 3.00 it can’t possibly be for all 10 handmade ceramic beads, but sometimes it isn’t and it feels like “bait and switch” or false advertising.
January 24th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Wow! You are so right on all accounts.
I see you are part of the Virtual Bead Soup Party, so am I. What fun!
Emanda
January 25th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Good point, Mary. I need to drag out my necklace display for photos of finished jewelry. I don’t like to photograph them on myself since I have an unpleasant scar across my neck from a surgery, but I will keep that in mind.
January 25th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Yup, that’s pretty disappointing as well.