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Original poster

Would you consider an Etsy/handmade/selling section?

86 replies

IncompleteSenten · 26/02/2024 07:55

I have an Etsy shop and website and so on. I handmake things. Not going to say what obviously.
Would you consider a section where we can share our shops? Under name changes but you could set it so you must be a regular contributor and / or have been a member for more than however long, and people can report shops that are drop shippers.

I'd certainly pay for that. Maybe you have to be a premium member to have access to that facility? Anyone can view or comment but only premium members can share their shops?

You could be allowed only, say, one post a week to stop spamming the board with thread after thread?

OP posts:
Original poster
IncompleteSenten · 29/02/2024 15:19

By deleting posts and having a policy that certain things were best settled off boards?
I don't really see that as getting involved any more than deleting posts between a couple that are arguing on here is MN doing marriage counselling.

Anyway, it's a suggestion. Some people like it, some don't. MN will have a think and decide if it's something they want to consider or not. People who aren't interested can hide the section same as any other.

Mn might come back and say we've thought it over and don't think there's enough interest / don't think it's a good fit but you never know till you ask.

OP posts:
Geebray · 29/02/2024 15:15

IncompleteSenten · 29/02/2024 15:13

Would that not mean any links to our own shops would be deleted as advertising?

Show quote history

But the whole idea is advertising. So Mumsnet would allow it in one forum, but not anywhere else? And people would be getting free advertising?

Geebray · 29/02/2024 15:14

I would also hope any shit like that that did happen would be deleted by mn.

You would be asking MN to get involved in commercial disputes.

Original poster
IncompleteSenten · 29/02/2024 15:13

Geebray · 29/02/2024 15:10

And, as you say, obviously sellers would have to change their Mumsnet names. So how could they prove they were longtime/legitimate posters? Would MumsnetTowers have to get involved? I can't see that lasting long.

"Wah, OP said they were a MN regular, but I hate what they sent me and now they've disapprared, help me Mumsnet!" It give it two months until it implodes.

Far better just to ask for Etsy suggestions that people can reply to.

Would that not mean any links to our own shops would be deleted as advertising?

OP posts:
Geebray · 29/02/2024 15:11

Pasithean · 29/02/2024 15:06

Not a bad idea but who would police it. For example scammers , disputes etc.

Exactly. And simply by existing in a section on Mumsnet, it would seem like Mumsnet were endorsing those sellers.

"As seen on Mumsnet!"

Original poster
IncompleteSenten · 29/02/2024 15:11

I said Etsy because I'm on Etsy but there are other handmade platforms. In fact, it'd be good for increasing their visibility imo. Etsy is no longer fit for purpose but the alternatives are just not very well known.

Re self moderating that doesn't mean back end access, simply a suggestion for mn to consider if a similar to night watch facility could be section specific to hide spam contributions to threads.

Re sabotaging other shops first of all I would hope people would be more grown up than that! And embrace the idea of a mutually beneficial and supportive community.

I would also hope any shit like that that did happen would be deleted by mn.

Agreeing rules would hopefully include attitudes towards each other.

And of course as with anything it would be observed and tweak as required.

Nothing is ever perfect but I think positives would outweigh negatives

OP posts:
Geebray · 29/02/2024 15:10

And, as you say, obviously sellers would have to change their Mumsnet names. So how could they prove they were longtime/legitimate posters? Would MumsnetTowers have to get involved? I can't see that lasting long.

"Wah, OP said they were a MN regular, but I hate what they sent me and now they've disapprared, help me Mumsnet!" It give it two months until it implodes.

Far better just to ask for Etsy suggestions that people can reply to.

Geebray · 29/02/2024 15:07

SecretSoul · 29/02/2024 14:57

I’d love this too! People being able to post requests and people giving their etsy link would be perfect.

I think this is a better idea than some kind of self-moderated, membership-limiting forum area.

Pasithean · 29/02/2024 15:06

Not a bad idea but who would police it. For example scammers , disputes etc.

Geebray · 29/02/2024 15:05

And if it was self-moderated in the Etsy section - what if a MNer had a falling out with another MNer? Would they get chucked out of the section?

What if MNers were trying to keep out similar Etsy sellers?

Geebray · 29/02/2024 15:03

Redshoeblueshoe · 26/02/2024 23:09

Excellent idea, especially as Etsy ban things that would be loved by the people on FWR

But the OP seems to be mainly saying it would be Etsy shops that were promoted. And Etsy doesn't like women.

Would other websites be allowed? Who would decide what was good enough?

How would you police if MNers were regulars, or had been here long enough?

Would they have to post regularly? Because if you said "You must have been a member for three months" then someone could just join and wait. Or would they have to have over a certain number of posts? Which would just encourage "Yes I agree" type posts until the OP reached the threshold.

And loads of posters would forget to name change occasionally, so their shops would be linked to their MN identity.

SecretSoul · 29/02/2024 14:57

I’d love this too! People being able to post requests and people giving their etsy link would be perfect.

Dragonfly97 · 28/02/2024 08:16

This is a great idea! I have an Etsy shop and I buy on Etsy too. I find that customers buy my stuff when they see it- Etsy keeps changing the algorithm as I'll get a cluster of sales then nothing for days. Also I love to buy from other Etsy sellers, it would be great to see what others are selling.

SoupDragon · 28/02/2024 08:05

I think it's a great idea.

When I saw the thread title I thought "hell no! It will be full of spammers selling their shit" but as a link to shops for "proper" MNers, I think it's great.

I buy stuff from Etsy but it's really hard weeding though the tripe.

Someaddedsugar · 26/02/2024 23:58

I'd also love that @HoHoHoliday

EmmaEmerald · 26/02/2024 23:38

HoHoHoliday · 26/02/2024 23:13

I like this idea! I am not a seller but would use it as a shopper. For example I like the idea that I might post asking something like "looking for a gift for my elderly mum, she likes x, y, z". And then sellers could comment with a link to their pages as suggestions for my gift.

Yes, I'd love this!

Garlickit · 26/02/2024 23:20

Just adding my support. I'm not a seller but I have an empty 'shop' and a hundred unfinishedstarted projects 🙄 Would also like to be able to select MNers when buying, assuming checks & balances were in place. Fed up with reverse-searching everything I look at to see if it's really handmade!

HoHoHoliday · 26/02/2024 23:13

I like this idea! I am not a seller but would use it as a shopper. For example I like the idea that I might post asking something like "looking for a gift for my elderly mum, she likes x, y, z". And then sellers could comment with a link to their pages as suggestions for my gift.

Original poster
IncompleteSenten · 26/02/2024 23:13

Redshoeblueshoe · 26/02/2024 23:09

Excellent idea, especially as Etsy ban things that would be loved by the people on FWR

There could be a special custom order code even.

OP posts:
Original poster
IncompleteSenten · 26/02/2024 23:13

We could do a weekly share your stuff megathread that would be pinned to the top of the board like some subreddits do so people could browse through that week's submissions in a single thread as well as looking through individual threads.

OP posts:
Redshoeblueshoe · 26/02/2024 23:09

Excellent idea, especially as Etsy ban things that would be loved by the people on FWR

GalaxyAddict · 26/02/2024 23:03

Really good idea, please set this up Mumsnet

PangoPurrl · 26/02/2024 22:55

Love this idea and would definitely be up for taking part, although I've somehow still not managed to reopen my Etsy shop after my 'Christmas break' 😂 This would maybe be just the kick up the arse that I need!!

Original poster
IncompleteSenten · 26/02/2024 22:48

And the other good thing about seller platforms like Etsy is customers have buyer protection so even if you bought something let's say mine cos I'm about to be insulting 😂 and you got it and thought well that's a pile of shit and not at all as described - you can open a case and Etsy refunds you if it agrees it's not as described or faulty etc

So it's not like the old selling boards on here years ago where it was buyer beware and people did sometimes get ripped off.

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Original poster
IncompleteSenten · 26/02/2024 22:45

Whatevershallidowithmylife · 26/02/2024 22:26

I would definitely be interested (buyer) but then I would need to change username to buy?

No, your username on MN wouldn't be linked to any purchase you chose to make in Etsy or mademe or wherever.
Itd just be people sharing their shops and things and anyone who wanted to buy could go there and look.

If say you clicked on a link here to my shop, I'd never know that's how you'd found my shop and I wouldn't have any way to connect your username here to a customer in my Etsy shop.
Not that I would abuse that info even if I had it. Apart from it being illegal it would be creepy as fuck!!!

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