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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be fed up of people trying to hawk their 'craft' wares

195 replies

Goldenhandshake · 03/12/2013 12:18

Over the last couple of years there seems to have been phases of craft/homemade items being hawked by loads of people, en masse, particularly over facebook.

There have been cards, cupcakes, personalised converse trainers and now hair bows seems to be the latest.

AIBU to be sick of the sodding 'Please like my FB selling page' requests, stalls popping up at DD's dance class, school fetes etc and then having people I know almost guilt tripping you into buying because you know them?

I know I don't have to buy anything, and I mostly don't, but have felt obliged to a couple of times. and have mainly been left disappointed

OP posts:
MmeLindor · 03/12/2013 13:05

I can see what you mean, but we should really be cross at the society in which we live, that makes it extremely difficult for women with young children to earn money without spending most of it on childcare.

Those who can't afford childcare look to use their talents in other ways in order to make a bit of money.

I did snort with laughter at the ebay sleigh though. That is just cheeky.

SammyandBilly · 03/12/2013 13:06

I know about 3 different mums that make these candy trees www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WHITE-OR-RED-LINDT-LINDOR-CHOCOLATE-SWEET-TREE-IN-ANY-COLOUR-BASE-/301025271190

I think they are a total rip off, I'd much rather just have a box of the Lindor chocs.

FatOwl · 03/12/2013 13:06

I make cards
And mini scrapbook albums

I live overseas where the choice of cards is very limited-local ones are really nasty and imported ones are very expensive

I have regular customers each year and sell at a few of the Xmas fairs which are popular here

My single biggest seller is a mini scrapbook in our school colours for kids/mums to add their photos through the school year

I hate hard selling though, I have a fb page but don't really use it.
I'm def not a business woman and know I don't charge enough but get embarrassed asking people for money!
It will never pay the mortgage.

womblesofwestminster · 03/12/2013 13:09

More links please. I'm having a good lol

Original poster
Goldenhandshake · 03/12/2013 13:10

Sammy £25!! I am pretty sure that a box of Lindor chocs os £4 max!

OP posts:
FatOwl · 03/12/2013 13:11

If you want a really really good laugh go to Regretsy.com (sorry can't link on phone)
It's a blog of the real crap that is put up on Etsy? Want a vagina necklace? There are several

enormouse · 03/12/2013 13:22

Does anyone else think of the 'I saw you coming' man from Harry and Paul when they see certain bits of tat?

harticus · 03/12/2013 13:26

The thing about Regretsy is that it backfired.
Bizarre stuff became very collectable and sold well in a sneery kind of post modern ironic way.
People then started to try and make surreal stuff simply to get featured on Regresty which of course defeated the object.
It has closed down now.

FatOwl · 03/12/2013 13:28

Oh that's a shame, didn't know that, it was as funny as Cake Wrecks ( which I think people also tried to get deliberately after a while)

2Tinsellytocare · 03/12/2013 13:31

Most of the homemade stuff i've seen on FB is excellent and they have long waiting lists, those Ebay items are shite though! £35!?

GhostsInSnow · 03/12/2013 13:34

gemma I hadn't noticed that, sort of fits doesn't it Grin

There is someone local to me to sticks ferrero rocher onto florist foam in patterns and charges a fortune (cellophane wrapped of course).

The other one I'm thinking is a woman who buys cheap smelly stuff and slathers it in cellophane and bows. I have to go out now but I will find it....

BoJolly · 03/12/2013 13:35

TBF they are only doing what a lot of stores do at this time of year.

NurseRoscoe · 03/12/2013 13:37

It doesn't annoy me if someone has spent time and effort perfecting their craft - such as knitting beautiful items or making birthday/wedding cakes.

What does annoy me is the silly dummy clips that my 2 year old could make (basically threading beads on a to a bit of string), cupcakes which again my 2 year old could probably do with a cupcake maker, 'hampers' with lots of crap from poundland with a big bow put on it and lots of cellophane for daft prices (especially when the people write a big arsey paragraph about people asking them where they get their shit items from) or all these girls who do acryllic nails after 'teaching themselves' not even properly trained at college.

Constantly being harrassed to have an ann summers party pisses me off too, I just don't have the spare cash for sexy underwear & dildos with two kids and christmas coming up!

I think if people want to have their own business it's a great idea, fits around the kids, means you don't have to pay for childcare etc. but it's so obvious when someone wants to make a quick bit of cash & when someone really cares about what they are doing/making. I have to spend 3 years training for the job I will eventually be doing, you won't make much money if you don't put the effort in first.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 03/12/2013 13:38

Well said MmeL.

What I've noticed is that the few people who're really pushy and/or won't take anything but unqualified appreciation aren't actually that much in need of money. The ones who are, are usually sane enough to realize they need to go with the market.

Do agree about people's unrealistic ideas about how much materials/time actually cost, too. I do half decent calligraphy and did my own placeholders for my wedding, which was fairly stupid of me. A friend of a friend got in touch later on and suggested she would pay me to do hers. She figured about 20 quid, because after all I liked doing it, right?

I didn't say fuck off. I was good. Smile

yoshipoppet · 03/12/2013 13:43

I make things, and sometimes sell them. Mostly the sold things are made to order.
But now I am doubting myself, I hadn't realised people were so offended by this sort of thing.

FrequentFlyerRandomDent · 03/12/2013 13:44

Isn't it the way the now ubiquitous Cath Kidston started though?

averywoomummy · 03/12/2013 13:44

I think YABU and very disparaging about people who have taken the initiative to try and make a bit of money. TBH it doesn't really matter what your opinion about something is - if people are happy to buy it then someone will be happy to sell it.

Seems ironic that you get threads complaining about people on benefit or people who are too lazy to work but the people who have got off their bums to actually do something get slagged off.

I know people with some craft businesses and for them it is an ideal way to earn some money whilst also being at home for the kids.

EddieVeddersfoxymop · 03/12/2013 13:45

I'm a seamstress, and I sell crafty bits. People expect to get something made for peanuts.....by the time you factor in the cost of materials and my time, there's not much room to make money.

But.....I do make money by pricing correctly and making my items well. I won't sell anything that I'm not 100% happy with. Every single penny I make is declared with HMRC, I have all the appropriate insurances etc too which also cost me money.

Please don't tar us all with the same brush, there are some really talented people out there if you take a look Grin

missinglalaland · 03/12/2013 13:47

I think it's fine to politely decline.

SaucyJack · 03/12/2013 13:50

YANBU. Particularly alphabet beaded necklaces/bracelets/keychains that look like they came from a children's craft set.

Sparklymommy · 03/12/2013 13:54

My mum is a quilter. She makes tons of bags, cushions, quilts and patchwork items. She is constantly being asked to make things for colleagues and friends who are "prepared to pay". She always politely declines as the time, materials and sweat that go into it she says she'd never make a decent amount. And she wouldn't want to offend people.

She prefers to make them for presents and the grandchildren. They are totally appreciated by the people she gives them to, and are unique items.

The Cadbury sleigh is definitely cheeky tho!

expatinscotland · 03/12/2013 13:55

YABU. There are both hide and block functions on FB, you know. And, 'No, thank you,' is a complete sentence.

angelinterceptor · 03/12/2013 13:56

YANBU in relation to the crap stuff - which is spoiling it for the really talented people.

I generally have to avoid the Christmas Fayre/Fairs which are cropping up all over the place, school, town halls, peoples houses -

Gluezilla · 03/12/2013 13:57

YANBU !
There was a stall recently selling horseshoes (Vintage dahling !) with cheapribbon wrapped around it for £17 .
I let out the most huge snort of laughter before I could stop myself Blush

SammyandBilly · 03/12/2013 13:58

FWIW I'm fine with crafty bits being sold, but they should be in craft fairs, in gift shops, at christmas fairs etc. I don't like it seeping into everywhere else, for example this week I was ambushed in the soft play centre because a local mum does the 'most amazing' homemade santa sacks which I could have made better for ££££.

Also, if most of it was better quality I'd be less annoyed, but lots of it, like the santa sacks are very amateur in quality but they are very pricey.

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