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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed at this etsy seller

31 replies

Isthisannoying · 20/10/2020 16:35

I bought an item of clothing for my mum for Christmas. Trying to buy from small sellers as I'm an artist myself and trying to be ethical. I'm really irritated as the colour of the item is nothing like the colour in the pictures.

I got in touch and asked for a refund. The seller will give me one but I have to pay for postage and they were not particularly friendly just saying they'd sold loads and never had this issue. They said lighting is hard to get right to accurately show the colour.

As I'm an artist I have some understanding of photography and photo editing. I have also sold items on etsy before. On looking at the images its clear the saturation has been significantly increased. I don't want to post the full image and identify the seller. But the models lips are very pink and all the colours pop. Looks great. Great for insta but not so great when you're selling a product that's going to look different in real life.

I feel particularly annoyed that I'm going to be out of pocket and have to take an unessential trip to the Post office because the seller couldn't represent her products properly. Is this not a key element of selling online?

OP posts:
Original poster
Isthisannoying · 20/10/2020 16:35

On etsy

OP posts:
Original poster
Isthisannoying · 20/10/2020 16:36

Real life

OP posts:
Original poster
Isthisannoying · 20/10/2020 16:37

Real life colour

OP posts:
AllTheCakes · 20/10/2020 16:38

It’s a completely different colour, YANBU.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 20/10/2020 16:38

Thar really is dramatically different - can you raise a dispute via Etsy?

MamaBearThius · 20/10/2020 16:39

YNBU - the vivid green is really pretty whereas the real life is very very different!

ErickBroch · 20/10/2020 16:39

YANBU I would open a case

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 20/10/2020 16:39

Yeah that's definetly different enough to justify a complaint.

pinkpanther84 · 20/10/2020 16:40

YANBU, the green from the website is really nice, the result life one is completely different

Original poster
Isthisannoying · 20/10/2020 16:40

I know its a first world problem! So thanks pp's who've said its different. I'm extra annoyed I think because they were not very helpful. And as a seller myself at times I'm so greatful for every customer. So to be dismissed really irked me.

OP posts:
Redpriestandmozart · 20/10/2020 16:42

Indeed it is a key element for selling online. I'm also an artist my art website is as closely matched to my paintings and prints as is possible and I still worry that people could nitpick. That is nothing like the colour advertised so I would be sorely tempted to show the seller your two photos and ask why they are so different. I wonder is the seller taking the pictures herself and using filters to enhance the colours that are otherwise being washed out by poor photography skills!

MarkRuffaloCrumble · 20/10/2020 16:45

Yeah that’s ridiculously different! YANBU.

To be fair I quite like the soft green as well as the brighter jade colour but it’s not what you ordered!

HigherFurtherFasterBaby · 20/10/2020 16:46

YANBU that's totally different

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 20/10/2020 16:46

As an etsy seller myself, I can sympathise with having difficulty in representing colours properly - I have two or three items that just will not photograph the right colour and I have to alter the image slightly to recolour it to closer to the original - but that is so that the buyer can see a true representation of the item, rather than to make it look more attractive. If a customer was unhappy with the reality versus the photo on any of these items i would agree that the photos aren't great (have used different cameras, lighting, and even a light box and still these particular items are problematic) and refund with no quotation, I wouldn't be pissy about it either.

It sounds as though in this case the seller thought it was more likely to sell if the photo was enhanced to change the reality instead of reflect it, hence the rudeness at being challenged. Long way of saying, I think you are within your rights to complain Smile

SilverDragonfly1 · 20/10/2020 16:47

Wow, that's not even close! A couple of shades paler is one thing but that actually looks like different material. Definitely chase for postage costs!

MegaClutterSlut · 20/10/2020 16:47

Yanbu

Honeyandapple · 20/10/2020 16:49

Very different

MereDintofPandiculation · 20/10/2020 16:52

If the item is not as described, surely she needs to pay the return postage?

Kseniya · 20/10/2020 16:57

@Isthisannoying

I bought an item of clothing for my mum for Christmas. Trying to buy from small sellers as I'm an artist myself and trying to be ethical. I'm really irritated as the colour of the item is nothing like the colour in the pictures.

I got in touch and asked for a refund. The seller will give me one but I have to pay for postage and they were not particularly friendly just saying they'd sold loads and never had this issue. They said lighting is hard to get right to accurately show the colour.

As I'm an artist I have some understanding of photography and photo editing. I have also sold items on etsy before. On looking at the images its clear the saturation has been significantly increased. I don't want to post the full image and identify the seller. But the models lips are very pink and all the colours pop. Looks great. Great for insta but not so great when you're selling a product that's going to look different in real life.

I feel particularly annoyed that I'm going to be out of pocket and have to take an unessential trip to the Post office because the seller couldn't represent her products properly. Is this not a key element of selling online?

yes, this is usually a big problem unfortunately. therefore it is worth studying very carefully the reviews about the product and the seller himself I hope you find a solution to the problem.
MJMG2015 · 20/10/2020 16:59

Why don't you go back to her with both photos & say that considering her photo isn't a good representation of her colour that you feel the cost of postage is her responsibility? It's not that you've decided you don't like the garment or it doesn't fit etc.

OTOH even though it's different to what you ordered, are you sure your mum (or someone else) won't like the one that's arrived? (Im all for an easy answer, especially if it means I can avoid the post office!!)

NailsNeedDoing · 20/10/2020 17:01

Yanbu to expect a refund or polite service, but paying postage is to be expected I think. It’s annoying, but it’s no different to if you bought something form a shop and had to take it back for a refund. You wouldn’t expect the shop to pay your petrol and parking

ifIwerenotanandroid · 20/10/2020 17:02

What are Etsy's rules? On ebay unless the seller has a disclaimer saying colours can look different on different monitors, a colour difference like that would be classed as (S)NAD = (significantly) not as described. And for a SNAD, you don't just get a refund, you get to keep the item as well.

Original poster
Isthisannoying · 20/10/2020 17:29

I did send the photos. I do understand what pp said about the patrol costs to gwt to a shop. But then in a shop you have the chance to examine an item.
It probably won't even cost much to send it's just annoying . I'm just glad other think it's not the same. The other side is a liberty print a bit art deco. So the vibrant green went well. The faded just doesn't work for me.

OP posts:
MachoSavsge · 20/10/2020 17:33

I agree with others, it’s not even close. The seller should definitely be paying for the return postage. Why should you be out of pocket for receiving an item that wasn’t what you ordered? The seller should also be looking into changing the listing to show a true colour, or at least a very close match. It’s not exactly difficult to adjust the image.

Pelleas · 20/10/2020 17:37

You wanted emerald green and got snot green.

I would complain.