<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6510736">Parisera</a> goes on the forums and admits that she just designs but does not make her jewelry. WJW.
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6255560">http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6255560</a>
And manages to insult all of those "bead on a wire" folks in the process. Classy.
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
If I'm gonna spend $450 USD on a pair of earrings, they'd better *look* like they cost that much. These don't:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29293032
$39 USD for shipping doesn't exactly sit well, either.
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Woah -- $450 for *those*?! I'm guessing it's the poorly-pictured 'rousecut' diamonds that they're using to justify that price. And the shipping! No wonder the shop isn't doing well; aside from looking a little suspect, it's entirely too easy to find far nicer pieces for a similar price.
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
holy smoley. Seriously, even if it was excellent quality and you were rich would you pay that much? I wouldn't.
$39 for shipping is fraudulent I think too.
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
well it's not really against the rules I dont' think, I mean tons of T-shirt sellers dont' print there own shirts, I think the TOU state you only need to design the item, not make it, but she should be more clear on saying who actually makes the product.
also, the shipping price, if clearly stated to the customer, is never a problem, I can see it being that much, I've bought stuff form India before and they have to pay tariffs to ship gems and jewelry to America.
and the price to me isn't' that unreasonable, if someone is willing to pay it then it's not too much.
-Chris
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
and the price to me isn’t’ that unreasonable, if someone is willing to pay it then it’s not too much.
-Chris
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Agreed, Chris, but no one seems willing to do that. Why? Because they're silver-plated earrings with diamond chips glued on them. Those earrings are worth 20 bucks at most.
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Suz, good point, a high price doesn't violate ANY rule. your allowed to price things how ever you want, and she has 3 sales, so her prices can't be THAT high.
keep in mind you can buy a stainless steel Rolex watch for 100,000 dollars and a solid gold Movado for 5000. just because something is plated, or a base metal, does not mean it's worth any less.
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Major price rape on that. And ugly to boot.
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
I beleive Courtney Love paid 16000 for a dead bird in a matchbook. So the value of an item and the price of an item really don't need to be based in the same reality at all.
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
The seller has every right to price her items at a level she feels comfortable with but she must keep in mind that once a decision is made to purchase at that price point, the buyer has many, many options. With $400.00 one could purchase a pair of earrings from established (emphasis on established) designers such as Cathy Waterman, Ten Thousand Things, Jeanine Payer, or Melissa Joy Manning. If the buyer wanted to go the route of handmade jewelry, a quick browse on Etsy would reveal at the very least a few dozen items that are designed AND constructed by highly skilled artists/metalsmiths.
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
ShadeJewelry, you got it right on the Rolex to Movado--apples to apples--but comparing conceptual art to a pair of earrings for sale on Etsy is comparing apples to oranges. Now, if Courtney love had paid $16,000 for a pair of earring similar to the Etsy earrings, that would venture into the area of subjective realities.
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
ok molls, maybe the bird to earrings is a little off, but i mean, this is sorta like calling someone out for pricing things too high, I'm really not sure what rule she violated.
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
"...items that are designed AND constructed by highly skilled artists/metalsmiths."
I find it ironic that she thinks “bead on a wire” is so much below her skills, but at the same time doesn't know how to make her own pieces. She insinuates that no-one can make those pieces from start to finish, but I know several jewelry makers who can (well, maybe not cut the diamonds).
As to the TOU, shade is probably right - she says that she does at least part of the work herself, and not just design.
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
admin have said before this is acceptable:
I sketch a piece of jewelry, pick out a gem, take it to a jeweler and have them make it, that would be "etsy handmade" there are many jewelry sellers on etsy that have there work completely made for them.
-Chris
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
For your pleasure:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7909375
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
"...erogenous belt..." "...will make your stature more svelte and fascinating no matter where you wear it on,waist or crotch." "...As we all known, waist belts not only used to be a strap,but also to be a fashion decoration in modern society. More and more persons who are in pursuit of popularity and beauty like them very much." "What a best choice it is!"
...I SO need this belt!
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
"What can be sold
This section outlines the items that can be listed for sale on Etsy.
Handmade by you
* All items must be handmade by the individual(s) running the Etsy shop.
* On Etsy, the term "handmade" can additionally be interpreted as "hand-assembled" or "hand-altered". "
"Production assistance
* It is best if a seller can create their items entirely with their own hands. However, Etsy acknowledges that this is prohibitive for certain intermediary tasks in some crafts. Some acceptable examples include: printing for your digital artwork, metal casting from your original mold, and kiln firing for your handcrafted ceramic work.
* The item's description must disclose the use of a third-party vendor (providing a name is not necessary, but is encouraged).
* You may not have a third-party vendor fulfill your orders to your Etsy customers on your behalf (e.g., no drop-shipping).
* Items are subject to staff review on a case-by-case basis. If the staff determines that the vendor's involvement comprises a majority share of the item's creation, it will be deemed "not handmade by you" and removed from Etsy. "
I don't see how this could mean that it's okay to just design the item and let someone else do the work, or is choosing a stone for a piece of jewelry really considered as handcraft on Etsy? Do you remember, who told you this, shade? I suppose the t-shirt printing could be considered as "printing for your digital artwork", but having a whole piece of jewelry done by someone else...
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Check this out, Gern: http://www.lpisb.com/
I think I found 'vintage'tibet's source.
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
WTF, does anyone see the front page right now? Pinkypinky
In her profile she states she brings these back from Korea!
http://www.etsy.com/profile.php?user_id=7425493
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
pinky states: many of my friends were interested in my little stuff that I brought from Korea and ask me to get them when I go back my country during vacation.
And she's on the front page!
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
pinky shop is empty right now. Lets hope it stays that way.
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
I find it ironic that she thinks “bead on a wire” is so much below her skills, but at the same time doesn’t know how to make her own pieces.
_______
LOL, at least us peasants can string our own beads!
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
and the price to me isn’t’ that unreasonable, if someone is willing to pay it then it’s not too much.
-Chris
———————–
Agreed, Chris, but no one seems willing to do that. Why? Because they’re silver-plated earrings with diamond chips glued on them. Those earrings are worth 20 bucks at most.>>>
They're rhodium plated silver, rhodium (correct me if Im wrong jewellery peeps) is a coating plated over sterling silver to prevent tarnish, rhodium is expensive isnt it?
Defs not the same as a silverplated item, defs more than $20 ( is the US really so cheap now that you can get even diamond chip earrings for $20?!?!!?)...
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Brenda, rhodium is expensive but the amount used for plating is generally not great enough to really increase the value. It's done mostly to make the surface of the metal shine and to enhance diamonds. As to being able to purchase diamond chip earrings for $20, it wouldn't be usual to find something like that in a department store.
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Defs not the same as a silverplated item, defs more than $20 ( is the US really so cheap now that you can get even diamond chip earrings for $20?!?!!?)…
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If diamond chips were worth anything, they'd be fastened securely, not just glued on. They're merely for the bling (and I'm all for bling at the right price!).
Oh, and FYI, I'm not American.
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
whatev.
still worth more than $20 but I try not to have a 'cheap' mentality when looking at others pricing.
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
your right, rhodium is about 1500 a troy ounce but a piece of jewelry that size woudl use about 1/10,000th of a gram of plating solution. so it's almost not a factor in the price.
-Chris
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
well talking about misstagging "silver" a lot of people tag silver colored items "silver" like a titanium ring tagged silver...
Fail
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Re the items on the front page that are admitted to be not handmade - etsy doesn't care about the integrity of their site and they make that obvious by not bothering to check if front page featured items are in compliance.
Last week there was a lovely pair of emerald earrings on the front page... in a treasury about The Wizard of Oz. OK, that's creative. BUT... looking at the tags, the seller actually used "Dorothy" "Wizard of Oz" and "Frida" (I'm assuming Kahlo).
They were just silver hoops with emeralds on them.
Etsy doesn't just ignore tag abuse, they condone it.
(Sorry this is a bit off topic; had to get that out)
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Jenn,
like the tagging with the color of the cardstock you lay your earrings out on for your photos?
A lot of my fellow metalsmiths do that and regularly get on the FP because their background color fits the color theme and sterling only has one color...silver. Even though their sterling hoop earrings aren't 'pink' or my favourite 'aqua blue seagreen sky ' (hey if you're going to mistag, mistag with GUSTO!)...
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
well, silver IS a color too...so if the titanium ring is silver then...but definitely not tagged as silver in materials.
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
several top sellers in clothing and accessories do not sew their own work- just doing some simple google searches you will come up with their studios full of other workers, etc. they are physically unable to do so. &also if you are just printing out an image you made three years ago that is hardly handmade or original.obviously a lot of license is taken with the design and finish product on etsy if they are calling it "handmade."
if you want to make serious money you will need help. a fact kids.
at any rate, those earrings dont look like they should cost that much $ but i'm no expert on jewelry
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Brenda totally, silver is a color, but it is "white metal" so you'd never call platinum silver, it's a dark metal, so it titanium and a ton of other metals. but on etsy everything from base metal, gun metal, pewter, and spray painted plastic is tagged silver.
-Chris
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Sorry, I don't care how much someone tries to "justify the price" of these...........these earrings are not worth that kind of money. And as far as I'm concerned, this is a "bead on a wire"! Get real.............
EtsyCallOut September 15, 2009 at 1:54 PM