09/29/2024
😡Ooooooo I'm gonna rant!😡
Yet another way to keep down creatives and small business owners.
I just got what are basically warnings from Etsy, that listings with a $6.00 or more shipping fee will be dinged in search. Meaning that they won't be shown. So for Etsy to prioritize showing my listings, I have to charge less than what I pay to actually ship items.
To be clear- I already charge less shipping than what postage costs me, and I lose the cost of supplies (envelopes, tissue papers and all the other "goodies" that Etsy customers have been taught to expect) on small items like jewelry and bookmarks.
In my Artist shop, where I would be shipping original artwork, some of which are canvases, more materials are needed to keep the pieces safe during shipping, and the cost to mail is waaaaaay more than $6.00!
I already print labels from home, to lower the postage cost slightly, and USPS continues to raise costs.
My point with all of this ranting is this: please be aware that handmade pieces and original art are going to cost more than cheap s**t you buy from Amazon or any major retailer. And many of them are using stolen art images from artists who are not being compensated!
I will have to go into my shop, add a few dollars to each item and reduce shipping. This has been a tactic I've never used because it feels sneaky. So far, I have always listed items at the same price that I sell them for in person. It makes things confusing for everyone, but again, I ask you to please be aware that small business owners, artists, crafters and artisans are doing their best! We are not trying to he sneaky or tricky. We're trying to succeed with what we're good at, while fighting a gross system.
