overpriced etsy

Oh BTW Jennifer as much as I can understand your passion for this discussion that's all it is, a discussion. Please don't take it as a personal attack. The thing is, people don't want to pay high prices for materials for the same reason they don't want to pay a high price for someone else's product.

Think of it this way, if they pay £30 for one glass bead and they are making a cardigan (let's say...) they'll need about 5 of them at least right? That's £150 without add the price for wool and whatever other material they need to make it.

That could potentially be why some etsy shops charge a lot. They've got to cover their own costs as well as make at least a slight profit...

Justify this:

Etsy is not charity...you wanna pay for college? Get a real job like everyone else.
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/57104833/lego-smiley-head-stud-earrings-free-gift?ref=sr_gallery_14&ga_search_query=&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=2&min=200&max=100000&order=price_desc&includes[0]=tags&includes[1]=title" target="_blank">leggo earrings</a>

I'm not paying for crap that a 6 year old cold paint
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/55984353/a-new-birth-make-an-offer?ref=sr_gallery_19&ga_search_query=&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=11&min=200&max=100000&order=price_desc&includes[0]=tags&includes[1]=title" target="_blank">Birth???</a> <a href="
http://www.etsy.com/listing/50672033/miley-cyrus-original-oil-painting?ref=sr_gallery_4&ga_search_query=&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=125&min=200&max=100000&order=price_desc&includes[0]=tags&includes[1]=title
" target="_blank">Miley Who?</a>

Or 3 grand for a photo of somebody else's kid??
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/52917661/tinks-feet-24x36-inch-original?ref=sr_gallery_15&ga_search_query=&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=77&min=200&max=100000&order=price_desc&includes[0]=tags&includes[1]=title
" target="_blank">Baby's feet</a>

Not paying for your self absorbed description of why your crap is so great.
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/32832207/education?ref=sr_gallery_6&ga_search_query=&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=194&min=200&max=100000&order=price_desc&includes[0]=tags&includes[1]=title
" target="_blank">I don't see a fig...</a>

Not paying $130 each for a couple of kid's pretend clothes. (She'll outgrow them in months!)
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/22859624/fairy-sets-custom-summer-wardrobe-5?ref=sr_gallery_16&ga_search_query=&ga_search_type=&ga_page=4&min=200&max=700&order=price_desc&includes[0]=tags&includes[1]=title
" target="_blank">Looks like Wal-mart fabric to me</a>


I could go on and on. I guess what I'm trying to say is that some things are way too expensive. I'm an average Joe. I can't afford that. Maybe if I was rich, and I felt like helping a kid make his college tuition, then I'd buy a bunch of junk I don't need.

Art is objective anyways. What you think is beautiful and WORTH an exorbitant amount, I may think is crap. (and visa versa) And, people shouldn't be made to feel like they're "ignorant" for chosing to make their own things. Isn't that what you do? Do you pay $30 per bead? Nope, you make your own. ;)

No one specifically said that the things you make are overpriced. Don't be so offended. If you automatically consider yourself to be a person being criticized...then maybe you might think the stuff you've made is too expensive too? I don't know.

I'm not being mean. I don't think your jewelry items are terribly expensive. I just don't wear jewelry, so they're not valuable to me.

A lot of what you've said has got my hairs standing up. I wouldn't be so upset, but it just seems like you're sitting on your high-and-mighty trying to make your sisters (fellow crafters) feel bad for not wanting to spend all their hard earned money on something that they could make themselves. It just seems so pretentious.

And to lump every one who thinks Etsy is overpriced, into the same category of brainless twits who would spend $600 on a coach bag is very offensive.

I'm trying to feed my family, not buy a new car for some artist. If I can buy materials cheaper, or make my own version of something I like, then I'm going to do it.

(Please note, written words can't express body language...So, let me just remind you that my hackles are not up, I'm not salivating, and I'm not about to attack you with my claws out...just stating my opinion, that's all) ;)

This is something every freelance artist eventually has to ask his or herself:

Am I being paid at my current pricepoint/rate? If yes, am I getting so many purchases/offers that I am overwhelmed?

In this case, upping a price is appropriate. However, if business is slow, that means that your prices are not competitive, and people are going elsewhere.

Despite this recession, people are still crafting, photographing, modeling, etc. It's up to us to be savvy to make sure that we are the ones they are going to in order to stay in business.

Hope this made sense.

VERY well said Dessah. I concur.

I applaud to Dessah!! Very well put and OMG I can not believe those links you posted...holy cow did someone fall and hit their head to price those earrings! Nearly had heart failure!!

I think with all the competion on Etsy, your pricing has to be competive. I try to keep all my items under $20. People impulse purchase, if you keep the cost low, people will buy. Overcharging will not get you business

Wowzers!
I can see where your coming from Jennifer, but it's not nice to call someone an idiot for giving their opinion. I happen to agree with her, does that make me an idiot too?

Very well said Dessah. Like Sug said, I clicked on most of those links and like $650 for that cheap lookin tinkerbell outfit? $10,000 for some crap stuff...

Michelle is right it's all about keeping competitive, not being too silly with prices on either extreme.

Oh BTW for labelling us generally as people who would spend $600 on a coach bag also offended me somewhat. Mot of us are average people, most of whom own their own etsy or online craft shops to help them with a little extra money to manage LIFE!!

I am about £18,000 in debt for trying to better myself. I come from and am still in a working class backgroud. I live with my mum who's hours, and therefore salary, has been cut by 1/3 and I am currently unemployed - I've finished my degree - we struggle to make ends. My mum works really hard for what we have... My point is that as much as I would LOVE to spend a few bob on something beautiful I can't if I don't have the money. If I can find a cheaper substitute or make it myself then I save some money - you have to look at things from the consumers P.O.V!!

I wish I was someone that could spend obscene amounts of money supporting fellow artists, but most of the tips I pick up from here are to keep clothes and other stuff lasting for longer, or maybe to update my wardrobe or living space whilst trying to save money.

Sorry to spew my personal life out, I'm not angry but I'm sure others will agree how hurtful it is to label others. Particularly since you only joined today, you haven't given yourself the opportunity to get to know us.

This isn't an attack, I just needed to get it off my chest.

I wonder if anyone actually buys some of the higher ended priced etsy items??

See... the 600$ coach bag remark... I looked around on Jennifers blog and found that an business partner told her that she couldn't sell her work for X amount of dollars because it didn't have a name brand on it... she didn't like this very much, so I feel that clearly we have been verbally attacked because someone has upset her in the past, which clearly is not fair at all... Personally, after reading her blog and remarks on here and seeing her work... there is something to be said for public relations and $165.00 for a necklace or $10.00 and I simply would not buy from her. Speaking for myself I find it a wonder that people buy from her at all. I do the same as Sug and many other women... I craft to make a little extra spending cash for my children and myself. Also, I use crafting as a way to maintain my sanity and it's fun for me. If I let my crafts ever make me bitter I would simply stop crafting and go get a job I hated.

Lolly - I too noticed that she just joined the site and seeing as how the only thing she has done so far is spew negativity all over the boards I wonder if she signed up merely to belittle others to make herself feel better.

I am done.

oh...this is getting ugly...

Since you are new, please let me just make one last statement. No one hates you, or thinks ill of you (yet)...We are all glad to see new crafters join this site. But once you join (I feel) you become like part of a family. Whether your crafts sell for hundreds of dollars, or are cheap little t-shirt recons, you are just as important as anyone else. And with that said, a lot of us get upset when we feel like our sisters are being blasted. Especially for something silly like this.

So, don't think we're all a bunch of catty bitches. We're really not. But we take up for our own. I'm sure you understand that.

And maybe what you said wasn't meant to be offensive, but it was taken that way by quite a few of us (obviously)

So don't get upset and leave CO+K. I know I for one would love to see your projects. Just remember that we're family. Somewhat dysfunctional, but family none the less.

Am I right, Ladies?

I'm not crazy, are you crazy? *smiles*

Depends on what kind of crazy you're talking about...
*wink wink...

Just kidding, I'm not crazy...I'm crazy.

*laughs hysterically.

Once again, well put Dessah...

I am wondering how the hell you make glass beads!! That would be interesting to see Jennifer

well I have seen it done, and there are a few people on etsy selling handblown beads cheaper then her. I know one of them. But it you want to make a profit, you have to cater to the market. But really who wants to pay $30 for one bead? when there are other etsy sellers selling 10 beads for $5?

I know...I'm just amazing and stuff.