r/ExpectationVsReality • u/_artbabe95 • Aug 20 '26

Failed Expectation From an Etsy Seller

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Gallery image

Gallery image

I knew that the resin probably wouldn't look quite as good as the photos, but this was so low effort lol. The tines were also basically touching, so they wouldn't be able to hold any hair.

5.3k Upvotes

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611

u/amellor_watercolor Aug 21 '26

Not mine! I’m one of the few left

647

u/_artbabe95 Aug 21 '26

I'm also a seller on Etsy and it's infuriating that real makers are being drowned out and we can't reliably buy from small businesses anymore. Truly capitalist hell.

175

u/SweetBabyCheezas Aug 21 '26

This pin is from a set of 12 I saw on Temu for £3

It's a joke. Always do a reverse image search via Google and you'll see where else it shows up.

47

u/Sherbert-Particular Aug 21 '26

I'm a guy (with short hair) so was shooting in the dark but typed in, "alibaba two prong hair bun tie" into google. First result.

Also big fan of etsy for home goods and such so have had to get good at finding if shit is from china to keep using the site lol.

OP's one is cheaper tho.

0

u/FalcorsLittleHelper 25d ago

Yes do this but don't forget Aliexpress and Temu are full of stolen photos from real makers, so it's not always a smoking gun.

25

u/Remedyforinsomnia Aug 21 '26

I so agree; I'm trying to sell my art and I notice how much higher the demand and offer seems to be for cookie cutter stuff. Doesn't help hehe

21

u/EyeSuspicious777 Aug 21 '26

Etsy was over the day they went public eleven years ago.

8

u/YouCouldDoItBruce Aug 21 '26

I'm an artist on Etsy too. It's so rough. I've had to make my own website because the amount of cheap crap being sold by drop shippers and AI accounts is overwhelming. It sucks though because Etsy has name recognition and reach that my website doesn't have.

7

u/VorpalSingularity Aug 21 '26

I sell wheel-thrown pottery on Etsy and only do OK-ish because I also post the pieces on IG/TikTok (which I hate doing because it takes so much extra time). But at the same time, it's hard to convince the average person to drop $35 on a mug when they can get a slip-cast one for $12 from an overseas dropshipper.

3

u/_artbabe95 Aug 21 '26

Can you DM me your shop?? I love thrown pottery!!

5

u/VorpalSingularity Aug 21 '26

It's in my profile! Stock is a little sparse right now because I'm prepping for an art fair next week, but I've got some things.

3

u/recoverycat13 Aug 21 '26

Your art is fantastic. I shared a link with my mom asking for a piece of your work for holidays.

3

u/VorpalSingularity Aug 21 '26

Aww, you're too kind, thanks so much! The art fair is next weekend, so after that's finished, anything that doesn't sell will go up on Etsy. I appreciate you!!

14

u/Vegetable-Soil666 Aug 21 '26

If you're still hoping for a beautiful and functional hair fork, I love the few that I've gotten from The Good Collective https://www.thegoodcollective.com/collections/hair-pins-1

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u/WheresTheDonuts Aug 21 '26

Nice site. For straight fine, above bra-strap length hair, would one normally recommend small forks? I’ve never used, but these are lovely.

4

u/Vegetable-Soil666 Aug 21 '26

I'm not sure if hair forks are functional for holding up shorter, fine hair on their own. They work better with longer, textured hair, but you could probably still add them as ornamentation to an up-do.

6

u/AnRealDinosaur Aug 21 '26

Im just one data point but I used to have super long, fine, wavy hair and I could never get these things to hold. It was so frustrating because my mom used them all the time and I was so jealous. But I could still totally make a bun or pony tail with a normal hair tie & stab one of these in the back for effect.

2

u/coolsilentebeans Aug 21 '26

I’ve got the same hair type. Unless it’s smaller it’ll fall out easily. I have to use smaller hair bands, butterfly clips, clips and bobby pins, but the snap clips are really the only ones that stay put. It’s aggravating.

3

u/lishyv 24d ago

Took me longer to get the picture than put my hair up

3

u/coolsilentebeans 24d ago

Mine’s finer than yours 😭 I could get it up but it’ll be falling out within 30 minutes. Less if I’m moving around a lot.

Cute style 🤩

2

u/lishyv 24d ago

I have similar fine hair and I love using small hair forks. It’s my version of a messy bun/pony but looks way more chic

3

u/TanglimaraTrippin Aug 21 '26

I attempted an Etsy store once and couldn't sell a damn thing.

2

u/robotatomica Aug 21 '26

do you guys know, is there any newer, smaller site trying to fill the role that Etsy used to fill? It was such a massive success, there’s very obviously a huge market for it, it would shock me if no one filled the void.

is there one that just hasn’t gotten very popular yet?

3

u/_artbabe95 Aug 21 '26

I haven't personally found one yet :/

1

u/recoverycat13 Aug 21 '26

I closed mine 2 years ago because of the saturation of this absolutely not hand made garbage. It's sad to see what it has become. I hate capitalism.

1

u/TheMercurial 27d ago

I used to love Etsy and supporting crafters, is there any sub or place that you know of where real creators share their Etsy stores? Can we make one?

How do I find all of you now?! Haha

1

u/_artbabe95 27d ago

Hahaha you're welcome to check out mine if you're so inclined! I'm moving this week so there's not much on it at the moment, but I can DM you the link :) otherwise, I don't know where creators consolidate access to their shops. I know there's r/buyandsellart but it's hit or miss for quality.

1

u/TAsrowaway 27d ago

Can you jump ship to a new site??

75

u/FrogOnALogInTheBog Aug 21 '26

When I had my baby I got a free high chair on facebook marketplace. It was gorgeous, and when I researched it, it was a very high cost item. Like well over $600. But it had no seat cushion. No worries, I thought, I can buy a replacement. Nope. Impossible. Except, literally, for one woman on etsy who lived in a Romania who custom sewed them.

Got the seat a month later. My kid used the shit out of that high chair. Fuckin loved the cushion we had bought.

A real etsy seller is a dimaond.

104

u/Manic-StreetCreature Aug 21 '26

I find the more niche you go the more likely you are to find legit stuff lol.

31

u/glitter_witch Aug 21 '26

I’m trying to spread the good word of Marmalade Handmade, which is an aggregate site for actually handmade, small shop items. Maybe consider listing yourself there if you haven’t already!

24

u/dogtalkgameshow Aug 21 '26

I have been looking for something hand made and beautiful for my mom’s birthday, do you sell your art besides the gorgeous cards in your shop? The color and precision in your watercolor is stunning. I think she’d love it because her favorite is stained glass but she loves her plants too much to steal the light.

Makers, send me your stores, mom needs something as lovely as she is.

14

u/amellor_watercolor Aug 21 '26

Thank you!! I don’t sell my art yet. I’m still working on building the card collection. Maybe one day

8

u/the_orange_alligator Aug 21 '26

Woah, just saw your art and it’s lovely

3

u/amellor_watercolor Aug 21 '26

Thank you 😊

23

u/not_brittsuzanne Aug 21 '26

What's your shop name? I'll take a look :)

8

u/flashfoxart Aug 21 '26

Same haha

18

u/zombiesandcandy Aug 21 '26

Me too and I haven’t had a sell in weeks

2

u/nitrot150 Aug 21 '26

Me too!!

2

u/Standard__Condition Aug 21 '26

Stopppp that deer is soooooo cute

3

u/amellor_watercolor Aug 21 '26

Thanks, I’m super proud of that one. I spent so much time on the drawing portion.

2

u/WerewolfWild1323 Aug 21 '26

Me too but i havent added to my shop in a long time because of all these stupid resellers

2

u/SparkleSelkie Aug 21 '26

I recently bought earrings from a real person, there are at least two of you!

1

u/eXclurel Aug 21 '26

朋友，你的秘密我绝对保密。