Here's a category link. I reported a few items as not meeting Etsy policy due to threatening minorities, plus my own commentary that I won't use Etsy any more if they continue to sell this. But agree with the general sentiment that Etsy has lost its value.
50501
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Don't use Etsy. It's a shit company that fucks over sellers and buyers alike
It was great at some point. Then they noticed they can make a lot more money from dropshippers than genuine craftspeople
Very amused that they banned my account for the audacity of Shopping While Using a VPN. It'd be one thing if the IP was blacklisted and I couldn't access the site, but no, they just straight up banned my entire account. (Fortunately, I am not a seller so this didn't do anything but confuse me. Like, okay? You... don't want money? Fine by me.)
Apparently it's really common.
Oh yeah, never use a VPN with Etsy. Especially as a seller
Used a VPN as a seller? Goodbye shop
Suggestions on alternatives?
I noticed the enshittification but there are still small shops and craftspeople on there, you just have to sort through the trash.
Lots of people set up their own shop with Shopify etc. You can use Etsy to find a seller, and then see if they also have an independent shop
Sadly no real marketplace alternative out there. There are some small platforms, but they often only cater to a super specific market
Well I don't use it much but I guess I'll still have to from time to time. Most of the people I buy from on there are in countries other than the US and don't have a separate storefront.
There's this one:
Thanks! Looks like that has some growing to do but it has some interesting items.
Agreed. I like what they stand for, and if more people promote then maybe it could catch on too 👍
I suggest reverse image searching whatever you like on Etsy. A lot of it is just dropship stuff where you can buy the original and cut out the dropshipper for pennies on the dollar. Depending on what you're looking for you may have to buy a minimum, but 9/10 the minimum is still less than the Etsy price. I buy a lot of craft supplies and 50/50 an Etsy listing the says "handmade" "artisanal" "bespoke" is never even touched by the seller. Additionally, if the person is not just a dropshipper, you might find their actual website where you can get things for less or at least make sure they get the full amount without giving Etsy a cut.
Of course it’s all Ai generated slop:
https://newsocialist.org.uk/transmissions/ai-the-new-aesthetics-of-fascism/
What a shame. I used Etsy back before it was a big platform… it used to have a chat room for sellers, and my teen self made friends with a bunch of super supportive and nice older ladies.
Froggy fibers springs to mind and if you have any reason to buy dyed wool or yarn from a POC, find her, she’s a fucking lovely person (or was 20 years ago; she bought a hat from me for her year-old son when it turned out child-size because I wasn’t skilled with crochet in the round, and it made such an impression I’m talking about her a full 20 years later.)
I haven’t touched it in years because of how… just absolute shit it’s become. From changing from verifiably handmade to… whatever bullshit it is now…
I still have all of the pay it forward “freebies” I ever got.
I’d love to see a fedi alternative, or even just some sort of… open software or p2p network but sharing sales details maybe? Idk.
I’ll send my message, but I’ve largely written off that platform for being just trash.
etsy sells both ai slop shirts in favor and against alligator auschwitz
They are the Switzerland of the Capitalist Dystopia.
Etsy has been selling right wing fascist shit for years now.
They are RUINING the image of alligators!! >:(
Wear stupid merc meet stupider people.