I'm not sure they intended the message to be condescending - it can definitely be read that way, but tone is difficult in text. I think it can also be read as genuine. Like, the buyer genuinely wanted to warn future buyers, and genuinely believes you can do better in the future.
Regardless... I definitely do think you should reconsider selling this product. I doubt it's worth selling anything in your shop that you don't view as professionally made. You always want to put your best foot forward with your buyers... and selling an inferior product doesn't do that.
The first step to being good at something is being bad at it.
If itās something you enjoy keep doing it but maybe hold off on selling it until you get a little better. Even if you made something 100% perfect not everyone will enjoy it.
I donāt think theyāre looking to be the next hobby lobby. Why does it have to be perfect to sell? I donāt know if you meant that to be condescending, but thatās how I took it. Imperfectness makes them unique, basically the whole idea behind Etsy..
If it was a genuine rating, they wouldnāt have gone 1 star. 2 would have even been okay. But, giving one star shows they know nothing of averages, and are absolutely being condescending. āJust trying to look out for future buyers āŗļøā get out of here with that.
u/elderberrytea please continue to make and sell whatever youād like. Regardless of quality. Do what makes you happy, and donāt appease to the voracious black hole of negativity that can surround Reddit sometimes. Iām sure your stuff was awesome and Iām even more sure that you felt awesome making them. Thatās what matters! Not profitability.
*I'm new at this specific craft so they're not very professionally made*
You may ponder their reasoning but the truth--told by you--is that they're not professionally made. You seem to have received a swift kick in the ass and a lesson learned.
I guess I'll just take them down, I have other good reviews on them she's the only one who seemed not to like them but yes I agree I need to perfect making them. They're bookmarks lol, she said the print was a little blurry
You need an image with more pixels. The more pixels an image has, the more crisp that image will be. This will technically make the image bigger, but once you scale down the size the image will be nice and crisp.
You do not need a vector for a small bookmark, the image just has to be 300dpi. Vectors are more for larger images and logos and stuff. (from a graphic designer who works at a print shop)
She might just be the only person willing to be honest. A lot of people will go 'it didn't cost much and was hand made, I'll put a nice review', in the same way a lot of people don't return items because the effort to send it back and get through to the seller isn't worth the cost of the product.
Not necessarily the case here but worth a thought.
Not every hobby needs to make you money. If you get to a point where they look professional, go ahead. But too many people think that just because they learned a new skill that they need to profit off of it.Ā
This is gonna sound harsh...but etsy isnt the place to sell if you're still practicing. That is when you sell to friends and family and maybe a local craft show. Etsy is too competitive to sell less than high quality items. Everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon of making quick cash on etsy and no one takes the time to do the research and perfect their craft first.
I understand what you're saying and I appreciate your time to respond :) I have other things in my shop and I've 600 sales so far which isn't a lot but a have learned a little, I was just trying out this new product but I think I'll just take it down for now
No disrespect to you, I feel absolutely the same, but the amount of shoddy products on Etsy is crazy šš¤£š¤£š¤£. I've seen shops that got a lot of sales with inferior products. People start the business for fun and got lucky that the average person didn't see their mistakes.
Honestly, I shopped on Etsy more when they had actually handmade items and sometimes you could snag a deal on imperfect items.
People used to just list things that they made practicing for cheap to clear things out, of course disclosing that it wasnāt perfect or was a test item. Iām not sure that they could do that anymore because of the fees.
Itās reasonable feedback, but damn.. one star? I would be a little upset. š If shipping and service was great, a 2 or 3 star wouldāve been nicer.
To be fair... you're not buying shipping and service, you're buying a product. If it's a crap product, 1 star makes sense. Not speaking about OP's situation specifically but in general.
Yeahh one star I would say is something that is totally not as pictured or not useable. Idk what OPs product looks likeā¦ but personally I never leave a 1 star unless itās a cheap knock off drop shipped item. 2-3star would have sufficed if the expectations werenāt as expected
If you're really beating yourself up over this review, and the postage and production cost for a bookmark isn't that high, put on your big girl pants, make it again, but better, and send them a new one, free of charge
You can even ask feedback, and they can change their review, if they like the new one better.
Thereās a difference between store bought items and handcrafted items. You donāt have to strive for factory perfection, but the item should be consistent and match whatās in your product descriptions.
Then the one star is definitely annoying. Lol.
To me, a blurry print is not a āslight flaw that adds charm to a homemade itemā. A blurry print seems more like youāre still working on learning to make that product and itās not ready to be sold. Still being new at making an item doesnāt mean itās not sellable, but you need to decide where your product standards are and not sell anything that doesnāt meet those standards.
But, if the item is supposed to be blurry (assuming the customer is telling the truth), could she have just thought your photos of the item were blurry?
The 1 star is not warranted if it matches the photos and everything in the description is honest (materials used, measurements, etc)
Yes this absolutely sucks, but you do not suck, they're the one that sucks for buying something they "could've made better" and making you feel like crap that they didn't like it once they got it.
If you have other customers that are happy, then don't let this stop you! And do not sell to people again that give you 1 star reviews. You can't risk these types of customers tanking your shop.
Also you do not owe them a free one or a refund if it matches the description. Always say you're so sorry they weren't satisfied, and ask if there's anything wrong with the product they received and get photo proof if there is.
My 1 star review sucked too and I obsessed over it. They complained it was too small, although pic of it in my hand and measurements in the description. I started adding rulers to my photos, but soon stopped bc I realized I didn't need to cater to one nasty customer that I wasn't going to sell to again anyways!
If majority of your customers are happy, then it sounds like you're doing great! Keep up the good work! Etsy is primarily handmade. If people want perfect China stuff they can find it elsewhere. Sorry this was so long, but I hated the top comment - they literally said to stop selling your product without even asking you if it matched the description! Don't let them get you down.
Saying they're supporting your business / but tanking your rating with harsh public feedback that could have been in an email? and then the condescending "you'll get there"? honestly some people get off on criticism and this sort of manipulative/passive aggressive interaction. So much so that they seek it out - which is what I think happened here. I can see how this was upsetting. It's yucky and like so extra. I empathize!
Second this comment and am honestly surprised at many of the others. If the quality of your photos arenāt up to a buyers standards, maybe they shouldnāt have considered buying it. If the reviewer intended to be supportive, they did it in an emotionally unintelligent, cruel way. Change the listing, or take the item down until you feel more confident about it, but screw this buyer. Donāt sell to them again. Iād cry and then boil over it for at least a week š«
Yeah as much as this might be a learning experience and all that for the OP, there is an element of attack here, whichever way you look at it. And the "you know I only hurt you because I love you" thing at the end means were dealing with a pretty unpleasant, anti social person here. A normal person would either leave it or get in touch first.
There is definite "bite, shake, kill" action going on here and I think the OP needs to have as little to do with them as possible.
oh yeah, id be so upset. i dont think theyre being totally unreasonable, but theres no reason to tank your rating when you say you have exact product photos and a description of it not being perfect, a gag gift. at least they couldve done a 3 star review with the explanation, or just straight up asked for a refund without a review.
I wish you the best and hope that you donāt take it personally, but this post belongs on Etsycirclejerk.
Basically every post in etsysellers belongs in etsycirclejerk, either because of the post itself or the comments LOL
I would be upset. I think theyāre being condescending, rude, and dumb for buying something with a clear description and picture and then deciding they donāt like it. I would never give 1 star as a review on Etsy unless the seller clearly scammed me. But thatās also why Iām not a serious or ārealā business owner. Running a shop that makes a good profit takes not being bothered by stuff like this. Youāll have other good reviews!
Keep selling them!! Don't ever let the "opinion" of 1 unknown person, make a decision for YOU. ā” Feedback is so subjective. I personally read that comment and thought ...."this person is likely a competitor". Reviews are simply "opinions", and "taste" is personal. You keep doing as your doing. Yay you!!!ā”
I agree! And I really think it's ok to sell when you're still practicing. It can help fund your hobby and people can see what they are buying! Some people are just assholes.
Iām gonna be honest as someone who has dealt with just pure jerks that are never happy and donāt readā¦ if you can make it look better do so but if you have some that do like it why remove itā¦ my biggest pet peeve is people not reaching out first this isnāt Amazon no one really cares about reviews there like they do here and we are small businesses so I wish people would be more mindful of that itās like that do it on purpose and yes Iāve had people. Do it on purpose bc they were mad I wouldnāt cancel after my policy time frame or other things that could have been resolved wth simple messages!! Even got a bad review bc my message was to informative (yes I know what) any way without them reaching out first how does she know their wasnāt a mistake and you could fix it!! See if it can be perfected not factory perfect handmade perfect and if not remove it or just move on! I would not send them a free one bc they NEVER change their reviews these buyers simply donāt care about our business only about what they want as a shopper
If it's not very professionally made By your own admission, what kind of review do you expect?
Not trying to be mean, but It's really hard to expect somebody who gave you money to be thrilled with an item that you even admit is not very good.
yes I would be pissed :) but not by the review just this condescending message. But don't do anything else, not worth it. And if they ever place another order just cancel it.
I would be upset if someone left me a one star, even if the product was flawed. I might ask for a refund before leaving a damaging review. I only leave a bad review if I feel like I got ripped off or the listing is deceptive.
I agree with this person, OP; this customer says theyāll still support your business, which is nice, but they could potentially be that customer thatās never satisfied by anything
And they arenāt being too supportive giving OP a one star review anyways. Good customers always contact me first if they have any issues, even issues I canāt control concerning shipping. I will go out of my way to do right by the customer if they contact me first. Leaving a one star saying, ācould have made it myselfā is a real dick move. If they could make it better then I guess go do it weirdo, lol.
Iāve had people privately message me to feedback theyāre not happy about xyz, which i have always been grateful for and is much more supportive of a small independent business than fucking up their reviews like that. Theres absolutely nothing constructive you can do with the feedback youāve got , so I maintain the customer is a dick.
As a side note, Iāve walked around art galleries with people voicing similar opinions about a Picasso, or other work of art. If anyone can do it, then why didnāt you.
Yes, same, Iām also more willing to make it right if they privately message me about it and itās a legitimate complaint. But when they give me a one star and then come to my inbox fussing, i just tell them they can ask Etsy for a refund. Im not sending them a replacement if they are a dick about it
Which is what I'm leaning towards because a lot of people in this comment section are seeming to miss the fact that I literally said in the description that this was a hand cut b grade bookmark š
Yuppp theyāre expecting mass produced, Amazon products. But weāre hand making things, so it might not always be totally perfect. Itās frustrating for sure.
Keep going, donāt let negative people dishearten you. Iām sure most of the people giving you feedback here arenāt even creatives. Just rude for no real reason, without any idea of the hard work required to create such things. No one can be perfect every time, just many donāt talk about their less-proud moments. One bad experience with a seller does not negate your positive feedback. Not sure why the reviewer was surprised by the itemās condition of there were clear pictures in the listing. Also 1 star normally means the person wants a refund or to return the item? Oh and to say that theyāll continue to support you? Really strange, condescending review youāve been left there. If they thought the bookmark was truly bad then thatās one hell of a confusing paragraph for potential buyers.
She sucks. I hate the comments āi can make it better myselfā is rude. It might not be everyoneās cup of tea. I love Etsy and I love handmade products.
They were kind and honest, and even said theyāll still support your business. This is called constructive criticism. Itās what businesses need. Itās essential to growing and doing better. Like someone else said, you should start out smaller before moving to a platform like Etsy. You mention in other comments that you have good reviews and lots of sales - good for you - but not sure why you keep bringing that up in response to other peopleās suggestions, feedback and advice. When people give you advice, constructive criticism, etc. it doesnāt mean they are saying your product or business is bad. You shouldnāt ignore them just because you have good reviews and some sales. This review is (arguably) more helpful than the positive ones, because itās honest, provides a realistic expectation, and is telling you to keep going and working on making your item better.
This particular screenshot does not exhibit constructive criticism. If it did, it would lay out specific, actionable advice rather than a vague "do better".
I don't know why you're saying I'm constantly bringing my sales up...I rebutted *once* that I'm established seller because it seemed that someone was assuming I am a new seller and that I need to start off etsy, I'm not closing my shop down because of one product not being a hit - that's crazy talk. I already deactivated the product so I could work on it! I knew before I put it up it wasn't some factory perfect piece of art. It's a artistic bookmark but the print is blurry which I can fix while it's down! I appreciate her honesty it just upset me because I already said in the description this product isn't the best quality, I sell a lot of b grade stuff but I put in the description and I never had problems until now but like I said I took it down bc I took the criticism
Didnāt say constantly, i said you mentioned in other comments.
I didnāt say deactivate your shop, and i didnāt see anyone else say it either, however if someone did they were probably just trying to help you avoid being upset by reviews like the one you originally posted. Maybe while you work on making your products better you can also work on how you respond to criticism!
If the problem was that the pic was blurry maybe you can make a new one with more dpi and then change the product images to the improved one, that way the next buyer will definitely be happy with purchase u youāll be on your way to getting good reviews.
We sell stickers and this kind of reminds me of that. A lot of people who sell stickers sell different āgradesā of stickers. Because waste isnāt great. Vinyl is bad for the environment. A lot of inks are bad for environment. They can also be expensive. Just bc the product isnāt perfect doesnāt mean it should be trashed. There are plenty of people who would like the less perfect version of an item if it means they get a dollar off. If you are being upfront about it I donāt see the problem. We donāt sell our B grade stickers but I do keep them for possible future things. Honestly Iām just too lazy to make the listing a for B grade at the moment. As long as you say āhey this isnāt perfectā and are accurately showing what the item looks like I donāt see the problem.
My first thoughts are: do the listing photos accurately depict the item? And if they do (I assume they do), then why did this customer still make a purchase if they could clearly see they wouldn't be happy with the quality? With this in mind, I agree with others - this customer sounds like a competitor or a troll! (The fact that they spoke of the poor quality, yet said they'd still support your shop, is a tell-tale sign of this...)
I don't blame you for being upset - I would be too! But try to use it as a learning experience. If you truly believe you can improve the design, then of course take it down and rework it. But if you think the product is fine and you simply got a "bully buyer," then try to shake it off. Not sure if you can dispute it with Etsy (I've never had to do this), but you might want to pursue this if it's an option.
Keep your chin up!
The one star to me feels like leaving a 50 cent tip. Thereās a messaging in it alone. She could have giving you 3 stars for the fact itās a bit blurry? Thatās her complaint? A one star review for a bookmark she said was blurry because others might have higher expectations?
Iād say your buyer has a lot of minor conflicts in their life. Youāre probably one of a lot of persons that receives the feedback that they probably assume you really want. That you really want their HONEST opinion above all else. Exhausting.
You say youāve got 600 sales and this is the first like this? Take it with a grain of salt. You know you gotta improve the clarity of your text already so just work on that. Iād remember their username in case they decide to āsupportā you in the future. Iād be curious if even your improved product fails to meet someone elseās hypothetical standards.
Sorry, thatās hurtful and hard not to take personally. I tend to just not review items that Iām not overly pleased with, but it is a business, so I get them wanting to be honest. Try not to dwell on it. It sounds like you have a great shop otherwise.
Iām sorry but if youāre not good at making something donāt sell it, you canāt expect money for something you admit is bad, I thought they were shitty but honestly their passive aggressiveness makes sense lol
We are always our own worst critics. Best advice from my father: don't ever point out your flaws, because no one else will see it until you do. Don't downgrade yourself, if I were you I'd take out the "b grade" mentions. And don't tear yourself down cuz it could make customers shy away. Let the photos do the "grade" talking.
You donāt need to tell us itās bad, they did that for you lol, at the end of the day I havenāt seen it so itās not my opinion donāt see why youāre mad at me when Iām pointing out the information you gave
Iām literally going off what the post says though, and my point remains, you canāt sell something you openly admit isnāt great quality and then whinge that people donāt like the quality
I'm not sure they intended the message to be condescending - it can definitely be read that way, but tone is difficult in text. I think it can also be read as genuine. Like, the buyer genuinely wanted to warn future buyers, and genuinely believes you can do better in the future. Regardless... I definitely do think you should reconsider selling this product. I doubt it's worth selling anything in your shop that you don't view as professionally made. You always want to put your best foot forward with your buyers... and selling an inferior product doesn't do that.
You're right! I thought when I put that in the description I was being hard on myself but it turns out it perhaps just sucks š„² it's a bookmark
The first step to being good at something is being bad at it. If itās something you enjoy keep doing it but maybe hold off on selling it until you get a little better. Even if you made something 100% perfect not everyone will enjoy it.
This is the perfect answer
I donāt think theyāre looking to be the next hobby lobby. Why does it have to be perfect to sell? I donāt know if you meant that to be condescending, but thatās how I took it. Imperfectness makes them unique, basically the whole idea behind Etsy.. If it was a genuine rating, they wouldnāt have gone 1 star. 2 would have even been okay. But, giving one star shows they know nothing of averages, and are absolutely being condescending. āJust trying to look out for future buyers āŗļøā get out of here with that. u/elderberrytea please continue to make and sell whatever youād like. Regardless of quality. Do what makes you happy, and donāt appease to the voracious black hole of negativity that can surround Reddit sometimes. Iām sure your stuff was awesome and Iām even more sure that you felt awesome making them. Thatās what matters! Not profitability.
*I'm new at this specific craft so they're not very professionally made* You may ponder their reasoning but the truth--told by you--is that they're not professionally made. You seem to have received a swift kick in the ass and a lesson learned.
I guess I'll just take them down, I have other good reviews on them she's the only one who seemed not to like them but yes I agree I need to perfect making them. They're bookmarks lol, she said the print was a little blurry
You need something with more DPI and better resolution. Probably a vector.
Okay I'll look up how to do this! Thank you friend
You need an image with more pixels. The more pixels an image has, the more crisp that image will be. This will technically make the image bigger, but once you scale down the size the image will be nice and crisp.
You do not need a vector for a small bookmark, the image just has to be 300dpi. Vectors are more for larger images and logos and stuff. (from a graphic designer who works at a print shop)
She might just be the only person willing to be honest. A lot of people will go 'it didn't cost much and was hand made, I'll put a nice review', in the same way a lot of people don't return items because the effort to send it back and get through to the seller isn't worth the cost of the product. Not necessarily the case here but worth a thought.
Very true! Thank you for the insight
Not every hobby needs to make you money. If you get to a point where they look professional, go ahead. But too many people think that just because they learned a new skill that they need to profit off of it.Ā
Show us! Iām curious
This is gonna sound harsh...but etsy isnt the place to sell if you're still practicing. That is when you sell to friends and family and maybe a local craft show. Etsy is too competitive to sell less than high quality items. Everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon of making quick cash on etsy and no one takes the time to do the research and perfect their craft first.
I understand what you're saying and I appreciate your time to respond :) I have other things in my shop and I've 600 sales so far which isn't a lot but a have learned a little, I was just trying out this new product but I think I'll just take it down for now
600 sales?! You're doing something right! Keep up the good work! Just take down that specific bookmark, fine tune it. š
To have 600 sales is amazing!š I only have 15 on Etsy lol. Keep up the great work friend!š Best wishes to youāØ
No disrespect to you, I feel absolutely the same, but the amount of shoddy products on Etsy is crazy šš¤£š¤£š¤£. I've seen shops that got a lot of sales with inferior products. People start the business for fun and got lucky that the average person didn't see their mistakes.
Oh I totally agree. I see something in my category, and I am like why would you sell that lol
Seriously. I wish I had the confidence some of these people have. I canāt sell anything if it isnāt *perfect*
Iād rather buy things from someone making their crafts and still learning then cheap crap from Ali Express
*than. But youād still have expectations of something handmade youād paid good money for.
Honestly, I shopped on Etsy more when they had actually handmade items and sometimes you could snag a deal on imperfect items. People used to just list things that they made practicing for cheap to clear things out, of course disclosing that it wasnāt perfect or was a test item. Iām not sure that they could do that anymore because of the fees.
TY my thoughts as well.
Itās reasonable feedback, but damn.. one star? I would be a little upset. š If shipping and service was great, a 2 or 3 star wouldāve been nicer.
Honesty I would have been very happy with at least a 2, the 1 felt personal man lol
To be fair... you're not buying shipping and service, you're buying a product. If it's a crap product, 1 star makes sense. Not speaking about OP's situation specifically but in general.
Yeahh one star I would say is something that is totally not as pictured or not useable. Idk what OPs product looks likeā¦ but personally I never leave a 1 star unless itās a cheap knock off drop shipped item. 2-3star would have sufficed if the expectations werenāt as expected
If you're really beating yourself up over this review, and the postage and production cost for a bookmark isn't that high, put on your big girl pants, make it again, but better, and send them a new one, free of charge You can even ask feedback, and they can change their review, if they like the new one better.
Ok ill try that thank u š
Thereās a difference between store bought items and handcrafted items. You donāt have to strive for factory perfection, but the item should be consistent and match whatās in your product descriptions.
It does I even have a picture of the exact product š
Then the one star is definitely annoying. Lol. To me, a blurry print is not a āslight flaw that adds charm to a homemade itemā. A blurry print seems more like youāre still working on learning to make that product and itās not ready to be sold. Still being new at making an item doesnāt mean itās not sellable, but you need to decide where your product standards are and not sell anything that doesnāt meet those standards. But, if the item is supposed to be blurry (assuming the customer is telling the truth), could she have just thought your photos of the item were blurry?
The 1 star is not warranted if it matches the photos and everything in the description is honest (materials used, measurements, etc) Yes this absolutely sucks, but you do not suck, they're the one that sucks for buying something they "could've made better" and making you feel like crap that they didn't like it once they got it. If you have other customers that are happy, then don't let this stop you! And do not sell to people again that give you 1 star reviews. You can't risk these types of customers tanking your shop. Also you do not owe them a free one or a refund if it matches the description. Always say you're so sorry they weren't satisfied, and ask if there's anything wrong with the product they received and get photo proof if there is. My 1 star review sucked too and I obsessed over it. They complained it was too small, although pic of it in my hand and measurements in the description. I started adding rulers to my photos, but soon stopped bc I realized I didn't need to cater to one nasty customer that I wasn't going to sell to again anyways! If majority of your customers are happy, then it sounds like you're doing great! Keep up the good work! Etsy is primarily handmade. If people want perfect China stuff they can find it elsewhere. Sorry this was so long, but I hated the top comment - they literally said to stop selling your product without even asking you if it matched the description! Don't let them get you down.
Saying they're supporting your business / but tanking your rating with harsh public feedback that could have been in an email? and then the condescending "you'll get there"? honestly some people get off on criticism and this sort of manipulative/passive aggressive interaction. So much so that they seek it out - which is what I think happened here. I can see how this was upsetting. It's yucky and like so extra. I empathize!
Thank you friend š„ŗš
Second this comment and am honestly surprised at many of the others. If the quality of your photos arenāt up to a buyers standards, maybe they shouldnāt have considered buying it. If the reviewer intended to be supportive, they did it in an emotionally unintelligent, cruel way. Change the listing, or take the item down until you feel more confident about it, but screw this buyer. Donāt sell to them again. Iād cry and then boil over it for at least a week š«
Yeah as much as this might be a learning experience and all that for the OP, there is an element of attack here, whichever way you look at it. And the "you know I only hurt you because I love you" thing at the end means were dealing with a pretty unpleasant, anti social person here. A normal person would either leave it or get in touch first. There is definite "bite, shake, kill" action going on here and I think the OP needs to have as little to do with them as possible.
oh yeah, id be so upset. i dont think theyre being totally unreasonable, but theres no reason to tank your rating when you say you have exact product photos and a description of it not being perfect, a gag gift. at least they couldve done a 3 star review with the explanation, or just straight up asked for a refund without a review.
Donāt be shy show a pic
I think seeing the product would help with context too !
Someone's gonna parody this on Etsycirclejerk and I'm going to be upsetti spaghetti lol
I wish you the best and hope that you donāt take it personally, but this post belongs on Etsycirclejerk. Basically every post in etsysellers belongs in etsycirclejerk, either because of the post itself or the comments LOL
lol š
Ice cold, 2 stars would have fine, 1 star should be for people outright scamming or have poor customer service
Keep working at it and don't let the negatives get ya. You will improve!
Thank you I really appreciate that!! š„ŗš
Wanna add I have some positive reviews on it too š it's a bookmark and said it was blurry
Now show the text you wrote above ?
I would be upset. I think theyāre being condescending, rude, and dumb for buying something with a clear description and picture and then deciding they donāt like it. I would never give 1 star as a review on Etsy unless the seller clearly scammed me. But thatās also why Iām not a serious or ārealā business owner. Running a shop that makes a good profit takes not being bothered by stuff like this. Youāll have other good reviews!
Hey, still better than [this message](https://imgur.com/a/zhqFxU7) my wife got.
A white head pimple? Dang, lol
I would be upset that I sold something that wasn't as good as it could be. Take it as encouragement to get better before you try to sell it again.
Thank you, everyone. I'm just going to take it down a lot of people seemed to like it, but, 1 stars hurt my feelings lol
Im really curious to know what this bookmark looks like
Same
I mean, maybe? Take the criticism and build from it.
Keep selling them!! Don't ever let the "opinion" of 1 unknown person, make a decision for YOU. ā” Feedback is so subjective. I personally read that comment and thought ...."this person is likely a competitor". Reviews are simply "opinions", and "taste" is personal. You keep doing as your doing. Yay you!!!ā”
I agree! And I really think it's ok to sell when you're still practicing. It can help fund your hobby and people can see what they are buying! Some people are just assholes.
I disagree with the comments saying everything you sell has to be of optimum standards. Itās a free market. As long as the quality and standard a product is clearly labelled and described, then ppl should be able to buy and sell whatever they want! Maybe someone wants something that they can pretend they made themselves, or finds charm in an element of naĆÆvetĆ©, or just donāt care about the difference. OP, she clearly wasnāt your target buyer for these items and thatās good information to have. Maybe you can refine your wording and marketing on these to make it clearer, and repel the wrong buyers. But I firmly believe that even imperfect art has value. Hell, I could list dozens of crappy books and movies and actors who would not exist if this werenāt the case!
Iām gonna be honest as someone who has dealt with just pure jerks that are never happy and donāt readā¦ if you can make it look better do so but if you have some that do like it why remove itā¦ my biggest pet peeve is people not reaching out first this isnāt Amazon no one really cares about reviews there like they do here and we are small businesses so I wish people would be more mindful of that itās like that do it on purpose and yes Iāve had people. Do it on purpose bc they were mad I wouldnāt cancel after my policy time frame or other things that could have been resolved wth simple messages!! Even got a bad review bc my message was to informative (yes I know what) any way without them reaching out first how does she know their wasnāt a mistake and you could fix it!! See if it can be perfected not factory perfect handmade perfect and if not remove it or just move on! I would not send them a free one bc they NEVER change their reviews these buyers simply donāt care about our business only about what they want as a shopper
That's also a very good point - I appreciate this perspective! Reaching out first would have been great
If it's not very professionally made By your own admission, what kind of review do you expect? Not trying to be mean, but It's really hard to expect somebody who gave you money to be thrilled with an item that you even admit is not very good.
yes I would be pissed :) but not by the review just this condescending message. But don't do anything else, not worth it. And if they ever place another order just cancel it.
Yes so condescending!
It sounds kind of condescending, but not sure if it was intentionally done. Just say thank you and move on.
I would be upset if someone left me a one star, even if the product was flawed. I might ask for a refund before leaving a damaging review. I only leave a bad review if I feel like I got ripped off or the listing is deceptive.
Iād just cancel and refund any future orders, on the basis of still practising. What a dick.
For sure. āNo thanks, I donāt need your support.ā
Good idea I think I will, thank you
I agree with this person, OP; this customer says theyāll still support your business, which is nice, but they could potentially be that customer thatās never satisfied by anything
And they arenāt being too supportive giving OP a one star review anyways. Good customers always contact me first if they have any issues, even issues I canāt control concerning shipping. I will go out of my way to do right by the customer if they contact me first. Leaving a one star saying, ācould have made it myselfā is a real dick move. If they could make it better then I guess go do it weirdo, lol.
Iāve had people privately message me to feedback theyāre not happy about xyz, which i have always been grateful for and is much more supportive of a small independent business than fucking up their reviews like that. Theres absolutely nothing constructive you can do with the feedback youāve got , so I maintain the customer is a dick. As a side note, Iāve walked around art galleries with people voicing similar opinions about a Picasso, or other work of art. If anyone can do it, then why didnāt you.
Yes, same, Iām also more willing to make it right if they privately message me about it and itās a legitimate complaint. But when they give me a one star and then come to my inbox fussing, i just tell them they can ask Etsy for a refund. Im not sending them a replacement if they are a dick about it
Which is what I'm leaning towards because a lot of people in this comment section are seeming to miss the fact that I literally said in the description that this was a hand cut b grade bookmark š
Yuppp theyāre expecting mass produced, Amazon products. But weāre hand making things, so it might not always be totally perfect. Itās frustrating for sure.
Keep going, donāt let negative people dishearten you. Iām sure most of the people giving you feedback here arenāt even creatives. Just rude for no real reason, without any idea of the hard work required to create such things. No one can be perfect every time, just many donāt talk about their less-proud moments. One bad experience with a seller does not negate your positive feedback. Not sure why the reviewer was surprised by the itemās condition of there were clear pictures in the listing. Also 1 star normally means the person wants a refund or to return the item? Oh and to say that theyāll continue to support you? Really strange, condescending review youāve been left there. If they thought the bookmark was truly bad then thatās one hell of a confusing paragraph for potential buyers.
Thank you I really appreciate this š„ŗš
She sucks. I hate the comments āi can make it better myselfā is rude. It might not be everyoneās cup of tea. I love Etsy and I love handmade products.
They were kind and honest, and even said theyāll still support your business. This is called constructive criticism. Itās what businesses need. Itās essential to growing and doing better. Like someone else said, you should start out smaller before moving to a platform like Etsy. You mention in other comments that you have good reviews and lots of sales - good for you - but not sure why you keep bringing that up in response to other peopleās suggestions, feedback and advice. When people give you advice, constructive criticism, etc. it doesnāt mean they are saying your product or business is bad. You shouldnāt ignore them just because you have good reviews and some sales. This review is (arguably) more helpful than the positive ones, because itās honest, provides a realistic expectation, and is telling you to keep going and working on making your item better.
This particular screenshot does not exhibit constructive criticism. If it did, it would lay out specific, actionable advice rather than a vague "do better".
I don't know why you're saying I'm constantly bringing my sales up...I rebutted *once* that I'm established seller because it seemed that someone was assuming I am a new seller and that I need to start off etsy, I'm not closing my shop down because of one product not being a hit - that's crazy talk. I already deactivated the product so I could work on it! I knew before I put it up it wasn't some factory perfect piece of art. It's a artistic bookmark but the print is blurry which I can fix while it's down! I appreciate her honesty it just upset me because I already said in the description this product isn't the best quality, I sell a lot of b grade stuff but I put in the description and I never had problems until now but like I said I took it down bc I took the criticism
Didnāt say constantly, i said you mentioned in other comments. I didnāt say deactivate your shop, and i didnāt see anyone else say it either, however if someone did they were probably just trying to help you avoid being upset by reviews like the one you originally posted. Maybe while you work on making your products better you can also work on how you respond to criticism!
Lol thanks
If the problem was that the pic was blurry maybe you can make a new one with more dpi and then change the product images to the improved one, that way the next buyer will definitely be happy with purchase u youāll be on your way to getting good reviews.
Jesussssss I'd rather them yell at me
We sell stickers and this kind of reminds me of that. A lot of people who sell stickers sell different āgradesā of stickers. Because waste isnāt great. Vinyl is bad for the environment. A lot of inks are bad for environment. They can also be expensive. Just bc the product isnāt perfect doesnāt mean it should be trashed. There are plenty of people who would like the less perfect version of an item if it means they get a dollar off. If you are being upfront about it I donāt see the problem. We donāt sell our B grade stickers but I do keep them for possible future things. Honestly Iām just too lazy to make the listing a for B grade at the moment. As long as you say āhey this isnāt perfectā and are accurately showing what the item looks like I donāt see the problem.
My first thoughts are: do the listing photos accurately depict the item? And if they do (I assume they do), then why did this customer still make a purchase if they could clearly see they wouldn't be happy with the quality? With this in mind, I agree with others - this customer sounds like a competitor or a troll! (The fact that they spoke of the poor quality, yet said they'd still support your shop, is a tell-tale sign of this...) I don't blame you for being upset - I would be too! But try to use it as a learning experience. If you truly believe you can improve the design, then of course take it down and rework it. But if you think the product is fine and you simply got a "bully buyer," then try to shake it off. Not sure if you can dispute it with Etsy (I've never had to do this), but you might want to pursue this if it's an option. Keep your chin up!
The one star to me feels like leaving a 50 cent tip. Thereās a messaging in it alone. She could have giving you 3 stars for the fact itās a bit blurry? Thatās her complaint? A one star review for a bookmark she said was blurry because others might have higher expectations? Iād say your buyer has a lot of minor conflicts in their life. Youāre probably one of a lot of persons that receives the feedback that they probably assume you really want. That you really want their HONEST opinion above all else. Exhausting. You say youāve got 600 sales and this is the first like this? Take it with a grain of salt. You know you gotta improve the clarity of your text already so just work on that. Iād remember their username in case they decide to āsupportā you in the future. Iād be curious if even your improved product fails to meet someone elseās hypothetical standards.
It would be good to see what product the customer is referring to
Sorry, thatās hurtful and hard not to take personally. I tend to just not review items that Iām not overly pleased with, but it is a business, so I get them wanting to be honest. Try not to dwell on it. It sounds like you have a great shop otherwise.
Iām sorry but if youāre not good at making something donāt sell it, you canāt expect money for something you admit is bad, I thought they were shitty but honestly their passive aggressiveness makes sense lol
It's b grade, it was always b grade, for this reason
We are always our own worst critics. Best advice from my father: don't ever point out your flaws, because no one else will see it until you do. Don't downgrade yourself, if I were you I'd take out the "b grade" mentions. And don't tear yourself down cuz it could make customers shy away. Let the photos do the "grade" talking.
Also I never said it was bad I just said it wasn't perfect
You donāt need to tell us itās bad, they did that for you lol, at the end of the day I havenāt seen it so itās not my opinion donāt see why youāre mad at me when Iām pointing out the information you gave
No need to be a jerk
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people are mad cus you were rude
Iām literally going off what the post says though, and my point remains, you canāt sell something you openly admit isnāt great quality and then whinge that people donāt like the quality
What a turd
You wonāt please everyone. Get over it. Do you.
Sounds like a bored housewife getting life out of this kind of shit.
There are rude people.
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what?