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Wed Jan 20 2016 14:34:51

Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

By: Ina Steiner

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Etsy created a 15-member Seller Advisory Board to provide feedback about the challenges sellers face and, in its words, "to play a key role in shaping the way future decisions are made." We spoke to Robert Brunson, Etsy's Community Outreach Program Manager about how the program will work - you can read more in Wednesday's Newsflash article. 

The program reminds me of eBay's Voices program, but with many differences. Voices was a secretive program - participants felt they were unable to even disclose they were members due to non-disclosure agreements they signed, even when talking to journalists. 

eBay Voices participants, who were able to remain members for many, many years, benefited tremendously from the program: 

- They received advance warning of what changes were coming down the pike. 

- They could also reach out to people at eBay to get any problems with their accounts fixed (and frequently did so, from what we could see).

Ultimately the eBay Voices program appeared to become more of a sounding board for eBay to help it package unpopular changes by knowing in advance what objections sellers would have.

Etsy's program is different in several key ways. The company is encouraging all sellers to reach out to advisory board members - it can be as simple as using the company's Convo messaging system to provide their feedback, which they will pass along to the company. 

While members of the board will have to sign non-disclosure agreements, Brunson said Etsy wants participants to discuss their experiences, while keeping quiet only about such things as products Etsy may be working on. Etsy will also share videos and be open about the board meetings.

Each SAB member will oversee one of 15 subcommittees, each made up of about 15 members, drawing more voices into the program.

And the term for Etsy Seller Advisory Board members is 10 months (through the end of 2016).

What do you think of the program? Will the transparency that Etsy is trying to bring to the board help it avoid some of the problems other such programs have encountered? Will you feel comfortable providing Etsy with your feedback through the program?

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Readers Comments

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

This user has validated their user name. by: White Rabbit

Mon Feb 1 16:31:02 2016

''by: Robin  This user has validated their user name.
      Web Site
Mon Feb 1 14:58:37 2016
The FIRST thing Etsy needs to do if it wants any credibility about improving seller/Etsy relations is to reinstate the permamuted.  While there were folks who deserved it (signed up to troll, were cruel, threatening), as mentioned above, some of very best and brightest were permamuted unfairly.''


I will take this one step further in the realm of insane ?  I strongly suggest that Etsy PAY $10,000 to each of the unfairly permamuted sellers. and $1,000 to each that were warned unfairly for saying things like ''China'' in their post with association words that Etsy did not like.. example Chinese slop garbage crap

the reason for this mandate and Nazi rule is because China investors are why there is so much cjhinese manufacturer garbage on the site and the reason the stock price is under $8 and headed for a freefall.

Why would Etsy pay this reparations to the abused members that created Etsy? Because the abused members are the ones that are destroying Etsy.. one chip at a time. Make it right Etsy or close the doors.

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

This user has validated their user name. by: White Rabbit

Mon Feb 1 16:38:09 2016

I figure they abused at least 10,000 sellers on Etsy extremely and totally - unfairly. That is a lot of negative power when you consider the damage that 10,000 can and will do and sellers never forget an AH venue. Look at Zibbet for an example of this. Etsy needs to fix things.. Will they? no way. They will eventually be a penny(s) stock in my opinion

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

by: just passign through This user has validated their user name.

Mon Feb 1 16:46:48 2016

"mansplaining" is very accurate metalman. If only people could see things from his manly perspective! Hilarious!

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

by: just passign through This user has validated their user name.

Mon Feb 1 16:47:28 2016

any reference to ''nazis'' is really inappropriate.

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

This user has validated their user name. by: White Rabbit

Mon Feb 1 17:11:09 2016

I think it is very appropriate Etsy Forum Moderators and CEO and Marc Hedlund acted exactly the same as Nazi Soldiers in WWII but don't try to change the subject here ad most of the posters here are well aware of that cheap trick.

Maybe try that on the Etsy forums?  I bet you would get lots of traction there changing the subject?

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

by: Robin This user has validated their user name.

Mon Feb 1 17:24:38 2016

Jerry if you think that, truly, you need to do a lot of reading about WWII.

This is not Nazism.

It's something, it may have deeply wounded you, but it's not Nazism.

And it's an insult to every victim OF the Nazis and their families to so describe a selling site's actions.  

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

This user has validated their user name. by: White Rabbit

Mon Feb 1 17:27:01 2016

not going to play your games.. go ruin an Etsy thread.

Nazi Germany is history and belongs to no race so dot try to pull the Jewish card on a Jewish rabbit. My Last word on this.

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

This user has validated their user name. by: White Rabbit

Mon Feb 1 17:32:59 2016

isn't it great you have the right to express your opinions here? :-)

don't confuse your opinions as facts.

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

by: just passign through This user has validated their user name.

Mon Feb 1 17:37:30 2016

Etsy hasn't killed anyone to my knowledge.

I'm not changing the subject you nutjob. Just saying comparing the holocaust to a ecommerce venue is not appropriate.

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by: Robin This user has validated their user name.

Mon Feb 1 17:38:22 2016

It's history you either can't grasp or haven't read about.

If you COULD, or did, you would not compare those atrocities to a online selling forum, Jerry.

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

This user has validated their user name. by: White Rabbit

Mon Feb 1 17:46:39 2016

what is the sound of one hand clapping?

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

by: StayClassy This user has validated their user name.

Mon Feb 1 20:27:18 2016

OOOOO, MY GOD. NOW I get it !! Color me gobsmacked-gate.

No wonder RJ feels like he birthed this thing , like his very own Christ child.

https://www.etsy.com/teams/7716/announcements/discuss/16
865397/

Just another Etsy created MONSTER...from now on RJ in my mind will be followed by -GATE.
( Reference Bali-Gate, Coral-Gate..now RJ-Gate)

Etsy does not draw back on ''bad eggs'' , even when everyone tells them it smells and looks green.
.. means nothing to them.

This is more of the same, ''All in'' Etsy bad judgement. ( FYI Chad Grown Up Biz vets out the cray cray before going in there )

I am backing out. It stinks in here any way.

RJ you GO !! Cradle that baby and maybe everyone will believe your a virgin.

Just got the gross out Etsy shivers.

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

by: just passign through This user has validated their user name.

Mon Feb 1 22:22:50 2016

RJ-gate!

So now we know! He must be playing a long con!

I was wondering why he was getting away with so much on the forums and not getting muted. Admin ass kissing = teflon!

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

This user has validated their user name. by: White Rabbit

Tue Feb 2 01:12:27 2016

Well i just watched 3 hours of Hogan's Heroes :-) Anyone remember that program? I guess the youngsters here forget 1/2 the actors were portraying $#%^. (sorry i do not want to type the word. oh and don't use the search here using that word.) :-)

Oh Hollywood and Tom Hanks made a fortune off of over 500+ Germany war Movies LOL. The Nszi were not generally portayed as far  kind gentle people but more like Etsy Management types.. you know the moderators and Chad. LOL ok sorry i was laughing at the complaints of using the term #$%$ here as i guess no one told Hollywood, Tom Hanks or Hogan's Heroes it was off limits and taboo.

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

This user has validated their user name. by: White Rabbit

Tue Feb 2 01:26:11 2016

next thing you know they will be asking me to burn my confederate flags!

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

by: Robin This user has validated their user name.

Tue Feb 2 09:25:05 2016

Jerry, the best way to dig out of a hole is to stop digging.

Citing t.v. shows and movies as your source for history proves your ignorance.

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

This user has validated their user name. by: White Rabbit

Tue Feb 2 09:42:10 2016

how are you doing with that one hand clapping advise?

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

This user has validated their user name. by: White Rabbit

Tue Feb 2 09:53:19 2016

And actally I love history and Science. WWII is one of my favorites Including Nazi Germany, France Vichy and Italy but especially Japan. Being a US Combat Marine soldier a 2x war vet myself I think this comes Natural. I guess we can re purpose this thread if you want to give me lessons in WWII history :-) I am always willing to learn from those more intelligent than my "ignorant" and "nutjob" self. You appear to really feel you are qualified on this subject so please enlighten me?

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

by: NoSpin This user has validated their user name.

Tue Feb 2 11:00:37 2016

It's foolish to think the guy (Chad) who ''Re-imaged'' handmade and ruined a nice site should be the one in charge of getting seller feedback.  Chad is more interested in his social agenda than running a successful business.  Etsy can't start the healing process until he's gone.

Perminate Link for Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?   Will Seller Advisory Board Help Etsy Hear Sellers Voices?

This user has validated their user name. by: IDKwhoIare

Tue Feb 2 13:06:06 2016

Ina, I don't see this SAB being anything other than a means to prove to Investors that management 'really does listen' to it's Seller Community (CYA).  Until I see any results that fix BIG holes at Etsy and make my selling life better, I will believe this Board is a sop to CYA with Investors and/or Sellers.

It has been said in these comments and many, many times in various eBay topics here that if these corporate/management types really wanted input, they need go only as far as their own forums or community boards.  Any one with half a brain can sift through those and come up with many, many truths, gems and positive ideas.

If 30, or even 1000s, of peeps on a Community Board are concerned about something and no one at Etsy cares or reacts proactively, why would we think that they would care about what 15 peeps on a SAB say?  Provided the 15 can even come to a consensus when needed. Consensus/decisions by committee are notoriously hard to come by.  I hope they realize that to have the slimmest chance to be listened to, they will have to be united.

I have far less complaints about Etsy than I did with eBay, but that is a credit to the Buyers and no credit to the people who run the place.  They all seem to fit a mold that tends to do more harm than good for the site. They may not be as brash as John D. of eBay, but they are still as egocentric and certainly becoming as toxic to sales for small-med Sellers since going puplic.

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