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The AuctionBytes Blog has been giving a voice to online merchants since its launch in 2005. Named one of the world's top 30 blogs in 2008 by "Blogging Heroes." Weigh in with your thoughts on the joys and pitfalls of selling online.

Tue May 23 2017 10:45:40

Amazon Goes After Etsy Sweet Spot: Brides and Grooms

By: Ina Steiner

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In 2015, Amazon launched a marketplace for handmade goods, and today, Amazon Handmade announced the launch of a special shop called the Handmade Wedding Shop, which "offers thousands of handcrafted items including wedding decor, invitations, gifts and jewelry."

The move comes as Etsy is facing some major challenges (including a management shakeup) and as it tests the loyalty of its shop owners by giving them an ultimatum: sign up for Etsy Payments, formerly called Direct Checkout, or take a hike.

Etsy gave sellers until May 17th to sign up or else it would suspend their selling privileges:

"Because we want buyers to have a consistent experience when they check out on Etsy, we're requiring that all sellers in eligible countries set up Etsy Payments by May 17, 2017. If you don't set up Etsy Payments, your selling privileges will be suspended on May 18."

Etsy later extended the deadline to May 31st.

Meanwhile, artisan sellers who try eBay are encountering a new roadblock: eBay's Summer Seller Update, announced on May 9th, included policy changes that make it difficult for buyers and sellers to communicate. Since many crafters and artisans offer personalization and customization, that presents a big problem.

A frequent complaint from sellers is that their carefully crafted goods must compete with mass-produced commodity imports made to look like handmade goods. But buyers may not make the distinction when shopping, especially cash-strapped brides and grooms.

Is Amazon doing any better or any worse than Etsy at keeping out imitation handmade goods? We'd love to hear what artisans and crafters think of the listings on Amazon Handmade versus Etsy, as well as the buying and selling experience on each marketplace - especially when it comes to buying wedding necessities.

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Readers Comments

Amazon Goes After Etsy Sweet Spot: Brides and Grooms

by: Ming the Merciless

Tue May 23 16:52:25 2017

None of these so called "handmade" venues gives a rat's tail whether their sites are overrun with Chinese fakes or not.

The ONLY thing any of them care about is revenue. They don't care about honesty, they don't care about ethics, and most of all, they don't care about their sellers.

"Consistent check out experience" translates into "we want the money."

With these snake oil salespeople, it's ALWAYS ABOUT THE MONEY. ALWAYS.

Legitimate sellers of authentic handmade items need to find an entirely new venue because the above three sites are inherently dishonest and greedy beyond belief.

Amazon Goes After Etsy Sweet Spot: Brides and Grooms

by: mcposty

Wed May 24 00:29:17 2017

Social media is the best way for handmade now. Use the money that amazon and etsy over charges you for to do some basic advertising.

You can't compete with Chinese who can live off of 10 cents a day and get special treatment from the traitors United States.

A benefit is you get to run your own business and not have amazon ebay and etsy steal your money and give it to a criminal buyer..because that's all these venues attract anymore are unethical or outright criminal buyers.

It amazes me that a company would pay amazon 200k a month in fees instead of use 100k a month in advertising for their own sites. They pay these venues all this money just to have them spit in your face when a buyer complains or tries to rob you.

Screw amazon houzz ebay etsy and whatever middle man piece of garbage site thinks it can sustain themselves for so long serving criminals and the Chinese who at any chance will put them out of business.

Amazon CAN fail..they haven't even been in the profit that long..any of these venues can and will fail eventually keeping this up.

Amazon Goes After Etsy Sweet Spot: Brides and Grooms

by: Trying-My-Best

Wed May 24 00:55:05 2017

Just checked out Amazon's Bridal Shop. Yup, Etsy ''crafter'' sellers have a lot to worry about ... forget about calling it ''imitation handmade'' - it looks exactly like Etsy's ''crafters'' stuff.

To be honest and with respect. most Etsy crafters are hawking products as ''handmade'' that they are buying from Alibaba or buying from wholesale supply companies. I saw this when Etsy opened their platform to suppliers and to the Chinese a few years ago. And now, we are seeing the same stuff on Amazon.

Suppliers and vendors will soon dominate the eBay and Amazon marketplaces The small seller game is over.

Amazon Goes After Etsy Sweet Spot: Brides and Grooms

by: iheartjacksparrow

Wed May 24 12:46:25 2017

Amazon will probably win the "war" only because they are a well know site, and have the bucks to advertise. I'm guessing the vast majority of online buyers don't have a clue what Etsy is. Whenever I mention Etsy to someone, they look at me like I'm speaking in Na'vi.

Amazon Goes After Etsy Sweet Spot: Brides and Grooms

by: pfft!!

Thu May 25 04:38:36 2017

If Amazon handles this new "wedding" venture the same way they handled Amazon "handmade' I'd say Etsy doesn't have anything to worry about. I'm on SEVERAL online sellers community group and I can tell you that NOONE talks about Amazon handmade. No good/No bad/ NO NOTHING. And if you don't hear any SELLERS ever mentioning it, it's DOUBTFUL that many buyers do either.

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