After my fiasco with Tophatter Auctions I started asking questions to other members of the site to see how they are getting their things scheduled and then eventually sold. One amazingly wonderful member told me about how she does more than just the Tophatter auctions she holds her own on her Facebook Fan page which are way more successful and you don't have to pay the fees that they REQUIRE with Tophatter. I have spent almost DOUBLE what I made off of the two items I sold on that site just trying to get my stuff into their stupid auctions and then all I got was 15 seconds of exposure before they closed the lot and it was over. I'm sorry but I'm BEYOND pissed off at that stupid site. If I had it my way I would put them out of business. You don't treat people the way they treated me and get away with it. I am however leaving this up to karma because it is not worth ANYMORE of my time or energy to even think about them. I'm DONE with Tophatter auctions, and if you are smart you would stay away from them all together.
Ok so enough about that. My auction is running right now thru the end of the month. Each item has a starting price listed in the description of the picture if you click on it. Bidding is done thru the comments on each picture and the highest bidder is the winner of each hat at midnight the 31st. There are two options of paying, one is if you are a personal friend you can pay cash and I don't charge the $4 shipping because I can hand deliver it or you can pay thru PayPal via Etsy.com and that will give me your mailing address. (I will still be paying the etsy fee's for that option but I'm totally okay with it because THEY ARE LEGITIMATE!!!) All the items will then be shipped via USPS with delivery confirmations on Monday morning the 2nd of April so you can have your item before Easter. I am hoping to be able to post about this being a super good way to drive business to your etsy site when it's all said and done because I know I am not the only one who is struggling to get views to my shop and anything that will help drive business there will in turn keep people coming back again and again.
Etsy has been such an amazing site when it comes to supporting us small business owners and artists. They also have an AMAZING network of people to work with who are amazing artists themselves. I have met more down to earth and just plain GREAT people working with them than I ever have working with other sites. That is one of the reason's why I am trying so hard to support more people going there and becoming part of the Etsy Community. Come check out the auction and if you get a moment, check out my Shop too.
Go to Auction!
Thanks for reading!
Cheers!
Mrz Jaques
High Quality Hand Crocheted
Pre-made designs AND Custom Orders!
Showing posts with label tophatter auctions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tophatter auctions. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
I'm gonna give them one more try but I swear if it doesn't sell I'm never going back to Tophatter again!!!
I don't even know where to begin. My frustrations with this site are thru the roof right now. As much as I love getting ANY type of exposure where my stuff gets to be seen and at least looked at is great but what happened this morning was ridiculous! So in my first post about this I mentioned that I was told that if you get to an auction on time you can list an item that day for that "fair" and sell it hopefully, which I did this morning at the 9am accessories auction. My daughter didn't have school so I was able to get there and log in at 8am which is when they opened the auction room and list this Zebra Print Cell phone Pouch with Red Satin Lining.
I have sold one of these from my Etsy shop and personally know the lady who bought it now, and she loves it. She uses it everyday and tells me about how much she loves it every time I see her. It is one of my pride and joys to be honest and I haven't really tried to make many more of them because of how unique they are, but I decided that since I already have another one just sitting around it might as well get sold.
Long story short, I get it listed and it goes into the auction but I get all of about 15 seconds of it up on the block before the item is closed and no one bought or even bid on it. They don't even tell you that there is a same day listing fee of $1 that you have to pay no matter if the item sells or not, that I am now responsible for. Not that bad but I can't keep paying $1 every auction and not have the item sell. I don't make enough money for that, and to me $1 for 15 seconds of exposure is FLAT OUT ROBBERY!
You aren't allowed to have a "shop" with their site, you can only showcase the items that they let you list and schedule. The items you have in your list are only for you to see until you can get it on a schedule. I've just about had it with Tophatter.
I was reading in one of the team discussion threads about this that it seems they are attracting more sellers than buyers, hoping to turn us sellers INTO buyers with their credits and what not, but as much as I want to be able to support my fellow artists, I don't have the money right now. Once I get more money being made from this little adventure I can put more out there but it's not in my budget right now and I saw that a lot of us who were at the auction today were saying the same thing. We were all sellers!!!
Out of the items that went up for sale, I think maybe half of them actually sold, and they sold for WAY cheaper than their retail prices from what I was seeing. It's a good deal for people who are looking for great deals on amazing handmade stuff, but as a sellers point of view it is really devastating.
I'm just going to focus on making a bunch new stuff for the Pic-a-dilly in April and try to keep my head up. This time of year I've been told is hard for everyone so it's just something I need to buck up and deal with. I love making my hats and other things, it's not like I'm going to stop just because they aren't selling off the shelves. This is my first attempt at selling anything so I knew in the first place it was going to take some time.
I'm off to make a new hat, not sure what, but I'm sure it will be spectacular!
Lots of Love and wishes of beautiful creations!
Mrz Jaques
P.S. Don't forget to check out my shop and like me on Facebook!
Cheers!
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Tophatter Update! They let me schedule my 2nd hat finally!!!
I don't know if it has anything to do with the fact that I posted the blog I did yesterday but when I logged on to Tophatter this morning, even though it was after 8am PST they had a slot open for me to list my hat on March 19th at 5pm. To me it is so silly when everything I have tried for the past 2 weeks didn't work but then I write a blog post that gets like 50 hits and the very next day I am able to schedule my item for an auction. Coincidence? Maybe. I just hope that it sells because I really need to make a sale or two this month to cover all the costs that I have been putting out.
People think that yarn isn't expensive but it really is. Good quality yarn can be extremely expensive but it is worth it when you can get your hands on it. Lately I have been relying on donations and whatnot to fund my yarn collection, and it is running scarce. I am so happy to see one of my favorite sites doing a yarn give away.
If you haven't heard of them before you should check them out, www.HookedonCrochet.com which is a free email newsletter sent out by www.AllFreeCrochet.com. I have found some amazing techniques and patterns that I would have never thought of before. I am not one to TAKE someones design that they have posted for free and use the whole pattern. I am weird I guess because I am really REALLY BIG on not wanting to COPY anyone's work unless I paid for the pattern and they get the credit for designing it, so I will always change things, and make it my own. I find that a lot of the patterns need a little help anyway in getting them to make sense and work correctly so my years of experience come in handy in those cases.
I mostly signed up for the site's emails because they run contests for yarn give aways, and this month they are giving away Bernat Mosaic's and I WANT IT really bad! I don't know how many times I have been at Michael's and just sat and felt how amazingly soft and luxurious this yarn is but couldn't bring myself to pay the $7/skein it costs when it's only about 100 yards in each skein. WAY out of my budget if you ask me. I couldn't sell anything I made out of it because I'd have to charge like $40 for a hat which is too much in my opinion. I know that there are people out there selling them for that, but I can't justify it to myself. I want my hats to be affordable as well as fashionable. So I always look for good sales, or promotions where they are giving it away.
I won't use poor quality materials. Some people would argue with me and say that Red Heart Supersaver Yarn isn't of good quality but I will tell you that I have always used Red Heart Supersaver and ALWAYS will because it is durable, washable, and you can find it in almost any color you want. It may NOT be the softest yarn, but if you want something that you can SEE the details of your work in, this is the perfect yarn. Yes it is acrylic but it's not itchy unless you don't keep up on the maintenance and shave it periodically. (Shaving a sweater or hat made out of ANY yarn is necessary after a period of time if you want it to remain looking nice and not like a fuzzy, frizzy mess.)
I feel really scatter brained today for some reason. I had started this as a post to update you all on my tophatter situation, which is hopefully going to get better soon, and it has progressed into talking about the quality of yarn I use. It always amazes me how a tangent can take me on a path that I never would have even thought of in the beginning of when I started typing. Anyway, if you get a chance to check out the Auction on the 19th at 5pm check out my hat. Or if you just can't wait, you can always come and check out my stuff on my Etsy page.
www.etsy.com/shop/mrzjaquescrochetedit
And don't forget to "like" me on Facebook
www.facebook.com/mrzjaquescrochetedit
Wishing you all the best and happy hooking!
Mrz Jaques
People think that yarn isn't expensive but it really is. Good quality yarn can be extremely expensive but it is worth it when you can get your hands on it. Lately I have been relying on donations and whatnot to fund my yarn collection, and it is running scarce. I am so happy to see one of my favorite sites doing a yarn give away.
If you haven't heard of them before you should check them out, www.HookedonCrochet.com which is a free email newsletter sent out by www.AllFreeCrochet.com. I have found some amazing techniques and patterns that I would have never thought of before. I am not one to TAKE someones design that they have posted for free and use the whole pattern. I am weird I guess because I am really REALLY BIG on not wanting to COPY anyone's work unless I paid for the pattern and they get the credit for designing it, so I will always change things, and make it my own. I find that a lot of the patterns need a little help anyway in getting them to make sense and work correctly so my years of experience come in handy in those cases.
I mostly signed up for the site's emails because they run contests for yarn give aways, and this month they are giving away Bernat Mosaic's and I WANT IT really bad! I don't know how many times I have been at Michael's and just sat and felt how amazingly soft and luxurious this yarn is but couldn't bring myself to pay the $7/skein it costs when it's only about 100 yards in each skein. WAY out of my budget if you ask me. I couldn't sell anything I made out of it because I'd have to charge like $40 for a hat which is too much in my opinion. I know that there are people out there selling them for that, but I can't justify it to myself. I want my hats to be affordable as well as fashionable. So I always look for good sales, or promotions where they are giving it away.
I won't use poor quality materials. Some people would argue with me and say that Red Heart Supersaver Yarn isn't of good quality but I will tell you that I have always used Red Heart Supersaver and ALWAYS will because it is durable, washable, and you can find it in almost any color you want. It may NOT be the softest yarn, but if you want something that you can SEE the details of your work in, this is the perfect yarn. Yes it is acrylic but it's not itchy unless you don't keep up on the maintenance and shave it periodically. (Shaving a sweater or hat made out of ANY yarn is necessary after a period of time if you want it to remain looking nice and not like a fuzzy, frizzy mess.)
I feel really scatter brained today for some reason. I had started this as a post to update you all on my tophatter situation, which is hopefully going to get better soon, and it has progressed into talking about the quality of yarn I use. It always amazes me how a tangent can take me on a path that I never would have even thought of in the beginning of when I started typing. Anyway, if you get a chance to check out the Auction on the 19th at 5pm check out my hat. Or if you just can't wait, you can always come and check out my stuff on my Etsy page.
www.etsy.com/shop/mrzjaquescrochetedit
And don't forget to "like" me on Facebook
www.facebook.com/mrzjaquescrochetedit
Wishing you all the best and happy hooking!
Mrz Jaques
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Tophatter Frustrations!!!! Am I the only one???
Many of you know that I recently joined and started selling my stuff on a site called Tophatter.
TopHatter Auctions
They are a live auction site where you can list your goods and then schedule and attend their daily auctions to sell your stuff. Or so they say when you sign up. What they didn't tell me at first was that I would only be able to schedule one item at a time for sale. That part is not that big of a deal, it's not like I have a TON of stuff to list. Plus if it all sold, I would have to completely re-do my Etsy site, (not that it would be a bad thing to have to do that) but they also don't tell you that they don't have a lot of "open" slots for their auctions, so it is really hard to even get a chance to schedule something.
Of course, they will immediately let you schedule your first item, I'm sure they have PLENTY of slots open for "new" members, but once you sell something, good luck trying to get another item scheduled. I sold my Light Purple Open Weave Slouchy Beanie with Sparkly Bow on Feb 29th, 2012 and haven't been able to schedule anything since. I have been trying to schedule my Light Blue Homespun Open Weave Slouchy pictured below with absolutely no luck.
I have been trying for 2 weeks now. I finally tried "chatting" with the auction staff today and a very UNHELPFUL lady named Aimee just told me that they have limited slots and if you want to check on a new slot you MUST be signed into your lot at 8am PST everyday morning to even get a chance, and even then the slots are first come first serve and very limited.
The totally awful part about that is I have to get my daughter on the bus for school at 8am PST everyday. I'm never gonna get a chance to list another item. The only good piece of advice she gave me was that some auctions go "outdoors" after and then you can schedule an item that day for that auction if you are currently attending it and catch one of the slots.
So I'm gonna try that today because I have to wait for Comcast to come and check out my whole internet connection again. Something happened with the wind and snow from Monday and Tuesday and it is making me have to blog from my phone. This sucks! Believe me, for a post that would usually take me less than 5 minutes to compose it has now taken me the better part of an hour. The joys of technology!
I just don't know what to do, I haven't sold a single hat this month, and I'm starting to get really sad. I have had a lot of compliments about how nice my work is, but no one wants to buy my stuff. I don't get it. I can't let myself get down in the dumps about it because then my creativity gets put on hold and it turns into a vicious circle that I can't break free of. I have to keep myself busy and trying new things. I bought a pattern from the Tophatter site, it's an Ammigamuri Turtle that is so cute. I've never tried to make animals before but this pattern seemed really fun and my sister is OBSESSED with them and her birthday is on the 10th of April which is coming up. I know she would love it if I surprised her with a cute stuffed turtle in her favorite colors. She has two kids who would go nuts over it. I might have to make two come to think of it. :)
Plus I found my HUGE bag of yarn that I bought at Michael's when they were having their yarn sale and found some really pretty colors that I could make things out of. Not sure what yet, but I'll just have to see where my hook takes me. You see that is why I love this art form so much. I have no idea what I'm going to make half the time, I just grab my hook and start going, but by the time it's finished I am always happy with what it turns out to be, and in the off chance I'm not happy with it, I can always take it out and start over with something different. That's the beauty of it. It always turns out to be what YOU wanted it to be, nothing more, nothing less, as long as you put in the work.
That's all for me this morning, I have a ton of things to do around the house before the Comcast guy gets to come and track dirt all through it. FUN!
Wishes of Love and Crafty Creations Always,
Mrz Jaques
www.etsy.com/mrzjaquescrochetedit
www.facebook.com/mrzjaquescrochetedit
TopHatter Auctions
They are a live auction site where you can list your goods and then schedule and attend their daily auctions to sell your stuff. Or so they say when you sign up. What they didn't tell me at first was that I would only be able to schedule one item at a time for sale. That part is not that big of a deal, it's not like I have a TON of stuff to list. Plus if it all sold, I would have to completely re-do my Etsy site, (not that it would be a bad thing to have to do that) but they also don't tell you that they don't have a lot of "open" slots for their auctions, so it is really hard to even get a chance to schedule something.
Of course, they will immediately let you schedule your first item, I'm sure they have PLENTY of slots open for "new" members, but once you sell something, good luck trying to get another item scheduled. I sold my Light Purple Open Weave Slouchy Beanie with Sparkly Bow on Feb 29th, 2012 and haven't been able to schedule anything since. I have been trying to schedule my Light Blue Homespun Open Weave Slouchy pictured below with absolutely no luck.
I have been trying for 2 weeks now. I finally tried "chatting" with the auction staff today and a very UNHELPFUL lady named Aimee just told me that they have limited slots and if you want to check on a new slot you MUST be signed into your lot at 8am PST everyday morning to even get a chance, and even then the slots are first come first serve and very limited.
The totally awful part about that is I have to get my daughter on the bus for school at 8am PST everyday. I'm never gonna get a chance to list another item. The only good piece of advice she gave me was that some auctions go "outdoors" after and then you can schedule an item that day for that auction if you are currently attending it and catch one of the slots.
So I'm gonna try that today because I have to wait for Comcast to come and check out my whole internet connection again. Something happened with the wind and snow from Monday and Tuesday and it is making me have to blog from my phone. This sucks! Believe me, for a post that would usually take me less than 5 minutes to compose it has now taken me the better part of an hour. The joys of technology!
I just don't know what to do, I haven't sold a single hat this month, and I'm starting to get really sad. I have had a lot of compliments about how nice my work is, but no one wants to buy my stuff. I don't get it. I can't let myself get down in the dumps about it because then my creativity gets put on hold and it turns into a vicious circle that I can't break free of. I have to keep myself busy and trying new things. I bought a pattern from the Tophatter site, it's an Ammigamuri Turtle that is so cute. I've never tried to make animals before but this pattern seemed really fun and my sister is OBSESSED with them and her birthday is on the 10th of April which is coming up. I know she would love it if I surprised her with a cute stuffed turtle in her favorite colors. She has two kids who would go nuts over it. I might have to make two come to think of it. :)
Plus I found my HUGE bag of yarn that I bought at Michael's when they were having their yarn sale and found some really pretty colors that I could make things out of. Not sure what yet, but I'll just have to see where my hook takes me. You see that is why I love this art form so much. I have no idea what I'm going to make half the time, I just grab my hook and start going, but by the time it's finished I am always happy with what it turns out to be, and in the off chance I'm not happy with it, I can always take it out and start over with something different. That's the beauty of it. It always turns out to be what YOU wanted it to be, nothing more, nothing less, as long as you put in the work.
That's all for me this morning, I have a ton of things to do around the house before the Comcast guy gets to come and track dirt all through it. FUN!
Wishes of Love and Crafty Creations Always,
Mrz Jaques
www.etsy.com/mrzjaquescrochetedit
www.facebook.com/mrzjaquescrochetedit
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