ArtFire – Handmade Sellers Review the Website
ArtFire – Handmade Sellers Review the Website
When HandmadeMarketing.org decided to review ArtFire.com, we put out feelers to current ArtFire sellers. We had heard buzz around this selling platform and wanted to review the site to help handmade sellers make the pick between ArtFire and other sites like Etsy, 1000 Markets, etc. Sites like Etsy exist, but are they right for your handmade items?
To look for more feedback from sellers regarding using Artfire as a selling platform, our team visited the Etsy.com forums and contacted ArtFire sellers directly.
On the ArtFire website, the company says, “It is always free for buyers of handmade products to search through our listed artisans, buy, or request for items to be specially made.” What about seller fees on ArtFire?
“To be quite honest, I jumped on Artfire because of the flat monthly fee,” the shop owner of ArtFire’s (and Etsy’s) SalvageNation. “I even paid the $7.00 per month for several months with nothing in the shop. I wanted to have that fee for lifetime. I’m in the original group of Ebay sellers and I know how fast it grew and how glad I was to be there from the beginning. The impact isn’t so much for me but for my customers. I can charge less per item on Artfire knowing the fees or less, it might be a few cents or a few dollars but its something I can do when its possible.”
Interestingly, we came across a post by an Etsy and ArtFire seller regarding a change of fees once ArtFire launches officially, “ArtFire is $7.00 a month if you join now. That is permanent for the 1st 5000 sellers. After the 5000 spots are gone, it goes to $20.00 per month.”
When we asked sellers what they liked most about Artfire, the answers varied. The shop owner of SalvageNation pointed to shop promotion as ArtFire’s strength – and the Etsy search as a weakness.
“As a vintage shop, how I am promoted on a site is very important,” said the shop owner of SalvageNation. “Artfire is about the handmade community but from their very first day they opened their pages to the public the vintage category was there,” she said. “I found them very, very early in the beta stage and they couldn’t have been more accommodating about the vintage shop. Their search engine is easy and people find me quite easily. Etsy in comparison had vintage from the first also, but over the past two years has made it incredibly hard for anyone to find vintage items in the Etsy search engine. In the first few months I was on etsy, my sales were amazing, then when the big change to search happened, I have had to work and work on promos, google searches, etc.”
The shop owner of BeansThings (on both Etsy and ArtFire) said help with photos and site design were strengths of ArtFire.
“I love that ArtFire allows more than 5 pictures of our items. I also love that the site will upload your item onto Google base for you. I find ArtFire’s website very cluttered and difficult to navigate around.” As for the site’s weaknesses, “I have yet to sell anything on ArtFire,” said the owner of BeansThings.
“I do not have much of a presence on ArtFire as far as the forums go,” the seller continued. “I cannot figure out the forums actually!” This seems to be a common compaint among ArtFire sellers. Our team saw time and time again on the Etsy.com foums that sellers found the ArtFire forums “complicated” or never even visited the forums like they do on Etsy.com.
SalvageNation thinks selling on Artfire and Etsy is the best bet. “I like Artfire for its one page listing process and I like Etsy for the amount of traffic it brings. I am quite pleased to be on both sites.”
Another benefit to ArtFire is the freedom to link to other sites, “On ArtFire you can put in your links to Twitter, a blog, Facebook, etc. for people to click on,” a seller said in the Etsy.com forums. “I have my blog listed on my shop profile, but people have to cut and paste to get there which of course means they are far less likely to stop by than they would if it were a mere click away.”
Here are additional thoughts from sellers what we came across:
- Time to Promote. Some sellers think that promoting on Artfire as well as other handmade sales sites takes too much time. However, some think ArtFire is a great place to promote because competition is less of an obstacle on a newer site.
Interestingly, promotion doesn’t seem to get a seller on ArtFire too far based on one seller’s experience, “I haven’t closed my shop but pulled my inventory for now, I may give it another go around the Holidays. I had an item “featured” on the front page of artfire, which got me all of 10 views. Compare that to 300 plus for an item landing on etsy’s front page for 5 minutes. I just don’t think it has the traffic,” the seller said at Etsy.com forums. - ArtFire is Too Competitive. As far as Etsy vs. Artfire, the seller of SalvageNation thinks the online handmade market shouldn’t be limited and each site should welcome competition. “I don’t like people who bash one site or the other and I don’t think it is good for any business to do that type of work. As a matter of fact, I actually suspended my account at Artfire for a while because of all the “we’re better than etsy” type ads they were running,” the shop owner of SalvageNation said.
“It is my opinion that there is plenty of market space for many, many web sites,” the seller continued. “The web isn’t called the world wide web out of folly, we are literally in touch with everyone, everywhere. As a person in business, you have to put your best face out there and you can’t belittle one place or another,” said the shop owner of SalvageNation.
Others on the forum seemed to agree with the comments made by the seller. “I understand “competivive” but lets be adult about it,” said one Etsy seller in the Etsy.com forums. “I went into the forums there once and it was a total Etsy bash, and even the sellers were getting bashed,” another seller added. - Stock. “I am on ArtFire and have had no sales I believe for the same reason I haven’t bought anything there,” said one Etsy.com seller in the Etsy forums. “All my favorite Etsy sellers have most of there stock on etsy. I don’t like shopping in a poorly stocked shop and at the same time I say this my artfire shop is very poorly stocked.”
- Give ArtFire Time. What do sellers think of the growth potential for ArtFire? As one seller put it on the Etsy.com forums, “For a year for $84, or 2 years at $168, its definitely worth it to see how it goes. You’ve got to give a new site like that at least one year. I’ve been there since just before Christmas and just got my first 2 sales. I get a good amount of hits over there, too.”
SalvageNation agrees. “In the beginning, I had very few listings and of course, I wasn’t noticed at all,” the shop owner of SalvageNation told us. “In the past two weeks, I’ve tried to put in something new every few days and devote more time to Artfire. I had three sales in the first week of listing five or more items. I think the community is growing daily.”
Another seller at Etsy’s forums also thinks ArtFire needs time, “The thing is, ArtFire is in Beta right now. It’s growing very fast, though. I have a good feeling about the site, honestly.” - Competition Helps Everyone. When we see many websites in competition with one another, the results are an increase in the overall industry. “If nothing else, Artfire sure keeps Etsy on their toes! We’ve gotten GA and a new search since Artfire has started,” said one seller at the Etsy.com forums. In a different thread, another seller added, “I believe artfire will end up being the best thing that ever happened to etsy. They do so many things right and competition is such a good thing. If it weren’t for artfire, we’d probably still be begging for Google analytics. I’d love to be able to put an active link to my blog in my etsy shop announcement.”
- RapidCart. Some Etsy sellers thought ArtFire’s use of RapidCart was a huge benefit. “The Rapid Cart feature is AWESOME on ArtFire. My items come up automatically on Google searches and I have more views there than I did here. I like it much better,” the seller said on the Etsy forums. For sellers, it seems the best part about RapidCart is that the checkout doesn’t require ArtFire sign up in order to buy. Plus, the checkout can be added to a seller’s blog!
In the end, the shop owner of SalvageNation put it best. “Each site has its pros and cons and just because one site does something one way doesn’t make it “the place to run to” and try to bandwagon others to do it. I can’t be a chain store if I don’t have many locations. I don’t one to sell just one widget, I want to sell many widgets. Basic marketing shows when you limit your selling audience, you limit your product.”
“Selling, actively selling, on any site is advantageous,” the seller continued. “It only takes one customer looking for you item to make a purchase. I don’t think I’ll ever limit myself simply because of the traffic on a site.”
What do you think of selling on ArtFire? How does it compare with Etsy or other online handmade markets? What are the site’s strengths and weaknesses? What advice would you give to an online seller considering selling on ArtFire?
Tell us about your favorite selling platform! Share your thoughts with HandmadeMarketing.org about how to sell handmade online. If our editors include your thoughts in an article, we’ll link to your shop as the source!
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18 Responses to “ArtFire – Handmade Sellers Review the Website”
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I would actually like to correct the first quoted paragraph of your article. As an Artfire seller ( I have been on there for approximately 3 months now). There payment plan was $7.00 for first 5000, then $12.00 (not auto $20.00 like stated), THEN after another certain time frame/new sellers it looks like they will go up to $20.00 at that point.
I am paying the $12.00 per month on artfire. I am also on etsy. They are both new to me so I can’t compare sales yet. The one thing that etsy has set up better is the forums and chat rooms. They are a bit more complicated on artfire. I do like listing on artfire and the way it is set up.
I have have both accounts. I had my Etsy account first since June 2008 and I have just recently openned my Artfire account. I have made 5 sales in the last six moths on Etsy which I think has been mainly because I have finally sat down and started to really promote and network. I opened my Artfire account not even a whole month and have had 2 sales. My only complaints with Etsy is how we can’t promote in our profile our other locations unless its on Etsy. Second would be the listing process is a bit tedious. Artfire I’m still learning but I like that I have sold items so quickly after opening my shop. However I don’t care for their forum set up either.
I also like that Artfire allows instant links to your blog, facebook, twitter etc etc. And allows multiple options for forms of payment outside of PayPal. I would never do check or money order for online services.
So I like them both and will continue to work them both through social media networking. Hope this helps.
Had the WORST experience with this company, they do NOT look out for their customers. First of all it takes at least 5 days to get a response from them. Secondly, I upgraded to the $12 account in order to import my etsy transactions. It didn’t work, they got all jumbled, the titles went with the wrong descriptions & pics. I emailed asking for help. Response was they were workingon the problem. This was the whole reason I upgraded it. I then asked for a refund since it was useless to have the upgraded account. DENIED, said since it was just a problem with ME and not with everyone they wouldn’t even consider refunding. This is terrible customer service, AVOID this site at all costs.
I have to strongly disagree with you Meredith. Im sorry you had a bad experience but I’ve been with them since the beginning and they’ve always answered back within a 1-2days which I dont think is too unreasonable. Firstly you say “to import your etsy transactions”? We’ll that’s not was the tool is for so maybe that’s why it didnt work. lol. The tool is to import items that are CURRENTLY for sale in your etsy shop… not things that have sold “transactions”…… I personally believe they made the right thing in not refunding you the money because at the end of the day YOU might have upgraded solely because you wanted to use global importer tool BUT that’s not the only thing you received when you upgraded ALOT of new tools were up to you which I’m sure you used so why should they refund , I’m not Maybe you’re experience was a one off.
Since the beginning artfire has actually “listened” to the customers/sellers and have gradually improved month after month.. If you were to go check them out now their forum is stunning and very well organized.
They ARENT perfect but they are striving to get there in IMOP . I like etsy too but I feel more like “family” at artfire old timers(been at artfire since the begining) like myself try very hard to take an active role on making newbies feel welcomed and Im not just saying to drop by “say welcome” and never help them or speak to that person again. Sellers are VERY supportive to one another and THAT is why I love artfire and kind of tolerate etsy’s behavior from sellers and buyer and admin alike.
The only real reason I stay with etsy is A) the more exposure my company gets the better for me.. It’s not up to me to play referee.
B) And let’s face it I’ve been there since 2006! So ALL my new customers and old know I’m there… it’s my bread and butter.
But why wouldn’t you list your stuff IN ALL VENUES POSSIBLE??? Do you not want the exposure?? It’s a bit silly to limit yourself ESPECIALLY if you are serious about making your small business succeed.. Like they say “you get out what you put in”
So make decisions based on what’s best for you.. Not what’s best for another.
Just started artfire a few days ago…been on Etsy for a couple months…finally said no more to trying to sell art on Ebay…will post again later.
Marketing 101- Competition is good for the market,
“Word on the street” a new selling venue coming called “Groovepress.com”
Just in time to add another choice to the mix, this new site is supposed to launch in May or June. Apparently they will also honor a no transaction, no re-listing, and no contract venue, but only a low monthly flat rate, something like under $15.00, It is supposed to mirror this site as well as Artfire, and that Groovepress.com’s venue is a global marketplace to shop, sell, & share, and that it has been established by several successful artists, who are seeking to give back to the artist community, and that they will focus on the promotion and exposure of all the artist and crafts person around the world. I heard the main team @ Groovepress.com all came for the Internet giant, & online retailer art.com, and that they have extensive retail, Internet sales and marketing skills.
*Here is the Facbook page with over 1000 new members already signed up in a week to hear more
– A New Artist CO-OP – Won’t you please join us in our humble beginnings?
**Groove Press is coming to the World Wide Web in June 2010**
Our Mission at Groove Press: To represent an eclectic mix of unique multi-media artisans who create and communicate ideas of human expression, individuality and creativity.
*Face book Main page: http://tinyurl.com/y77cn9k
No relisting fee, No transactions fees, No contracts, No kidding
I personally have been a seller on etsy since 2007 and soon to join on artfire. I also plan to check out Groovepress.com. I believe that as an artist, I need to seek as much exposure as I can given my small marketing budget, and by participating in several venues rather than one over the other, I will have greater success and exposures on the World Wide Web. These sites help in the organic search (SEO) and drive traffic to my gallery with their own marketing efforts.
Lastly, SEM is really costly. When you add up your overall operating cost to run several shops at once, it is well worth it! If you don’t believe me, just check out what it actually cost to run an Ad or PPC campaign on one of the major search engines.
Art fire is the worst company I have ever dealt with. I have paid for merchandise I have not received and the service dept does not answer my e-mails. When I phone them, they refer me to the seller who is the problem in the first place.
I wrote to them at least a month ago and have received no response. Terrible customer service.
What I really suspect (and getting increasingly more inclined to) that actually ArtFire is sort of a “daughter-website” of Etsy. or perhaps they have some sort of a deal with Etsy.
I mean, come to think of it ArtFire allows at least 2 things, which Etsy doesn’t :
1) to link directly to one’s shop on Etsy (through adding it to MarketHub)
and even
2) to import the inventory from Etsy !
now, why would they do that ? unless they either have some sort of an agreement with Etsy (surely not altruistic) or they are indeed Etsy’s “mini”
because – Etsy doesn’t allow these to thinks for its sellers who also has ArtFire shop (and I think most of them do)
in fact – NO ANY website or auction, with good traffic and fee based (eBay, Amazon, etc.) would ever allow so liberally to link to any outside venues – as ArtFire does.
so, I guess it is a smart move by Etsy, if indeed ArtFire is their own “mini” (or clone) :
1) they are fully aware that charging $0.2 per EACH item (as they say: “per quantity of one”). even if you have multiple quantity in single listing ! eg. if you make a listing for 10 pieces of handmade goody – you will be charged 10 times X $0.2 = $2 !!! that even eBay doesn’t do). although their flat 3.5% Final / sale fee is a heaven comparing to current eBay’s FVF (9% for auction, 12% for fixed price
)
2) also I am sure that they are FULLY aware of the main reason why most of sellers either left eBay or eagerly searching for alternatives (hint: that’s the same reason why now they call it FeeBay !
so, charging not very wise to attract disgruntled former FeeBay’s sellers by continuing charging them $0.2 listing fee per EACH item – huh ?
(BTW – while eBay now has a newest lure: 100 Free auction listings per months if start price is 0.99$ )
I mean, say, I have inventory of 200 products, some or most of them in multiple quantity of, say, 10 units on average. so, if I am to list them all on Etsy – how much it gonna cost me? 200 X 10 X 0.2$ = 400$ !
well, yeah – I forgot, comparing to FeeBay, where Fixed price listings last for 30 mere days, on Etsy it is 4 months.
although on eBay it is 0.5$ for ANY multiple quantity per listing !
so, it is pretty easy to compare then per month (taking as example the above mentioned inventory – 200 items, with q-ty 10 units each):
Etsy: 400$ divide by 4 months = 100$ a month
FeeBay: 200 items X 0.5$ = 100$ a month
(it doesn’t matter – what is the q-ty per each listing)
It is same apparently !
[however if it is instead another scenario:
10 items X 200 q-ty each, then math will not go in Etsy's favor:
it will cost same 100$ per month on Etsy,
while on FeeBay it'll cost : 10 X 0.5$ = 5$
although FeeBay still has 12% FVF Vs Etsy's 3.5%
if it is though 5 items X 300 q-ty ?
]
ArtFire Basic is free both in terms of listing & selling fee.
ArtFire Pro (verified, better exposure. etc): listing & selling fee, but normally $15.95 per month – although now they they are having a new promotion again for first 20′000 members : life-membership for $5.95 per month.
in terms of fees – Artfire is the winner, no doubt.
in terms of traffic – FeeBay is unquestionable champ.
so, I’m sure Etsy knows very well all the maths and comparison. that’s why :
3) having another site as ArtFire – where sellers can go and list & sell w/o any fees at all – gives Etsy a neat solution: it still keeps its sellers where they would list at least SOME of their inventory (logically – higher priced – for the sake of not wasting 0.2$ listing fee), yet at the same time – be able to go to “mini” version (as I suspect what ArtFire actually is) and there list & sell for FREE completely !
yet, there is a catch here, or few:
4) by having such an arrangements, Etsy not only doesn’t loose the sellers (& buyers too) – but rather gets a lot of huge EXTRA traffic ! because ArtFire DOES allow both linking to one’s Etsy shop (thus – creating so many inbound Links !) as well as even – to import inventory from Etsy to one’s shop on ArtFire ! smart, huh ?
in the end, Etsy’s traffic is almost 6mln visitors lately – while ArtFire’s ~0.5mln !
so, in such a way, Etsy (if indeed it is them who made this system) DOES NOT loose at all, but has a win-win situation in any case:
a) if seller want a BETTER exposure / traffic (and thus – a better chance to sell faster) – then he must rather go to Etsy (or better yet – FeeBay )
and of course, accordingly – pay fees, because better opportunities can’t be for free.
however
b) if seller has a big inventory & doesn’t want to spend so much listing fees. I am stressing the Listing fee – because in most of cases – it never even comes to actual Sale ! on FeeBay it is easy to check by doing search of Completed Listings – a useful option I couldn’t see on Etsy or anywhere else. how many items are being listed Vs how many are actually Sold ?
and what seller would do when item is Unsold ? choices are not so many: either re-list the item again & again till it is sold (means – pay Listing fee several times), or pull it off and it becomes a part of growing stagnating unsold stock, OR ….. look for some other alternative websites where Listing Fee can be cheaper or even free.
yet it brings back to same point:
on cheaper or Free websites traffic (exposure) are not so good, and one must either work harder to do his own SEO promotion, or …. PAY EXTRA for that (as in case with ArtFire, Etsy and any other site out there) and each additional feature.
so, coming to the original starting point :
I still think that perhaps ArtFire is Etsy’s “mini” !
(because – why on earth would they openly allow and even encourage to Link to Etsy and import inventory from there ? nobody does that – certainly neither FeeBay, nor Etsy. )
what is of it for Etsy, if seemingly they don’t allow “fees avoidance” aka selling outside of Etsy ? well, the thing is : they won’t get those fees anyway, because hardly any smart enough person would list many low priced items on Etsy anyway – because profit margin would be too low to meet the ends. then what they could do ? either not sell at all, or sell on some other websites, or … sell (or rather more precisely – LIST, because sell or not – it’s not sure) on Etsy’s “mini” (aka ArtFire, as I think it is) and link to one’s Etsy shop! in this case, Etsy doesn’t lose at all ! because it knows very well that its own traffic is much better than on ArtFire and seller would be wise to keep at least some inventory (mostly higher priced items, to justify fees) which would have a better chance to be sold there due to better traffic. while lower priced items have less priority – and thus seller would rather be content to keep them on ArtFire as free listings indefinetely, with much lower chance of being sold (yet with “secret hope” that some of his buyers / visitors from Etsy might come to his ArtFire shop
). Etsy though is also Ok with it: because it knows that high volume of low priced items which have VERY LITTLE or no any chance at all of being sold, would not actually bring them Final sale 3.5% fee, but only sort of burden the whole total inventory and sort of “spoil the style”
(I guess, that’s one of main reasons – why FeeBay has now canceled all the FeeBay store whih used to be just 0.03-0.05$ per month, since those listings had a very low or no any exposure – and now only remains Fixed price listings & auctions)
so, website as Etsy would be shrewd to establish its own “mini” (as for example ArtFire) – to achieve goals of providing small sellers with other venue, yet at the same time – INCREASING its own traffic !
how that would increase Etsy’s traffic?
say, I have few items with higher price on Etsy, like 10-20 listings which I think have a better chance of being sold there. also I have like 100 items (or some may have much more than that – like few hundreds) for very low price, which is no point to list (and more to the point: to REPEATEDLY re-list) on Etsy and waste each time 0.2$ per each and every small item. what I do? I go to ArtFire, list them there for free for as long as I want. then what I do? I also link to my Etsy shop through MarketHub option.
so, that means: I got for example 200 items on ArtFire with low price (supposedly – attractive to potential buyers) of 1-3$ each. ArtFire automatically uploads them to GoogleBase (it is true – can see it though My Stats or in Google Analytics). that means – people are coming to see my items on ArtFire – however EACH of these listings has a Link to Etsy.
that means, in such a way, Etsy gets 200 inbound Links !
(from each of my 200 items on ArtFire through the MarketHub Link to Etsy)
that’s why as I said – it is a win-win situation for Etsy.
and that’s why, I guess, it has much higher traffic than ArtFire.
(say, if Etsy would have allowed the same – direct links from sellers’ items to theri ArtFire shops, – then most likely ArtFire traffic would have increased a lot)
that’s why I am really inclined to think that indeed – ArtFire is Etsy’s “mini” version, cheaper or free.
that’s why the conclusion is : there is no point to attempt to compare “ArtFire Vs Etsy”. in fact, I think all these multiple comparisons and discussions on this subject of “ArtFire Vs Etsy” only build up more traffic for Etsy.
perhaps, that’s what is really all about.
so, my opinion: USE BOTH if you can afford it ! (and all other similar sites)
BUT ……. as many said here already: make your own site !!!
(and keep building traffic to it)
sorry for such a long comment.
Cheers !
I have been with Artfire for a long time now. I recently had to change my business name after someone got a Trademark on my business name before I even knew I should do that. Long story short, it was a mess, but the Artfire customer service team was extremely nice and helpful. Right now they have a special deal that I just took advantage of! If they can get 20,000 people to commit to an ArtFire PRO account, every single person who opts in will lock in a rate of $5.95 per month for as long as they maintain an active subscription with ArtFire. They already have almost 5,000 signed up in just a few days…I don’t think it will be a problem!
Artfire has really grown and changed because it listens to it’s customers and sellers. When you list an item in your studio but ever item is listed onto Google Shopping and TheFind, the #1 and #2 shopping engines in the world. Also with the Artfire Facebook Kiosk your studio also appears on your Facebook page and all your listings can be set up to appear in you feed! I love it!
Michele,
I agree – AF staff certainly do a great job with SEO and submitting to search engines. and there is absolutely no doubt of how attractive their current 5.95$ p/m promotion is. the only thing which makes me hesitate to grab it – is the condition that only CC payments would be acceptable, not PP.
otherwise – yes, the exposure they give to one’s store even with Basic account is simply fantastic. even such a giant as FeeBay don’t do that for their members with store subscriptions – one has to do his own hard work of promoting his store and its inventory, although monthly payment is much higher.
Unlike most of the commentors of this article, I’m a BUYER not a seller. I hope you don’t mind if I chime in on this topic (as both a consumer and a marketer). I’m a regular Etsy shopper and buyer, but I’ve been aware of Artfire for the past year or so. I was initially drawn to the aesthetics of the Etsy site: clean graphics, well-thought navigation, multiple ways to shop. It quickly became the single place I went for any handcrafted item — and it is the default website I recommend to friends and family who want something unique.
I paid a visit to ArtFire this week, though, because I wasn’t having any luck finding a “just right” baptism gift for 3 newborns. My marketer’s brain couldn’t get over the difference in the online experience between ArtFire and Etsy. Ironically, the first thing I noticed on ArtFire was the higher price points — I hadn’t anticipated that at all. ArtFire’s web design had suggested (to me) that this is a more folksy source of handcrafted items. I looked around enough to determine that I’d made an incorrect assessment of what and who I’d find on ArtFire.
So back to why I felt compelled to comment on this subject. I completely understand the factors that influence which site(s) you choose to use to market and sell your incredible items. Don’t forget, however, to look at things from the buyer’s perspective.
The site(s) that know how to attract and retain shoppers will be the ones that prevail. In other words: the site that creates the best shopping experience will get the most powerful WOM. I have no idea what level of control you have in influencing ArtFire’s priorities, but I’d recommend you stay vocal about this topic. As a shopper (and a digital marketer), ArtFire drives me crazy with it’s lack of overall homepage branding and clunky search options. ArtFire’s online presence is underwhelming, which is a disservice to the artisans who showcase their artwork there.
My advice? Don’t make your decision solely on sellers fees. Be vocal. Talk to your customers — encourage them to make a fuss with ArtFire so that it nows how important it is. Better yet, if ArtFire is going to prevail because it IS so different than Etsy, how can all of you help make that difference? Best of luck to all of you! I will continue to keep an eye out on both ArtFire and Etsy (now I have to find 2 more baptism gifts).
When I was first setting up my online business, I chose to go with ArtFire. I have been very disappointed with their customer service and left to go to Homestead instead to set up my own website. Since I am selling a scrapbooking service rather than a product, I had asked for a little help in the best way to do that on ArtFire since their website is set up solely for product selling. No response. Then, I asked to be downgraded to their Basic status and received a rather curt response that it would take 3 days to do so. It’s now been over a week and my account has still not been downgraded. I then emailed this week to find out the status of my account. Again, no response, so I have just sent another email requesting information and a downgrade. We shall see if I ever get a response. I just hope I haven’t been charged again for their Pro service as this would not make me happy. All of my friends are happy with Etsy. I would recommend them over ArtFire any day.
I sell jewelry on both Etsy and ArtFire. Aside from the fact that I have made no sales on ArtFire yet, I shop on Etsy almost exclusively when it comes to getting supplies. Artfire just doesn’t have a good way to search for a product…I can’t even figure out how to “sort by” anything – price or most recent or what have you. It just isn’t programmed well. I think that if they made it easier to buy on their site they would have a lot more success…Etsy is more expensive, yes, but it also has millions upon millions of people taking advantage of its seamless, stress-free shopping all the time. I’d like more people to shop on ArtFire so I could make more money…but I still shop on Etsy. That’s telling. It’s more fun.
There are several replies here that I strongly disagree with. One was so long and confusing (talking about fees) I didn’t read it all. I plan to edit my relpy, I wish others would do the same.
I have sites on Homestead, and on Artfire, and one that I have let “lapse’ for now. I think people must have replied before I began with Artfire. I think their forums are much better than Etsy (I RARELY go there, they are very one-sided, and people can not talk freely IMO). On Artfire I have learned WAY more than on any other site, partly because of the forums. People do have a tendency to get a little snippy, defensive, and even snobby at times, but I have learned much from following the posts. There are even buyers who post in the forums with help and advice.
As far as the fees and seller cusomer service, they are the BEST in my opinion. I pay a lot more for my Homestead site, and could spend a lot more to get SEO help. Artfire does that for NO added fees. Etsy charges for each listing, and I have to renew every 4 months, Artfire encourages me to not relist as it helps with SEO.
They tell me how to help with Artfire AND my other sites. And they ARE helpful, they reply to comments that sellers have posted very quickly. I have not had to call the support line so I can’t comment there.
Like most things, most people will only reply with negative comments when they are unhappy, we don’t write when we are happy. So I take negative comments lightly. I would recommend Artfire 100 percent. They aren’t perfect, but I am in control of my own “store” and for me that is the biggest plus. You can have a “basic” account for free, why not try it. Like someone else said, the more exposure the better. Right?
And I forgot, someone said only CCards are accepted, not Paypal.
This is not true. I usePaypal, and accept CC’s, no sign up required for the buyers.
Wow, I have been considering ArtFire for a couple of years off and on, and have always decided against them. I have been with Etsy since late 2007, and had pretty good buyer traffic from 2008-2009. But things have really dropped off, and I suspect due to their growth, simply renewing and adding new products no longer brings in the response it used to. Therefore, adding my merch. to AF seemed like a possibility because they are still much smaller by comparison. They claim to offer excellent customer service, and a CS phone number (which Etsy does not). But after reading several negative comments here I hesitate once again to join up with AF. Maybe I will just focus on the usage of Social Media to harness more traffic to my store at Etsy…
I have had monumental success on Artfire. What you are paying for on Artfire is a huge assortment of marketing, promotional, and studio management tools, as well as expert guidance in how to maximize your sales potential, particularly in the arenas of photography, SEO, and social networking. Artfire does not sell our products, we do with effective titling and descriptions and top quality customer service.
Concerning Meredith’s importing problems, unless a substantial number of users are experiencing a problem, it is likely the problem resides on the user end– a conflicting security setting, any number of other possibilities. Unless one wants Artfire to add a $100/hour tech fee to figure out your personal computer, it is our problem to solve, not Artfire’s.
Concerning Sara not receiving merchandise, this is a problem for all online selling venues and all of them are hamstrung in compelling seller performance. Artfire does a good job of tracking down a non-performing seller if the email and phone number are accurate but if a seller refuses to respond to either the buyer or to Artfire, Artfire’s only recourse is to close the seller down and cancel the account, which they do. Artfire has implemented a check in requirement for sellers, something no other site does, so that buyers can at least see who is active and who isn’t.
Concerning Elytra’s suspicions, Artfire permits links because what Artfire is selling is a platform the promotes successful sales with no regard to the source of those sales. That includes the ability to promote your items off site. Since Artfire has no FVF, they have no interest in where you sell your items, only that they sell, and that Artfire’s platform makes that more possible.
As to Kelli’s concern about price point, price point is set solely by the seller. Artfire has no involvement or control in pricing. That said, Artfire tends to have a more affluent buyer demographic than similar sites and perhaps sellers are tapping into that information and using it. But, that is not something Artfire can do anything about. Regarding Artfire’s online presence, they are 4 years behind Etsy. It stands to reason they will be less visible. In addition, Artfire has put a priority on seller tools because that is what they sell… tools. I imagine as Artfire grows, they will turn more of their attention to their own self promotion.
Concerning Pam’s efforts to downgrade her account, Artfire collects a monthly subscription fee and cannot downgrade an account until that payment has been satisfied with service. So, if you paid a subscription fee on June 1, they cannot downgrade your account until July1, even if you would like it done sooner. A quick check today shows that this account is gone so Artfire must have done as she asked.
I have been on Artfire for 2 years and have experienced its ups and downs and growing pains. But, I have been much more successful there than anywhere else, including eBay and Etsy. No site is perfect and not every site is right for every type of seller or product but I don’t think I’ve seen a site try harder than Artfire to get it right.