Stay Awhile – Why Buyers Leave Your Shop
Posted by HandmadeMarketing.org in Buyer Experience on 05 11th, 2009 | 12 responses
Stay Awhile – Why Buyers Leave Your Shop
What makes sellers leave your handmade shop? To find out why Etsy buyers turned away from Etsy shops, HandmadeMarketing.org looked to the Etsy.com forums for thoughts from sellers:
- Photos. Our team found that many Etsy buyers will leave your shop once they see bad photos. As one seller put it, “Poorly done photos because I can’t get “into” what they are selling.” Need help updating your photos? Take a peek at these simple online photography tips from HandmadeMarketing.org reader Jim Juris.
- Detailed Descriptions. Some sellers overlook the descriptions of their items. “Lack of description is a big deal for me,” an Etsian said. “It really surprises me sometimes when a description just states the obvious in one sentence.”
- Go International. Suprisingly, HandmadeMarketing.org found several references to shipping prices. One seller noted that if a shop doesn’t quote UK shipping price, the seller leaves the Etsy shop.
- Location, Location, Location. Think your profile on your selling platform doesn’t matter to buyers? “Lack of location,” one seller writes on the Etsy.com thread. “I haven’t purchased from anyone with no location. I just don’t.” Another seller in the forums agreed. “I’m not a big fan of people not disclosing their location. I like to read the profile and get a good feel for the individual.”
- Strange (Or No) Policies. “I have a real problem buying from someone who tells me in their shop announcement “I am not responsible for lost packages”,” one seller writes. “It’s a nice early warning system, though.” Another seller agrees. “Poorly written policies (or no policies at all)” can cause a potential buyer to bounce.
- Forum Etiquette. We were also surprised to read how many Etsians pay attention to the forums. “I have to be honest, what turns me off from a shop?,” one seller commented. “Mean spirited, snarky sellers that I come across in the forums. No matter how great their items might be, I would never buy from them!”
- Pity Train. Comments about “seller desparation” were everywhere in this Etsy.com forum thread. “The “I’m so poor that I need to make sales or I will be late with rent” – I’m here to shop not feel bad!” one seller commented.
- Arrogance. “I’ll also echo the distaste for “holier than thou” sellers. I don’t shop at a b+m with rude, arrogant employees…the same goes for online,” one seller commented. Another seller agreed and wrote, “I want to buy from someone who i like or would want to hang out with.”
What makes you steer clear of a handmade shop? Do you have any suggestions for how to keep customers in your shop online? What advice would you give to a new seller to make their shop more inviting?
Tell us your ideas for keeping potential buyers in your shop! Tell us tips for how to sell handmade online under our “Join” tab.
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12 Responses to “Stay Awhile – Why Buyers Leave Your Shop”
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Great clear and concise advice! I find the photo issue and the lack of description to be number one for me, too, as a perspective buyer. Particularly when I see artwork, and the seller hasn’t made it clear whether the art is a print or an original.
In this information age, there are so many places where we can read about being a better seller and having better etiquette, that it really surprises me when I see people in chat rooms or forums spouting anything negative, especially about others!
Thanks for the great article
Rebecca
#6 is very important. I am flabbergasted at times by what people say in the forums and can’t believe that they don’t realize that it makes them look really bad and totally unprofessional. If I walked into a shop and found the shop keeper talking that way to a customer or an employee, I would turn around and leave, it’s the same in the forums.
I also have to add that talking negatively about Etsy is a huge turn off also.
Thank you for this very helpful post!
I’m new to the etsy scene, but I, too, have run into the negativity in the forums on some occasions. I am amazed that some sellers will verbally bash their customers, or even etsy. We’re all here to ply our wares and our craft – and even one sale is better than no sale. Negativity is a big turn-off for me.
Also, the photos and the design are key: if the photos are dim or dark and the colors aren’t right, I don’t buy. I try to take my own photos with natural light, and use a white background. The seller should have a certain persona they want to perpetuate – and should strive to do that in their shop anouncements , graphics, and photos. It’s all about branding!
Having said that: I think Etsy is amazing, and so are the artisans and buyers. Thank you so much Etsy!
This is a very well written post and very to the point. I’m quite surprised at the amount of negativity in the forums from many sellers. Do they not realize that other sellers are buyers as well?
Etsy shops are businesses and should be run in a businesslike and professional manner.
This was great! I am a new etsy seller and I thought it was very interesting how description is key! I’ve tried to keep mine simple and to the point, but maybe more descriptive words and a little extra could make that an item someone can’t live without!
thanks again!
Great and very informative article!
Great article, thank you!
I too thought ths article was right to the point. Very informative not only to new sellers but for others, that wonder how come they’re not getting many sales.
One of the thing that make me leave a shop, is the lack of description, sizes especially. I really don’t like contacting the seller for that, only to dissappoint them when I don’t follow through with buying the item.
Description, description, description! That’s what get you more sales ladies and gentlemen!
Irene
much appreciated and agreed with info. thanks for all the tips!!
THANK YOU! lolololol!
As many have said – great list!
I’m not yet an Etsy seller, but intend to be soon.
With the help of a few generous Etsy sellers I put together a post on my blog about selling on Etsy but none of this info is there so I’ll add a link to this article from my post as this info is SO important!
All the best from Barbados
Finola
Great advice, every point!
i find it baffling when a seller posts just one picture of an item. I want to see it from a variety of angles, like I would when shopping at a store.