Well, I've been working from home on a laptop this week, and that's weird. For our post #COVID-19 condition, I imagine that seems more or less normal, but I'm nothing if not consistent with my oddity. Below my laptop is a cut out piece of binder, a pillow, and between my splayed legs is the biggest floofiest cat I've ever had - Dory. For cat owners, I'll grant that only thing out of place is that I haven't mentioned a great need to go to the bathroom. I do, and yes - I'm stuck.
I've been weighing the pros and cons of starting up on #Etsy. That would invite the shipping debacle that I've been intentionally avoiding for a while. While it would enable me to access a wider market so I can establish my brand and pursue a more post-capitalist model, there are limitations:
It's expensive.
It's time consuming.
It's Etsy.
1 - It's Expensive
Let's be honest, existing lately seems to be expensive. Comparatively though, many of us are accustomed to free shipping options. #Amazon has taken this a step further by successfully imprinting an expectation of free and fast delivery. For the medium sized books, weighing about 150g, it'd cost me about $20 to ship from #Alberta to #Ontario. Starting cost for them is $45.
I could work shipping costs into my price per item. This would make handcrafted items that people already think cost too much cost more. This would also remove transparency in how I arrive at prices for a cost that is fundamentally variable depending on buyer location. So, even at a glance, this one's a #noop.
I'd instead need to count on your understanding. With that, I wouldn't consider this element as much of a limitation.
2 - It's Time Consuming
So, first off, I don't drive. It's expensive to obtain, maintain, and drive a vehicle. Plus, I find it scary. That means I'm bussing or relying on rides from friends and family.
I would have two goals with shipping. I want to do everything in my power to ensure safe arrival and a pleasant unwrapping experience. Both require extra time which I'd need to work into pricing. Packaging itself won't be that bad for time demand, but sourcing and prepping preused shipping materials and making inserts and adding aesthetic details is time consuming.
With working full time, this remains a substantial limitation.
3 - It's Esty
The benefits of using the Etsy platform aren't lost on me. It would also take the effort of marketing myself somewhat out of the equation. For the price they charge, I'd consider it. However, there are variable costs that I can't predict. Creators on TT have talked about being charged exorbitant amounts for sales made through Etsy run advertisements that can take a sizeable chunk out of Creator profits. While I can't imagine that this is the norm, I strongly dislike this sort of risk and policy.
The other side of this limitation is that Etsy has the potential to become more of a breeding ground for mass produced nonsense masquerading as artisanal craft. There are personalized leather journals that go for around $20, and I cannot figure out how that's possible for someone like me. I have no ability to compete with that being the norm, and the mere thought comes close to making me sick (well sicker).
Well, those are my Dayquil addled thoughts.
Do you have any you'd like to share?
-M
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