Sunday, June 15, 2008

Quotable Quotes: Fraud

This thread is worth reading, post and be heard before Admin wakes up and shuts it down.

"The fraud is pervasive in all media here on Etsy.

Criminals have discovered that they can come to Etsy and steal photos and copy and tags from a seller, and open their own shop. Criminals have discovered that they can buy mass-produced items and sell them as artist/shop owner handmade.

Criminals have discovered that Etsy will NOT enforce policy."

65 Comments:

Foxglove Studios said...

That entire thread is filled with GREAT comments. It's a must-read!

Hook It Up! Jewelry said...

Please keep in mind that we still want answers, so our goal is to keep the post open :)

woolies said...

so why do you think that today, Sunday, Finally, Etsy shut down Ullja? Is it cause of the Fraud thread?

Foxglove Studios said...

Definitely interesting timing, my Wooly friend.

Anonymous said...

There has been a flood of new clothing shops from Asia. Now before anyone screams "racist", know that these shops are using stock photos from wholesale web sites. They have been reported time and time again. The problem is that etsy takes so long to investigate, and the growth is exponential.

Why does it take 5 days to shut down a counterfeit UGG seller? Even if you assume the UGGs are real, why does it take so long?

And these are the obvious ones. And these shit sellers say. "Well other people are selling brand new sneakers/jeans/purses, and they are still here..."

Anonymous said...

YOU RACIST!

Just kidding!

Seriously though, a bit off subject, but did anyone else notice that the cheerleading angels have removed the "hypocrite or immature" entry from their blog?

I wonder why? Hee hee.

Hook It Up! Jewelry said...

Could someone send me that link? I have seen two references to the blog, but am not sure what it is....

Anonymous said...

YOU RACIST!

Just kidding!

Seriously though, a bit off subject, but did anyone else notice that the cheerleading angels have removed the "hypocrite or immature" entry from their blog?

I wonder why? Hee hee.
_______________________
Because at least of them has been outed. I see their wall of shame is gone as well. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Anonymous said...

Hook it Up,

http://etsysangels.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

This was added to their site, now that they've been outed:
"But due to the scary behavior and threats made by some Etsyians who were named here for their comments, we will no longer post their statements. We think it sucks they can harass others who they think deserve it and get away with it, but we don't want to be like them and some of you pointed out that we were no different. And you were right. So let the bullies sink themselves with their own actions and words. We won't stoop to their level. To stoop that low would break our backs, anyway. Thanks for the "real" constructive criticisms we got from "real" adults."

whatevah.....
You were talking smack pretty tough when you were anonymous but when you got called on your BS you backed down pretty fast huh?

buhbye

Impetuous said...

The damage is done. It's great that the shop is closed but Etsy has shown its true colors in all of this.

I would still like to hear from Etsy about the Etsy customers, our customers, who were duped into buying from this wench, from the time that Etsy knew about the fraud, to today when they finally closed the shop.

Do they plan on refunding these customers using the profits they collected all this time? After all the buyers would not have been victimized had Etsy simply followed it's own policies and suspended the shop right away.

Does Etsy plan on cleaning house now and doing a sweep of the site for fraudulent sellers? Or, let me guess, that is our responsibility and they would like us to form a flagging team.

Etsy sellers it is time to stop giving Etsy your time free of charge. Stop monitoring the forums, Admin should be helping people by developing a proper customer service department. Stop flagging shops and items. Etsy needs to hire staff to monitor their own site and uphold their own policies.

If you find yourself tempted to go the extra mile to "help Etsy" please remember the way that Etsy has handled this and the total disregard they have displayed to everyone on the site by allowing this wound to go untreated for so long.

Anonymous said...

They were outted? Who did they turn out to be?

Anonymous said...

So much drama and not enough wine.

Hook It Up! Jewelry said...

Threats & scary behavior? Where was I during all of this?? What have I missed?? Who threatened them? Where they being stalked?

I want to know....

Anonymous said...

They were not threatened but that sounds much better than "some people have figured out who we are and we're afraid that we won't be able to kiss ass on the Etsy forums and then kick the same asses over here."

They also don't want the admins to know who they are but from what I understand, it may be a little late to worry about that.

bencandance said...

I have been reading E.B. daily for the humor and witty insight and today I just found about EtsyAngels and have bookmarked it too.


Would love to know who you all are but understand the anonymity. If EtsyAngels is no longer anonymous , is there somewhere we can learn of the authors?


Will there be a kind of blog debate (EB vs. EA)?

You'll definitely have the readers for it!

Anonymous said...

The Angels need to learn to EDIT.

The posts are so damn long-winded and repetitive, it makes my eyes bleed. So annoyingly verbose.

Perhaps the Angels are the forum posters who go off on their rambling tangents of babble ... you know, the ones who I barely skim over or ignore altogether.

blahblah blah blah blahblah blah blah blahblah blah blah blahblah blah blah Angels blahblah blah blah please keep it brief or learn to write something worthy of reading.

Anonymous said...

They were not threatened but that sounds much better than "some people have figured out who we are and we're afraid that we won't be able to kiss ass on the Etsy forums and then kick the same asses over here."

They also don't want the admins to know who they are but from what I understand, it may be a little late to worry about that.
___________________
Would Etsybitch consider a post devoted to this? I believe it is bitchworthy. And yes, they were nailed.

Foxglove Studios said...

I've seen several threads that would normally be locked by page two that are now on page 10+. Did the shit hit the handmade fan or is Etsy just too busy playing at Renegade?

Anonymous said...

The admins are otherwise occupied. They're all flying to Milan, Texas to console Ullja in person and to apologize for doing what they should have done WEEKS ago.

They're bringing her some pie. Unless....can you carry dry ice into the passenger cabin? Anyone know?

eclipse said...

I'm also curious, where were the identities of the Angels outed? Did anyone collect the $200 prize?

Foxglove Studios said...

I'm dying to know, too, Eclipse.

Oh, and it's good to see you and Ben back in the forum! YAY!

Anonymous said...

I second Eclipse. Where? When? Who?????????

slowhell said...

Forumrubbernecker (and anyone else who wants to), feel free to send us your dirt. Bitchy dirt.

Foxglove Studios said...

Yet another thread that is shockingly still open: http://tinyurl.com/3rtmq9

All about angels and demons...

Anonymous said...

Not only is that thread still open. Admin actually moved it from Site Help to Etc. without closing it. :O

Foxglove Studios said...

I have heard there are employees who don't like Rob much. Perhaps one of them is on the skeleton crew this weekend.

Foxglove Studios said...

I didn't mean RobWhite, I meant Rokali.

eclipse said...

Thanks foxglove, it's great to be back after my 8 month "vacation."

Anonymous said...

I meant Rob White. My understanding is he's the only one who has been heard from in the forums all weekend.

Foxglove Studios said...

The last thread he closed that I'm aware of (thank you http://closedthreads.blogspot.com) was at 12:5-something AM. So, more like last night, really.

The Righteous One said...

Yes, we do appreciate RobWhite. We even say so to the left ;)

Closed Threads said...

Ahem - the etsyangels blog has been deleted.

And I'm just as curious as these Bitches as to who was behind it. I won't share secrets, I promise.

eclipse said...

http://etsysangels.blogspot.com/
the blog is not deleted, they just deleted some of the articles and deleted the "wall of shame" sidebar.

Anonymous said...

The next step Etsy may be considering is making the forums readable only to registered users (or, more typical, visible only to sellers). That way damage control -- keeping potential shop owners from seeing that Etsy, like all such venues, has some issues -- can be maintained. At that point, a group of admins will be tasked with scanning the internets looking for blogs featuring copied posts from the now private forums. And the attempts to out bloggers and/or shut them down begins. Been there, seen it: Ruby Lane, TIAS. Why is it always the same with these sites? Can't the owners learn from other venues' mistakes? sigh.....

Impetuous said...

"At that point, a group of admins will be tasked with scanning the internets looking for blogs featuring copied posts from the now private forums. And the attempts to out bloggers and/or shut them down begins."
________

what color is the sky in your world armpit.

The Righteous One said...

armpit has a point, Impetuous. Etsy's done it before. Sellers have been banned from the forums because of what they said on another site.

There are admins who spend their workday trolling other sites to keep their black list updated.

That's why we're anom...anomyn..secret ;)

idyll hands said...

Nancydrewgood - there is a shop that has a TON of stuff that uses stock photos from catalogues and such. It is painfully obvious how not handmade it is. I've been flagging them since October and still, they sell sell sell and post in the forums for all to see.

At least they weren't copying or selling other sellers stuff. But still - months have gone by, still no brick wall.

Anonymous said...

This is the same Ulljas that sold cookies? That shop is gone too. Hmm...wonder if those were really hers.

eclipse said...

It's hard to imagine it could be since the bead store shipped from Italy and the bake shop shipped from Texas. I have read some people say the bakery was actually her mother, i.e. it was 2 different people running the 2 stores.
I've also read someone say they bakery was shut down by The board of health or something for running out of an unlicensed kitchen, but I have no proof of that. Lots of rumors spring up when stores get closed so I can't guarantee any of this is factual.

Anonymous said...

The baking story is actually more believable than the bead story.

http://www.baylor.edu/lariat/news.php?action=story&story=18246

http://www.ratepoint.com/companies/16582239-ullja-s-waco-tx

Foxglove Studios said...

Well, RobWhite just locked the thread. He did it with some measure of grace, however. It was fun while it lasted. :)

Anonymous said...

"artisan can you tell me the "likely" winning lottery numbers for tomorrow?"

I laughed out loud at that, Artisan. You're much more polite than I could ever be. I admire that.

Also, as much as I hated Rob White's old "been caught wanking on webcam" avatar, I think his new one is also kinda creepy because now he looks just like a girl I went to high school with.

Her name was Moira. She walked like a duck and had an ass the size of a small town.

Anonymous said...

OOPS I meant to type "Eclipse" not "Artisan" my bad/bag.

Bedtime for me.

eclipse said...

There are about 500 less polite things I wanted to say, little piggy.
I have to be good, I'm out on parole!
I don't know what to make of that one. Seems like the less he knows, the stronger he argues. His tenacity is in inverse proportion to his insight.
oh well, we got a Result, that's the important thing. :D

goofy said...

I just want to know a few things.

1. What is different today than 3 weeks ago? Why shut her down today?

2. Have you ever seen as much .. discontent on the forums at one time, ever?

eclipse said...

my guesses:
1. I think the squeaky wheels, including EB, did play a part in getting some action taken.
2. Yes, I've seen worse. When Danielle was left in charge and several large shops were wrongfully shut down on a Friday afternoon. BLOODBATH.

Impetuous said...

righteous says:
armpit has a point, Impetuous.
___________

thats it? where is cranky, I need a proper lashing...

Anonymous said...

Heh thanks for the link I hadn't seen that before! I only found this blog last night, it's like my eyes have been opened to an untapped wealth of seedy gossip! Etsy's Angels have a quote from me on their page too haha ^_^

Impetuous said...

yeah baybay, right on the yart!

Anonymous said...

can you share the bake shop name that was shut down? Thanks!

Impetuous said...

Mrs. Fields...

The Righteous One said...

I like cookies (lol that's a funny name to write. deededee I like cookies!) lol

Anyway, to answer your question, the bakeshop had the same name as the bead shop ulja's (maybe there are two "l"s?)

Anonymous said...

http://etsylove.ning.com/profile/ulljas

Anonymous said...

"mother's tend to be protective/critical/negatively thinking in your view.....mine does it too....in a way,she is trying to warn you and is afraid that you might do bad...but you need to sort of think about it and then move on with YOUR choice....YOU have different tastes than your Mom...or other people and YOU need to believe in what you do...that's how i take it...."

*chortle*

Impetuous said...

lets not bring our mothers into this, please.

Anonymous said...

impetuous, you ask what color is the sky in my world? Heh, I'd say about 300 days of the year it is cotton-y gray from coal fumes. That's a good analogy, too, because these bitchy situations are neither black nor white from either side. Neither crystal clear or completely obscured.

The most entertaining thing about this blog is that the bitches luv to flog the dead horse. You want to 'fix Etsy' or shame the admins into doing the right thing by calling out.

Etsy jumped the shark over a year ago when the focus of the site changed. Etsy has a clear focus on the kind of seller they want to recruit, and now it's a self-maintaining process. You think the Etsians are dogging your blog now? I think they are curious certainly. But you are actually helping them by distracting the Etsy shop owners from the real across-the-board issues on the site. Etsy is like the world's biggest school lunch room. Of course there are mean girls sitting there, faculty playing politics, uneven treatment, and unprofessional conduct. Anyone who feels like they are stuck being on Etsy like a 12-year-old is stuck in school needs to grow the fuck up. The bitching here -- and on the Etsy forums -- is an amusing diversion. But that's all it is. I'm just goofing off here...

Etsy has its ugly little cartoon animals, and the bitches have their silly defaced clip art graphics. Oh, and now the awards. How much like the Etsy admins are you? Hmmmmm?

Anonymous said...

That's a quote from Ullja about Ullja's mom.

Ullja's mom is already heavily involved in the fraud.

In other words, I didn't "bring her in." Her own daughter did.

Which is why "in a way,she is trying to warn you and is afraid that you might do bad" is so sadly ironic.

Anonymous said...

"Anyone who feels like they are stuck being on Etsy like a 12-year-old is stuck in school needs to grow the fuck up."

I must have missed this part. Who here has indicated that they are stuck selling on Etsy?

The Kinky One said...

"But you are actually helping them by distracting the Etsy shop owners from the real across-the-board issues on the site."

I'll bite.

El-Stinko, what are those issues you so smugly speak of?

Enlighten us.

The Righteous One said...

I was thinking the same thing Impetuous!

Anyway, as Kinky said, we bite. Please enlighten us as to what the 'real issues' are.

Anonymous said...

I wanted to add beware of 'sales reps' on etsy wanting to sell wholesale for you. Grill them like a cheeseburger if you decide to hire them. Get references and check them, google them etc. My friend was approached and the 'rep' was a slacker, bad communication, lost some product-just a bad situation.

Anonymous said...

So...did Etsy shut down Ullja's shops because she was committing fraud or because they were worried about being sued themselves because the community was becoming more and more outraged the further word spread? Hmmmm...

goofy said...

Because they thought it would shut everyone the hell up. As it nearly did. The bad guy is gone, Etsy is the hero, right?

Anyone that thinks for one second that all the things Etsy does is haphazard is sadly mistaken.

There is a definate plan in everything. As time goes on and it unfolds, people start catching on.

Anonymous said...

Oh geez, people!!! I've seen more drastic shit happening since EB opened its beautifully bitchy doors since I've been a seller!

This is a good thing. It is GOOD to be scared of what people are saying about you! It means that you will be held accountable for your and your co-worker's actions if you don't get your act together!

LOVE this blog!

Oh and Armpit- you might want to remember to take your chocolately flavored meds at their recommended intervals. It may help you attain a much more clear perspective on what the hell is really going on.