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We here at EB are in absolute shock.
We knew Etsy could stoop low, but they have hit a new level of shame. One of last month's team grant winners, who was relying on the money to cover costs of a charitable event in California for one of the largest street teams, is not receiving the money. Why? We can't figure it out.
One of the organizers posted about it on her blog:
We applied for an Etsy grant and were awarded a team grant in July by Etsy Teams. We had to write up a grant proposal and submit it by July 15th. After being awarded the grant we were told that therewere two deadlines, one on July 24th for a printers proof and the other on July 31st where we were to submit receipts. Both of these tasks were completed in a timely manner.
Yesterday, just three days before The SoCal Bench Project Artisan Fair I received an email from Etsy Teams saying that they had emailed us last week saying that they were not going to give us a grant; claiming that we had not sent our proofs in on time and that they were a few days late. Silly, we had our event postcards printed a month before we even applied for the grant; it took me all of two seconds to forward them a jpg of our postcards. I was speechless for a few minutes before the anger sunk in.
First of all, everything was sent in when it was supposed to be. Secondly, we never heard any confirmation from Etsy that they received our information. No communication from them at all. Etsy's regular modus operandi. Etsy Teams said, "... Because we give out several grants each month and need to have them wrapped up before the following month's grants are awarded, we must stick strictly to the scheduled deadlines." When has Etsy EVER followed even their own guidelines. They do whatever they want so that it fits their needs. Hell, they don't even adhere to their own rules and guidelines.
Street teams have been the heart of Etsy's marketing. They are the grassroots underbelly that keeps that beast moving. And they do this bullshit to them?! I thought it was bad when they said street teams couldn't use the Etsy name, the well crafted Etsy banners were not being allowed to be used, and that they started the team grant program rather than supporting the teams as they had previously by helping with fairs, shows, fliers, etc., but this takes the frickin' cupcake.
65 Comments:
this is classic ETSY MO
I cant go into too much detail, but they totally screwed our team (but really themselves)over for a huge event and we even have a friend who works there and this friend apologized a million times because certain people who work there are complete asshats and make poor planning & decisions 24/7 unless it is their idea, they arent buying into it and thus wont fund it or support it
but really, this is a fact of life at many job sites and not just individual etsy crap so it makes it even less hip that they are just like any other place than what they think is an indy work site
The guy at the top proudly proclaimed he crafted a fake id to go to college. What makes you think anyone else at etsy has integrity?
What makes me steam is the crap that has gone on since Maria took over. Either she can't reign in the employees, or she's really there for an entirely different purpose.
oh. right.
Etsy.org is going to be a non-profit
because the fine folks at Etsy are:
1. altruistic & compassionate
2. need a tax write-off
3. need a place to hide Rokali
4. need good PR
5. all of the above, but not 1.
Etsy.com sucks. Etsy.org will, too.
Shameful.
According to their stats, they sold 7 million in goods and had 813,000 new listings ($162600 in fees) for the month of July and they can't fork over $200 as promised. Nevermind two $15 a spot showcases plus a dozen or so $7 showcases.
I don't care if they blew it on cupcakes, most of the street teams have earned $200 just for past promotions.
Just terrible.
This makes my stomach hurt and my heart ache for this team. This is just about the shittiest thing I have ever heard about Etsy.
And why did she feel the need to put that post in there about how they had to retract CCOE's grant money? WTF?
I encourage everyone to purchase raffle tickets to help this team out--the raffle ticket money goes directly to the charity.
Another profoundly shameful action by Etsy Admin. I'm so sorry for your Street Team who clearly worked very, very hard on this event and on the grant application.
What does it take to make Etsy feel any responsibility whatsoever for anything they do?
They GAVE us, being CCCOE, the grant, they even patted themselves on the back in a Dodo article.
Then they ripped that right out of the mouths of veterans!
This isnt some dumb farmers market or a cute trunk show at someones home, this was a HUGE event to make the lives of those who have served and been forgotten by our country, better.
We met EVERY goal, the organizers of this event have literally made themselves sick with as much of their own souls as they have put into this.
When you just got $27 million, $200 is to much to shell out, when you GAVE IT TO US!
I promote the holy shit out of this site and that promotion goes BOTH WAYS ETSY.
Hopefully this public shaming will make them do whats right, but we know hipsters with their fucking cupcakes couldnt give a shit about YOU and the obligations they made to you.
I always thought the lampworker fraud was as low as they could get,.
But just remember, treat everyone with respect until you fuck them over ;)
How can we help to pick up the balls etsy dropped? Can we buy raffle tickets and send money to your paypal accounts? Or just make a donation? Seriously let us know.
Or contact me at etsy or through my blog. I'm pretty visible these days.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who can help.
There are no longer any more words to explain the actions of etsy.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
I don't even know what to say to this. This needs to be brought up in numerous places. Someone at Etsy F*cked up and they aren't admitting to it - "Oh, no, I never received that "
BS.
Thank you SO much Sherry, I am getting the raffle ticket info for you!
It is SUCH a great cause what the money can do, and 100% is going to these brave, affected people.
This reminds me of something I just heard about, and it's making me think...
Back in May, NFL player Andre Johnson placed an order for 750 bicycles from Wal-Mart for a children's charity- yeah, he was paying for them, they weren't being donated. In return for the large order, Wal-Mart agreed to provide ice and water to the kids at the event. Well due to Wal-Mart's mistake, the full order couldn't be placed, I think they were 20-30 bikes short. So Andre had to find the remaining bikes elsewhere. BUT, since they weren't getting paid for 750 bikes (due to their own fault), Wal-Mart decided they weren't going to provide the ice and water for the event. And they didn't. Then they tried to backtrack/apologize later to save face, but people were already pissed...
http://tinyurl.com/56kf5j
Isn't Etsy backed by an investor affiliated with Wal-Mart? I think this move by Etsy was just as sleazy as what Wal-Mart did to those kids. And Etsy says they're "different" than the huge corporations- different my ass.
Here's some info on the raffle tickets from their blog:
http://socalbenchproject.blogspot.com/
1. can you start a thread about it and
2. can you go to small claims court
if you have the documentation such as sent emails and such, you know you sent it in on time, then you may have a case in small claims court
whatever you do publicise the hell out of it because 200 really is chump change and an example of just how cheap and un hip or non indy these folk are
I know one of our organizers had them listed in her shop but we arent giving Etsy anymore dough of that.
We have just been buying them straight through her paypal..
This could actually work because real, honest, empathetic people are now coming together to right a wrong!
This is shocking and upsetting. I'm not a member of CCCOE, but have friends that belong. And I respect the entire CCCOE team very much for their creative promotions and well-run team events.
I can't believe Etsy would alienate an entire large team who has done so much to promote Etsy. And over 200 dollars! Unbelievable!
As Sherry said, if there's anything we can do, please let us know.
Ok, if you are interested, please convo me at my shop for the paypal email and I dont want to just put it all over the internet tubes.
they are getting a little clogged with pom poms and cupcakes anyway ;)
So, I have the paypal info to forward to you, my shop name is the same.
I'm actually shocked at the turn around they expect. Three week from approval, proof drafts and reciepts??? Etsy can't move that fast And obviously didn't thats why they fucked up and did this.
My guess is they saw a application for Cupcake classes or some such shit they'd rather give their money to that "some oldster warmongers".
Oh, and if you are a member of any Etsy team, please let them know about this. It is vital information for those who are applying for team grants. (To put it mildly!)
Combustion, that's how I bought mine!
hey my comment was DELETED from this link:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/etsyNews/article/congratulations-july-team-grant-winners/2225/
i've notified the teams that were awarded the july grants, 2 i know since i will be a member of their teams when i move back to new jersey.
the response from them has been full of love and support :D
Thanks for the support everyone. For information on raffle tickets please go here:
http://hpalleikodesigns.blogspot.com/2008/08/those-wanting-to-buy-raffle-tickets.html
We are also trying to move past all this and turn this into a positive thing.
I am personally still feeling ill about it all because I was the go between from our team and Etsy. I deleted my sent emails thinking I filed them - and I hadn't. So I am feeling a lot of personal respsonsibility here. And we have no proof of when we sent the emails.
Yep, the Storque is ruthlessly edited in terms of comments. Even the merest hint of anything negative sees your comments get disappeared quick smart. It's a waste of time posting anything there unless you plan to only write comments singing Etsy's praises.
Then they'll probably delete my comment there too.
Even if the info was late (and I believe the Team that it wasn't late) . . . How boneheaded is Etsy for outing themselves in the DORQUE??
I'm glad that they didn't delete the whole article; but they would have been smarter to delete the posting than to delete negative comments.
I really thought Etsy was a different kind of company. I see that they are just as full of bureaucratic bullshit as Wal-Mart.
Etsy's new favorite craft supply- "red tape"
They sure know how to use it!
I say give Maria some time. I can seriously see some heads rolling, not just because of this. Too many personal shit. Mark my words on this one.
For shame.
Etsy has done a lot of mean and low things, but this is the by far the worst. I feel so bad for this street team.
Heather don't beat your self up- they claim they received the proofs a day late- EVEN if that were the case they had 2 WEEKS to tell us we were denied the grant.... they decided to string us along for days and days and tell us 3 days before the show???
that is just stupid. Something else has to be going on here.
I call shenanigans!!
Thank you to everyone who is helping in not only righting a wrong, but making it better than we could have hoped for!
Its beautiful to see the community etsy pretends to stand for actually happening.
Anyone post this in the fora?
Morrigan,
I just asked the team and this is what they said:
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5742807&page=131
Looks like one of us need to carry a banner. Or several of us.
Shameful.
Disgusting.
Just another reason why I no longer list items on Etsy - their lack of professionalism appals me, and I can sell my goodies elsewhere for less hassle.
We all know there is a backstory to this story, but it sure smacks of Etsy's competitive streak. I kinda think a lot of their vindictive behavior stems from their belief they are in competition with sellers. They are better, they have better ideas, and the sellers are just no-names who are busting in on their own personal territories.
As Etsy has taught us all, you can retaliate in many different ways, but all of it comes back to bite you in the ass in the end.
personally, i would call every newspaper in america to get this covered.
one is bound to post the story.
etsy needs to be exposed for what it really is- rotten to the core.
I am glad you are getting your money through other means. If Etsy had any class at all they would match what you raise.
They have a lot of fucking nerve denying you guys over something so trivial.
And as usual, poor Matt has to come in and try to clean up the mess:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/etsyNews/article/congratulations-july-team-grant-winners/2225/
How can he stand to work there?!
Again, i just want to say thank you to the huge response we have gotten!
What etsy stands for is true.. its only in us though!
The community outpouring today has been very, very appreciated and refreshing!
Well, it looks like a little appropriate pressure gets results.
Look who forked over $250 to the cause. (in the comments on the Storque).
Looks like Matt came in for damage control and donated $250 to the cause!
are you kidding me?
the organization that cant bill us on time or be trusted to follow through on *any* of the self imposed deadlines they have put through for sellers decided that a time difference between west and east coast.....the time of the close of business day....would change whether they fund this grant- amazing felted balls they have!
at least a donation was made to the vets
i'm just happy that this whole thing has been resolved. i mean it took a lot of effort, etc on the community adn we are SOOO happy about that too.
my only hope is that other teams won't have to go through this :)
I want to see THEIR receipt from the donation they are "making". I want a large scan on flickr by morning. I don't think they have the graphics skills to fake a reciept, so I'll buy if it they post the receipt, and not until. Or if the Organization verifies it to the SoCal folks.
Saying it and doing it, as we well know, are different things to Etsy.
cranky, I was thinking the exact same thing, and was going to post under the storque article I'll believe the donation when it's confirmed...
Matt probably donated out of pocket, and gave etsy the credit. Good for the organization either way, though.
Etsy is: never having to say you're sorry.
where would Etsy be without Matt doing the clean up work that Etsy seems to spew? he, personally has righted many wrongs. i applaud the man, he is the only one that steps up and actually does the right thing.
Wow! Thanks. This support has been overwhelming and beautiful. We at the CCCOE will surely never forget it! Thank you all. xo
that royally sucks. It sounds like a great organization that I hope will be really benefited by your show. Good luck tomorrow!
All you guys are a bunch of inconsiderate whiners! All your demands are really filling the plates of Etsy admins. A little understanding would go a long way. They already have so much to do: build half-pipes, paint their nails, make how-to-fuse-plastic-bags videos, write Storque articles, etc. Leave them alone so they can do their jobs!
I don't give Matt any credit. If he was so great and smart and wonderful he would push to make sure this stuff was avoided in the first place. I think he's a tool.
No one at Etsy deserves a pat on the back for this shit.
What a disgraceful performance by Etsy. $200 is nothing to them!
Well I am glad Matt donated to New Directions, at least. I wonder does he ever feel like he's working at a circus, shoveling up the elephant shit? He works so hard shoveling but it's hard to keep up, because damn those elephants sure make a lot of shit!
Damage control, pure and simple. I don't ascribe Matt any special kudos because he was only the messenger, I'd bet my last cupcake he was instructed to do this and it wasn't because he is 'so wonderful'. It was Etsy's way of trying to save face and make Etsy appear benevolent when, in fact, they are quite the opposite.
As far as I'm concerned, they didn't 'do the right thing' at all, just tried to put a bandaid over a gaping wound. Typical Etsy style.
bah.
Robert Thurman, a Buddhist writer, dear friend of the Dali Lhama and father of Uma Thurman instructs me that enlightenment is acceptance of maximum cognitive dissonance. I have those words taped on my computer monitor ever since I began experiencing Etsy shock and awe shortly after joining Etsy as a seller, 18 months ago. I sturggle each day to not be furious with Etsy. I need to sell on Etsy because I need the money. All the indie boutiques in my city have been driven out by the dot com invasion and landlord greed. If I did not need the money I would leave Etsy immediately. I love the artists I have met on Etsy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance
In psychology, cognitive dissonance is an uncomfortable feeling or stress caused by holding two contradictory ideas simultaneously. The theory of cognitive dissonance proposes that people have a fundamental cognitive drive to reduce this dissonance by modifying an existing belief, or rejecting one of the contradictory ideas.
Often one of the ideas is a fundamental element of ego, like "I am a good person" or "I made the right decision." This can result in rationalization when a person is presented with evidence of a bad choice, or in other cases. Prevention of cognitive dissonance may also contribute to confirmation bias or denial of discomforting evidence. If not corrected, this can lead to further bad choices for the sake of consistency, rather than learning from mistakes.
Experiments have attempted to quantify this cognitive drive. Studies have not so far detected any gender or cross-cultural differences
I really want to thank Matt for stepping up to the plate, yet again and cleaning up Etsy's mess. He is the only person I really respect there.
Thanks Matt!
Now to get off my butt and participate more with my team. (hangs head in shame)
Excuse me, but those people, Daniellexoxoxoxox and Sarawearsskirts work for Matt. They wrote a Storque article knowing full well that they were going to deny a grant.
Does incompetence run so deep that we only see the tip of the iceberg?
Matt is good at cleaning up messes. But not good enough to put systems in place so they don't happen regularly. Is that good enough for you?
Etsy needs to remove the paragraph in the Storque article that states the deadlines were not met. It reads like a spanking and Etsy-warning------don't mess with us!
The issue has been resolved. The attitude behind it has not.
Wow - thanks everyone. Overwhelmed with raffle purchases at the moment. Thank you for all the support.
While it's great Matt has personally donated to the charity, it in no way mitigates the fact that the team is out $200 thanks to some bureaucratic snafu.
Give me a fucking break, Etsy. When the hell are YOU ever on time?
And Etsy dumps Paraquat on it's grassroots once again!
Every time I think they can't get any worse -and then they do.
I'm confused.
How is the storque (dorque) article not considered "calling out"? If this were between anyone else on esty, this kind of post would have been shut down with the usual "discussing matters...blah, blah..." copy cut and past reply.
What was the website that did a story on sellers' unhappiness with etsy earlier this year? They DEFINITELY should know about this!
"Give me a fucking break, Etsy. When the hell are YOU ever on time?"
don't forget half assed, too... late, and half assed. the etsy motto!
on a bright note... this whole situation really speaks volumes about the REAL heart of etsy. i hope the new powers that be are paying attention... maria? do you see that? etsy, as a company may be lacking much direction and meaning, but it's community, as a whole... is a living, breathing, working organism that will not be stopped or quieted.
when it's ready to move on from you, it will.
looks like the storque article got removed and all comments edited down to four happy ones...like it was all just a bad dream, it never really happened.
Thanks for letting everyone know, Patti, that the Dorque article was removed.
Remember the customer is always right? Etsy's customers, the sellers, are always wrong, always need to be told they are wrong, and then get slapped and spanked and, yes--------called out.
The wall of swimmys could be the wall of shame.
The Storque article is still there along with all the critical comments:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/etsyNews/article/congratulations-july-team-grant-winners/2225/
GG, I believe the article you're referring to was the one on the Consumerist website. There's a link to it in our left column.
I am so sorry to hear that...They really should not have written about it in Storque on top of it all...
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