Comments on: Don’t Give It Away http://www.blogaboutcrafts.com/dont-give-it-away.html Conversations about selling crafts on the web. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:29:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Michele http://www.blogaboutcrafts.com/dont-give-it-away.html#comment-193 Michele Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:58:34 +0000 http://flashgallerytemplate.com/?p=168#comment-193 It's a shame that more people don't feel as you do. I've seen covert sketches and photos being taken and even overheard conversations about how they could make said item cheaper and price it higher. I've seen newbie sellers with totally incorrect prices excitedly sell their wonderful work to someone who was clearly going to resell for profit. The intent was obvious and it certainly wasn't right. Good business? Maybe. But certainly not kosher in my book. I suspect every crafter has tried to recreate something clever they've seen. I've done it. I admit that I even considered selling my derived item - after all, it's not exactly the same if I had to re-engineer it and develop my own way of making it. But, I have never been able to do that. It's just so wrong and dishonorable. On the other side of the coin, I've met folks who freely explain how to make their craft and welcome others to make and sell their own versions. I spoke with one crafter who was tired of making several of her items and was more than willing to pass the torch to someone else. She was actually inviting people to sell the items as she would no longer be doing so. That's part of the conundrum here. Do we totally refuse to talk about our work and risk losing out on a conversation that may lead to improving our own work or is the sharing of ideas and techniques worth more than the risk of someone taking advantage? My thinking is we need to perhaps take the middle ground and be cautious when speaking with other crafters and if the questions start getting a little too detailed perhaps reconsider how much we share. Thanks for your comment and visiting! It’s a shame that more people don’t feel as you do. I’ve seen covert sketches and photos being taken and even overheard conversations about how they could make said item cheaper and price it higher. I’ve seen newbie sellers with totally incorrect prices excitedly sell their wonderful work to someone who was clearly going to resell for profit. The intent was obvious and it certainly wasn’t right. Good business? Maybe. But certainly not kosher in my book.

I suspect every crafter has tried to recreate something clever they’ve seen. I’ve done it. I admit that I even considered selling my derived item – after all, it’s not exactly the same if I had to re-engineer it and develop my own way of making it. But, I have never been able to do that. It’s just so wrong and dishonorable.

On the other side of the coin, I’ve met folks who freely explain how to make their craft and welcome others to make and sell their own versions. I spoke with one crafter who was tired of making several of her items and was more than willing to pass the torch to someone else. She was actually inviting people to sell the items as she would no longer be doing so.

That’s part of the conundrum here. Do we totally refuse to talk about our work and risk losing out on a conversation that may lead to improving our own work or is the sharing of ideas and techniques worth more than the risk of someone taking advantage?

My thinking is we need to perhaps take the middle ground and be cautious when speaking with other crafters and if the questions start getting a little too detailed perhaps reconsider how much we share.

Thanks for your comment and visiting!

]]> By: Ms. Freeman http://www.blogaboutcrafts.com/dont-give-it-away.html#comment-188 Ms. Freeman Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:10:21 +0000 http://flashgallerytemplate.com/?p=168#comment-188 To be honest I have been to several craft shows, saw and item and went home and made it myself, for my home and my own enjoyment. I wouldn’t even attempt to copy someone’s idea for the purpose of selling it as my own. To be honest I have been to several craft shows, saw and item and went home and made it myself, for my home and my own enjoyment. I wouldn’t even attempt to copy someone’s idea for the purpose of selling it as my own.

]]> By: Michele http://www.blogaboutcrafts.com/dont-give-it-away.html#comment-192 Michele Sun, 10 Jan 2010 15:53:25 +0000 http://flashgallerytemplate.com/?p=168#comment-192 It is a great idea! When I found it, she had me laughing at how clever she was. What made it all the more clever was that it was a serious tutorial and was in no way snarky. I could see it working for many different kinds of crafts. For example, costume jewelry - 5 blue seed beads (you can't just buy 5, you have to buy a whole tube for $2.95), 4 jump rings (100 for $4.00), jump ring tool ($4.05), craft pliers... I've seen some crochet, knitted and beaded projects where the description includes the number of stitches or beads involved. Those numbers can get pretty impressive fairly quickly. Thanks for the comment and the link too! It is a great idea! When I found it, she had me laughing at how clever she was. What made it all the more clever was that it was a serious tutorial and was in no way snarky.

I could see it working for many different kinds of crafts. For example, costume jewelry – 5 blue seed beads (you can’t just buy 5, you have to buy a whole tube for $2.95), 4 jump rings (100 for $4.00), jump ring tool ($4.05), craft pliers…

I’ve seen some crochet, knitted and beaded projects where the description includes the number of stitches or beads involved. Those numbers can get pretty impressive fairly quickly.

Thanks for the comment and the link too!

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