Keeping it Real
You know, I make a lot of jokes about crafters. But when you come across a true artisan like this, well, you have to just give them props. It’s so humbling to me that there’s a woman in Sunnyvale, sitting at her kitchen table and painstakingly handcrafting replicas of shitty purses from China. This one’s for you, Minah1221.
BUY HANDMADE
January 19, 2010 at 4:33 pm
As a long-time seller this is the stuff that makes me want to just spit. I’m running off to a corner to pull out my hair….and then maybe sell it to you? Hmmmmm…..
January 19, 2010 at 4:34 pm
hmmm, I think maybe she’s sitting in China replicating bags to sell in Sunnyvale…
January 19, 2010 at 4:36 pm
I may make tasteless creations but DAMN at least I MAKE them……
January 19, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Yeah, scoff if you will, but it’s PLATED IN 14 K GOLD, people!
January 19, 2010 at 4:37 pm
Yep. I think this is one of those things Etsy says to report when you suspect it isn’t really handmade… I suspect none of her items are handmade – well, maybe by tiny little child slave hands in China… This is repugnant!
January 19, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Stop screwing up my buying experience on Etsy dammit!
January 19, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Look , she even made a key holder (?) and she’ll throw it in for FREE. *eyeroll*
January 19, 2010 at 4:40 pm
$200??? I scoff at this. $29.99 at Target.
January 19, 2010 at 4:42 pm
You know we make fun of the shit and all but these people are truly screwing other Etsy sellers. Hey lady, this is what eBay is for, damn it. I laugh at the vaginas and the banana hammocks and weird clothing but THIS just pisses me off.
January 19, 2010 at 4:42 pm
So I’m a little peeved the seller resides in my town. And by “seller”, I mean some tool buying $20 wholesale bags from Asia to turn at $200 a pop. WTG–you SV entrepreneur.
January 19, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Oh just WHAT? She even says IMPORTED!
January 19, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Ugh. that totally destroys what Etsy is supposed to be. I mean, sure, there’s some total crap, but at least people are actually making it with their webbed fingers. And for that, I salute them. I went through a spree of reporting their stuff.
January 19, 2010 at 4:45 pm
I admit I would rather have a big ol’ fake vagina replica embedded smack dab in the middle of my forehead than be subjected to this crap.
January 19, 2010 at 4:45 pm
yikes. i sound like i’m on drugs in that comment.
January 19, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Please, PLEASE report this item (and all their other factory-farmed products) to Etsy. There’s a link under the ‘page tools’ box to the right of the listing. I hate seeing factory-farmed shit like this on Etsy.
January 19, 2010 at 4:46 pm
good lord this makes me so mad! have a fucking yard sale or list your shit (and it really is shit)on ebay! I work my ass off making stuff for my etsy site and then people put up factory made crap! READ THE FUCKING TERMS OF USE JACKASS!
January 19, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Can somebody explain this “changeable design” shit to me? http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38778460
Because it looks to me like the South Asian toddlers just didn’t snip out the sprues from the fake Chanel logo.
“Changeable design, design your own brand!” = “make this obvious knock-off branding look more like the real thing! With scissors!”
January 19, 2010 at 4:47 pm
Is this a new color- Sliding Cigarette Cases(Yallow)
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38650558
OH and I wonder what the blown is- I’ll bet it is the color of smokey lungs.hmmmmm.
January 19, 2010 at 4:48 pm
Blown means she can blow me.
January 19, 2010 at 4:50 pm
On her profile it says her favorite materials are love and happiness. lulz
January 19, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Eels had to die for that thing to live.
I’m no fan of eels and I’m not even vegetarian er nuthin, but that just seems… wrong…
January 19, 2010 at 4:51 pm
#1 amandajean : When you pull your hair out I think you should sell it. I hear there is a market for it.
January 19, 2010 at 4:52 pm
lmao..
in the description it says the leather is imported from Italy, and then describes the whole thing as imported. I don’t think this person is fooling anyone.
January 19, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Did some quick googling.. This is all made in Korea. You can see the logo on all of the products- omnia crystal. Here’s a link. http://www.de-asiar.com/men/class/?147.html
January 19, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Maybe now that this kind of shit is featured on Regretsy, Etsy will actually DO SOMETHING about it.
January 19, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
January 19, 2010 at 5:00 pm
“My products make by Top quality Cow,Eel,sheepskin
leather.”
-glad to know there are eels, cows, and sheeps in sweatshops producing this crap.
also, this seller needs to learn spell check too- after they are hopefully removed from etsy for violating terms of use (duh). contemparart?
definitely not contemporary, and most definitely not art!
January 19, 2010 at 5:01 pm
contemporary- or is it a contemparart
She does make sure that we are alerted twice to the fact that this imprted, imported. Way to shorten up that first one. I suppose when the shipment of shit arrives it is alot of work to unpack it and then OMG- the typing.
January 19, 2010 at 5:02 pm
RAZ- we were thinking like us
January 19, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Razberries:
I would LOVE to hire an Eel part-time. Should I try a temp agency?
January 19, 2010 at 5:05 pm
#21 creepydolls : I think it is going to depend on how much money ETSY makes from these types of Fuckos. Money is blinding and causes listening disability’s.
January 19, 2010 at 5:05 pm
LOL @ Raven, and RCB- great regretsyans think alike
btw, I just reported this douche bag.
January 19, 2010 at 5:07 pm
I got some cows that I will whore out for a couple bucks an hour.
January 19, 2010 at 5:15 pm
And people wonder why I stopped listing my stuff on Etsy? Sheesh.
btw, I also reported this.
January 19, 2010 at 5:17 pm
*****
BUT WAIT!
If you order in the next FIFTEEN MINUTES, you can get this handy key holder for FREE!!
***** (sorry, I couldn’t resist)
No thanks… I’ll find a big ol’ messenger bag with a painting of a penis being stabbed by a vagina with a nasty cut dreadlock sewn in as pubes.
January 19, 2010 at 5:20 pm
The sellers favorite materials are “love and happiness” yeah because they dont actually use any materials
January 19, 2010 at 5:40 pm
I liked this purse when I saw it at Target 3 years ago
January 19, 2010 at 5:48 pm
Her favorite materials to use are love and happiness. How about bull and shit?
January 19, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Grrr… This shit pisses me off. Human Ivory Woman has 10,000 times more integrity than this seller.
January 19, 2010 at 5:55 pm
But it comes from high quality cows. If I’m gonna buy a leather bag, I don’t want it made out of some low class, slutty cows. By the way, leftfoot, my fingers aren’t webbed. Only my toes are. Also reported.
January 19, 2010 at 5:55 pm
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4288843939_1b05a1cff1_o.jpg
January 19, 2010 at 5:58 pm
#35, that was fucking awesome. too bad you can’t post that on Etsy.
January 19, 2010 at 6:01 pm
Woohoo! Resellers on Regretsy! This is so much better than when they make the front page on Etsy, because we can all make snarky comments about the bastards.
#14 I’m sure they read the terms of use and know full well this is not what Etsy is for. They also know that they can make a few quick bucks before they get caught, lose their account, and have to make another one.
January 19, 2010 at 6:02 pm
I meant to say “we can all make snarky comments about the bastards without the thread being shut down for calling out.”
January 19, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Well, I mean, someone hand made it. You know, during their 16hr/day, $200/mo salary job in Factory City where they’ve lost all but 2 fingers sewing those zippers in . . . CUTE KEY HOLDER WITH EVERY PURCHASE!
January 19, 2010 at 6:14 pm
just searching around…do you guys think this shop is real?
http://www.etsy.com/profile.php?user_id=6924557
January 19, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Hey this is ironic …. Regretsy can pick out the “Mass-Produced in Foreign Factory” in a wink …. and we can call out too! Maybe Etsy has something to learn here. This stuff makes me so angry ….
January 19, 2010 at 6:30 pm
#40 – sure, it’s a real sweatshop…
January 19, 2010 at 6:41 pm
lol that’s what i mean sculptor69, i was seeing if i could find any other shops that look way too “mass produced”…of course they have many sales, so i guess etsy doesn’t care as long as they’re getting a cut? the whole thing just irks me…like everyone else said, i would rather see a bunch of handmade regretsy-ish stuff than see store-bought stuff that should be on ebay
January 19, 2010 at 6:41 pm
#40–I thought it was real. I’ve seen it before. Those bags are pretty uncomplicated to make but leather is really hard to sew yanno? I wouldn’t call that one fake.
But yeah, using etsy as ebay sucks and ppl definitely need to report this person.
January 19, 2010 at 6:46 pm
Re: “#15 friendlymilk :
Can somebody explain this “changeable design” shit to me? http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38778460”
Ummm…W.T.F.?
I’ve always wanted to sell on Etsy. So, did some research, & learned all about the resellers like this, & all the other fuckery. And have decided it’s not a very classy venue.
Tho, I too love the classic Regretsy fare – vajayjays, Say What’s, donkeys, etc. Creativity at its finest. Too bad this reseller sh*t is bringing…
January 19, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Too bad this reseller sh*t is bringing Etsy down. It’s like the worst tacky, counterfeit crap from ebay is allowed on Etsy.
Why? Short term profits will bite you in the butt in the end!
January 19, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Now, I know it’s not really handmade by her, but I don’t think you guys understand how versatile this item is! Sure, it was made by children in a foreign sweatshop, but think of how you could use it! It might well be worth your $200. Evidence: http://tinyurl.com/yk2evrv
January 19, 2010 at 7:02 pm
#40 & #44: My grandfather made leather purses along with horse gear, there are specialty sewing machines for leather that work quite nicely. So the material isn’t the tip off. It’s the price. NO ONE is going to sell actual handmade leather purses of that size for so little.
January 19, 2010 at 7:06 pm
it’s such a shame… That these sellers get SO much attention and views
January 19, 2010 at 7:06 pm
^That, and the link in #20. Unless she made all of them. :3
January 19, 2010 at 7:17 pm
oh, fuck me. the seller even has positive feedback for items sold.
January 19, 2010 at 7:29 pm
ugh. That is all.
January 19, 2010 at 7:31 pm
Helen I think I love you
January 19, 2010 at 7:33 pm
Contemparart?????
More like CONTEMPT
So fucking sick of resellers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 19, 2010 at 7:35 pm
noadi, the link i commented on in #40 was a completely different etsy shop, that’s why i was questioning if that shop was also a fake as the one mentioned here
..but i agree on the one featured here- you can tell it’s a fake just by the fact that they’re trying to sell fake chanels that are able to be customized by chopping out part of the interlocking “C”‘s
January 19, 2010 at 7:36 pm
FF2C&WMV#53- bwa ha ha…
“die!!!!!!!” lmfao
January 19, 2010 at 7:41 pm
Wow, this one’s not even fun to mock. Grrr.
That’s it. I’m going to Goodwill and buying up all the purses, and selling them as ‘vintage’. It’ll be more honest than this.
January 19, 2010 at 7:43 pm
#47 that fucking cat.LOL
January 19, 2010 at 7:44 pm
So let me guess, she runs a daycare as a front for her child filled sweat shop in the basement right?
*Grumble Grumble*
January 19, 2010 at 7:49 pm
So ho many flags do you suppose she got today? I did, and I see a few of you all did too. People like her make me want to reach into my computer and slap them!
January 19, 2010 at 7:54 pm
OMG she is charging 200 bucks for it?!
January 19, 2010 at 8:11 pm
A pile of AWESOME to combat the posted tragedy. (for reals. too bad she lives so far from me because i WANT a portrait mug.)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/houseofharriet
January 19, 2010 at 8:16 pm
Her shop has one supposed Heart; from A Secret Admirer/someone who’s chosen to keep their identity private. Whatever twisted motive they had for hearting the shop, they were wise to keep covert, as I’m sure armies would join me to heap scorn upon them, as well.
January 19, 2010 at 8:23 pm
Thank you for supporting real handmade, even if it’s not pretty! This was just brought to my attention from the Etsy Call Out blog and what’s weird, before I even came here to check it out, I went to the shop and flagged this exact same purse!
#62….sometimes I think those items get hearted so they can keep track of their flagging!
January 19, 2010 at 8:34 pm
The worst part is, every listing (that I clicked on anyways) is described as “imported” by the seller.
Fresh off the boat and ready for resale. Grr.
January 19, 2010 at 8:36 pm
#63 theres an etsy call out blog omg where????
January 19, 2010 at 8:37 pm
#40 razberries :
just searching around…do you guys think this shop is real?
http://www.etsy.com/profile.php?user_id=6924557
*****************
I guess this shop won’t be going anywhere if the above shop is still there with that many sales, Raz!
January 19, 2010 at 8:38 pm
Really #65? Or are you just messing with me?
January 19, 2010 at 8:40 pm
As long as you can deal with some of the drama there from some of the people that comment, here it is:
http://etsycallout.wordpress.com/
January 19, 2010 at 8:54 pm
ooh what a juicy link, takila- i will check this out later…
January 19, 2010 at 11:29 pm
I love the Etsy Call Out site. I’ve only had a trouble with 2 sellers, but I’ve caught a lot of scams from them.
January 20, 2010 at 12:27 am
You know, 8 hours later and this item (and shop) are still listed on etsy.
So, either no one flagged it, or like they all say on the forums: flagging doesn’t seem to be working as far as resellers are concerned.
What the fuck — etsy staff — how about some competence?
January 20, 2010 at 1:02 am
Reselling scumbag – go back to eBay!
January 20, 2010 at 2:42 am
It’s got three fucking hearts. That’s what’s sad. This purse has been flagged a million times (I’m sure), and not only is it still a active listing, but it’s got hearts.
Who’s fault is this? The seller or the admins for allowing this?
THREE DAMN HEARTS!
January 20, 2010 at 2:57 am
I registered on Etsy just to flag this. I may also stick around and buy some of the great whimsicle fuckery I’ve found thanks to this blog.
January 20, 2010 at 3:36 am
Compare these two items:
“Men’s Rritish Glow Bi-fold Wallet” (Nice Engrish there, btw) http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=37520086
“MW616S Omnia Crystal Genuine Leather Men’s Wallet” http://www.de-asiar.com/men/html/?290.html
January 20, 2010 at 5:47 am
#82 – it’s been pulled from etsy. That’s a good thing, right?
January 20, 2010 at 6:05 am
Once again it takes Regretsy to urge the admins to do their job.
Helen, is Etsy paying you? Because they should.
January 20, 2010 at 6:11 am
Excellent, it’s gone.
January 20, 2010 at 6:14 am
Of course its handmade,silly willys. I don’t know why people don’t think some random Etsy crafter would have a triple stitch top stitch machine hanging around their sewing room. Everyone has one of those, right? Right along side the commercial machine that is strong enough to go through 4 layers of leather.
January 20, 2010 at 8:16 am
Poof. The entire shop is gone. I was one of those hearts. Other than bookmarking, it’s the only way to keep track of this kind of thing, once you flag it. She’ll probably come back though. They usually do.
January 20, 2010 at 8:22 am
frankenkitty- i wonder how many flags it takes for etsy to remove this stuff? glad to see it’s gone too!! the sick thing is she made 3 freaking sales and she was only open since the end of december…LOL
and stinkbait, you are so right- etsy should be paying killer!
another thing, why does this moron still have a store front up? shouldn’t the WHOLE entire thing be erased???
http://www.etsy.com/shop/minah1221
January 20, 2010 at 8:29 am
If my wife wants a shitty sweatshop purse, we’ll shop at the swapmeet, not Etsy, so we can also get corn dogs and some mariachi CDs.
January 20, 2010 at 10:06 am
and the beat goes on….
January 20, 2010 at 10:07 am
btw, how do I change my f***ing avatar, for God’s sakes!?
January 20, 2010 at 10:14 am
@#91 Henmen: Gravatar.com, use the same e-mail address for Regretsy and Gravatar.
January 20, 2010 at 10:31 am
thanks allot #92, @Skully!
January 20, 2010 at 10:57 am
*clicks picture and gets taken to an Etsy page*
“Uh oh!
Sorry, the item you are looking for does not exist.”
Excellent.
January 20, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Terrific job Regretsy … and commentators. You guys have done in ONE day what would take Etsy at least a month. The shop is down. How about a regular sleuthing “regretsy” team here ….. hummmmm?
January 20, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Razberries …. yep shop front is still up. But zero products. This is even better than erasing it entirely. Because it’s obvious she’s been closed. No vacation mode …. just EMPTY …. great!
January 20, 2010 at 12:42 pm
I just clicked on the regretsy link and got an Uh Oh! page. Does this mean Etsy took the shop down? Or is this like when hot handbag people in Chinatown close the shutters and hide until the heat passes?
January 20, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Her entire shop is empty now.
January 20, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Good job everyone!
Maybe this will reduce the amount of negativity from real Etsy sellers.
January 20, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Oh PS. This would be an awesome regular addition to the wonderful whimsicle fuckery and whimsical awesomery.
January 21, 2010 at 4:35 am
as a jeweller im amazed at these 2 etsy sellers identical skills and the fact that they can make that and afford to sell it for those prices, i guess they are just being generous!… freaking amazing!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38725566
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37546984
January 21, 2010 at 4:57 am
and these are like, so amazing too, like just so amazing, im lost for words..
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36755800
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34339197
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37507333
January 21, 2010 at 5:41 am
oh i found another…
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18167067
January 21, 2010 at 9:50 am
@Bean, pretty absurd that owl-butt ugly ring is sold for more out of Hong Kong than Louisiana–given its assumed origin.
January 21, 2010 at 5:44 pm
#104 perhaps she is greedy, unless the currency exchange is going against her favour? Im an aussie, and im sure ive seen these or something very similar at my local variety store for AU$5…. hmmmm i think i just had a brain fart.. oh no, its gone
oh well i guess i’ll just have to keep on making my own stuff…
January 22, 2010 at 12:12 pm
How’s about some examples of vintage brand fraud?
Now, identifying the true first edition of a book can be hard. “To Kill a Mockingbird” is EASY.
Here’s a picture of what you SHOULD see on a first edition:
http://www.fedpo.com/BookDetail.php?bk=43
And here it is on Etsy, 24th printings sold as 1st ed for $300 & $600 each
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33135866
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24194206
Yes, I’ve flagged them over and over and…
January 23, 2010 at 11:55 pm
#102-103- there’s long been a “what is handmade” debate. 2 dozen beads on a string, that’s a handmade necklace- but what about 3 beads? Or 1? Or putting a pendant on a chain? Or if the pendant has beads around it? Is there a specific number? etc. I think the line is more clearly crossed when a seller seems to imply that they actually made the pendant itself, as in that #103 link. Still, what’s annoying or disingenuous to you and me still might not violate Etsy TOU and isn’t worth flagging.
January 23, 2010 at 11:57 pm
But that owl ring thing is bullshit. However, put a string through it and bingo- handmade. Sigh.
January 24, 2010 at 7:45 pm
yeah i was more concerned with the owl rings, i just thought it bizzare that so many ppl ‘make’ the exact same thing, with possible slight variations, i guess they shop in the same craft store…
March 8, 2011 at 6:16 pm
Okey dokey, here’s a COINCIDENCE!!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/61618034/antiqued-sliver-camera-necklace-with?ref=v1_other_1
Located in HONG KONG
(poor little kiddie fingers)
And….ta dah:
http://www.amazon.com/oo35mm-Vintage-Camera-Necklace-Black/dp/B0039C3WV0/ref=pd_bxgy_misc_img_b
Located in NEW YORK (imported into CHINATOWN, no doubt)
Can’t wait to call out their ass!!!!