sbs

I just logged on here after not coming in here for awhile to see you guys are in the same boat I'm in. It's sad really. I cut my prices below cost a few times and nobody bought anything (this was on fb) but now its to the point where I'm trying to get rid of what I have and wait for things to pick back up.

I gave up on Etsy after 6 months and not one sale. Lots of posting, reposting, bought a couple of featured listings, participated in the forums, got into treasuries, jumped in and out of circles lol, got a bunch of views, and nothing -- not *1* sale. My prices were low and I always got complimented on my photos (good camera, nice angles, great looking product). Time and money wasted, for me anyway.

Thanks u guys... yeah I plan on withdrawing my savings and taking it elsewhere. It's always a problem with that bank. I'm so over their fees and incompetent, rude customer service reps. Guess that's what I get for banking out of a grocery store haha...jk. Not their fault about the fraud but I've had probs with this bank all along.

My CC was hacked today!! $38.90.. not a HUGE amount but all I had in my checking!! Damn it!!! Stupid people. A charge in London at some place I can't even pronounce. And my bank wants to charge me to send new cards out. WTF???

That's high. This past weekend was my first show and I saw a lady with soy status jars for $19 for a 9 oz. I wonder if people really buy them at these prices??? I have trouble getting someone to buy a 8 oz Mason for 8.95. It's like pulling teeth.

Your display is really nice! You did great in my opinion. I had a 2 day show this past weekend and made $130. SUCKED. Ha ha.. it was slow with low attendance and I wasn't the only one complaining so anyway $510 sounds awesome to me.

*they're*

Also people tend to have more interest in things they make themselves and that's why I said maybe they like making them and are giving them more credit than their worth because MAJORITY here (in this thread) thinks their not all that great.

When did you buy one of mine sbs? When did you determine that mine have no throw? When did you decide that I didn't test mine and that I just sell them to stupid people who buy them over and over because they don't throw?

Whoa whoa whoa it is NOT that serious! First of all I wasn't talking about "yours" I was talking about Smelly Jellies in general.

I sell a lot of smelly jelly jars and I have repeat customers at every show. I wonder what the difference is?

I sell mine as a kit. It comes with an envelope of the water crystals with directions, a plastic lid, a daisy lid and the FO of choice all inside the jelly jar. They mix it up when they get home. I have not has a single complaint in 3 years of selling them.

Maybe they just like making them because they seriously have no throw. I didn't even try to sell the ones I made at the fair this weekend. Too embarrassed. smh...

I decided to give these things a try to add to my line. But in my opinion THEY SUCK! I almost feel too embarrassed to try and sell the ones I made. Luckily I only made about 10. I was SO excited to try these things. I gave one to my sister for her car, put one in my car, put a 16 oz in the bathroom and these things have NO smell unless I put my nose to it. I had read a few good things about them here with the debates between beads and jelly. I used the rec. amount of FO and added more. I added as much as I could until the jelly looked like it had grease build up. Ugh.. I'm so disappointed.... I expected them to at least have a faint smell in the car.

When I see "triple scented" marketing I automatically think candlemaker newbie.

Ha ha.. I used this hook line when I first started my webpage. Then I read what the heck it meant and took it off. I saw a lady use it whose been selling candles for 10+ years but when I read up on "triple" scented candles, I realized it's just a hook for customers who don't know any better. Don't like it either. Now I just say HIGHLY scented.

As far as your website, I understand it is not finished but did find it a little hard to navigate, cold (as mentioned), and the scent page is a little overwhelming.

I like it! It's easy to navigate and the colors look better to me than your old site. Good job!

With local orders and providing samples though I don't see why you should ever run into these type of problems.

Ha ha ha.. I'm one of those idiots you mention! I ordered something TWICE that had measurements clear as day but for some reason or another I missed it or just didn't pay attention to it. When you are excited about purchasing I guess all that "stuff" is too detailed to bother with. So. As an idiot I can tell you that I LOVE when I see something pictured next to a ruler or a quarter or whatever so I have a visual of the actual size.. just because I AM too lazy to pick up a ruler lol... seriously.

I was a bride in 09 and with so many details, details, details it was hectic and cuhhhraaaazyy. I would have bit your head off for telling me my shoe was untied. Talk about BRIDEZILLA!

Yes and unfortunately I DO have to pay shipping for everything and can't afford to buy in bulk so prices that low wouldn't get me much of a profit at all if any.

Well Etsy for us has been good =) We love the sense of "family" we have over there (do have to say that the recent changes have kinda killed the family tho) but all in all it's been a great source for us and we get many new customers from it. Now Ill also say that jar candles are hit and miss, tarts sell very well, we do oils over there too and they go well, our glassware is hit and miss, but combine all them together and I would say it's worth it =) It is alot of work tho =)

As far as Blujay, we haven't looked into them but will check it out =)

I checked out your shop and you sell tarts and oils alot cheaper than mine. My clamshells I am willing to sell wholesale at 2.50 but not retail. I retail them at 3.95. You can get away with selling 1oz oils at 2.40... at that price I don't want to even say what I charge. And I thought my prices were low... Compared to alot of people mine are low. But yours I can't compete with.

I agree it depends on the fo but I have found, like luminous mentioned, the longer it cures the better it gets! I use cd wicks. I do not like eco's. I started with eco's and it just did not work out for me.

I like it much better! As soon as the candle pics are done it will be perfect! :0) Just my 2 cents. The soaps on the first page look great! And I like now when I click the soap tab it takes me directly to the soaps instead of the goat milk benefits page.

I have an Etsy store but I have not sold much on it. You really have to work it and promote it a lot to get it to work and I just don't have the time. But at least this way if a potential customer asks if I have a website I just give them my business card with the Etsy store address and tell them they can order from there if they want to. Cheaper than a website and right now that is all I can afford.

Yes this is what I do with my website. Promote it. I really don't see a point for Etsy I guess. So off to delete it...Thanks for your input.

P.S. My website is free and I use paypal for my shopping cart, same as etsy. Check weebly.com I love it so far!

Been on Etsy since January, no sales, plenty of views... I'm thinking about cancelling my account. Do you find it necessary to sell on Etsy and have a website anyway? Seems to be over saturated with candles... some cheaper than mine. Just wondering how many of you find Etsy successful?

You see my candles cost a little more than yours (I see on your website yours are already low in price) and I'm scared at 50% off I wouldn't make a substantial profit. Congrats on the new customers! Hopefully they will return to buy at regular price.

I usually have a weekly trivia question contest and I will give away a tart or samples but I don't use that to get fans, I only use it with the fans that I currently have so I know they are true fans. I have thought about some sort of give away for increase fan base, but just like you I don't want fake fans so to speak. :rolleyes2 But I have noticed with the fans that I have they really enjoy and look forward to the trivia questins and usually always post feedback on their prize they got. HTH

That sounds so fun! Well a giveaway would def increase your fan base and although you may lose half or more (like I'm predicting I will) you'll gain some keepers I'm sure (like I'm hoping I will, lol). If anything it will at least put my name out there some more. We'll see... but no more for me anytime in the near future. I like the idea of doing something weekly for current fans.. thanks. Now I must go brainstorm.

I agree too, that adding a small purchase requirement as part of the prize package, is a better way to draw potential customers, vs freebie hunters. I've learned that the hard way myself.

Thanks.. yeah no more freebies unless its some sort of contest on my own page. It's so crazy how they even find freebies on fb. The lady I sponsored had less than 1000 fans.. had a giveaway and now has almost 4000 in less than a week! There's no way to search for freebies or giveaways so how do these people even find them??? Word spreads fast I guess when you offer free stuff.

Tanks for your input and thoughts guys!

@Alwayswondering, yes I am new to this fb giveaway stuff too. I thought about it yesterday and I've decided to give coupons or discounts to these people next time so they are required to make a purchase in order to get the deal. Liked I added a $10 off any purchase of $40 or more or something like that. That way anyone who enters can expect to spend $$$ and not just expect a freebie! I'll try it out and see how it goes. Thanks for your help.