Unfortunately, MakerPlace has been getting a lot of AliCrap listings lately. Several of us have written Seller Support, but to my knowledge nothing has been done. I’m hoping that if we flood support with complaints, maybe action will be taken before MakerPlace turns into another garbage dump like Etsy or Amazon Handmade.
I created a written template to accompany our submissions (or you can write your own). I also made files which you can cut and paste for each item.
Thanks to Wade for researching. This will be an ongoing thread, and everyone is welcome to add their findings.
@makerplacesellers@michaels.com
First, I want to thank you for setting up a marketing platform dedicated to products handmade by the seller. I hope that MakerPlace continues to grow and is successful for all of us.
However, growth also attracts scam artists, re-sellers who offer commercial non-handmade products — especially items purchased for pennies on the dollar from sites such as AliExpress and Temu.
This is fraud. [fraud (noun): the crime of getting money by deceiving people.]
Our customers deserve better. MakerPlace should be a destination marketplace for all things handcrafted by the artist, not a dumping ground for cheap commercial goods. Not only will Ali/Temu listings degrade the quality of MakerPlace and alienate potential customers, it also opens Michaels/MakerPlace to lawsuits from buyers claiming fraud.
As such, I recommend that MakerPlace should not only remove the offending items, but also permanently ban the reseller and their IP address.
A team of trusted handcraft artists is compiling a list of fraudulent MakerPlace items which we will send you. Please make this a priority.
The quite-hoary old phrase “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” became well-known in the English-speaking World - andbeyond its boundaries - for more than a singular reason, n’est ce-pas?
Whereas I love all the interactions on this post, I was hoping at least some of you are sympathetic to the cause and will email MakerPlace.
Wade and I may not be enough to stir MakerPlace to address this problem. However, 20 of us on SAS, all sending multiple letters and files, would make a big impact.
Here’s how I did it:
The text template is in the body of the email.
All four files with pictures were sent as attachments.
I can send files to you if you don’t know how to make them. Or you can copy the picture files from this thread, and paste them into the body of the email. I stripped all formattng from the text so it should copy as seen.
Yes, this a CALL TO ACTION, and I appreciate anyone who has the time and inclination to act — not just MakerPlace sellers, but anyone, really. That said, I understand if this isn’t your thang, and I’m OK with that, too.
Wade sent me several more MakerPlace/AliCrap links, and I’ll create files and post here if there’s interest.
feeling just a little tired and despondent at the moment — but this, too, shall pass.
I applaud the enthusiasm and effort, but I don’t think that Michaels is going to really be any different than Etsy and Amazon.
Michaels already sources their own goods to sell in store from everywhere.
If they’ve not bothered to really vet the makers because they don’t have the will nor manpower, they aren’t going to have the will nor manpower to act after the floodgates are already open.
We little businesses that care don’t have to answer to investors and shareholders, but Michaels does. Unless those that care are significant shareholders, the status quo of “handmade” is going to continue.
It seems to me that the best model for Makersplace is to make some tutorials using Michaels supplies and generate passive income.
I am sorry if you feel your post was circumvented. I agree with everything you are saying but I suspect our best chance of getting rid of fake handmade goods would be for a group of us, along with Michael’s staff, to vet all sellers, the way they do on the new “go imagine” website for handmade goods.
There should be a vetting process and then an appeals process to keep it fair.
I don’t think it’s a good use of my time. Michael’s has more the demonstrated they don’t want to follow the advice of seasoned sellers in setting up a functional marketplace which benefits all sellers. I highly doubt they want to go down the rabbit hole of trying to police non handmade things.
We all want a place that is handmade only and Michael’s main focus is selling more craft supplies.
That’s a great idea going forward, but for now I’d like to see as much garbage gone as possible. Until (if even) we get a vetting team, the best we can do is report resellers. Maybe MakerPlace will listen; maybe they won’t, but at least I’m trying.
I applaud your efforts and hope they bring some positive change.
But after almost 3 months of no sales and more than a month and a half without resolution of broken stats for my store, I’m not very inclined to try much anything on MP. I barely want to go through the get my verification code to log-in each day to keep an eye on the site, just in case something happens there.
I’ve also posted my displeasure on the official facebook page which is monitored well by Makerplace mods. I don’t expect much other than more awareness.
I understand that those who are not making sales are not inclined to be bothered with the effort.
At this early stage of their development, one person could have done a fair job of vetting sellers just by looking at a seller’s other venues.
Tonight:
ALL of STELLAR Jewelry items have a “Currently unavailable” banner across the picture. The shop front page is still up, but no products are shown.
The Junk Drawer
