Handmade category - in the wrong place

[madelaine]

To find out how stupid people can be, read the posts about buyer misunderstandings.

We need to make it easy for people to find what they want.

Mostly I agree that eBid has a reasonable search engine.

I still think that putting finished items under a section which is predominantly craft materials is a mistake.

No-one goes to Hobbycraft to buy completed items.

[purplestevie]

To find out how stupid people can be, read the posts about buyer misunderstandings.

We need to make it easy for people to find what they want.

Mostly I agree that eBid has a reasonable search engine.

I still think that putting finished items under a section which is predominantly craft materials is a mistake.

No-one goes to Hobbycraft to buy completed items.

You can purchase handmade items from a wool shop

[madelaine]

True... sometimes... but that is an exception. Generally, the finished crafts & craft materials are in different places.

And wool shops have windows - there is no way for eBid to attract passing trade.

[Maelbrigda]

I would readily move my handmade items back from Etsy to ebid if there was a handmade section. I would also transfer all my hand made items to it and assist in helping others

[cerealmunkee]

True... sometimes... but that is an exception. Generally, the finished crafts & craft materials are in different places.

And wool shops have windows - there is no way for eBid to attract passing trade.

There's no way for Ebid to attract passing trade?
actually there's opportunity to do exactly this....often i'm told by buyers " i happened to come across the site".....i wonder how they found Ebid?, it was by casually browsing Google search....that's how these fortunate few came across the listings that had resulted in a sale. Google is exactly like a shop window and its a good idea to ensure that as much that you have to offer finds its way onto there.....it really works.

[madelaine]

Not for handmade items specifically - yes, if someone is google searching for them, they will find them, even if they were hidden under DVDs. But, I suspect that in the example given of wool shops, the completed items they sell will be as a result of people seeing them in the window (oh, and before my comments are dissected, I don't mean "A person will only buy what they see in the window"). In the case of google shopping, if someone is searching for handmade then items without that word in the title will NOT be found.

No-one has said anything that convinces me that the handmade items are in the right place on eBid. In fact, I don't think many of you think it either (please tell me if you do).

[Posbear]

I have said it before (#25) this needs its own Top Level Category.

I have just searched for hand crafted, I found 487 listings spread over 14 Top categories.
Handmade returned 4549 listings spread over 24 Top categories
Hand made returned 5128 listings spread over 23 Top categories

If all of those listings (over 10,000) were put into one Hand Crafted/Hand Made Top category then there would be a proper showcase for those items instead of them being spread far and wide and probably hidden away for 'window shoppers'

As I said in my previous post, sub-categories would need to be discussed with sellers.

This is one category that could benefit eBid.

[Maelbrigda]

Yes i would request
handmade> jewellery> sub-catagories
handmade> wooden items
handmade> knitted items >possibly sub-cats
handmade> crochet >possibly subcats
handmade> sewing> clothes
>toys
>household items
handmade> cards> sub-cats
handmade>bath & beauty> sub-cats
handmade> altered art
handmade> other

and i'm sure others could think of more.

[purplestevie]

I would have thought ebid would want to compete/lure sellers and their buyers away from etsy/folksy/and the flagging misi but obviously not.
I think possibly specialistauctions has finally bit the dust too.

[yellerbelly]

There's no way for Ebid to attract passing trade?
actually there's opportunity to do exactly this....often i'm told by buyers " i happened to come across the site".....i wonder how they found Ebid?, it was by casually browsing Google search....that's how these fortunate few came across the listings that had resulted in a sale. Google is exactly like a shop window and its a good idea to ensure that as much that you have to offer finds its way onto there.....it really works.

Hi
Just read this thread but I am a Dummie where computers are concerned and still learning and no one at home or near by I can ask. Set up a Google account when I attended a beginners course last year but never use it as I find it difficult to find my way around compared to Outlook but not quite sure how to promote my items on Google. I do not want my personal details showing on screen hence I do not have a facebook account (long story) so if anyone has the patience to explain to me would be appreciated.

Thanks
Maria