Oy! I'm confused ...

YiddleMama:) · Cub with 1 spot Joined: 10 Feb 2012 Posts: 45 HC$ 38.27

I thought HC was for mostly hand-made items (it's automatically a tag), but lately I'm having trouble sifting through all the mass produced crud (tagged with "hand made"). I mean the occasional menstrual cup, eco-friendly detergent, amber teething necklace, etc is quite nice to find on HC (and of course mass produced supplies used to HAND craft items) ...
But in the last 10 minutes, I counted 5 stores selling nothing but mass-produced stuff (some of it isn't even eco-friendly)... Disbelief

not a single item they have listed is hand-made.
... Am I missing something? Or am I just being grumpy?
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CarrieMcD · Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 4:30 pm Post subject:

I'm kindof a loyalist customer, so I really only frequent a handful of vendors. I've been here a while and I've found what I like and rarely go outer bounds with my shopping now. But I actually rarely come across mass produced products. Maybe it was an unlucky shopping day? shrug

HCSupport · Maxed out Hyena Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 1323 HC$ 2.60

Hi YiddleMama -- we've never had a strict policy against mass made items although, as you said, the site is mostly handmade goodies. If you send the list of stores to the helpdesk at support@hyenacart.com, we can take a look. Usually, because of the shoppers we attract, sellers list items that are at least eco-friendly. But if they really don't fit in with the site, we can talk with the sellers. Thanks!
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YiddleMama:) · Cub with 1 spot Joined: 10 Feb 2012 Posts: 45 HC$ 38.27

I guess I was confused. Embarassed

Sorry.
I'm not against mass-production as a whole. Maybe if mass-produced items are welcome here on HC, then perhaps the "hand-made" tag could be optional, rather than automatic? Or perhaps the sellers of car-seats, strollers, factory-made-in-china-diaper bags, dancing plastic ET dolls, LEI shoes from 1990, pop-culture memorabilia, etc, could be asked to remove the "hand-made" tag when selling items that are mass-produced? It just makes shopping for hand-made gifts very difficult while having to wade through so much factory-made stuff.
Why I'm frustrated: I recommended HC to friend who is new to cloth diapers. She just bought a bunch of factory-made-in-china diapers here on HC because she found them while searching "hand-made" ... I'm trying to defend my beloved Hyena Cart, but I don't think she's ever going to shop here again Sad

From HC Seller FAQs:

hbyeager · Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 7:07 pm Post subject:

hbyeager · Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 7:09 pm Post subject:

mama2LilynDevon · Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 8:49 pm Post subject:

The fact that mass produces stuff is now on HC makes me sad. One, I've always looked at HC as a group of WAHM and Dads and a place you could get high quality handmade stuff. Two, where as I don't blame people for sticking with who they know so that they don't end up with some MIC junk, I'm worried that some great WAHMs aren't even going to get a shot because people won't branch out any longer. It just sad.
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HCSupport · Maxed out Hyena Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 1323 HC$ 2.60

Yes, I think it's a good idea to remove handmade as a default tag. People can add that when it's appropriate.

We realize it's always been a bit controversial to allow non-handmade items, but we tend to let the shoppers 'vote' with their dollars. Still, they need to be able to vote and know what they're buying, so we'll be sure to fix the tagging issue.

Thanks for the input!
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CarrieMcD · Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 7:41 am Post subject:

indiebambino · Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 6:39 pm Post subject:

I don't shop on HC anymore for this reason, and because of some bad experiences with sellers, I am debating on closing my own shop here as well. I feel like HC was a more eco handmade friendly place five years ago than it is now.
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HCSupport · Maxed out Hyena Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 1323 HC$ 2.60

mama2LilynDevon · Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 9:42 pm Post subject:

YiddleMama:) · Cub with 1 spot Joined: 10 Feb 2012 Posts: 45 HC$ 38.27

First of all, THANK YOU, for fixing the "hand-made" tag issue. That will make searching a much smoother process Smile

I must admit, I find it all the "plastic clutter" disappointing as well ... I don't want to become so engrossed in my desire to be eco-friendly, that I forget to be just plain friendly, but I would support a policy revision that more closely resembles the "front page" atmosphere Wink

. I feel like it cheapens my products and makes a mockery of what I do, to sell my wares next to a shop selling stuff that can easily be found at the nearest low-priced chain store.

I know that this venue has bills to pay, too. And I can only speak for myself when I say that I'm willing to see a price increase if that's whats necessary to keep HC from "selling it's soul to the devil" and losing it's hand-made/eco-friendly heart.
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HCSupport · Maxed out Hyena Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 1323 HC$ 2.60

Yes, this is a topic that has come up multiple times throughout the life of the site (even back before 5 years ago Wink

). It's the reason there is a specific question on the shopper survey that asks about the quality, variety, etc. of the items on the site. In this last round of surveys, the results have been, just as always, extremely high, reflecting the majority of items on the site (and all you amazing sellers). We even placed a specific question a while back about whether shoppers considered the stores very separate, or whether they thought the quality of the items in the stores reflected on each other. It was overwhelmingly voiced that the stores are separate, and if shoppers didn't like a store, they simply didn't go to it. It didn't affect their perception of other stores.

At the end of the day, the site reflects my life's philosophy which is 'live and let live' (with limits of course, if there is active harm inflicted on others). I believe the shoppers and the market are very smart, and will weed out the bad sellers, and celebrate the great ones (and the great ones do need to market themselves as well!) I know not everyone feels this way and would prefer a tighter rein on things, but it's just not me. I don't see HC as 'selling its soul to the devil.' The policy has never changed, it's always been what's articulated in the FAQ's as YiddleMama pointed out.
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