A Monkey, A Witchy and a Plurk Walk into a bar...

Not sure if you've taken note, but I have grown weary of keeping mum on certain activities online. I have decided I am done keeping quiet on situations I feel strongly about.

One such situation is my feelings for Etsy. I've been on the fence about them for awhile. I am debating my future on that venue. Now you know I am a venue whore and will try them all. Some I stay at, some I don't. (Please don't get me started on 1,000 Markets.)

Let me interject...if you sell on any venue I do not sell on, or a venue I have a problem with, keep in mind, that will NOT stop me from purchasing from you! (Okay well, maybe 1KM because I don't dig the Amazon Payments.) So I FULLY Support you selling on whatever venue you want to! Sell wherever you can!! Sell where you can make money!! I absolutely believe in that!

I however, am disillusioned with Etsy and tired. Tired of admins closing threads, tired of front page favoritism, tired of Etsy fails such as the SEO Meta Tag debacle, tired of the venue not listening to its sellers. NOne of this means I am tired of Etsy sellers (well maybe a few...) Etsy sellers are some of the greatest artisans around!

And of those artisans, a few have decided to join me in my protest.

Now one can argue that because I have multiple shops this protest won't really matter to me! That is likely true. I sell on Artfire as my main venue now. I do maintain two other Etsy shops, and I shall explain them. The flower pens shop is a unique niche that I basically just maintain. No more relisting. (Or listing of new items.) The soap shop is actually just for wholesale inquiries. If the soap sells, great. If not...guess what, it's on my Artfire shop too!

So yes, I guess technically this protest might not make one bit of difference for my 'main' Etsy shop. And isn't that sad?? Due to Etsy's practices, that shop won't get found ANYWAY, so will it really matter?

But I digress....here are the artisans willing to join in the protest.

agoodwitchtoo.etsy.com


Who can now be found at: http://www.artfire.com/users/thecoppercauldronsoaps










lalabug71.etsy.com

Who can now be found at:
http://www.artfire.com/users/LaDeDaCreations

















ceejaybags.etsy.com

Who Can Now Be Found at:

http://www.artfire.com/users/ceejaybags













elegancebymode.etsy.com

Who can now be found at:
http://www.artfire.com/users/Elegancebymode

So join us in this protest if you wish, it's okay if you don't!

I will support you no matter where you sell!


And many thanks to the artist that inspired this:
emcisaac.etsy.com


No, this probably won't make even a drop in the bucket of change. But it makes ME feel better and I am proud of the artisans who are pushing for change, no matter where or how they do it!

Want to sell with less of a headache? Just go to Artfire. You'll thank me later.

Amy, climbing down off my ladder so you can now beat me with baby seals.

Breaking CPSIA News, Via www.etsy.com

We are so excited to announce that the Commission has voted for a "Stay of Enforcement of Certain Testing and Certification Requirements of CPSIA" — which means that the burden of lead testing and certification has been suspended for a year while they take more time to review the rules and plan enforcement! All of your hard work has paid off (for the time being at least!). You don't have to pay to do the certification and testing, though you are still liable if your products are found to have lead. We are so pleased that artisans and vintage sellers got their voices heard. Your hard work is not over; we must continue to play a role in advocating for small business people throughout the coming year.

"The action taken today provides breathing space to get in place some of the rules needed for implementation, but it should not be viewed as a full solution to the many problems that have been raised." —U.S. Consumer product Safety Commission

You'll find the press release below:

CPSC Grants One Year Stay of Testing and Certification Requirements for Certain Products

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously (2-0) to issue a one year stay of enforcement for certain testing and certification requirements for manufacturers and importers of regulated products, including products intended for children 12 years old and younger. These requirements are part of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which added certification and testing requirements for all products subject to CPSC standards or bans.

Significant to makers of children’s products, the vote by the Commission provides limited relief from the testing and certification requirements which go into effect on February 10, 2009 for new total lead content limits (600 ppm), phthalates limits for certain products (1000 ppm), and mandatory toy standards, among other things. Manufacturers and importers – large and small – of children’s products will not need to test or certify to these new requirements, but will need to meet the lead and phthalates limits, mandatory toy standards and other requirements.

The decision by the Commission gives the staff more time to finalize four proposed rules which could relieve certain materials and products from lead testing and to issue more guidance on when testing is required and how it is to be conducted.

The stay will remain in effect until February 10, 2010, at which time a Commission vote will be taken to terminate the stay.

The stay does not apply to:

• Four requirements for third-party testing and certification of certain children’s products subject to:

  • The ban on lead in paint and other surface coatings effective for products made after December 21, 2008;

  • The standards for full-size and non full-size cribs and pacifiers effective for products made after January 20, 2009;

  • The ban on small parts effective for products made after February 15, 2009; and

  • The limits on lead content of metal components of children’s jewelry effective for products made after March 23, 2009.

• Certification requirements applicable to ATV’s manufactured after April 13, 2009.

• Pre-CPSIA testing and certification requirements, including for: automatic residential garage door openers, bike helmets, candles with metal core wicks, lawnmowers, lighters, mattresses, and swimming pool slides; and

• Pool drain cover requirements of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act.

The stay of enforcement provides some temporary, limited relief to the crafters, children’s garment manufacturers and toy makers who had been subject to the testing and certification required under the CPSIA. These businesses will not need to issue certificates based on testing of their products until additional decisions are issued by the Commission. However, all businesses, including, but not limited to, handmade toy and apparel makers, crafters and home-based small businesses, must still be sure that their products conform to all safety standards and similar requirements, including the lead and phthalates provisions of the CPSIA.

Handmade garment makers are cautioned to know whether the zippers, buttons and other fasteners they are using contain lead. Likewise, handmade toy manufacturers need to know whether their products, if using plastic or soft flexible vinyl, contain phthalates.

The stay of enforcement on testing and certification does not address thrift and second hand stores and small retailers because they are not required to test and certify products under the CPSIA. The products they sell, including those in inventory on February 10, 2009, must not contain more than 600 ppm lead in any accessible part. The Commission is aware that it is difficult to know whether a product meets the lead standard without testing and has issued guidance for these companies that can be found on our Web site.

The Commission trusts that State Attorneys General will respect the Commission's judgment that it is necessary to stay certain testing and certification requirements and will focus their own enforcement efforts on other provisions of the law, e.g. the sale of recalled products.

Please visit the CPSC Web site at www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html for more information on all of the efforts being made to successfully implement the CPSIA.

Save the Gnome...

So sad for this little fella..... someone save him!