These are two Hug Me Slugs I made for Giggle Moon Photography, in exchange for professional photographs of my toys with kids, something I was looking forward to having. The exchange was also supposed to include a feature in a children’s counting book, and free advertising in the book, on the web, on Facebook, and on the Giggle Moon Photography site. I sent these off to Janean Linder, the owner, back in June of 2011, but, unfortunately, none of these things ever happened.
I had a hard time getting any response from Giggle Moon, but was told in two emails over the past seven months that there were reasons the work couldn’t be done, even though I continued to see photo sessions posted, throughout the same time period, on the Giggle Moon Facebook page. I’ve reported the incident to Etsy, and asked Giggle Moon to reimburse me for the toys.
I’d like to warn anyone on Etsy about participating in trades. I know I won’t be doing any more trades. Everything looked legitimate, and I’d had a good experience with sending my toys to be photographed for a TV show, with another Etsy member, who returned them in perfect condition, in short order. So, I thought this would be a similar experience, and am very displeased over the situation. This is my business. Even though it is pleasant to make toys, most of the time, I don’t do it for entertainment. I do it to make a living. I would never expect to walk into a store, take something, and not pay for it. I don’t expect anyone to do that with my shop either. If anyone else has had a similar experience, please report it to trust@etsy.com. Etsy doesn’t mediate in trades, but they do investigate suspected scammers.
I am continuing to make my toys, and trying not to be angry. This is what my workroom looks like right now, filled with fabric and projects, with hardly any room for me. As you can see, I am not some big toy company, but one person, working from home, making toys by hand. I don’t wholesale, and I don’t send out free samples. I send toys directly to their new homes, where I hope they will be appreciated and loved.
Update, as of April 2012: Janean Linder at Giggle Moon Photography never did pay for the toys she kept. This is just stealing. Beware of dealing with her.
2 Comments
…I’m so sorry to hear that this has happened to you. I’ve never participated in a trade, I’ve been offered to but declined each time. I don’t even like to reserve items on Etsy but I have. I’m just a bit shy when it comes to things of that nature. It isn’t that I don’t trust, I am just not comfortable with that type of situation and now reading your story backs up those feelings even more.
…I do hope that everything will be made right and thank you for sharing your story with us.
…And seeing the picture of your sewing room reminds me to never, ever complain about close quarters in my sewing room again. ;o)
…Blessings
)
Thanks for the moral support, TJ. I won’t be trading again. She hasn’t followed through on anything she’s promised so far. She said someday she’d reimburse me, but when I asked for an address to send the invoice, she ignored me again. I think she only wrote back because I reported her, and then she went back to ignoring me. Terrible way to do business.
Yes, I am trying to work in some tight quarters right now. I hope I can get that a little more under control so I don’t fall over anything.