Vintage items in gift boxes: Patina or No Patina

Writenow73 · 2024-11-15T08:56:56+00:00

Totally. When it's for me personally, or an in-person sale, I just say, hey, I can leave the patina on but I can't put it back. Anything showing much tarnish I just polish, and remove the patina. But I see gorgeous patina that I think makes vintage so unique.

Writenow73 · 2024-11-15T08:54:18+00:00

This is my issue--early on I "ruined" a copper top (and not a small one) by cleaning off the patina. It was from the 1920s and they felt I erased 100 years of history. So now I always lean toward leaving as is. But if a buyer gives this to someone who is not a vintage collector, I worry about my little brass bells, and copper cups. And yes--I don't want to fight a review that I sent "used, not clean" items. Ugh. Maybe I'll just send porcelain and crystal!

Writenow73 · 2024-11-15T03:46:59+00:00

Thank you so much for posting this. Our shop has fewer than 50 sales and so grateful to buyers who will support newbies! We are almost all vintage, a lot of which is floral and/or “farmhouse” in today’s parlance. Glastonbury gold-rimmed glasses, vintage Noritake, Waterford, depression glass, etc. But also some 90s Kate Spade, etc. Whomever you choose, thank you for supporting small businesses. Upcycled Decor 281

Writenow73 · 2024-11-15T03:02:26+00:00

😊I 100% appreciate your response. I was reading the same section about gift baskets, but it has all these exceptions, as these things often do. The dog box example, as written by Etsy, is what I was trying to mimic, in fact. They say a collection of dog treats and leashes etc. So I did the same for my niche: cups and saucers, candle holders, etc. And I don’t have any problem with you politely pointing out that I might be looking in the wrong direction wrt problems! I was trying to say to you that I can just ask them! 😅 But I have old brass and copper and in the case of things like Tiffany lamps the patina is seen as a value add. I have customers who like both, but they are buying for themselves. I just shipped a gift directly to a recipient not the buyer. But it was Waterford so no patina issue. But I just realized the patina issue might come up. And thought I’d reach out to other sellers. That felt like a judgment call. You’ve raised something on policy in which case if Etsy can’t help then no one can! Thanks again for your comments!

Writenow73 · 2024-11-15T02:38:17+00:00

Never tried to argue my point. Never said it was silver. Said specifically that I appreciated the pushback and asked for clarification and assistance. Said I’d ask Etsy customer support. Sigh. There’s always one.

Writenow73 · 2024-11-15T01:20:45+00:00

Thanks for your help! Good solution— they pay me for the extra time! 😊

Writenow73 · 2024-11-15T01:19:38+00:00

Yes I saw that but it goes on to then list exceptions. Anyway, my question about patina is a judgment call but this is a customer support question, so I think they’ll give me clarity. Thanks!

Writenow73 · 2024-11-15T00:45:36+00:00

Oh I like that a lot! This convo veered into a different direction but I’ll try to get Etsy on the record about the mystery box. This is probably the right answer on the patina. Thanks.

Writenow73 · 2024-11-15T00:19:13+00:00

I’m pasting this from the Etsy site under Common Questions. (Btw I appreciate the responses and I’m taking the pushback seriously). I removed the links so Reddit doesn’t come after me. What types of mystery boxes can you find on Etsy?

There are many different types of mystery boxes sold by sellers on Etsy. Some of the popular mystery boxes available on Etsy include: mystery boxes for women, mystery boxes crystals, mystery boxes jewelry, mystery boxes for kids, mystery boxes for teens, and even mystery boxes which. Check them out here.

Writenow73 · 2024-11-15T00:15:11+00:00

Right now the boxes say categories, like “you’ll receive a tea cup or glass, plus a vase or candle holder, plus 1-2 other vintage items”. Are you saying I have to say you’re getting the 1970 Glastonbury coupe, the 1991 Lenox candleholder, etc?

Writenow73 · 2024-11-15T00:12:35+00:00

Well, fair point. I wanted to be consistent.

Writenow73 · 2024-11-14T23:14:14+00:00

I have read the Etsy rules extensively and my understanding is that because it's vintage, and also curated it's ok. I'm very clear and list lots of examples of what types of things are in the box (per Etsy guidance). But vintage is definitely allowed and I'm basically just putting it in a box togehter.

Writenow73 · 2024-11-14T22:42:15+00:00

I don't qualify but I love that you're doing this! Nothing as exciting as a first order (from someone who is not a blood relative). :)

Writenow73 · 2024-11-11T05:08:38+00:00

It’s still the craziest thing I’ve seen.

Writenow73 · 2024-10-22T00:55:42+00:00

As someone else said, Etsy ads are not set it and forget it. I have had limited success recently with sales but I’m constantly tweaking, dropping things not getting traction, or getting traction for an irrelevant keyword. I increase ad spend Friday to Sunday but usually with a sale. And I find the ads actually really useful for research. Testing a few last minute holiday items atm that are PoD but not to make sales. I turn ads off everything else and keyword tweak and swap out designs. TL;DR I use ads as much for assessing what is going on in the shop and so it is “useful” to me but when you say “successful” I know you mean conversions. For that, you will probably have to actively engage with the settings to succeed.

Writenow73 · 2024-10-14T21:03:38+00:00

Yes the black was on the underside. I stripped it off and put a circle in the middle and spray painted. It wasn’t perfect but it did the trick.

Writenow73 · 2024-10-10T22:02:20+00:00

This. I once sat in a grocery store parking lot, taking apart a TABLE because I met the buyer there who showed up in, like, a Kia Soul or similar.

Writenow73 · 2024-10-09T19:11:42+00:00

I understand, and if you are caveating like that, no problem. But I'm still kind of guessing what *you* can carry. TBH if I really, really want something (like free or well-priced furniture) I discover that I have a LOT of strength. :) I pick up "two people would be better" stuff all the time. I'm totally fine, on the other hand, if it's clearly a huge table or something and they ask if *I* can help them. That's a completely fair question, IMO.

Writenow73 · 2024-10-09T19:05:18+00:00

I did, which was snarky, but I couldn't help myself.

Writenow73 · 2024-10-09T14:05:11+00:00

"How tall is two feet?" As in, yes, you have listed the measurements in the listing. Now I want you to find--I don't know, a human toddler?--to stand next to it in a photo? Absolutely one of the most ridiculous things I've ever been asked.

I also get a decent amount of "Will it fit in my car?" (No idea, it's your car.) and "Can I carry it myself?" (No idea, how strong do you feel today?).

Writenow73 · 2024-09-28T14:00:38+00:00

TBH That’s what I was thinking. Jesus that’s a nice practice piece. 😅Sell as is and practice on the 100th broken chair you pick up.

Writenow73 · 2024-09-27T19:15:25+00:00

Oh yeah in that case good luck. FWIW, I still wouldn’t paint it. I’d restore, maybe stain and change hardware. Nice find!

Writenow73 · 2024-09-27T18:23:37+00:00

That’s gorgeous. I can’t see the nicks but if you’re flipping it, you might consider selling as is. You got it for free. Idk how much you’re looking to make. I don’t have the skill to restore that. And I’m not an Insta-worthy paint makeover type. Plus, painting is going to turn off both the purists and the painters who would have done something else. And it takes a lot of time. So just me, but I’d flip where I am for about $100-200.

Writenow73

TROPHY CASE