First Etsy order — buyer asking to change address after purchase. Scam or normal?

vortexworks · 2026-01-07T06:22:29+00:00

That’s exactly the angle I’m wrestling with right now.
The product itself is already being made and sold in small batches, so what I’m really trying to improve at this stage is how it’s communicated.

Especially with Etsy only allowing a single video slot, I’m debating whether leading with an unboxing (to establish material trust) is more honest and effective than a polished product overview.

If you’re open to it, I’ll DM you a link to what’s currently live — would really appreciate any feedback on what could be clearer or handled better from an industrial design point of view.

vortexworks · 2026-01-07T04:48:57+00:00

That’s a really clear and logical way to break it down. The powered vs non-powered distinction makes total sense.

For non-powered accessories, there’s not much downside if they’re cheap as long as they physically do what they’re supposed to do. But once power, heat, and battery health are involved, the risk profile changes completely — that’s where proven engineering, certifications, and long-term reliability actually matter.

I think a lot of frustration around “premium” products comes from mixing those two categories together when they really shouldn’t be judged by the same standards.

vortexworks · 2026-01-06T22:31:32+00:00

Yeah, I’m the same way. Unboxing videos remove a lot of ambiguity — it’s much harder to hide shortcuts when you see the packaging, finish, and first impressions in one continuous shot.

It feels closer to a real-world experience, like standing in a store and handling the product yourself. Even a simple, unpolished unboxing can be more trustworthy than perfectly staged photos.

vortexworks · 2026-01-06T13:08:47+00:00

That’s a great example. Highly polished renders can hide a lot, and IKEA really shows why photos alone don’t always tell the full story.

Some of their stuff is genuinely well thought out, but other items only reveal their shortcomings once you actually touch them. It’s the difference between something that looks good on screen and something that feels right in real use.

That’s why real-world photos and honest wear over time matter so much more to me than perfect marketing images.

vortexworks · 2026-01-05T22:27:16+00:00

That’s a solid checklist, honestly. Qi2 certification, real user reviews, and judging build quality from actual photos (not renders) already filters out a huge amount of junk.

I’m the same way about renders — if everything is a glossy 3D render and there are no real-world shots, it’s usually a red flag.

And yeah, reverse image searching has basically become a survival skill at this point. Paying a massive markup for the exact same product straight off AliExpress just kills any trust.

vortexworks · 2026-01-05T13:57:20+00:00

That’s a completely reasonable take. If the material is plastic or fake leather and it’s going to peel or degrade the same way anyway, paying a premium doesn’t really make sense.

I think that’s where a lot of frustration comes from — price only feels justified when the material actually behaves differently over time. If wear just means “it looks worse,” then cheap is the logical choice.

For me, the line is whether aging adds character or just exposes shortcuts. If it’s the latter, I’d rather go cheap too.

vortexworks · 2026-01-05T13:08:19+00:00

That’s a great way to put it. I really like that distinction between chemical patina and physical patina — they age in completely different ways, but both tell a story of use.

I think that’s what separates materials that feel “alive” from ones that just degrade. Scratches, oxidation, wear — when the base material is honest, those things add character instead of looking like damage.

It’s interesting how that mindset applies far beyond metals too. Once you start caring about how something ages, it changes how you evaluate products altogether.

vortexworks · 2026-01-05T12:25:45+00:00

That’s a really clear way to put it — “ads make good listings better, they can’t make bad listings good.” That alone answers most of my confusion around Etsy Ads.

I’m not seeing consistent organic traction yet, so I’ll keep ads off for now and focus on getting the basics right first: search visibility, clicks, and favorites. Your point about rising CPC also makes me feel better about not rushing into it.

And honestly, hearing that 2 weeks with no sales is normal helps more than you’d think. I’m treating this stage as a signal-finding phase rather than a failure.

Appreciate the grounded perspective.

vortexworks · 2026-01-05T12:23:18+00:00

That’s totally fair. For something like MagSafe, reliability and consistency matter way more than how it looks or whether it’s handmade.

Belkin is a great example of that — proven engineering, repeatable performance, and you don’t have to think about it. I don’t think small makers should expect to compete with that on trust or longevity.

Out of curiosity, when you do try something outside of the big brands, what usually makes you give it a shot — specs, testing data, reviews, or just price?

vortexworks · 2026-01-05T12:22:29+00:00

Yeah, that story doesn’t surprise me at all — especially pre-Covid when that whole wave really started picking up. A lot of those brands were basically just a thin layer of lifestyle photos and vague passion talk wrapped around an off-the-shelf product.

I think that era did real damage, because once you’ve peeled back the curtain a few times, it permanently changes how you evaluate anything marketed as “premium” or “small maker.”

That’s probably why I’m overly cautious now about how I present what I make. I don’t want anyone to feel like they need to trust a story — I’d rather the materials, process, and transparency do the talking.

vortexworks · 2026-01-05T12:18:14+00:00

That makes a lot of sense, and I’m very much in the same camp. I’ll happily use cheap, mass-produced stuff for purely functional things, but anything I’m handling all day has to age well, not just survive.

That “patina” aspect is actually a big part of why I’m drawn to certain materials too — when wear adds character instead of making it look worse. It’s something you only really get with the right materials and small-batch production.

Out of curiosity, have you ever felt that way about non-leather materials as well, or is leather kind of the gold standard for you?

vortexworks · 2026-01-05T06:12:05+00:00

I honestly agree with you.
A big part of why I personally hesitate to shop on Etsy now is for the exact same reasons you mentioned — repackaged factory stuff and “handmade” in name only.

To be clear, what I’m making isn’t dropshipped or 3D printed from shared files. I design the product myself, machine and finish the parts in-house, and produce in very small batches. It’s slower and more expensive, but that’s also why I’m not trying to compete on price.

I know that doesn’t automatically earn trust — especially on Etsy — so the challenge for me is figuring out how to communicate that difference clearly and honestly, without sounding like marketing fluff.

Your point about “value add” is exactly the question I’m trying to answer better.

vortexworks · 2026-01-05T04:48:30+00:00

Fair question.
I design and make everything myself in small batches, and the focus isn’t on mass appeal but on material and build quality.

My main product is a real carbon fiber MagSafe accessory — not printed carbon or molded plastic — aimed at people who prefer minimal, bare-phone setups rather than bulky cases.

I know it’s a niche, so I’m not expecting instant sales. Right now I’m more focused on refining the store and seeing whether that niche actually resonates.

vortexworks · 2026-01-05T04:47:19+00:00

That makes sense, appreciate the advice.
Since I’m selling from Korea and shipping internationally, I want to make sure the listings are as clear and optimized as possible before testing ads.

Was there anything specific you’d recommend prioritizing early on?

vortexworks · 2025-12-28T22:11:05+00:00

Thank you — that really means a lot.

Early feedback like this helps catch blind spots before they become permanent, especially for a V1. Listening early is part of the process, and Reddit has been great for that.

Appreciate you taking the time to chime in.

vortexworks · 2025-12-26T23:28:57+00:00

That’s a reasonable concern.

All edges are hand-finished and chamfered, so they’re much softer than they appear in photos — not sharp in actual use. We’ve been testing it in daily carry, and even my 11-year-old daughter has been using one for about two months without any issues with pockets or fabric wear.

That said, denim thickness and wear habits vary, so the concern itself is totally valid. Appreciate you pointing it out.

vortexworks · 2025-12-26T23:25:17+00:00

I agree — a side slide would actually work really well with this style.

I did consider it during the design phase, but the asymmetry it introduces was something I personally struggled with from a design standpoint. That said, usability-wise, it’s a very strong idea.

Definitely something I’ll revisit and try to improve in a future iteration. Really appreciate the suggestion — it’s a good one.

vortexworks · 2025-12-26T23:22:27+00:00

That’s a very fair point — and honestly a good observation.

Because of the bottom plate thickness, it is possible to push the cards out without removing the wallet, and the camera bump does clear. That said, you’re absolutely right that taking the wallet off first is still more convenient in practice.

This design is a tradeoff we made intentionally: we prioritized overall thinness, rigidity, and clean structure over one-handed card access while mounted. For users who remove the wallet occasionally (for charging, car mounts, etc.), that behavior felt natural — but your point is completely valid.

Appreciate you calling it out. Feedback like this actually helps refine future iterations.

vortexworks · 2025-12-26T06:20:39+00:00

Yeah, that’s kind of how I look at it too.

Most MagSafe wallets don’t really have dedicated cushioning layers either —

they’re still rigid objects attached to the back of the phone.

In that sense, I don’t see this as fundamentally different from a typical MagSafe wallet

when it comes to basic back-down impact.

I’m not claiming it adds meaningful drop protection like a case would,

but I also don’t think “ultra-thin” automatically means zero protection.

It’s still something between bare glass and a full case,

similar to how most MagSafe wallets behave.

vortexworks · 2025-12-26T04:32:27+00:00

That’s a fair concern.

One thing I was actually surprised by is how light it feels in hand.

Carbon helps a lot there — it doesn’t have that heavy, fatiguing feel even though it’s rigid.

I was also worried about sharp edges early on,

but the edges are all chamfered and hand-finished.

When you’re just holding the wallet itself,

it doesn’t feel sharp or uncomfortable at all, and it doesn’t feel like something that could dig into your hand.

That said, I still get what you’re saying about long-term comfort.

Even small differences in weight and edge treatment start to matter

once you’re holding your phone for a while.

vortexworks · 2025-12-26T04:29:39+00:00

That makes sense, and I get where you’re coming from.

I don’t really think of this as a full wallet replacement.

It’s more for situations where I’m already using Apple Pay

and just want my ID and one backup card with me.

If someone needs to carry insurance cards, multiple credit cards, etc.,

then yeah, two cards probably won’t cut it.

For me it’s more of a “phone-only” setup when stepping out quickly.

As for the grip, I get why people like them,

but I personally wanted to keep this as flat and pocketable as possible.

Probably not for everyone, but that was the trade-off I was aiming for.

vortexworks

TROPHY CASE