Etsy warning

[lolmac]

Have you ever bought anything from Etsy?

I haven't, thank heavens.  I've never done anything on the site at all.

Two words:  don't.  Ever.

http://www.eylerwerve.com/2011/etsy-com-publishes-real-names-and-purchase-history-of-buyers/

http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/feature/2011/03/15/etsy_privacy_people_search/

Their approach to user privacy is apparently taken from Facebook. (Our motto:  You're Not the Customers, You're the Product -- and You're For Sale on the Global Black Market)


Just freaking out here.  I'll archive this post after I've calmed down a bit.


ETA:  Still not calm, but my sympathies have now shifted largely to the artisans who sell there.  This wasn't their choice or their doing, but it will ineradicably taint the place for their customers, and there's nothing they can do to protect either their customers or themselves.

March 15, 2011

Comments

[thru-the-blinds.livejournal.com]

*blinks*

I've purchased, I think, 3-4 things on there in the last 2 years. Nothing I'm personally concerned about coming back to haunt me (a handmade Eeyore plush, some earrings, etc) but that's NOT the point.

W. T. F?!?!?

[lolmac]

When Eeyores are outlawed, only outlaws will have Eeyores.

[lothithil.livejournal.com]

Yikes! Glad I've never shopped there!

[lolmac]

Yeah, me too! Even though there were some really cute little squid sculptures . . .

[callibr8]

Are there alternative sites where similar wares are available but without the obnoxious lack-of-privacy policies? I have knitted goods I'd like to sell, and was thinking of creating a shop there, but will NOT while such buyers-info-is-public policies are in force. Thanks for the caveat!

[lolmac]

Haven't a clue; sorry. I suspect that this is a hot topic right now in the artisan comms and groups, so you might be able to get some information there.

According to my sister: "They've apparently shut down the feature, but the damage is already done. Information, once it's out there, is always out there. All that shit is caught in Google's cache." -- so your future customers are safe for the moment, but the marketplace platform itself is in danger of being regarded as tainted.

[http://users.livejournal.com/idlewild_/]

I've heard good things about artfire.com. But I'm afraid I've never shopped there.

[lolmac]

Well, if it's a good platform -- this is likely to drive both artisans and shoppers to more trustworthy alternatives!

[sharp2799.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I understand. I have an account there as a buyer and just went to take a look. I changed all my settings to private and ran a Google search using etsy and my last name and didn't see anything. I bought a few miniatures from the site a couple of years ago. (I also Googled under the screen name I chose for the site and still nothing showed up.)

[lolmac]

All I know is what's in the articles; I've never done more with Etsy than glance at a few pictures. I don't use my Google-fu in that manner, so I can't explain why your mileage varied. I'm glad of it, though.

[http://users.livejournal.com/idlewild_/]

I saw this this morning and checked - I never used my real name on etsy but a search of my etsy username has that info as the first hit. Poor form. Really poorly done.

[lolmac]

Ack.

[http://users.livejournal.com/idlewild_/]

I was also relieved that both of my friends who buy from etsy a lot never put their real names on their profiles. Because...

Friend A does not really care about her information security on etsy. She freely gave us her username and password so we can look at items she's favourited.

Friend B thought this was hilarious and immediately added a lot of odd, creepy, and downright scandalous items to Friend A's list of favourites.

If Friend A had had her real name on her profile, all of those crazy things would have been visible to anyone googling her name, even though it technically wasn't her who listed them as favourites!

Also this is why you probably shouldn't just go around giving out your user info but that's another story.

[sid]

Good grief. And yes, hard luck for the sellers! Well, I suppose many buyers will never even hear about this, so maybe it won't be too detrimental for the sellers.

[lolmac]

It's hit some fairly high-level media, including Slate magazine and the Consumerist. I'm just grateful I don't have to try to make a living selling stuff there.

[curuchamion.livejournal.com]

Dude. EEEEK. I know/know of a lot of small artisans (yarn dyers, spindle makers, etc) who sell entirely through Etsy... yoicks.

(Haven't checked my Ravelry forums yet this morning, but I bet they're exploding. Wow.)

[lolmac]

If you hear of any good alternatives to Etsy, do feel free to share.

[primsong.livejournal.com]

Looks like they've changed this so it isn't so much of an issue anymore - thank goodness.... stupid idea!

I have two shops at Etsy that provide all of my 'mad money' so I would be quite upset to suddenly lose my customers over this. :-(