Just like last year -- and the winter holiday promotions of previous years -- Etsy's Merchandising Team is promoting listings for handmade made-to-order items as "vintage". (Only in the Etsyverse can an item not even made yet be promoted as 20+ years old.) Etsy is using the site's new Discover link at the top right of all pages to promote Etsy-style "vintage" items -- which just happen to be mostly brand new.
Let's have a look at what is considered "vintage" by Etsy's management and staff! Note that the thumbnails you see promoted as "vintage" when you view Discover may vary from what I see.
Featured among the small grouping of "vintage" thumbnails on the main Discover page is this handmade pendant light listed as a "handmade" "made to order" item that the seller tagged as "Vintage" -- even though the image shows a product that is contemporary. It's vintage by declaration which is how Vintage is determined in the Etsyverse.
Every time I click back to the Discover main page, the grouping of 6 "vintage" thumbnails changes. Now I see this brand new handmade set of 7 puzzlepiece coasters Again listed as "handmade" but mendaciously tagged "vintage" even though they are clearly contemporary. Vintage by declaration. Even better: this "vintage" item can be customized for the buyer for an additional charge. That's how #etsysellsvintage!
New set of thumbnails, and here's a handmade carved wood angel wings décor listed as "handmade" and "made to order", but tagged with "vintage". Again, vintage by declaration.
From the same grouping of 6 thumbnails is this enamel pin with 43 handmade units in stock. Again, tagged "vintage" making it vintage by declaration.
Hitting REFRESH to see 6 different thumbnails under Vintage, handmade items are still showing up, like this butterfly hair comb listed as "made to order" with 3 units in stock (something here isn't real), but tagged "vintage" -- so vintage by declaration.
From the same group of 6 thumbnails is this "made to order" coat rack with key/wallet holder bin 15 units in stock. Titled "vintage handmade" -- which is of course impossible for an item "made to order", and mendaciously tagged both "vintage" and "antique". The seller mistakenly believes using repurposed materials for their craft means they can honestly claim their work was created a century ago. Vintage and antique by max mendacity declaration.
From the same grouping of thumbnails, the 3rd of the 6 shown is listed as a "vintage item from the 1800s" but it's a digital download of a botanical print which is considered vintage only on Etsy. In the real world, only a physical item can have age. In the real world, every download of the file creates a new copy of the image. Etsyverse fakery.
Hitting REFRESH to see 6 different thumbnails promoted under Vintage, I spot a blast from the past: this made to order garter was featured in my companion blog in post from October 2017 featuring (wait for it!) last year's handmade items included in Etsy's "vintage" promotion for the winter holidays. With all the millions of authentic Vintage listings on the site, not only does Etsy mendaciously fill the links with brand new items but fills those links with brand new, made to order, products featured the exact same way 2 years in a row! Both titled and tagged "vintage", it is of course vintage by declaration.
Same photo thumbnail that was promoted by Etsy last year:
From the same grouping of 6 thumbnails, the second "made to order" listing is for a storage ottoman handmade using a repurposed vintage crate, among other materials. Both titled and tagged "vintage" so of course it's vintage by declaration.
Again from the same grouping of 6 thumbnails, the third brand new "handmade" item featured under Vintage is this floral print fabric robe which is priced starting at $11 and change, with 90 units in stock -- I wonder if the seller makes these at their sewing machine stationed in a corner of their kitchen? I think not, since their shop's tagline says they are "Australia's #1 Supplier of Personalized Robes" and doesn't even ship to the USA! The item is titled and tagged with "vintage" -- vintage by a retail boutique's declaration.
Still from the same grouping of 6 thumbnails, the 4th brand new "handmade" and "made to order" item featured under Vintage is this moon phase ear climber earring with 3 pair in stock. Titled and tagged with "vintage" because the glass opal stones used to craft them are vintage. Not vintage outside the mendacious Etsyverse.
Finally the 5th item in the same group of 6 thumbnails promoted as Vintage is this "handmade" custom painted frame offered in over 40 size options and over 30 paint color choices. Tagged and titled as "vintage style" which is the same thing as actual Vintage to Etsy management and staff.
Will post other fake "vintage" featured listings occasionally during the 2018 holiday shopping season. Remember, if you're shopping for authentic Vintage, the rule on Etsy is CAVEAT EMPTOR.
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