Etsy features contemporary item in Throwback Thursday promotional email. #etsysellsvintage

One thing that hasn't changed about Etsy since the first years of its existence is their corporate policy about promoting as "vintage" contemporary items that match current trends.  Seems like a no-brainer to me that items most likely to be trendy are those currently in production.  But then I live outside the Etsyverse.

One of 6 thumbnails shown under the link Fron the vintage vault is an assortment of contemporary mood rings with glitter and flowers pretending to be "Vintage from before 2000".  The rings shown were manufactured in China in the 21st Century.

Seller WeAreCrimsonClover wants $5.75 per piece for these rings.  But you can buy a lot of 20 rings from a Chinese seller on eBay and pay just $16.14.  Also on eBay are 5 wholesale lots of 50 pieces for just $22.88.  More:  a lot of 100 pieces in countertop store display for $25.99  Nearly 10K units in stock on DHGate

Check out the other jewelry listings in the shop and see ready to wear earrings listed as "crafting supplies" and a choker necklace pretending to be "vintage" that is contemporary and easy to find for sale NEW.

There are almost 3 million listings on Etsy for vintage+jewelry.  While many of them belong to deceptive sellers, most of them sell authentic vintage items.  Too bad Etsy's staff curators couldn't be bothered to find something real for their email.

Etsy long term fake vintage reseller 20thcenturydesignsny is still at it: back dating new products and misrepresenting them to shoppers as "vintage" #etsysellsvintage

Last featured here in July 2018 Etsy long term reseller of fake vintage (that is, contemporary mass made products) 20thcenturydesignsny is still at it.  Her gimmick is to list all of the brand new products as "mid century" and then apply fake dates to the items -- sometimes attributing the same item to more than one decade.  The shop is an amazing display of Etsyverse mendacity in action, and is one more reason why friends don't encourage friends to shop for vintage on Etsy.

Let's have a look at some of the brand new "vintage" currently listed in the shop.


Listed as "Vintage from before 2000" this "melting" shelf clock inspired by Dali has been sold multiple times (I counted 8 in the shop's Sold Items Gallery) by 20thcenturydesignny.  It is a 21st Century product, and easily found for sale NEW online.  Seller says it's "in perfect condition" (and why should a brand new product not be?), and it's priced at $35.

One of the dumbuns who purchased, and then reviewed, this product says it is "average priced".  But if you shop around you can find it easily for under $20  on Amazon on DHGate and of course on eBay  Take a look online, and be amazed at all the merchants selling it -- another glowing example of "unique" "vintage" listed on Etsy.


Another piece of "AliExpress Vintage" is this multi color ball coatrack which is, again, widely sold all over the web.  The seller titled it "mid century modern", and backdated it into "Vintage from the 1980s".  Priced at $65.

You can buy one for $40 and change on Amazon or Home Depot   Wholesale from a Chinese manufacturer here  Note that deceptive seller 20thcenturydesignsny borrowed the photo above from her wholesale source.  Not from the 1980s!


Another listing in the shop using a thumbnail photo from the manufactured is this Sterling and Noble pink neon wall clock that the seller (again) calls "mid century" and deceptively attributes to the 1980s (which was way after the "mid" 20th Century, just sayin') as well as being a "reproduction from the 1970s".  Remember that Etsy resellers don't simply lie -- they lie extravagantly.  Priced at $85.

Available from multiple eBay listings at less than half the price.  Similarly priced from multiple sellers on Amazon  But do feel free to pay the Etsy "stupid tax" and buy it from 20thcenturydesignsny.


More!  Here's another product listed with photos "borrowed" from the Chinese manufacturer:  a cheapie contemporary copy of a Scandinavian Modern hanging lamp back dated by this lying sack of a reseller to the 1980s.  Priced at $249!

Get it for about $100 on Amazon where various sellers have it listed in several color options.  Lots of listings on eBay


Finally, here's a contemporary bib necklace manufactured in China in this decade, but pretending to be "vintage from the 1980s".  Priced at $29.  Photo below belongs to the manufacturer.

Available from this merchant on DHGate in a choice of 5 colors, priced at less than $7.  Was first listed for sale on Amazon in 2014; get it for under $10 (lots of less than glowing reviews -- it's cheapie junque).  Available in 3 color options, priced at less than $5 on AliExpress

Many more contemporary products listed in the shop with fake dating.

Etsy fake vintage reseller shop DREAMWEAVER4U2 is at it again: her 1980s vintage is available factory fresh from China #etsysellsvintage

Last featured in this blog in December 2018 Etsy long term reseller DREAMWEAVER4U2 is once again listing factory fresh Chinese import items as "vintage" in her shop.

Check out this lace up front halter top the seller claims is "dead stock" "club wear" found in "storage".  Listed as a "vintage item from the 1980s", it is offered in 2 color choices, 2 units in stock, priced at $22.

Once again, DREAMWEAVER4U2 is deceptive about the sizing, which is based on the Asian market and sized much smaller than clothing manufactured for retail in the USA.  The description says "One size will fit Medium to Large", but if you don't check out listings for this item sold elsewhere online you are in for a surprise!

Listed on Amazon for just $4.09, the available sizes are listed as 4, 6, and 8.  The only customer review notes that the black version is "slightly see through".  And this item was first listed for sale on Amazon in January 2018 -- not the same thing as 1980s dead stock vintage.

Listed on eBay by a Chinese seller in black, priced at $4.66 (FREE shipping).  The size chart in the listing once again shows US equivalent sizes as 4, 6, and 8.

The white version is listed here on AliExpress priced at $5.40.


As always, when shopping on Etsy it pays to comparison shop, unless you want a deceptive reseller to rip you off?

Etsy abandons the concept of Vintage, and a flea market assortment of new items are about a third of the most relevant "vintage" listings #etsysellsvintage

It's been a while since I posted about the growing presence of listings for items much newer than 20 years old on the pages of the most relevant Vintage on Etsy.  I do look at the first 5 or so pages daily, and out of the 48 items on each page close to 20 of them aren't remotely considered Vintage anywhere outside the Etsyverse.

The pages are dominated by newly mined and processed mineral specimens (and decorative products made from them), "ephemera packs" (paper scraps, mostly not datable), digital downloads, and rugs (which are mostly Vintage).  Vintage jewelry, clothing and accessories are not commonly found there.  Neither are Vintage décor items or homewares.

Let's have a look at some of the most mendacious listings for ultra-relevant Etsy "vintage".

Instantly recognized as deceptive since it's listed as "vintage handmade" is this "hello" vinyl wall decal  Offered in dozens of colors, with over 50 units in stock.  While most of seller JustTheFrosting items are appropriately listed as handmade, the shop owner has opted for tag-o-rama, lying about the age of the some of them during the listing process.

Another tag-o-rama deceptive seller is craftycreekcreations whose "vintage handmade" bear decals are offered in multiple styles/sizes/colors.

Pretending to be a "vintage item from the 1960s" is this listing soliciting buyers for a "custom refinished Mid Century Dresser".  In other words, an altered piece of furniture with its value as a Vintage item removed.  Shop 150Grit also sells unaltered Vintage furniture, but the Etsyverse is all about increasing the carbon footprint of Vintage whenever possible.

TSRCrafts is another tag-o-rama abuser, who claims her digital download listing for The Beginners Bullet Journal page set is "vintage handmade".  Of course there is nothing remotely "vintage" about this item.

Finally, a listing that is nothing but mendacity:  a brand new, mass manufactured, toilet paper holder which has earned an Etsy AI "Best Seller" icon.  92 "vintage" units are currently in stock.

These are widely available all over the web in various metal finishes.  Seller Personalisedwood has been vetted and approved by Etsy's Marketplace Integrity Team to sell newly manufactured items as "vintage".  The item above also sold by SpearheadCollection as "handmade", with 79 units in stock.  UrbangrandmasAttic sells them, too, as "handmade"  with 9 units in stock.  As does CastironCreations with 9 units in stock.  How many deceptive Etsy sellers can dance on the head of a pin?


And the percentage of Vintage listings -- which includes all items deceptively listed as "vintage" when they're not -- on Etsy continues to slowly fall:  today it's just 16.7%, down from nearly 25% a decade ago.

Etsy Discover Vintage continues to feature brand new items -- Vintage Seller Community remains silent #etsysellsvintage

Thought it would be fun to take a look at another grouping of 36 linked listings featured today in Etsy's Discover Vintage  Note that you may see a different group of 36 thumbnails if you click on that link.  This post is about the items which were shown to me.

Let's see how many items of the 36 are actually 20+ year old Vintage, and take a look at the items which are actually new.

Beginning in the upper left corner, the first item is a handmade wedding invitation test set that is tagged "vintage" for some reason unknown -- maybe because wedding invitations have been around for 20+ years?

Item number 2 is a vintage bracelet.

Item number 3 is a handmade peacock feather ring that the seller claims is "one of a kind" -- with 45 units in stock.  Tagged and titled with the keyword "vintage".

Item number 4 is a vintage wall lamp.

Item number 5 is a handmade made to order custom address stamp   Tagged and titled with the keyword "vintage" because the fonts used are Art Deco inspired.

Item number 6 is a set of vintage wine glasses.

Item number 7 is a pair of Miao tribal earrings that are listed as a "vintage item" but are widely available all over the web NEW.  Were recently sold here on AliExpress  The seller states in the item's Description that a portion of their sales are donated to "women's craft collectives" in developing nations -- this item is part of the Pier Etsy Platform were sellers purchase new craft items and resell them on Etsy as "vintage".

Item number 8 is a vintage sweatshirt.

Item number 9 is a handmade ring with a turquoise colored glass stone  It is titled and tagged "vintage" -- the seller used vintage glass cabs/stones as a material.

Item number 10 is a handmade to order girls cotton dress  Tagged with "vintage" for reasons unknown.

Item number 11 is a digital download of a sweater pattern  which is listed as a "vintage supply from the 1980s" -- which it is not because only physical items have age.  The seller does not specify the date of the pattern, and it may not be in the public domain.  Note that Etsy allows any digital file to be listed as "vintage" provided the content is "vintage", which is not what authentic vintage means or is.

Item number 12 is a handmade to order womens halter top  with 96 units in stock.  (As you can see, the Etsyverse has not only redefined words like "handmade" "vintage" "unique" but "made to order" as well.  Sizes XS and XL are shown as sold out!  Tagged "vintage" because tops like these have been around for decades.  Anything and everything on Etsy eventually will be tagged as "vintage".

Item number 13 is a handmade wedding song request printable PDF file  Titled and tagged with "vintage" because the card is illustrated with a vintage cassette tape.

Item number 14 is a pair of handmade lever back earrings offered in 20 colors  And they are tagged "vintage".

Item number 15 is a pair of 1980s clip on earrings, a vintage item!

Item number 16 is a set of vintage decaled glass tumblers.

Item number 17 is a handmade womens tee shirt vintage inspired  Mendaciously tagged "vintage", "vintage tshirt", "70s", "70s t shirt" and "70s tee" along with "vintage inspired".  How can a brand new handmade item be dated to the 1970s?  Tag-o-rama, baby!

Item number 18 is  handmade to order floral wallpaper  Tagged and titled with the keyword "vintage".

Item number 19 is an 1880s vintage ring.

Item number 20 is a vintage vinyl record album.

Item number 21 is a handmade to order 2019 wedding invitation package  Tagged as "vintage" for no known reason.

Item number 22 is a set of mid 20th Century Dutch ceramic vases.

Item number 23 is a vintage scarf.

Item number 24 is a handmade altered denim jacket with hand painted flowers  It's a vintage denim jacket, but listed as handmade, which is spot on.  Because the seller tagged it with "vintage", it got snagged as 20+ years old.

Item number 25 is a vintage deer's tooth ring.

Item number 26 is a vintage dried flowers under glass sun catcher.

Item number 27 is a handmade to order amethyst ring  tagged and titled with "vintage" for no known reason.

Item 28 is a vintage brooch.

Item 29 is a handmade case for iPhone/Plus case for 6, 7 and 8  iPhone is 11 years old this year, but this item is tagged "vintage" because, on Etsy, any item can be "vintage".

Item 30 is a vintage skirt.

Item 31 is a handmade black dress which is tagged "vintage" and "1950s".

Item number 32 is a handmade to order couple illustration printable wedding invitation  Tagged as "vintage" -- because everyone is doing it?

Item number 33 is a handmade to order denim pant and crop top set  Tagged "70s" and "vintage", even though tops like this were not paired with high waisted jeans or pants back in the day.  What the photo shows is a 1960s top and a  maybe 1990s pant.

Item number 34 is a handmade to order burlap garland  The seller put "vintage" in her title and tags, even though the item is clearly contemporary.

Item number 35 is a handmade floral embellished hair comb  Tagged with "vintage".

Item number 36 is a handmade paracord macrame plant hanger   Tagged "vintage".

And there it is:  out of 36 items featured under the link Discover Vintage, only 14 items are actually vintage.  One item is listed as vintage, but it's a digital download.  Another item is listed as vintage, but it's a Pier Etsy Craft Product from a developing nation.  The remaining 20 items are all new handmade, or not yet made to order.

I used to be an antiques dealer, and if a dealer found themselves in an antiques shop with stuff like this for sale, there would be a disdainful comment about "crafts" and a speedy exit from the premises.  But that's how #etsysellsvintage, right, girls?

Etsy still mendaciously promoting handmade and made to order listings as "vintage" -- now at the Discover link! #etsysellsvintage

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.  

Etsy long term reseller DREAMWEAVER4U2 still listing new items mass manufactured in China as "vintage" #etsysellsvintage

Most recently featured here in September Etsy long term reseller DREAMWEAVER4U2 is at it again:  listing contemporary Chinese jewelry and accessories in her shop as "vintage".

Just listed yesterday is this bronze alloy metal peacock hair clip with plastic rhinestones that was being (re)sold by dozens of Etsy shops earlier in this decade.  Priced at $9, and listed as a "vintage" item.

It's still available wholesale from Chinese merchants!  Get it here on AliExpress, priced at just $1.55 with FREE shipping.   A merchant on DHGate is selling them in lots of 100 units, priced at $1 per unit -- and, again, FREE shipping.  It sold out on Wish dot com were it was priced at $2.

If you like this piece, buy one -- but don't let this Etsy reseller of fake handmade and brand new vintage rip you off!

UPDATE DECEMBER 16:  a year later, and this item is again active in DREAMWEAVER4U2's shop.  Now priced at an amazing $22!  Where to get if for less:

•  on AliExpress for just 92 cents
•  from Heartfelt Delights for $2.99
•  on Amazon for $2.53
•  from Glory's House for $4.99

It is NOT "Vintage from the 1980s", as it is currently listed.  It is contemporary, manufactured in China.