Comments on: I’m Not Walmart

By: Lori

Lori — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 03:01:16 +0000

Think about 9 year old Chinese girl who works 12 hours without a bathroom break who is making those Walmart items. I’m proud of what I make and how much I charge for it. You should be too!!

By: Shannon

Shannon — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:40:57 +0000

Wow, thank you for all the wonderful comments everyone! The time you took to share your thoughts and support on this means a lot to me. :)

Angie, it makes my day to know how happy you and your mom are with the bag and coin purse!

I have definitely encountered many wonderful people through Etsy and the farmer’s market. The ones that prefer Walmart or don’t bother to lower their voice when they say “I could make that!” are few and far between. And I’m willing to see them if it means I get to interact with everyone else. :)

By: Angie

Angie — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:01:07 +0000

Well, that is a bit discouraging! But just think of all the people that do appreciate the time and skill it takes to make the things you do. I do! And I bought two of them on Etsy! I like thinking of you when I open my little coin purse, and my Mom has gotten so many compliments on the bag you made with the queen anne’s lace on it, and I know that anything I own from Walmart has never gotten compliments! When that happens to me at craft fairs with my jewelry, I just take a deep breath, and like you, wish them luck. And when people sketch or take pictures of my booth or items in my booth (yes, that has happened too) I just practice my deep breathing. The people that appreciate my work far outweigh those that are insensitive and (yes, I will say it) rude!

By: Tanya

Tanya — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:39:34 +0000

By the way, I’m one of the people who visited your booth last weekend at the Farmer’s market — I’m the girl who was wondering about watercolor paper blocks. Your journal covers are awesome and I hope you had good sales at the market despite the rude comments, and good luck in the future!

By: Tanya

Tanya — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:37:12 +0000

Comparing your handmade things to stuff at Wal-Mart is like comparing apples and oranges..

I think people who make comments like that don’t realize how much work and love goes into a handmade item like yours. Even if they realize that, they might not care and would rather buy something cheap, and don’t mind that was made in a sweatshop in a different country and might fall apart soon, as long as they’re saving a couple bucks NOW.

I agree with your post 100% and think you handled the situation well. If people are so obsessed with Wal-Mart, well there’s no changing their minds so let them have their damn Wal-Mart.

By: AllThingsTangled

AllThingsTangled — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:50:39 +0000

When that happens to me, I always tell them that my prices will come down when I finally get that child labor sweat shop opened in china…It still hurts when they say it though.

By: Liesl

Liesl — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:07:42 +0000

Oh dear! I haven’t done enough craft fairs to ever have gotten this comment, but I know some people who have that mentality. It only comes down to price for them–as long as they can get it cheap, that’s all that matters. They don’t factor in workmanship, durability or character.
Hopefully you get some more appreciative customers your way. : )

By: andrea

andrea — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:56:37 +0000

I agree. I sometimes get that in several different versions.(I can get it cheaper-it’s not worth that etc. etc.) I try not to take offense and think to myself ‘They’re just not the customer for me’.
Thanks for stopping by my blog:)

By: Wee Sparrow

Wee Sparrow — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:53:11 +0000

Hear hear! Just because something is cheap doesn’t mean it’s a better buy. Surely a quality handmade item is worth so much more than a mass produced piece of poo? ;-)

By: Wendy Gunderson

Wendy Gunderson — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:30:55 +0000

Welcome to the dark side of the craft show life. Sooner or later it happens to everyone. “I can get it cheaper at Wal-Mart”, or even better “You want how much??? I can make it myself for a lot less.” Don’t be shocked some day to see someone even standing at your booth, sketching! Really. It happens.

It has nothing to do with your workmanship, fabric choices, design decisions or anything at all you may now be questioning. It has everything to do with the low class,cheap and cheezy mentality of the majority of society. We should be ashamed of ourselves.

Next time it happens, and sadly it will, be glad that one of your lovely items isn’t getting into the hands of such a person. They don’t deserve your work.