Category change on eBay?

I would love a category like that, it feels odd to put Mike's auctions in 'other' as it seems such a catch-all category and puts the non-US lampworkers that are self-representing into a lesser category than the US artists simply because 'other' seems so undistinguished.

I'll write to them today.

-Su

I sent my email!

Emma

Hooray! I am going to PM Lori over on WC and let her know folks are taking action... maybe she can bring it up on WC again and we can get a bunch of emails sent. Wouldn't it be lovely?!

-Kalera

E J Ralph wrote:

Here is mine:

"Hi. I'm a lampwork bead artist that currently sells under your Jewelry & Watches > Loose Beads > Lampwork, Crystal & Glass > Handmade Lampwork > US category.

This category was created to represent artists who sell their handmade glass beads, however, it is increasingly being used for sellers who sell mass produced, imported, glass beads. Some may be handcrafted, but it is by sweat shops in India or China.

Because of the increase in these listings, the lampwork artists listings get buried and sales decrease.

In this regard I, as well as other lampwork artists would like to request a new cagetory for Self-Representing Artists in the Lampwork category that would exclude mass produced, imported, glass beads.

I believe that if something doesn't change, complaints to eBay will increase on a daily basis. Thank you for your consideration.

Lori Greenberg lorigreenberg on eBay"

Hi Kalera - I've just sent EBay an e-mail as you suggest. It'll be interesting to see what comes from this. Power to the people, sister!

susan > A few lampworkers have been discussing lately something which concerns

That would be great, Kalera.

As I stated in my email, I thought that complaints to eBay regarding category violations would increase daily until they did something. Anyone care to help me make good on that? Even though it's a PITA, I try to send at least a few a day. There's not only mass produced, imported lampwork, but also czech glass beads.

I could only find how to report actual auctions though.

YES! I will send my email in too.

I have been in a voting, to change things for the better, mood lately anyway!

Beki

Here's mine, well Mike's with a small edit where I missed a sentence!

Just pretend it read like this from the start. :-)

"Dear sirs;

As an individual artist who makes lampworked beads I would like to suggest the addition of the category "Lampwork - Handmade - Self-representing artists".

The current category, "Lampwork - Handmade - US" excludes all non-US artists, relegating them to the non-specific and rather unattractive category of 'other' which does not give non-US artists a very good presentation on the eBay community.

A special self-representing category will make it easier for those wishing to find genuine artist-created lampwork to discover an international selection under one umbrella category and will avoid lumping artists who create individual beads with those who simply resell mass-produced, imported but still 'technically' handmade beads and will allow all the individual self-representing artists to combine under one broad category.

Thank you for your attention to this issue, it will only enhance eBay and the artists who depend upon your venue for promoting their work.

With regards,

Mike Poole/Tillerman Beads"

-Su (ghostwriter and teagirl to the lampworking star of tomorrow, or next week!)

I'll be glad to help with that.

Send me links if you have particular auctions in question, otherwise I'll just shoot for a random selection. I have tons of practice sending complaints about scanned photos and copyrighted artwork being sold as cross stitch charts converted by computer, including Disney and other such

*gagging* ... well, let's just say I wouldn't call it art after it's been through a lazy person's cross stitch program and sold as a chart.

-Su

I read that part of your letter and thought, "Hmmm, is that an obsrvation or a promise?" LOL! I would be glad to pitch in with reporting a few miscategorized auctions per day... it only takes a few minutes, and if nothing else it may help reduce the bog of miscategorized crap in the handmade lampwork categories.

-Kalera

Lori Greenberg wrote:

Hee hee.

I'm a bit leery of just posting lists of links to be reported so let's just say I'll ask the question:

Do you think these are handcrafted lampwork auctions?

What about this?

Govern yourself accordingly. ;o)

say I'll ask the question:

Do you think these are handcrafted lampwork auctions?<

Good points. I've been guilty of posting "housecleaning" packets of beads in the US Lampwork category in the past, mostly because I forget to change the category. Folks know who I am and I figure they'll just get found that way, but in all honesty it's obviously wrong. I've always stated in descriptions that it's a variety of Czech, Indian and who knows what else glass, but it's STILL in the wrong category.

On the second listing, yeah, it's still wrong cuz it sure isn't beads. But if I were looking for a bead stand I wouldn't know where else to look so I sort of like the fact that it's there. It's incorrect but it's not the same as listing 140 lots of mass-produced acrylic (glass LOL) beads. Point taken, though.

KarenK

Anyone who read my first post to this group knows that as a *buyer* I would love to see this new category. I have already emailed eBay. Thanks for this great suggestion, Kalera!!

Well golly gee whiz. Even I can tell that ain't thar no homemade beedz.

(And don' let me ketch nona y'all makin' fun a arr suthern accens.)

> > What about this?

> > Govern yourself accordingly. ;o) >

> >

Done! I added to and reworded what you wrote so it doesn't sound like I just copied what you said. I agree - I hope ebay will sit up and listen. I have written to them several times in the past about the bead categories. Hopefully if many more of us do this, they will take notice.

This is a good idea. I have reported listings for category misuse a few times, but nothing really worth taking notice of. If a bunch of us do this (legitimately of course) maybe ebay will notice. :)

Nope, not handcrafted lampwork. Thanks for pointing out this particular auction.

Um, nope. Now, that's handmade but it doesn't have a single hole all the way through it and I'll be darned if I can figure out a way to wear it.

That would be the election, eh?

-Su

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Lori Greenberg" :

]There's not only mass produced, imported lampwork, ]but also czech glass beads.

i understand 'self-representing' artist. but the Czech glass *handmade* beads i have are very well done.

The ones I am seeing on ebay are Czech pressed glass or firepolished. I have seen very few Czech lampwork like the ones you are talking about on ebay, in this category. For some reason many sellers don't know or don't care about the difference between Czech glass beads which are crystal or firepolish or pressed, and Czech lampwork beads. I also see a lot of silver in the lampwork category, as well as tools, large miscellaneous bead lots and other things that totally don't go there.