Black Friday/Cyber Monday, and Why I Won't Play Along

Oh, Black Friday. The most reviled day to work retail. The shoppers tend to be beyond rude, overly pushy, and unreasonably demanding. The workers are stressed out and exhausted. The traffic is miserable the entire weekend. Having the occasional panic-attack in large crowds certainly doesn't help my opinion towards this particular shopping frenzy. I prefer to sleep in, eat leftover pie for breakfast, and snuggle up to R watching movies. This year, I'm especially annoyed with "Black Friday," but this time, it's as an Etsy seller.

The enthusiasm in which the Etsy staff is promoting "Black Friday Deals" pisses me off. Etsy is a community of artisans who work their butts off to offer quality items, beautiful unique pieces, and products created with skill and love, and if everything lines up just right, maybe, just maybe will there be a tiny profit after all is said and done. (jackass re-sellers excluded, of course).

 Etsy is a place I go to find something handcrafted and I expect the prices to reflect the quality. When I see an entire shop with sale items, I get suspicious. Occasional sales are great and all, and perfectly understandable when one is trying to move seasonal items or long-sitting products.... but constantly promoting "Sale" or "Clearance" items, and jumping on the "it's a random holiday so sell everything cheaper!" bandwagon just rubs me the wrong way. I find it degrading to the sellers.

As an Etsy seller, I strive to offer lovely, original, quality items at a price that the average Jane could afford, while not short-selling myself. Personally, I rather spend $20 on an original, handmade necklace than I would $10 on a similarish mass produced from a chain retailer. If a seller on etsy happens to have a sale on something I just love, awesome! Being pressured into selling items cheaper to compete with everyone else just strips away the dignity of the (what I think it to be) Etsy experience. Part of the Etsy experience that I absolutely LOVE is knowing that when I purchase something, I am supporting the artist, and encouraging their success, and the continued success of the handmade movement. 

So, being badgered into dropping prices just for some consumer-driven holiday to try to (maybe!possibly!) compete with big-box retailers is insulting. It's disgusting. It makes me cranky. I will buy what I want, when I want it. If it's something super expensive, I will definitely shop around (on the webz) but I (almost) always go back to the pricier handmade thingy.On the rare occasions I actually do go with a "name brand" it's because they have an amazing product that just can't be beat.-like makeup that doesn't make my break out in hives, and jeans that hug my generous curves in all the right places-and I spend a chunk of money on those items anyway. If I'm going to put something on sale, I'll do it when it's the right time for me, and the shop. I refuse to drop prices (and profit!) just because a whole slew of other stores are doing it.

I'm all about supporting small businesses, and helping preserve the dignity of the people who run them. Way before I sold anything, I recognized the amount of effort small businesses put out, just to survive. I appreciate the small details (like handwritten price tags, or handmade rafia bows). I like the cozy brick-n-mortar shops, the employees that remember my name, the owners that will sit and chat about your day. I like knowing that my purchases positively affect a mom 'n pop kind of shop.

If I wanted deals this weekend, I would brave the masses of shoppers. For quality goods, personalized service, and the warm fuzzy feeling that comes from supporting small businesses, I go to Etsy. So, big E, please stop frothing at the mouth about shops needing to jump on the Black Friday bandwagon. I'm not buyin' it.

That said, Happy Holidays, folks! If you're a Black Friday shopper, you're much braver than I am!