I had planned to create my website on my time off over the festive season but with an unexpected job at home it never happened, originally I was planning a store front and use the Folksy cart but I’m going to go with a paid website and shopping cart instead. Most of my customers are repeat which could come direct and new ones usually find me on Instagram so will see how it goes when I get it up and running.
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I sell very very happily indeed on another (obviously unnamed here) site where there is no copyright, assembled, stuck on, bought in, tibetan butterfly or even elephant earrings, made outside Britain or absolutely anything at all which could possibly be described as tat.
I never have thought even to need to report anything as it is properly curated by the site owner.. not by the site customers, us, as here.
Oh and team is much much smaller 
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This has also been raised numerous times and still we see plenty of sellers without CE testing, they will come unstuck when regs get tougher and the right people start looking on platforms like Folksy. My concern with it is that people buy in good faith and trust the seller when they state it would make a nice nursery toy or a friend for a child believing it must be safe. It’s not up to the customers to know what is safe and what isn’t or to question it, it is though every sellers responsibility to know the regulations if there are any for their chosen craft, ignorance is not an excuse and won’t be when someone has a serious accident or worse from their product. Again.. .vetting might prevent some of this.
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Would you be a darling, Joy, and email me with the info? I’m fairly sure I know what you’re speaking of, but just in case I’ve got my wires crossed. You have my email x
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It is perfectly legal to list a new product with an introductory offer price that is discounted from what would be the usual price. This is common practice. If the product does not sell during the introductory offer period, the price is expected to be raised to the usual price. Event tickets are another good example of an introductory pricing structure (often called early-bird) where the price is shown as a discount off what would be the usual price.
What is not legal is to list a new product with pricing information that deliberately misleads customers into believing the product has been previously available at a higher price and is now being put on sale.
The problem with Folksy is that it does not have the pricing information displayed to distinguish between an introductory offer price on a new product and an existing product being put on sale. It only has the % discount with no qualifying statement.
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Most of the new shops that open with discounted prices do not state that it’s an introductory offer, they simply add a sale price so definitely misleading customers into thinking the item has been reduced from a higher price when in fact it hasn’t, as there is no control over this they can do as they please.
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In my craft fair days, a Trading standards officer told me that you could only offer something at a sale price once it had been at full price for 6 weeks previously.
It has probably changed now , but that is what I was told.
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Oh my goodness! A shop selling things with printed text on them!!! Well I never…..
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on sale too… and selling in bulk
You might need to delete the specific reference though as we will be reprimanded for calling out.
Can you reword that to make it more anonymous.?
Perhaps replace the word after selling with ‘things’ 
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Yeah, I kind of knew I was flying a tad close to the sun there, but after a very hard day, it’s like a slap in the chops seeing generic market stall style stock on Folksy. Still, it’s only “banter” innit?
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I do think the ‘Rules’ have changed a bit for the better actually. i don’t think this clarification was there previously (my italics)
“Original Design: The item is your own original design. For example, we allow items that have been either 3D printed, lasercut or made by a machine but these must be your original, unique design not somebody else’s or a copy of someone else’s. We do not consider adding personalisation details (for example a name or photo sent by the buyer) to be original design”
Also, i think this section is clearer:
“3. Printed Items
Mass-produced items - like cards, mugs, t-shirts, phone cases, cushions, keyrings or plastic water bottles - that have basic text, clip art, AI generated art or licensed images added are not allowed.
However, items that feature reproductions of your own original art are allowed, even if you have outsourced the printing.
Items that feature typesetting or which combine a number of elements that demonstrate original design are also allowed.
Items that feature a buyer’s own photographs must also demonstrate an element of original design. Items which are just a printing service for the buyer’s image or text are not allowed. “
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Yes and my worry is that potential customers who come here to look on Folksy for handmade British craft , on seeing so many items now that are mass produced and clearly not hand crafted or from this country will simply shop elsewhere.
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Absolutely, it really does need addressing before it’s too late and before anymore long term artists leave because of it.
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Hi Helen, It reads right but there are still many items on Folksy that fit the categories of what is ‘not allowed’ , there’s no point in having rules if people don’t bother reading it before setting up shop and those breaking the rules are going to continue to do so if there’s nothing to stop them in the first place.
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In case anyone wants to use Decals in their work I have found a supplier you might like:
No need to do your own designs. Just buy them here.
The rules seem clear enough now Helen - thanks for highlighting that. I for one would be delighted if these rules were actively enforced much more promptly. I know some action has been taken in the last few hours so thankyou to whoever at Folksy responded to requests.
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My eyes have rolled so far back in my head that I can see yesterday. Good find, Joy.
I Google image searched but went for the AI option.. it looks a bit deeper.
I could stick some on clear glass, drill a hole, add a string hanger and sell as motivational Suncatchers .
Would they sell ??
Not to me! I’m not keen on novelty stuff though. I’d rather have, as an example, one beautiful thrown and glazed mug for £15, (indeed that’s what I expect to find on Folksy), than 5 printed novelty mugs for the same price.
I’d rather eat one properly made and cooked 100% beef burger on a real bread roll than 10 macdonalds burgers.
I guess I’m a snob.
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I only drink coffee, never tea and my mugs are always proper pottery and I hate big mugs. My daughter is a sculptor and makes special small size mugs specially for me.
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