Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
- What is Folksy?
- When will the beta end?
- Use of Trademark and how to use the name Folksy on your own site
- I'm not receiving email from Folksy!
- Understanding your Folksy bill
- What is the 'Rated positive by x out of y people' in the sidebar of an item
- Putting links in your Profile page and in descriptions of items
Buying questions
- How do I buy something?
- I’m not in the UK, can I still shop on Folksy?
- How much does postage cost?
- How do I pay for an item?
- Can I buy more than one thing at a time?
- Whoops, I bought something by mistake
- Help, I’m having trouble paying for an item
- I ordered something a few days ago and it hasn’t arrived
- I got my item, how can I leave feedback?
Selling Questions
- What can I sell on Folksy?
- I'm not in the UK, can I still sell on Folksy?
- I've just listed an item and it's not on the front page
- How much does it cost to use Folksy?
- How long are items listed for? Indefinitely?
- Policy on listing items for sale
- Do I have to use Paypal to sell on Folksy?
- Can I sell Materials and if so, what's a variation of an item?
- Do you have blog badges or things to promote my shop on Folksy?
- What's my shop link ?
- How does billing work?
- How will I be informed of sales?
- Your shop and your profile appearance and settings
- Image sizes for items and banners
- How do I become a Featured Seller?
- How do my items get chosen as Featured Items?
- What do I do if the buyer does not pay?
Makes Questions
Support
- Browser support on Folksy
- My images won't upload properly when listing / editing an item
- Deleting your account
General Questions
What is Folksy?
Folksy champions cool crafts and design talent. We marry up designers and crafters with buyers who want individual, quality stuff that's made with love. Plus, we run design competitions and other fun stuff.
back to topWhen will the beta end?
The beta will end on 30 April 2010. There is more information about this on the Folksy blog.
back to topUse of Trademark
You must not pass yourselves off or seek to be representatives of Folksy. The Folksy logo and trademark are owned by Folksy Ltd. As a registered user of Folksy you are permitted to use this trademark only as it applies to the selling of your own items or examples of things you have made ["making"], for example "see my shop on Folksy". The use of the logo is permitted in such circumstances but it may only be used on your own website [or 'blog']. We will be providing Folksy 'badges' to use on your own site for this purpose, soon. Helping us to present Folksy in a consistent and high quality manner will ultimately benefit all the Folksy craft community. Thanks for your support in helping us to manage the trademark.
back to topI'm not receiving email from Folksy!
Some email providers will accept emails and not deliver them, hotmail, yahoo and gmail are all examples of this. In order to receive email from Folksy you may need to add postie@folksy.com to your trusted contacts list.
back to topWhat is the 'Rated positive by x out of y people' in the sidebar of a listed item
This is the feedback rating for the seller of the item. It shows the total number of 'positive' ratings given to the seller by their customers.
back to topIncluding links in your Profile pages and item descriptions
To do this you just need to add simple HTML to your copy. HTML is mark up for the web - it allows you to make things bold or italicise etc. See this reliable guide for a beginners overview of HTML.
Buying questions
How do I buy something?
To buy something, select Add to cart on the item page (above the main photo) and it will be added to your shopping basket. You can see what’s in your basket in the Your Folksy box on the right-hand side of the page.
Items will stay in your basket until you either checkout or end your Folksy session by logging out. Please note that adding an item to your basket does not remove it from sale, so if you leave it in your basket for too long without checking out there’s a chance that someone else could snap it up.I’m not in the UK, can I still shop at Folksy?
Yes, as long as the seller ships to your country.
How much does postage cost?
The postage charges are shown at the bottom of an item page. They will be different depending on where the items are being shipped to and how many items are being sent. The postage costs for any order will show up in your cart before you check out so you can see how much they cost in total.
How do I pay for an item?
The easiest way to pay for an item is using Paypal. If you don’t already have a Paypal account it’s easy to set one up.
If you don’t want to register with Paypal you can use a credit or debit card on the Paypal site. To do this, just follow the instructions on the screen.
Can I buy more than one thing at a time?
Yes. You can add them all to your cart and checkout in one go, but you’ll need to pay for them all separately if they are from different shops.
You can see all of your bought items at Your account > Stuff you’ve bought (http://www.folksy.com/myprofile/bought).
Whoops, I bought something by mistake
That’s okay, we all make mistakes. If you ordered something by mistake please contact the seller as soon as you can to cancel the order.
If you order and fail to pay for an item without contacting the seller your account may be suspended, so please contact the seller to try and sort it out first.
Help, I’m having trouble paying for an item
Sometimes setting up a Paypal account can take time, or there can be odd problems such as your card expiring. If you do have difficulties please contact the seller straight away to explain. Usually it’s not a problem as long as you can arrange payment within a few days.
I ordered something a few days ago and it hasn’t arrived
Hopefully it’s in the post. When your item has been posted you should receive an email telling you it’s on its way. You can also check this on Your account > Stuff you’ve bought (http://www.folksy.com/myprofile/bought). If the item says ‘shipped’ it has been posted.
If you haven’t received your item after a few days please contact the seller. If, after 7 days, you haven’t received your item or heard from the seller please contact Folksy admin and we’ll investigate.
In the rare event of a shop not delivering the goods you can claim for a refund via Paypal. For more information see the Paypal help page on Claims and disputes. Please make sure you report the seller to Folksy too, so we can take action.
I received my item, can I leave feedback?
Yes, please do! If you go to Your account > Feedback (http://www.folksy.com/myprofile/feedback) you can leave feedback for the seller.
Selling Questions
What can I sell on Folksy?
Please see our Prohibited Items List for a breakdown of what is acceptable to list and sell on the site as well as our Guide to Selling on Folksy
Folksy is a service that supports crafters and designers. We do not want mass produced items for sale on the site but neither would we strictly argue that the items need to be handmade as we appreciate that industrial processes are often necessary and small production runs can be essential to create cost-effective outputs. We're sure there are going to be lots of examples that test this overly simplistic editorial stance and we look forward to this being tested and getting the feedback of the Folksy community of users on what they believe would be a useful definition.
In terms of the materials used to make the product we hope we get a real range of things from electronics and robotics to 'traditional' design media such as graphics, ceramics, glass, wood, metal and of course 'soft' materials such as felt, wool, cotton etc.
You can specify you are selling "materials" on Folksy - perhaps a surplus you want to get rid of or a company wanting to sell materials directly through Folksy. Material supplies can be anything so long as they don't break any laws within the country of origin and the sales destination.
back to topI'm not in the UK, can I still sell on Folksy?
No, Folksy currently only supports UK sellers although we are exploring opening up other 'local' Folksy sites (e.g. Folksy Australia) to support the busying and selling of crafts around national markets. UK sellers can sell abroad though and buyers from non-UK markets can see the price of items in eighteen of the major world currencies currently supported by Paypal.
back to topI've just listed an item and it's not on the front page
At Folksy we employ a form of community moderation. When you create your shop, it helps if it's approved by the community - they just need to favourite it. If your shop isn't favourited then your items will appear lower down in the listings although people will be able to find them through the different views on Folksy e.g. search. Once you've created your shop, go an introduce yourself in the Forum and you'll find a vibrant community waiting to help.
back to topHow much does it cost to use Folksy?
It costs 20p to list an item on Folksy and we charge 5% commission on all sales (this is taken from the list price and is not charged on postage too). If you don't sell an item you are only charged for the listing fee. You can list up to 5 items in one 'handmade' listing (e.g. quantity 5 of one types of thing). If you're listing a material you can list up to 100 items in one listing (e.g. quantity 100 of one type of thing). All costs are currently charged in UK Pounds Sterling. The reason we charge 20p to list is mainly to reduce 'product spam' on the site. 5% commission on sales reflects what we perceive to be the value we can offer to users in terms of marketing their work to a wider audience through the site, our brand partners and through workshops and events.
back to topHow How long are items listed for? Indefinitely?
Items are listed for 6mths. After this time they are de-listed.
back to topDo I have to use Paypal to sell on Folksy?
Yes, you do. The simplest means to manage multiple buyers and sellers in an online environment is, we believe, through Paypal. We are aware of some of the criticisms of Paypal and we review other options for facilitating payment regularly.
See the Folksy guide to setting up your Paypal account (this includes preferences for the correct postage settings).
back to topPolicy on listing items for sale
When listing items for sale you must provide all the information you think is needed for a customer to make a purchase. Requiring buyers to go to another site to choose variations is something that we want to discourage. If items vary then each *significant* variation must have its own listing. Animated gifs are not allowed on Folksy listings.
We understand that many sellers have multiple shops and we do not want to discourage that but we also don't want Folksy being used to raise awareness and interest with a view to completing the transaction on another site. We don't want to be draconian, but we do want to try and create a good buying experience and requiring people to go off the page to see variations, required to make a decision, is likely to result in less sales.Can I sell Materials and if so, what's a variation of an item?
Yes, you can sell materials. When you go to sell an item you are presented with a drop down menu to choose either "handmade good" or "material". You *must* choose a material if the item does not have any of your time, design, labour involved. An item listed as a "material" has different possible variations unlike "handmade items". For example, you may list a pack of buttons which vary by colour and so you could list colour variations of the bag of buttons, for example red or blue. Where you are selling materials with different variations you can input these with any change in price and this will be reflected on the item page.
back to topDo you have blog badges or things to promote my shop on Folksy?
Yes, we have a set of blog badges and we'll be releasing a 'mini-Folksy' shop of your items in the not too distant...
back to topWhat's my shop link ?
Your shop is available at http://www.folksy.com/shops/username
So if your username was robl, then your shop link would be http://www.folksy.com/shops/robl
You can now also use http://username.folksy.com This will 'redirect' to the above web address but is useful where space is limited e.g. on business cards
back to topHow does billing work?
You will be invoiced at the beginning of each month for the cost of the items listed and any commission on sales. You can see the amount billed in "your profile".
Go to "your account" -> "money" -> "your Folksy bill".
Your need to authorise payment and then the amount will be deducted from your Paypal account.
back to topHow will I be informed of sales?
You will be emailed automatically by Folksy to confirm an order has been placed. You should also receive an email from Paypal to state that the item has been paid for. At this point, when you have received both emails *and* payment has cleared (eCheques from paypal take 7-10 days to clear) you should post the item within 3 days (unless otherwise stated on your shop page). Once the item has been posted please change the status of the item to "shipped" in the "items sold" section in "Your Profile".
back to topYour shop and your profile appearance and settings
We have separated out your shop and your items for sale from 'you' and your profile. This has been done because shoppers generally want a simple, clean interface to view items for sale. If they want more information about the seller then they can view "your profile".
Your shop page has keywords on it. We've had feedback from some sellers that they don't like the keywords as it links to *all* items on the site and not just their shop. We have designed the site with the buyer in mind. Someone searching for "toys" will not just want to see *your* toys but all the toys on the site. To view *your* items they view your shop. In testing buyers have liked this feature and that should benefit everyone on the site. To alter this page go to:
-> "your account" -> "your shop" -> "appearance and settings"
To see how your shop looks to other people click the 'selling' tab and go to your shop!
If you do decide to use an image as a banner please be aware that your shop name will *still* appear over the top of the image unless you make the "banner text colour" field blank.
Your personal profile is a way to tell people about 'you' and help to create more of a rapport with your potential buyers which can help sales. To alter this page go to:
-> "your account" -> "your profile" -> "appearance and settings"
You can add links to your own sites / blog here. To do this you just need to add simple HTML to your copy to make it a link. HTML is mark up for the web - it allows you to make things bold or italicise etc. See this reliable guide for a beginners overview of HTML. To see how this page looks to others click the link that says "see how other people see you"
back to topImage sizes for items and banners
Item and avatar images get cropped to be square on Folksy, it means we can keep your pages looking nice but we know it can be a bit of a faff :)
Sizes are as follows:
- Item images are shrunk and cropped to : 495px x 495px
- Avatar images are shrunk and cropped to : 70px x 70px
- Banner images are recommended to be : 920px x 100px
You must not use animated images
back to topHow do I become a Featured Seller?
Featured sellers are chosen every week at the discretion of the Folksy staff. Our choice is based on:
-> Number of items for sale - you need to have 4 or more items for sale in your shop
-> Quality of images - your images need to be of a high standard as they will effectively be a 'beacon' for the site
-> Representing a variety of 'types' of products and crafts on the site - so we pick 4 sellers so the products are varied and represent the variety available on the site
back to topHow do my items get chosen as Featured Items?
Items are chosen by the Folksy staff at their own discretion. However, we do try and choose items from all sellers over the course of a period of time. We select items based on the the same criteria as sellers generally (see point 16, above), that is: quality of image; representing a variety of products on the site
back to top-
What do I do if the buyer does not pay?
It happens. Orders are not complete until you have received confirmation from Folksy and from Paypal. If you do not receive confirmation from Paypal then the Folksy site will not let you mark the item as 'sent' and you should not send an item if you have not been paid. In the first instance contact the buyer and ask them to pay. If they refuse to pay or do not respond then you can delete the order yourself on the 'order details' page. You do not need to re-list the item as cancelling the order puts the item up for sale again.
back to top
Makes Questions
What is a Make ?
A make is a set of instructions that you can follow to make your own crafty stuff. Makes are contributed by members of the Folksy community as a way to get people making again
back to top
Bugs!
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Browser support on Folksy
We optimise Folksy for Firefox 2+, IE 7 and Safari 3+. Other browsers such as Opera and Camino should be fine but are not tested. Most critically we do not support IE6. Internet Explorer 6 is significantly different from 7 and involves a lot of extra work. We took the decision not to support IE6 as it dipped below a threshold of users. We recommend users of IE upgrade to IE7 or a different browser as the user experience is significantly better:Download Internet Explorer 7
Download Firefox
Download Safari
My images won't upload properly when I list or edit an item
A few people have fed back to us saying that sometimes when they try to upload images the site 'hangs' or the images won't upload. Whilst we are not aware of there being a bug (we cannot replicate the problem), we have found the following helps to eradicate the problem:
1. Keep your browser up-to-date. Whether you use Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Opera or Camino or AN Other, keeping the latest version helps.
2. (for issues when editing) Log out and then log in again and / or delete the Folksy 'cookie' (link to cookie reference site) from your browser.
We are not aware of anyone having a persistent problem but we are monitoring this issue. If it occurs we'd be grateful if you let us know through the beta feedback form stating which operating system you use (Vista, XP, Mac OS 10.4 etc.) and which browser and version (e.g. IE 7, Firefox 2). Thanks :)Deleting your account
To delete your account go to Your account > Delete my account. You will asked to confirm this and if you confirm your account will be deleted.