4 Things to Check When You Buy Handmade Jewelry Online

Originally submitted by Estherina Sally Tan. For more information about her, visit http://estherly.com.

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One of the popular items that people buy online is jewelry. You might be thinking, are you serious?? Well, it was one of the first questions that I asked myself when I wanted to start my online handmade jewelry shop. But guess what, now I have customers from overseas whom I have not met before!

So, if you are an online shopper, and you are considering buying some beautiful jewelry, what are the things that you need to check before you made a purchase? Let me share with you from a seller and a buyer point of view, since I’m both, because I buy my supplies online frequently and I sell my handmade jewelry online.

1. Make sure the photos are clear and are taken from different angles.
   As a buyer, I dislike photos that are not clear, blur and dark. If I can’t tell what it is or I can’t see the colours I won’t buy.
2. The product description include the colours, measurements and materials.
   I have a measuring tape beside me when I buy. It helps me to estimate the size of the items that I plan to buy.
3. There is a refund and return policy stated clearly in the shop.
   I will trust a shop more if they are confident enough to put out a refund and return policy, especially when I cannot visit their physical shop or touch the item that I want to buy.
4. A good rating.
   A good rating does not necessary guarantees that I don’t have problems with my transaction, but at least it will make me feel better and more confident with the shop and the owner.

Buy Handmade

Originally submitted by Estherina Sally Tan. To find out more about her, visit http://estherly.com.

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I’m NOT talking about buying handmade products from big corporations who have mass-produced them using thousands of low-cost labours in China, Vietnam or Myanmar.

I’m talking about buying good quality, handcrafted products from skilled artists who have created the handmade pieces with love, care, passion and attention to details.

There is a HUGE difference.

Back in my home country, the fashion accessories market is flooded with lots of handmade products. Most of them are imported from these developing country. You can buy 3 earrings at the price of RM10 (approx US$ 2.85). You wonder how we who handcraft our products are going to compete with these markets? Well, don’t! and please don’t intend to! You’ll kill yourself for doing it!

Price is not always the only consideration for a consumer to buy. We as skilled artists have paid the price and have got the experience to create things with higher quality materials, with higher quality workmanship, and all handmade products that we have created comes with an ingredient called passion that the consumers can’t get from the normal market. These are the factors that the people who value handmade products appreciate, in my humble opinion.

I always believe that the consumer market is huge enough for different markets to survive. There will be people who are only willing to pay US$ 2.85 for 3 earrings, and there will be people who are willing to pay US$ 50 for a piece of good quality necklace.

What do you think?