Have any of you experienced this?

[Funkyhand]

Hi All,
This something that I get on a reasonably regular basis and I wondered if any of you do to..or is it just me!
Today I had a message through my website from someone who openly states that they want to start a business doing exactly what I do and can I tell them how to get started!:o
Are these people a bit stupid or just think that I am? Why do they think that I will give away all the ideas and things that I have learned whilst building up my business to any stranger that asks, for them to then use the info and become my potential competition??
I'm sorry if this sounds a bit mean I don't mean to be but I am just fed up of being asked stuff like this!!:mad:
Anice xx :):)

[Peter]

The ether is full of loonies isn't it? :mf::D

[craftdancer]

Hi Anice

I'm sorry to hear you are getting these sort of e-mails - I suppose it's one of the hazards of internet trading. I don't think you're being mean at all, I think it's a darn cheek.

How about you reply "visit your local Business Advice Agency" and leave it at that? Or tell them you're a crafter not a business advisor. You've answered their question, but not really given any trade secrets away or given them a short cut to get to where you and many other have had to work so flippin' hard to get.

Linda
Getting very annoyed on your behalf

[mjbelkin]

I always get amazed at people who post "I'm looking to set up a webshop selling x, and want to know who your wholesalers are", and then get really surprised/upset when no one will share information.

Well, sorry, but we had to search for them, and so can you :mad:

[JBJB]

I guess in a way you should be flattered as they obviously see that your business is doing well, but no they can't have thought it through very well!

The only annoying emails I get are about "magic sticks" and viagra. I don't even get the ones saying I've inherited a fortune.

[OGDesigns]

I think some people just have the b*lls to ask anything - i remember when i first started selling scrapbook kits (stopped years ago!) someone emailed me to say she wasnt sure or not if she would like them so please could i send her one to 'try me out'!! :o

[EMEvans]

I guess in a way you should be flattered as they obviously see that your business is doing well, but no they can't have thought it through very well!

The only annoying emails I get are about "magic sticks" and viagra. I don't even get the ones saying I've inherited a fortune.

I'm getting the same ones - they are so annoying, i receive up to 20 per day and when you try to email them to tell them to **** off the mail is undelivered. It makes me so angry sometimes that i feel like buying a batch, find the person(s) sending the emails and shove them where the sun don't shine.

[Funkyhand]

Thank you all..I am not going totally mad then!! :D:D

I might just take up your advice Craftdancer and point them in the direction of their local Business Link. I thought of going there for myself though when I started out..so I don't think I will worry too much about their business putting me out of business in the near future!!;)

I just wouldn't have the gall to contact a designer through the 'contact us' page of their website and ask them to tell me how they do what they do..and expect a polite response!! Oh well it take all sorts to make up the Virtual world I suppose!! :)
Anice xx :):)

[Donster]

Yeah I can understand how receiving those kind of emails must be frustrating. But then I can understand the want to learn and perhaps not knowing how to start and asking for advice. Maybe you could put a brief help or FAQ section on your website so if people don't even look there and still email you you can just forward them the link to your page.

[Woodsprite]

You could just inform them that your consultancy rates are £60 per hour (minimum 8 hours - payable in advance) for this sort of advice and see if they are still interested!

[BeadsbyLili]

You could just inform them that your consultancy rates are £60 per hour (minimum 8 hours - payable in advance) for this sort of advice and see if they are still interested!


I never thought of that one before but it made me chuckle out loud !:D:D:D

[swirlyarts]

I get lots of emails through my site asking if I want to buy cards - erm no - check out the website properly and you will see that I make cards!! Stupid people!! I like Woddsprites idea of charging money!!

[EMEvans]

I had one once asking if i could recommend and link to them, in there message they said they weren't in direct competition with me as they didn't sell all the stuff i do...................bloody cheek, there prices were expensive to.

I didn't even bother to email them back.

[craftyfoxni]

i sell at craft fairs ( don't have a wed site yet) i knitt and sell handbags and i have had people ask me face to face how many stitches i use and where i get my wool and handles and what fairs i'm doing next etc :mad: my friend will do the craft fairs with me she sell handpoured candles and people have asked me and not got the right answers and have waited till i'm busy and went and asked her but she knows the score some people have a brass neck :confused:

[mjbelkin]

We get a similar thing at work - clients who don't want to pay us to prepare their tax returns, but want us to check what they've done. We quote them higher than if we were to prepare them :sm:

[Susie B]

I did a craft fair just this weekend and I saw a lady copy on the back of an envelope the design of the tesselated (repeated block) patchwork quilt I had hanging up on my stall. :mad:
She didn't even bother saying anything to me , she just stood back and drew it, thinking I couldn't see her.

[Comforts & Candles]

Some people take the biscuit Susie...

Stick a sign up on your table next time stating that all designs are copyrighted and cannot be reproduced in any fashion etc...

If it's a new design of your own then take a pic of the first one made with the date on it and give the design a name...

Of course, the next time you catch someone like her you can always tap her shoulder and point at your obvious copyright sign stating that she must have missed it but you might be willing to sell the design as a pattern at a very pretty price indeed...;)

Some people just aren't born with an ounce of creativity and just want to ride the waves of someone else's hard work and effort...

AM x

[swirlyarts]

I did a craft fair just this weekend and I saw a lady copy on the back of an envelope the design of the tesselated (repeated block) patchwork quilt I had hanging up on my stall. :mad:
She didn't even bother saying anything to me , she just stood back and drew it, thinking I couldn't see her.

That's just cheeky!

[girlyracer]

Cheeky? More like showing one cheek then swapping for the other half way through! Not telling which cheek though lol.

Seriously though this is a huge problem for every type of crafter out there. Everyone wants to know your secrets. I would either tell them politely that it is on a "need to know basis and you don't need to know" Failing that, tell them to run a search on the web and let them find out and learn the same way we all had to learn our craft.

Ruby

[MrSwirl]

Cheeky? More like showing one cheek then swapping for the other half way through! Not telling which cheek though lol.

Seriously though this is a huge problem for every type of crafter out there. Everyone wants to know your secrets. I would either tell them politely that it is on a "need to know basis and you don't need to know" Failing that, tell them to run a search on the web and let them find out and learn the same way we all had to learn our craft.

Ruby

Or give a cheeky, but surreal answer:

"How did you get that swirly bit like that?"
"Oh, I employ a teeny tiny elfish creature who does it all for me, with a little sprinkling of fairy dust"

[swirlyarts]

Or give a cheeky, but surreal answer:

"How did you get that swirly bit like that?"
"Oh, I employ a teeny tiny elfish creature who does it all for me, with a little sprinkling of fairy dust"

I like that :D

[MrSwirl]

I like that :D

It works well if you stare at them with really wide eyes and don't blink until they move away...

[swirlyarts]

Hee hee hee!! I could probably pull that off :D

[Funkyhand]

You two are scaring me now! :o
Anice xx :):)

[Tip Top]

It works well if you stare at them with really wide eyes and don't blink until they move away...


I could do that very easily!!:D

[Funkyhand]

Gggrrr It has happened again! Why do people think I am the one to ask how to be my competition?? :o
Anice xx :mad::mad:

[Tip Top]

Is there something that you could put on your website to try and discourage muppets contacting you? :spam:

Cos then at least you could have a standard reply and refer back to the statement on your website;)

[Snow angel]

Never had anything like that happen to me but then again i dont have a web site yet. I have had someone at my craft stall looking at my wedding towel cakes say to her other half all it is is towels done up and just with this and that on and as she was saying it she was banging the cake about on the stall i was going over to say something to her when someone else wanted to buy something from me so i was sorting her out and when i was done i looked back over to the wedding cake and the womens other half was taken photos of it so she could go home and copy it. My jew hit the floor i was so shocked i couldnt say anything i mean they could of asked me 1st wish i had taken it off when she was hitting it all about

[Funkyhand]

That's outrageous SnowAngel! Some people just have the cheek of the devil! I just wouldn't dare!
Anice xx :):)

[girlyracer]

What a rotten thing to do to you snow angel.

It's all very well being inspired by someone else's design or creation but to actually take photos so you can recreate an item identically is just bad news.

Maybe there should be a rule at craft fairs and fetes - No photos allowed.

Ruby

[Rodeo Lady]

One of my friend is a jewler and she puts her hand in front of the camera.

I had a lady at a show that asked if she could take pictures and when I said no she told me that she thought I was extremly Rude !!!

I told her I had pictures on my web-site she could see and she told me she had already looked.......... But..... couldn't figure out how I did my decorations !!!

Cheers Janice :horse:

[nattynetty]

Gggrrr It has happened again! Why do people think I am the one to ask how to be my competition?? :o
Anice xx :mad::mad:

Trust me Anice you're not the only one...I'm still astounded by the cheek of these emails when I receive them. I haven't worked out how to politely say no so take the chickens way out and just ignore the emails :pc:

As for those of you dealing with blatent copying of ideas at craft fairs I remember one fair I attended a lady had written a poem she had on display which basically said my ideas so don't copy - wish I'd copied it now (joke :D) but seriously if anyone out there is good with words maybe they could come up with a similar poem you can all share or adapt...then it'd just be a case of 'ahem...can I just draw your attention to this sign please' when you spot anyone in action.