I am so angry right now!
 

Ugh! I am so angry! Last night I listed a pet product on Etsy. Today I had a woman contact me saying I was stealing her ideas because we have a similar product. It's similar, but it's not the same. I was never even aware she existed! I had never come across her product and I certainly have not been stealing her ideas!

This is a product I first made to bring home my dog Lola last April. I have made a few more in different designs. Friends and family members with small dogs loved them and had me make them some too. Then other people started asking about them, friends of friends, people on the street, etc, etc. My mom suggested I start marketing them to a wider audience. I immediately thought of Etsy because I have a few friends on there who make things by hand.

It just bugs me that this woman thinks I stole her idea. This is exactly why I hesitated before deciding to make this product more visible.

Sorry for the long rant. It just makes me angry because last night I was so positive about this whole thing. I was dreaming up other items I could put up on Etsy and thinking this could be a really great hobby and I could share my crafts with the world, but now I just don't know anymore.

Just curious. What kind of product is it? There are alot of people that sell the same product. That is part of the business world. One thing that comes to mind is belly bands. Alot of people sell them. I dont know who's idea it was first, but alot of people sell them!

You really need to report this to Etsy. I think she was completely in the wrong. How awful! Don't delete her message until Etsy has a chance to see it. I would also find all emails, receipts and photos you can to prove that you started making these on your own first, just in case.

I am sorry this is happening to you.:(

Great advice!

I am unfamiliar with Etsy, but I would definitely let the support staff there know about this problem.

I know that when you are making home-made items...there are always others who make the same things as well. I use to work arts and crafts fairs w/ my grandmother (years ago) and someone might have a really neat idea one year and the next year, there would be tons of that same item....I am sure for the original maker, it is upsetting....but I just do not know if there is anything that can be done about that aspect of making handmade items.:(

Sorry you are dealing w/ this mess!:love-hug1

Thanks for the support you guys!

I was curious just now and did a search on here. Sure enough, I found some people who do similar products like the one I'm doing. It's a bed/sleeping bag thing. I don't know if I have any of the receipts except for what I purchased in December, but I do have pictures that are dated and friends and family. I don't think anything is going to come of it, but we'll see.

Hopefully she just gets over herself. I think if she was really putting out a quality product she wouldn't mind other people selling similar items. I mean I've even taught other people how to make their own! For me it's a hobby. My mom thought it would be nice if I could sell to a wider audience since I lost my job and have been making a lot of these.

Generally people just call that competition.:rolleyes: You didn't steal her idea, and unless her design is patented etc. and you're making the EXACT same thing then she's way out of her bounds. I love Etsy and alot of people sell similar things. Good luck selling them on their and I'd keep the correspondence but just ignore her.:)

Seems to me like if she was that worried and it was that unique a product, then she could have pattened it and solved the problem ahead of time.

Exactly what I was going to say. This lady must be full of herself thinking she's the only one with a brain to create this :rolleyes: What a cry baby....Reporting her would be a good idea..that would be considered harassment wouldn't it??? Don't let this women put a damper on all of your creative ideas...don't give her any power...go forward and keep going!!

Welcome to Earth in the 21st century. There are 7 billion people here, who honestly thinks there is an original idea out there to be had?