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Friday, May 15, 2009

TGI.. NEXT Friday?

Yeah, well, I have to work this weekend. And teach next week. So I don't get a weekend. And while I'm happy for all of you, I'm, well... missing my weekend already! So here's looking forward to next weekend!!!

What if next weekend is your birthday??? Then do I have a card for you!

This was PURE, unadulterated fun from start to finish!! Here are the steps:

1) Avoid all of the things you have to do that would occupy about 29 waking hours, knowing that you only have about 10 waking hours to do them them in.
2) Play with the cats
3) Dink around on Facebook and Twitter
4) Notice the piece of black textured cardstock from Taste of Textiles that is randomly on your desk underneath the entire week's worth of stamping frenzies.
5) Notice the colored pencils underneath the paper
6) Lose yourself in art for a bit as you discover how FREAKING COOL the texture looks when you color over it - WOW.
7) Realize that if you had created nature, roses would be all these crazy colors. Add a rubon from SU - Loop to Loop.
8) Have some queso. MMM.
9) Photoshop
10) And here we are.... Nice to see you. How have you been?

Now, some practical internet advice for my fellow artists who may sell their products.

You know I love the Google. It's beyond love, really. *sigh*

And, I just received a large box of Sassy Maddie cards I had printed... what???? Yes - Maddie is now a fancy greeting card!!And people will need to get their paws on them.

So I was going to pop over and put them on Etsy out of habit, and then I became all curious. Could I pay less? What do I mean pay? Well check it out.

This is what I found.

Etsy charges you 3.5% of each transaction plus a 20 cent listing fee, that is charged to you each month that you have the item listed.

You are paid through PayPal. PayPal charges you when you receive money - 2.9% + 30 cents. So, for example, when I charge $5 for my Google Reader Webinar, you pay $5 - but I only receive $4.55.

So for an Etsy transaction, you are paying 6.4% + 30 cents one time and 20 cents ongoing.

Why in the world should I pay that?

I turned to Google.

I found out that a feature called Google Base allows you to list products on Google and use Google Checkout to receive payment.

The fee is 2.9%, plus a 30 cent transaction fee. That means you only pay the 30 cent fee if you sell something. Listing it is free.

So let's look at Maddie.

I'm selling the cards 10 for $8.50 + 1.50 shipping - total transaction - $10.

For a single month, let's say, I'd pay Etsy $1.14 to sell those cards. On Google - I'll pay 59 cents - and only if I sell them. I could rack up another $1 in costs on Etsy whether I sold them or not in 5 months.

I report. You decide. :) Just because everyone else is doing it doesn't mean you have to.

I'm selling them on Google. :)

Hope you have a great weekend!

Have you signed up for the UBlue Cyber Club? Attended one of my Webinars?? Come on - get your geek on! :)

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9 comments:

  1. Lydia,

    You are just an awesome source of information. Love the Maddie cards, I hope you sell a bunch. Where did you have them printed?

    Awesome card with the roses, you are so right about the colored pencils looking too freaking cool when used on that textured card stock. Gotta order some of that card stock and dust off my Prismacolor pencils.

    Love the whole Freaking post!

    Lisa A.

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  2. And I just opened an Etsy store. Sigh ... Off to check out Google Base ...

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  3. I think you should send me that beautiful "Fifth Ave" card done with the coloured pencils. Did you notice I spell coloured different that you ? ha ha ha That is the Canadian Spelling ha ha true true. Well, back to the card, Yup, I think you should send it to me as it is my BIRTHDAY TODAY. Sorry you have to work this week-end but it will be over with real soon. Hugs n' Stuff, Lynne

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  4. Those roses do look fabulous and it would be awesome if the DID come in those colors out in nature!!! Thanks for the info on Etsy vs. Google!!! Have a great weekend!! Oh, I really do have something for you. It's still sitting at my house. I'm a lousy person - I'll blame it on the husband (since he's deployed and can't defend himself ;) )!!!

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  5. love how you colored that card.

    sorry to hear you have to work this weekend. I completely understand though, the owner of the store I work at makes it so I'm off on Fridays come in on Saturdays and we're close Sundays. Then it's Monday and a whole new work week.

    So I never get that whole weekend feel anymore.

    Hugs.
    Mary

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  6. You did a great job on the roses card! Too bad my birthday isn't until July! Good luck with Maddie's cards and and thanks for the helpful info. I an truly sorry about your LOW (lack of weekend). Bummer! Doesn't 'low" describe the lack of weekend perfectly? I just made that up, but I like it and thought you would, too.

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  7. All your [Google] Base are belong to us? ... Anyone? :)

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  8. This is hot hot HOT! u do has sass. You DO! The best kind! :O)

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