& We Have A Winner!

Who had 6 weeks in the pool we had running about how long it would take for some asshole to rip off our Joan's fiber idea?  Because, honey, you won!

While we always knew this would happen, it's still a surprise and a bit of an insult to see how poor a copy has been made.  This etsy vendor spent some time poking around the shop, favorited the shop just long enough to steal the idea* and make a cheap low quality copy.

I know that in a way, it's a compliment because someone saw the great quality and fabulous packaging of the item and stole it.  However, it is an insult because of the poor quality and lack of imagination it takes to steal a winner of an idea.

Btw, the reason for the cheap packing is that someone trying to rip off a great idea may not be willing to actually invest in quality packaging and/or quality fiber.  Never mind the whole time/skill set thingy. 

A great deal of research, time and effort went into coming up with the idea for the shop.  A lot of trial and error, searching the internet and figuring out what the goal of the business was going to be.  Not to mention all the test spinning, the business modeling and about six million emails and phone calls.  This was not something thought up over a box of wine one Friday night last month.

What the casual onlooker may not realize is that our Joan is not some bored 20-/30-something housewife with a baby on her hip in one of the square states looking for a quick payday.  She's a quality chick who is not going to be using mill ends, Kool Aid and dryer lint to try to make art batts or some other nonsense that is not true to who she is.  It's a shame that other people are not as creative or quality driven.

ps... Pity Joan.  I'm reading my post to her on the phone.  Over and over and over again.  That woman is a saint!

Edited to Add:  Joan is telling me to tell you that NO ONE (!!!) is allowed to call her a chick.  She has mixed feelings about "gal" and prefers to be called "ma'am".  Thank you.

*Having stolen the idea, she removed the shop from her favorites.  Most likely, in the hopes that no one would notice what she had done.  Clearly, this person does not realize that unless your etsy favorites are marked as private, everyone and their dog can see what and who has been 'hearted' and who and what has been removed.  Welcome to social media.

Comments

[Carole]

People suck. People who steal really suck. I hate people.

[margene]

There isn't a soul on this earth who could have a better product, better shop or better idea than "our" Joan.

[Beverly (db81971)]

Edited to Add: Joan is telling me to tell you that NO ONE (!!!) is allowed to call her a chick. She has mixed feelings about "gal" and prefers to be called "ma'am". Thank you.

TOO FUNNY!

[Natalie]

Ugh. Well I've touched the real deal & I am ruined for crappy fiber. Are you really going to make me spend ages searching for the rip-off?

[Sara]

Does Joan have any recourse? Thieves will keep thieving unless they're stopped.

[elizabeth]

Hopefully no one will be tricked into buying the inferior quality fibers!

[Daniele]

That really sucks.

[Tiny Tyrant]

Okay I want to know who the b*tch is that did this. So I can go report her shop.

[Yarndude]

I understand why you might not have linked to the shop, but I can't believe you didn't tell us who it was! We want to see the stealing bastard and laugh at their inferiority!

[Karen]

This is why I hate people.

[Gale]

Me? I am offended by this rip-off of a great idea. Fortunately for Joan, she's got a superior product.

[Christina Scovel]

FUCK! I'm so sorry. People fucking suck. That is all I have to say.

[Marilyn]

That just totally stinks! Stinks like rotten garbage and skunks and puke all at the same time. People are so disgusting.

On a lighter note...don't like to disagree with Joan but ma'am makes me feel old. Like really old. Call me chick or gal any day!
xo

[Denise]

That totally stinks. However, I'm not surprised. I had been wondering how long it would take.

Had the same thing happen to me several years, sort of. My person had kahoonas to ask my advice about dying yarn and cotton thread for their personal use, then turn around and open a store the following week.

[Lucia]

I completely missed this one. But, really, people are strange, and not in a good way.

[Cheryl S.]

I hate people.

Hopefully most people won't be fooled by cheap quality.

[kelly]

Wow, poor form in the etsy world. Clearly, the shop is something great to be emulated- but on the other hand, GET YOUR OWN IDEA. At least we know where the good stuff comes from and won't waste time or money on impostors.

[Cindycindy]

I think that that is just pathetic. Not evil. Just pathetic. How sad that the copy cat has no originality and feels a complete lack of respect for anyone else. Joan is a lady (no gal here!!) and she will continue taking the high road. I will, too. I have no intention of buying from the other bitch.

[KnittyOtter]

People suck ass. Hard.

Feh.

[Helen]

People suck. We all know that. I feel for the people who will unwittingly buy the crap.

On the other hand, is that a complaint? Just a week before my guess is in the toilet. But I should have known that it would never happen because Joan sure knows that you have her back!

[Sarah]

& it looks like we have a loser, too.

Blech. I just, ugh. Grrr.

On the upside, after many years, I've been conditioned to automatic ma'am-ing, so at least I know of one person who prefers it, and that is always good.

xo

[Rachel]

Stupid bitch is all I have to say about her!

And I think our Joan should demand: Ms. if pronounced right it is so it don't you agree? :)

[Nora]

Do we need a Cease and Desist letter? A TRO? An injunction? Lemme at her...

xo

[Kitten]

I worry not one bit. No one is a match for Joan's quality, and besides, Peter says she's magical. Crappy is as crappy does and that shop will be under in no time. Maybe even with a fun story of death and destruction a la MCY as the reason! Whee!

[Kym]

Hugely, hugely annoying. Joan's quality and heart will speak for themselves. She will prevail! The other shop? Toast.

[kellys]

Dicks suck. er, circularly.
AND
now I'm inspired to be all supportive!!
xo

[kellys]

and? I tend to use the word "broad" pretty much a lot

[Beverly]

I say let Nora have her way!

[gayle]

What could the mangy cur possibly call it? The charm of Joan's concept lies in the name with the packaging. (The quality is the icing on the cupcake!)

[Zonda]

That really stinks!! Why do people feel the need to do this! I love my box o'cupcakes! (I'm sure it won't be my last either!)

[marianne]

well ffs. seriously? ffs. meh and bah.
ditto what Yarndude wrote!
ahhh, I use 'ma'am' quite a lot, from addressing baby girls to the elderly gentlewomen. just a soft spoken 'ma'am'.. not meant as anything other than a term of endearment and respect.

[Doris]

This kind of thing is why I hate most people. I put on a good face, but I really hate them. Joan will do well because of the quality and care that go into her product. The other one...let's hope her fiber spontaneously combusts.

[sil]

Well it's to be expected in the high stakes fiber game...Crikey! There is alot of crap on etsy, we all know how to wade through it and find the gems like Joan.

[gale (she shoots sheep shots)]

I just figure that karma will catch her eventually, it always does.
And that, ma'am is some BAD karma, stealing creative ideas to make a quick cheap imitation buck.
ps I agree with Joan about chick, 90% of the time.

[Janice]

All things considered, this was a pretty tame rant. I admire your self-control, I would have had none. at all. just a long parade of expletives.

[Anne]

Wait....is her avatar a little bitch ass looking dog....?

[Carrie#K]

Oh wow, someone really did that? I don't understand thieves. May they get what they deserve.