I'm the guy who got removed from Etsy.<p>I want to start by saying I think Tindie is awesome and that I've known about it for quite some time. There's a reason that I don't sell my products there and it's because I literally do put them together by hand. I don't use a pick and place machine, reflow soldering techniques, or order in batches of 10,000. I build unique instruments for unique people.<p>I don't mean to draw a comparison between my skills and those of the Haute couture sewers and needlework types or even suggest that we should install some kind of massive institution for overseeing what is and what isn't "hand made," but only to say there is a line and for the most part it's pretty obvious who's on what side.
The "handmade enough" argument can be applied to Etsy's more typical products as well. How handmade is a T-Shirt? Does the seller buy pre-made fabric or weave it themselves? Do they spin their yarn and thread or buy in in rolls? Do they forge metal buttons themselves? All of Etsy's products are in some way or another just a combination of other mass produced goods.
I saw someone mentioned tindie.com in the other thread regarding this particular electronics project. Seems like someone over at tindie noticed, nicely done.
Good move. I'd love to see tindie get more exposure.<p>The last time I bought "maker" electronics from someone it involved finding a years-old forum post via Google and arranging the sale via email + paypal.
I <i>can</i> make you some transistors from scratch. Seriously, I have enough equipment in my garage (and at work). But you'd be an idiot to buy them, and I'd be an idiot to try and make money like that. But who knows? Maybe audiophiles would pay enough to make a living. Fnord's Transistor Boutique - The World's Finest Bespoke Transistoria!
Early on Etsy did the same thing to the vintage collectors. Shortly after they let them build their stores again, but it was all in the name of 'not handmade enough'.<p>Etsy needs to clarify the definition of craft and the difference between that and handmade. It's an important distinction that they've never set a policy to.