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You and Yours: Etsy Reselling, Virtual Viewings, Loofahs

05/03/2021

Etsy Reselling, Virtual Viewings, Loofahs

BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours, Etsy Reselling, Virtual Viewings, Loofahs

We investigate the high street products being resold on handcrafts website Etsy. And how to grow your own loofah sponge.

We investigate why high street products are being resold on Etsy, a marketplace for handmade goods and craft supplies. Etsy does not allow reselling on its website, with the exception of some craft supplies and vintage products which must be at least 20 years old. We've found multiple examples of furniture and homewares stocked by high street retailer B&M being sold on Etsy. Sellers are using the exact same product images as those found on B&M's website, but labelling them as 'handmade' and selling them at double the price or more. We've found reviews from unhappy customers who've bought the products not realising where they come from. 
The luffa plant has been tipped as one of this year's gardening trends. A tropical vine in the cucumber family, the full grown vegetable can be dried out to make a loofah sponge for use in the bathroom or for washing up. Suttons seeds are stocking luffa seeds for the first time this year and we'll speak to a nursery that is growing the plants for sale in garden centres this year. 
When the housing market reopened estate agents turned to videos and virtual viewings to help sales at a time when visiting in person has been restricted. A year later, more than a third of house listings include a video. Estate agents report that some buyers have placed offers based on the video alone, or are relying on a virtual viewing conducted by the estate agent if they're unable to visit the property themselves. We'll hear from someone who bought a house without seeing it.
Presented by Peter White.
Produced by Beatrice Pickup.

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