FAQ’s
Answers to our community’s most frequently asked questions
Navigate down to the subject of your question by clicking on these links:
Who Makyn.me Helps
How Makyn.me Helps
What May I Sell
Promoting Artists & Crafters
Questions About Us
Account Questions
Browser Questions
Cancellations
Commissions & Customs
Community
Embargos & Sanctions
Following
Future of the Platform
Goals & Milestones
Importer
Inquiries & Pre-Purchase Questions
Questions with a ❤️ are featured questions that were asked by our Community recently!
WHO MAKYN.ME HELPS
WHO DOES MAKYN.ME’S SERVICES HELP?
Makyn.me specializes in helping Artists, Crafters, and Creators by offering excellence in service and a quality Marketplace to offer Creative-Driven Work in a Community of Independent Shops!
❤️ IS DIVERSITY PROMOTED ON MAKYN.ME?
YES! Makyn.me is an INCLUSIVE Community! We PROUDLY WELCOME Creatives from ALL walks of life! Makyn.me believes in promoting and supporting Creatives! Our Marketplace encourages the growth of a diverse online Community and Marketplace that respects and honors EVERY unique voice from our Independent Creatives regardless of age, race, religion, color, creed, nationality, disability, marital and family status, or sexual preference.
WHAT IS MAKYN.ME’S POLICY ON DISCRIMINATION?
OUR PLATFORM-WIDE POLICY IS: WE LOVE ALL FORMS OF ART AND ALL TYPES OF CREATIVES. WE WILL NOT TOLERATE DISCRIMINATION OR ANY FORM OF HATE!
HOW MAKYN.ME HELPS
❤️ HOW DOES MAKYN.ME HELP ARTISTS, CRAFTERS, AND CREATIVES?
We believe in SUPPORTING Artists and the Artists behind the work! When Creatives OPEN SHOP, their Shop joins our Community Shop Directory. Our Shop Services help Artists to pocket more profit from their hard work by providing the means and tools to succeed as well as the virtual space to do it at rock-bottom prices! Our ULTIMATE SHOP Services are designed for high-volume sales with
WHEN I PURCHASE FROM MAKYN.ME, AM I SUPPORTING AN ARTIST?
Yes! If you are serious about supporting Art and the Artists behind the work, purchasing through Makyn.me is one of THE BEST WAYS to do it! We are pleased to announce that Shops who take advantage of the our very reasonable UNLIMITED SERVICES receive 100% of the profit from each sale after the transaction fees paid to the payment provider! UNLIMITED SHOPS PAY NO SALES FEES AND NO LISTING FEES!
MAY I ELIMINATE THE SALES FEE?
FREE SHOPS are charged a nominal 5% sales fee ONLY when items sell. We provide services and charge absolutely no fees unless a listing sells. To eliminate the sales fee, we highly encourage FREE SHOPS to UPGRADE to our UNLIMITED SHOP Service! Upgrading is an effective means of eliminating the fee. Instead of paying a 5% sales fee per transaction to cover Shop Services, the cost for Shop Services, starting at $10.00 a month is paid up-front to cover the collective cost of operating the Makyn.me platform. In return this no-fee structure puts more profit each sale go directly back into the pocket of the Independent Shop who takes advantage of our UNLIMITED SHOP to transact in volume.
HOW DOES ENHANCED ECOMMERCE HELP SHOPS?
Enhanced Ecommerce assists our Independent Shops by improving visibility of their work on a variety of other social media platforms. This additional visibility connects the work of our Shops with Customers who are shopping on those platforms. It helps our Shops by connecting Customers with their listings. A positive shopping experience encourages Customers to return for repeat purchases.
DOES A COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT ATTRACT MORE ATTENTION THAN A STANDALONE WEBSITE?
Yes. In much the same way that a festival with art and craft vendors generates interest for Independent Shops at a physical event, Makyn.me provides an online Marketplace gives one the feel of a virtual festival. Joining a Community of Independent Shops attracts Customers to our Marketplace. Positive experiences encourages those same Customers to return and purchase from other Independent Shops. Our growing presence and visibility on Social Media platforms helps expose potential new Customers to the creative work u0026amp; original content produced by our Independent Shops. Our Enhanced Ecommerce provides Customers with the opportunity to connect directly to purchase from the Shops we represent! This attracts new visitors to our Marketplace to purchase from our Independent Shops and stimulates the growth of our Community! Unless you have an existing audience on Social Media, it can be difficult to drive traffic to a stand-alone website. In addition to the difficulties with directing traffic to an isolated website that isn’t in a Community-type environment, there are many other considerations beyond the scope of this FAQ. The main concern for most Creatives is the investment of time, effort, and/or money required to build a quality website. Generally, there are costs involved with creating a website like purchasing a virtual nameplace (domain), obtaining hosting services (provide your nameplace a space u0026amp; determining whether you want to share that space or not). The Content Management Service (CMS) you select, will determine how steep the learning curve is to implement the web solution of your choice. Some choose the DIY route but this involves a lot more learning. Others don’t mind farming out the work to knowledgable developers, but pay handsomely for such services. If you have invested in your own website, we are excited for you! Our Shops may share their stand-alone website details in the Social Profile because we want our Shops to be able to promote anywhere they are actively producing content!
WHAT MAY I SELL?
❤️ WHAT TYPES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AM I ALLOWED TO SELL ON MAKYN.ME?
As an Organization, we are FOCUSED on the Creative Contributions and original work offered by the Independent Shops that participate in our Community-style Marketplace. As a platform, we provide Shop Services that enable Shops to buy, sell, and trade the following types of CREATIVE WORK: Art, Fine Art, Home Decor, Art and Craft Supplies, Artisan Handcrafted, Crafts, Handmade Items, Digital Media and Designs, Printables, Templates, Custom Design Services, Commissioned Work, Creative Services. Independent Shops may also create listings that offer Stickers, Posters, Tapestries printed with their own designs. Shops may also offer Upcycled and Repurposed Goods, however they must be drastically altered from their original.
WHAT TYPES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AM I NOT ALLOWED TO SELL ON MAKYN.ME?
In short, you MAY NOT: Offer any commercially manufactured work that features designs that you DID NOT create. Offer products or services that violate anyone else’s Intellectual Property Rights. Sell work that you DID NOT create. Resell products or offer services that feature the branding or trademark of that is the legal property of any company (Example: Starbucks cups) except your own. Offer anything dangerous or potentially hazardous. Sell cosmeceuticals aka drugs (these require proper testing.) Offer any product or service that is illicit or illegal. See also: Prohibited and Restricted Items
PROMOTING ARTISTS & CRAFTERS
❤️ HOW DOES MAKYN.ME PROMOTE ARTISTS & CRAFTERS
Our Marketplace uses a variety of strategies to promote our Creatives. First, we offer ENHANCED SHOPPING and VISIBILITY! This means that listings are promoted off-site on other platforms like Google Shopping, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest! This attracts Customers from a variety of other locations, effectively casting our nets wide to connect Shops with Customers. This service is offered FREE OF CHARGE for our Independent Shops. Secondly, we have a FEATURED LISTINGS portion of Makyn.me where Shops can select up to 12 listings to feature in our Marketplace! Then, when we reach our Milestone goal of 250 Shops we will begin recognizing and uplifting our Independent Shops before our Community in a sharable format so that it may be used for promotional purposes to let others know that we honored you for your contribution!
❤️ DOES MAKYN.ME HAVE VISIBILITY AND TRUST?
YES! While we are a new platform, we are continuously building trust with both Independent Shops & Customers! To build awareness and brand visibility for our Shops, we promote the listings offered by our Shops through our Enhanced Shopping feature! This means that we share the creative work of our Independent Shops on platforms like Google Shopping, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. This presents the listings to users on those platforms to attract new Customers and encourages them to participate on Makyn.me.
❤️ HOW MAY I HELP MAKYN.ME BUILD TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY?
Our Independent Shops are encouraged to be courteous, kind, professional, and respectful in communications and presentations to the public. Visitors to the Makyn.me Marketplace who have a positive experience are more likely to engage, share, and help our Community to grow to gain trust. To build trust, it is important that ALL LISTINGS be represented accurately in their listings so that customers have a reasonable expectation of what they are purchasing. Show off your work, be clear in your descriptions, and check to ensure your policies are correct per listing to help consumers to make educated purchasing decisions. After a successful sale, we recommend our Shops follow up with the Customer after receipt of the product or service to REQUEST A REVIEW! This is a great way to help build trust for the platform as a whole. Customers are encouraged to PROVIDE REVIEWS about their experiences with Independent Shops and their purchases! INDEPENDENT SHOPS may wish to leave reviews for Makyn.me to share their experience in our Marketplace and Community to help us grow! Recommending is the best complement we could receive, so please SHARE! Broadly, these activities will assist us with social proof u0026amp; help our Community to grow. In these ways, you can help us to further establish trust with the public and overall Arts Community!
Is Makyn.me the Creative Marketplace for me?
Makyn.me offers feature-rich, low rate shop options that help Independent Creatives maximize profit and dramatically reduce fees compared to other platforms! Our MISSION is Makyn a DIFFERENCE! As a Marketplace and Community we have a lot of exciting potential and great responsibility to help Creatives! Although we may seem small, we are not to be underestimated! Makyn.me is positioned to become a strong ally to small creative businesses and Artists interested in creating an online shop presence and participating in a Community environment! Makyn.me has a non-competitive attitude! We support the Arts and the Artists behind the work! We support and promote YOU, your Shop, and your listings! We encourage you not to put all of your eggs in one basket. The wisdom in this saying is that through diversification you increase the potential opportunities of achieving success. List your products and services wherever you, as the Creative, are able to achieve the most traffic while pocketing the most profit. We help your followers connect with you on the Creative social media platforms where you actively create content! Our Shops are encouraged to connect their social media accounts by visiting the Social tab and COPY+PASTE the URLS directly. Makyn.me fully expects to continue on a positive trajectory toward building trust and visibility with consumers and the greater Art Community! Clarity and Transparency are important to us and our Independent Shops! Please take some time to review our Low Cost Shop Options to determine if Makyn.me is the ideal Marketplace for YOU!
DOES MAKYN.ME OFFER A MOBILE APP AT THIS TIME?
We do not currently support a mobile app. Makyn.me may be accessed with either a mobile or desktop device using the browser by entering Makyn.me into the URL or search bar.
CREATIVE SPOTLIGHT
At 250 Shops, we will begin presenting a series of Articles that highlights outstanding members of our Community called the CREATIVE SPOTLIGHT! We will feature the work of Creatives in our Creative Spotlight and honor them before our collective Community for their unique contributions!
QUESTIONS ABOUT US
❤️ DOES MAKYN.ME CONTRIBUTE TO ANY CHARITABLE CAUSES?
We are not currently contributing to any charitable causes. However, we believe that we are Makyn a DIFFERENCE by providing premium services at nominal to no fees. In the future, as we reach different growth milestones, we would like to be able to provide art supplies to underprivileged Artists as well as offer a wide variety of content resources that will help the solve the problem of the Starving Artist.
❤️ DOES MAKYN.ME CONTRIBUTE TO ANY POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS?
We are a Community of Artists and Creatives, not politicians! As an organization, we do NOT have any political affiliations, nor do we intend to engage in political activity. We also do NOT contribute to any political campaigns.
DOES MAKYN.ME UPHOLD FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS?
YES! While we may not be politically motivated, we believe in preserving and upholding the RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND EXPRESSION, especially within the context of Art!
ACCOUNT QUESTIONS
HOW DO I SIGN UP WITH MAKYN.ME?
Customers should visit the Accounts page to create an Account. Independent Shops may visit the Open Shop link located in the TOP MENU BAR on Desktop or inside of the hamburger menu on Mobile devices. You may also visit the Account page and click Become a Vendor to register!
HOW DO I ACCESS MY ACCOUNT?
You may access the Account dashboard by clicking the ACCOUNT MENU. On Desktop, it is located in the TOP NAVIGATION MENU. On mobile devices it is a top menu item within the HAMBURGER menu in the left of the page.
WHY DO THE MENUS CHANGE APPEARANCE AND LOCATION?
The screen size of the device that Makyn.me is accessed from determines the location of the menu system. The MOBILE VERSION of Makyn.me is extremely compact. The TOP and MAIN NAVIGATION MENUS are nested in the HAMBURGER menu located in the top-left of the page and contains the entirety of our TOP and MAIN NAVIGATION MENUS. The Shop Dashboard features an additional nested HAMBURGER menu and utilizes icons and tabs to save space. In contrast, the DESKTOP VERSION of Makyn.me feels far more relaxed u0026amp; is easier to read u0026amp; understand. The TOP MENU allows access to our FAQs, Features, Open Shop, and Account pages. Our MAIN NAVIGATION MENU sticks to the top of the window when scrolling down a page. Use the UP CARAT on the right side to travel immediately to the top of the page.
HOW DO I CHANGE MY USER ICON IMAGE?
COMING SOON.
I LOST MY PASSWORD OR CANNOT ACCESS MY ACCOUNT, HOW MAY I RESET?
Visit Account – My Account Details – Password change. From this location, you can reset your password using the email address that you initially signed up with. Visit your inbox to locate the link to reset your password. If you do not see the link, check your spam email and verify Makyn.me as a sender to prevent future emails from going into your spam folder. There’s also a quick click link located in the footer of every page, Lost Password, for your convenience!
DO I NEED AN ACCOUNT TO MAKE A PURCHASE?
No, Customers may checkout as Guests! But it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that Customers create an account with Makyn.me to purchase from any of the independent Shops in our Community.
WHAT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY AS A CUSTOMER?
Our Customers have a responsibility to carefully read all of the information available that is presented in listings for a product or service as well as each Independent Shop’s Policies PRIOR TO MAKING A PURCHASE! As a Consumer, it is your responsibility to understand what you are purchasing AND make educated purchasing decisions! If you need more information, simply open an inquiry with the Shop to ask your question. Customers also have a reasonable expectation that Independent Shops are representing listings accurately and will communicate as needed.
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF SIGNING UP AS A CUSTOMER?
It’s ABSOLUTELY FREE TO SIGNUP AS A CUSTOMER! Customers gain the ability to add items to their wishlist and save items in the Shopping Cart! They can start following Shops and receive emails from the Shops when they post content or listings. This helps interested Customers to stay up-to-date with the latest and greatest our Shops have to offer as well as be informed when products drop by their favorite Shop!
BROWSER ISSUES
WHAT IS THE BEST BROWSER TO VIEW MAKYN.ME WITH?
We recommend that you use Chrome. You may also use Safari or Firefox. If you are experiencing an issue, you might first try opening the same page in a different browser. If problems persist, such as being unable to upload media please REPORT AN ISSUE under the HELP CENTER tab of the MAIN NAVIGATION MENU. If we are not aware that an issue is occurring, we will not able to quickly mount a response and efficiently address the problem for the betterment of the visitors to our Community and Marketplace! Your assistance in this matter and the feedback that you provide are greatly appreciated!
I CANNOT SEE THE CHANGES I MADE, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
First, try to refresh the page. Next, clear your browser’s cache. Browsers may sometimes serve stale versions of pages. Clearing your cache forces the website to serve a fresh copy of the page and may resolve the issue where you’ve made changes but are unable to view them immediately. Lastly, in some scenarios, an issue will be present in one browser that does not occur in another browser. You may also try to open the same page in a different browser to see if that helps.
IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DESKTOP AND MOBILE VIEW?
Yes! Makyn.me is easier to navigate on a Desktop computer for the simple fact that our Mobile view tends to stack our dashboard in hamburger menus to display important navigational areas. On a compact device Makyn.me replaces longer text with icons for displaying more items on a smaller screen. It’s simply that things are slightly easier to find from a computer that we recommend if you can to access our Platform from a tablet or desktop device with a larger screen.
HOW DO I CLEAR MY CACHE?
Follow the links below to the instructions for how to clear some of the most popular browsers and devices:
CANCELLATIONS
WHAT HAPPENS IF I CANCEL AN ORDER?
If your order is custom, chances are that the Independent Shop has already spent substantial effort, money, and time working on your request. As a Customer, it is your responsibility to ALWAYS carefully read the Shop’s Policies, which include a Cancellation Policy! Our Independent Shops are responsible for creating THEIR OWN Policies! Shops are within their rights to not allow Cancellations, BUT they must have that clearly stated on each listing that it applies to including forfeiture of any non-refundable deposits, if that applies to your purchase. We believe in allowing decisions to be left to the discretion of our Independent Shops, where possible. Makyn.me should only become involved to facilitate a solution when there is an issue that cannot be resolved between a Customer and Independent Shop.
HOW DO I CANCEL MY SUBSCRIPTION?
See Membership Questions
COMMISSIONS & CUSTOM WORK
ARE DEPOSITS COMMON FOR COMMISSIONS AND CUSTOM WORK?
Yes. It is a standard industry practice to require a deposit prior to beginning on any commissioned or custom work. This practice, in addition to reaching an agreement or contract, is necessary to protect the Creative. When a deposit is charged, it protects the Artist in situations where the Customer cancels the order. It may be difficult for an Artist to resell a work that is created to meet a Customer’s request, and helps to offset the cost of materials should this occur. Often commissioned work is viewed as a work-for-hire, and Shops need to be very clear about how their work may or may not be used. In this case, it is wise to consider a contract or reaching a written agreement with the Customer and should describe in detail the terms under which your work may be used.
HOW DO I ACCEPT FINAL PAYMENT WHERE I ACCEPTED AN INITIAL DEPOSIT?
If final payment is required to ship or otherwise transfer the completed work to the Customer, the Independent Shop MUST CLEARLY STATE THAT IN WRITING WITHIN THE ORIGINAL LISTING for a Creative Service! Shops MUST ACT in good-faith and communicate with the Customer. Transfer of the completed listing will only occur when any outstanding funds have been paid to the Independent Shop.
HOW DO I CREATE A REQUEST FOR A NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT?
The Original Listing should have the checkbox for Virtual selected to accept a deposit. Where a contract will be conveyed to the Customer, the checkbox for Downloadable should be selected and the file containing the contract should also transferred to the Customer with a message when you receive the order that indicates the email address where you want them to return the contract.
ARE CUSTOM ORDERS REFUNDABLE?
An Independent Shop may be unable to resell an item that was custom created to the specifications of the Customer. Therefore, this type of purchase is generally not refundable due to the highly specific nature of offering Custom work. For more information see Refunds. When considering making a purchase we HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you carefully read all Shop Policies.
COMMUNITY
HOW CAN I SEE THE COMMUNITY?
Open the SHOP DIRECTORY located in the MAIN NAVIGATION MENU to see our Community of Independent Shops!
HOW CAN I INTERACT WITH INDEPENDENT SHOPS?
Follow your favorite Shops. Leave Reviews for Shops you purchase from. Make Inquiries if you have ANY questions, prior to purchase. If you are an Independent Shop, you may interact with the Makyn.me Community on our Discord Server.
EMBARGOES & SANCTIONS
MAY I CHOOSE WHAT COUNTRIES I DO BUSINESS IN?
As a Shop Vendor, you generally get to choose what Countries that you wish to do business in. When financial sanctions are imposed it may be difficult to receive payment for products or services sold. In accordance with laws, Makyn.me must respect the sanctions and embargoes set forth by regulating Agencies. Therefore, we are unable to do business in certain countries often due to active conflict or potential fraud. Our goal is to comply with these laws and in the process, protect our Independent Shops and our Customers!
WHAT IS THE GOVERNING BODY THAT DETERMINES WHICH COUNTRIES WE CAN DO BUSINESS IN?
OFAC is the US Agency that decides which Countries are sanctioned.
WHAT COUNTRIES MAY I NOT DO BUSINESS IN?
Here is a list of Countries which we are currently unable to do any business with: Belarus, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Cuba, Ethiopia, Iran, Lebanon, Mali, Nicaragua, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, Yemen, and Zimbabwe. This list is subject to be updated at any time.
FOLLOWING
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I FOLLOW A SHOP?
You will receive notifications to the email that you signed up with! Emails are sent only when the Independent Shops that you follow post Articles, Coupons, Products, Promotions, Services, or Shop Updates.
HOW DO I CHANGE THE SHOPS I AM FOLLOWING?
Login to your Account. Then, select the My Followings tab. To stop following a Shop, click the trash-can icon beside the name of the brand you wish to stop following. To add Shops that you wish to follow, click the Follow button located in the Shop Banner area.
GOALS & MILESTONES
WHAT FUTURE GOALS DOES MAKYN.ME HAVE?
WE DESIRE TO GROW AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND REINVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY! GOALS ARE MILESTONES WE WISH TO ACHIEVE: ❤️ At 500 ACTIVE Member Shops, we will begin a series called the Creator Spotlight, where we feature a Shop to honor and recognize outstanding contributions our Creative Community to further promote and support our Artists! ❤️ At 1,000 ACTIVE Member Shops, we will have the resources to expand to include Print-on-Demand (POD) Services to allow Independent Shops to earn passive income, more information on this as our goal becomes closer! Customers may choose to purchase popular products with art and designs from their favorite Creative and have them conveniently printed on those in-demand items. Our Partner prints the product and ships it to the Customer for the Independent Shop! ❤️ At 2,000 ACTIVE Member Shops, we will expand our services to offer benefits that we call MEMBERSHIP PERKS! Membership Perks will be offered to Membership or Subscription Shops where they can access over 300,000 discounts at a wide range of popular retailers to help our Independent Shops save at even more at locations they shop at! ❤️ At 5,000 ACTIVE Member Shops, we will be contributing to additional causes like helping provide supplies to underprivileged Artists! There isn’t a better cause to support or a group of people that we would want to help more! This will be our unique charitable contribution to the larger Art Community and hopefully it inspires some amazing work! For the purpose of these Milestones, we count only ULTIMATE SHOPS toward accomplishing our goals.
WHAT IS MAKYN.ME’S MISSION?
Our MISSION is to alleviate as much burden from underprivileged Artists as possible! As an Organization, WE DISAGREE WITH CHARGING UNNECESSARY FEES for the privilege of connecting Customers with the creative-driven products that they offer! We firmly believe that the types of fee models which have been popular in the past have a profound effect an Artist’s bottom line! The result has been lasting harm to the Artist’s livelihood which further impacts their ability to provide for themselves, and maintain a decent standard of living! Our Mission is MAKYN A DIFFERENCE for UNDERPRIVILEGED ARTISTS! We believe in Supporting the Arts and the Artists who make it! WITHOUT YOU WE CANNOT BE THE CHANGE FOR OTHER CREATIVES! Our focus is on HELPING CREATIVES by offering the feature-rich, swiss-army knife of all Shops with ABSOLUTELY FREE LISTINGS AND LOW OR NO SALES FEES!
IMPORTER
WHAT IS THE PRODUCT IMPORTER?
The Product Importer is a HANDY tool that helps populate Shops with products with the click of a button. In a short period of time, our Importer will have your Shop loaded with your products!
HOW DOES THE IMPORTER WORK?
The Importer works by uploading a CSV file. It then maps the fields in the table header for each column with the information you are importing from another platform. The idea is to tell the importer which heading goes with which column using the dropdown-style options to u0022mapu0022 or otherwise draw the connection between the information you are feeding Makyn.me is and how to use it. This mapping feature assists Makyn.me with determining how to properly render the information provided in the CSV file and how to relate it to your products. If it is not mapped correctly, your products may not appear correctly.
THE IMPORTER IS TAKING A LONG TIME TO UPLOAD MY PRODUCTS, SHOULD I REFRESH THE PAGE?
That is normal if you are uploading many products in the form of a CSV file. The importing process may take a while, please do not refresh page. The page will reload as soon as all data is imported and the variations are created!
WHAT TYPE OF FILE MAY I UPLOAD?
A CSV file exported from another sales platform or that you have created yourself which covers all of the necessary inputs from each field.
A FILE THAT WAS LARGER THAN 5MB WOULDN’T LOAD, IS THERE A REASON WHY?
Yes. In order to properly extend our resources to support every Shop, we must limit the size of large images that may be uploaded.
WHERE DO I GET THE CSV FILE?
If you had your creative work for sale on another platform, the recommendation would be to login on that platform and download a copy of your products in CSV format. Typically, most sales platforms will allow their users to export a copy of their products.
INQUIRIES & PRE-PURCHASE QUESTIONS
I have a pre-purchase question about a product or service, what’s the best way to get an answer?
The best way to receive answers straight from the Shop Owner is to open an Inquiry from the listing page that you have a question about. Questions are best asked prior to purchase. First, you must be logged into Makyn.me. Then, open an Inquiry with the Independent Shop where you have a question about a listing. Saving the item to your wishlist is the easiest way to find the product or service again. But you can also use the SEARCH BAR to locate the product or service. You may also search the Shop Directory for the Independent Shop. When you have located the Shop, product, or service you have a question about, open an Inquiry. These are located on the Shop Directory Cards in the Shop Directory and also the Shop Banner of every Independent Shop. Responses to Inquiries or questions that you have posed to Shops about their posts, products, or services are located in your Inquiries tab.
WHERE MAY I ACCESS SHOP INQUIRIES?
As a Shop, you may click the icon that looks like a bell in the NOTIFICATION BAR at the top of the Shop Manager Dashboard, this is the Shop Inquiry Board.
INSURANCE
WHY IS SHIPPING INSURANCE IMPORTANT?
IF it would hurt your small business to lose a product or if it would not be replaceable or reproducible then it becomes even more important to insure your package! We highly recommend insurance on all shipments which are of value contain items priced at over $50.00! Most Priority Mail shipped through USPS is eligible for $50.00 of insurance, at no additional charge.
DOES USPS PRIORITY MAIL COME WITH $50.00 WORTH OF SHIPPING INSURANCE?
Yes! When you choose to use Priority Mail Service offered by the US Postal Service to ship an order to Customers it automatically comes with $50.00
WHAT DOES SHIPPING INSURANCE DO?
Insurance helps protect your shipment against the unlikely event that your package could potentially become damaged, lost, or stolen in transit to the Customer. Should your shipment encounter unfortunate circumstances, you may be eligible to file a claim with the Shipping Carrier. In this case, we recommend refunding the Customer and filing a claim with the Shipping Carrier after any period of time required to determine if the package can be located. When a shipment is shown by the Shipping Carrier as being DELIVERED, it is usually standard practice for packages that require tracking that they be physically scanned at the drop-off location before your package is left in a secure location at the shipping address.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY PACKAGE ARRIVED DAMAGED?
If your package arrived and shows signs of being visually damaged we recommend that you document it by taking pictures of the package prior to opening. Then, you should open a Support Ticket with the Shop Vendor to immediately inform them that the package was received in a damaged state to inquire as to how to proceed. If the item is eligible, you may request a refund. The cost and safe return shipping is generally the customer’s responsibility. Refunds will not be processed until the Shop Owner has had an opportunity to inspect the return.
DOES SHIPPING INSURANCE PROTECT AGAINST LOSS, DAMAGE, AND THEFT?
Yes! In general, if a Shipping Carrier offers insurance and you have selected to purchase it, the Carrier will typically ask what ($) amount you wish to insure the package for. Each Shipping Carrier offers a slightly different service for insurance with respective Terms and Conditions. Inquire with the Shipping Carrier for more information prior to shipping.
DOES MAKYN.ME RECOMMEND SHIPPING INSURANCE?
Yes! We HIGHLY RECOMMEND that Independent Shops choose to insure their package in an amount that will cover the loss – in the event that the shipment is lost, damaged, or stolen during transit to the Customer.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – COPYRIGHTS & TRADEMARKS
RESOURCES:
COPYRIGHT.GOV
WHAT IS COPYRIGHT?
TITLE 17 – COPYRIGHT LAW
COPYRIGHT REGISTRATION
CIRCULARS
WHAT IS TRADEMARK
TRADEMARKS
TRADEMARK BASICS
TRADEMARK DATABASE SEARCHING
WHAT IS MAKYN.ME’S RESPONSIBILITY?
We have a responsibility to protect the Intellectual Property Rights of others as much as we would want our own Intellectual Property Rights protected!
WHAT ARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY VIOLATIONS?
Intellectual Property Violations are where one person is using copyrighted work or trademarks in a way that is inappropriate and illegal.
HOW DO I REPORT AN INTELLECTUAL PROPERY VIOLATION?
Reporting functions are available on the REPORT AN ISSUE page or you may Contact Us. If you feel that another user is infringing upon or otherwise violating your Intellectual Property Rights, please open a Report with Makyn.me and we will look into the circumstances immediately. From the dropdown, select Copyright Infringement, complete the form providing any additional details about the circumstances, Shop, etc… When you make your claim, please provide proof of creation in support of your ownership.
WHAT IS COPYRIGHT?
The link, located in resources, is helpful to understand what Copyright is, Copyright Law, and how it aids in the protection an original work.
HOW DO I REGISTER A COPYRIGHT?
SEE: How to REGISTER a Copyright located in RESOURCES.
WHERE MAY I FIND THE CIRCULARS?
Circulars are helpful information provided by the U.S. Copyright Office. See: RESOURCES.
WHAT IS A TRADEMARK?
According USPTO.gov website, a Trademark is: any word, phrase, symbol, design, or a combination of these things that identifies your goods or services. It’s how customers recognize you in the marketplace and distinguish you from your competitors. The word can refer to both trademarks and service marks. A trademark is used for goods, while a servicemark is used for services.
HOW CAN I CHECK TO BE SURE I AM NOT USING LANGUAGE IN MY LISTINGS THAT VIOLATES A TRADEMARK?
If you have a question about using a particular language has a trademarks associated with it, you may check with USPTO.gov.
HOW CAN I SEARCH THE TRADEMARK DATABASE?
According to the USPTO.gov website: A common misconception is that having a trademark means you legally own a particular word or phrase and can prevent others from using it. However, you don’t have rights to the word or phrase in general, only to how that word or phrase is used with your specific goods or services. Here are some examples provided by USPTO.gov. It is good practice to search the USPTO Trademark Database for exact matches for that phrasing in the same product category as what you intend to list. Questions concerning Trademark may be researched on the USPTO.gov website. Serious inquiries should be directed to a qualified attorney that specializes in the field of Intellectual Property Rights.
KNOWLEDGEBASE
HOW CAN I ACCESS THE KNOWLEDGEBASE SO I CAN READ THE MAKYN.ME DOCUMENTATION?
From the Shop Manager, look at the NOTIFICATION BAR for a book-shaped icon – if you hover over the icon it will show that it is the Knowledgebase. Clicking the icon will transport you to the Makyn.me Knowledgebase where Independent Shops may locate helpful documentation and tutorials by subject.
WHAT IS IN THE KNOWLEDGEBASE?
Our Knowledgebase contains helpful information for our Independent Shops to assist them with more detailed information about how to perform various activities on Makyn.me that are important to our Vendors.
LISTINGS
What may Independent Shops sell on Makyn.me?
Independent Shops sell handcrafted products that the Owner or their Staff created. They may sell handmade work, original art, prints of your own original art, materials printed by a company that feature your own original art, modified digital designs and media, and virtual creative services like consulting. You may also sell upcycled items. Please do not list copyrighted materials, images that you do not own, and take care not to use trademarked language or logos. We also do not allow Fan art or other types of derivative work without express written permission from the copyright holder. Unfortunately, we do not allow collectible or vintage items to be sold in our Marketplace. Mass manufactured products are also PROHIBITED! For a full list, see the Prohibited and Restricted Items Policy located in the footer.
WHAT INFORMATION IS EITHER RECOMMENDED OR REQUIRED TO BEGIN LISTING?
A UNIQUE BRAND NAME: A unique Shop Name. BRANDING AREAS COMPLETE: Select a logo, banner, mobile banner for your Shop’s Branding. ABOUT SECTION: Tell your story or create an engaging in About/Bio to let Customers know more about the Creative behind the Work! PAYMENT SETTINGS: When a product or service sells, how should we provide the funds to you? SHIPPING SETTINGS COMPLETE: Set up Shipping Options, at least 1 Shipping Method, and enter rates for a minimum of 1 Class. Otherwise, Customers trying to purchase from your Shop will be unable to do so. SHOP SUPPORT INFORMATION: Email, telephone number, and address. Kept hidden, but do appear on Shipping Invoice details and Packing Slips for Customer after purchase) ALL SHOP POLICIES: Shipping, Returns, Refunds, Cancellations, Exchanges, Deposits, etc…
HELP! I can’t list products or services, what’s wrong?
Shops must setup their Shipping Settings and appropriate Shop Policies prior to listing products or services! If your problem seems unrelated, try to repeat the process in a different browser. If the problem persists REPORT AN ISSUE or Contact Us and we will immediately assist you!
MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS
HOW DO I VIEW MY CURRENT SHOP PLAN?
Visit Manage My Shop and select the Membership tab to view your current Shop Service plan.
HOW MAY I UPGRADE TO A DIFFERENT SHOP PLAN?
Visit Manage My Shop – Shop Settings. In the top bar, you will see the symbol with 3 figures representing Membership. Under Pricing Details, you will see your pay mode, next payment date, the amount, the duration of your Shop’s Subscription Plan, and where it says Cancel my membership. If you already have a Shop, under ADDITIONAL INFO our system will respond with: Change or Upgrade: First cancel your current subscription. To proceed with changing your current Shop Plan, select the Cancel button. Once you have cancelled, you may UPGRADE your Membership Plan on the OPEN SHOP page. However, until you cancel your Shop, it will only show available upgrades, not your current plan.
NOTIFICATION BAR
FOR SHOPS, WHERE IS THE NOTIFICATION BAR LOCATED?
Once inside the Shop Dashboard, look at the TOP-RIGHT SIDE. You will notice horizontal icons in series.
WHAT ARE THE ICONS IN THE NOTIFICATION BAR?
IN ORDER, FROM LEFT-TO-RIGHT: The bell icon represents Shop Notification. The question mark icon indicates your Shop’s Inquiry Board. The bullhorn icon is representative of Announcements. The book icon is indicative of helpful documentation in our Knowledgebase. The default user image represents your User Profile. Visit your Profile to change your image. Simply upload the image you want to show on Makyn.me.
ORDERS
I PLACED AN ORDER, HOW MAY I LOCATE IT?
Login to Makyn.me by clicking the user icon. Next, login to your Account. Then, click the My Orders tab.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT MY ORDER, HOW SHOULD I CONTACT THE SHOP OWNER?
While logged in, go to Account and select the My Orders tab. Locate the Order you wish to open a ticket about and click Support. You may not open a Support Ticket if you have not purchased an item or if Shop Owner has refunded your order. If you have a pre-purchase question, please consider opening an Inquiry with the Shop.
PAYMENT
WHAT FORMS OF PAYMENT ARE ACCEPTED ON MAKYN.ME
Our Payment Gateway accepts the following types of Credit and Debit cards:VISA, Mastercard, Discover, Diner’s, JCB, and American Express.
HOW DO I RECEIVE PAYMENT AFTER AN ORDER HAS BEEN PLACED?
The easiest method for us to pay Shop Vendors on a recurring basis for sales through the Makyn.me Marketplace is to connect your Shop directly through Makyn.me using our Stripe Integration. Under Shop Settings Payment tab setup your personal or business information with Stripe. In order to successfully create the connection, you will need your Shop’s URL endpoint as well as other financial and personal information required to setup Payment through Stripe. The entire process takes a few minutes, but with the information easily available it is fairly quick for something so important. This type of personal information is NOT STORED on Makyn.me’s servers, it is stored securely with Stripe to provide an additional layer of security for our Independent Shops.
PROCESSING TIMES
What is Processing Time?
Processing Times also called Lead Time is the amount of time that a Shop needs under normal circumstances to complete an order. Quality handcrafted items require time to produce. We are small businesses, not manufacturing on the scale of big box stores! As a Customer, you should be aware that it takes time to produce quality handcrafted items! Maintaining patience is especially important when placing custom orders with Independent Shops and need to the time that it requires to produce your unique item without pressuring. Only purchase an item if you are willing to allow the Shop their listed Processing Time. Otherwise, the Independent Shop’s Cancellation Policy will apply. Depending on the Shop’s Policies, if you cancel, you may not be entitled to a refund. So, please read each Shop’s Policies very carefully!
WHERE WOULD I LOCATE THE PROCESSING TIME FOR MY ORDER?
Before you place an order, you should check the Independent Shop’s Policies. Included in this information is the Processing Time. Processing Times are the time it takes to manufacture or otherwise produce an original work as described in the Listing.
PRICING
I’M HAVING DIFFICULTY PRICING MY CREATIVE WORK. IS THERE A TOOL THAT CAN HELP ME?
Yes! We developed a helpful tool called the Art and Crafts Pricing Calculator. It is accessible to anyone, including Creatives who are not Shops. However, it is located in the Dashboard for easy access for our Independent Shops.
DOES THE CALCULATOR TOOL TAKE THE HEADACHE OUT OF PRICING?
Yes! The simplified manner that we approach pricing helps Artists and Crafters put a price on their creative work that takes into account the cost of goods sold, labor, and helps our Independent Shops have a clearer understanding of how much to markup their work for retail. This tool is helpful in determining a base-line for pricing to assist our Independent Shops with figuring out a suggested retail price that considers the materials, time, and labor involved in producing handcrafted work. Shops can use this tool to help Customers understand the need to charge living wages for the work that Artists and Crafters do.
REFUNDS
HOW ARE REFUNDS HANDLED?
Refunds will only be accepted and processed in accordance with Shop Policies and all applicable Policies on the Makyn.me platform. Where a refund is accepted, the Customer is responsible for return shipment. Shops will be unable to process refunds until they receive the return and have an opportunity to inspect the condition of the product that was purchased.
AS A CUSTOMER, HOW DO I INITIATE A REFUND?
To begin the refund process, first login to your Account. Next, navigate to the My Orders tab and locate the Order where you wish to request a Refund. Then click the Refund button. You will be prompted to input information. The information required is the item purchased, whether you are requesting a full or partial refund, and the reason you are requesting the refund.
WHAT IS DOES THE TERM NON-REFUNDABLE MEAN?
The term Non-Refundable indicates that the product or service listing stipulates that an order is not eligible for a refund. This means that the funds exchanged for the listing cannot be returned to the Customer for any reason.
ARE DIGITAL OR VIRTUAL LISTINGS ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND?
Each refund is handled on a case-by-case basis and is left to the discretion of the Independent Shop. How they handle returns should be clearly posted in their Shop’s Policies under Refund. Depending on whether the listing has been downloaded or if a service was provided in good-faith by the Shop as detailed by the listing, it may or may not be eligible for refund. However, we generally provide the following BEST PRACTICES for our Shops to follow: Prior to download Digital and Virtual Listings may be eligible for refund, depending on the Policies of the Shop it was purchased from. After download, the sale of Digital and Virtual Listings are not eligible for a refund.
ARE DEPOSITS FOR COMMISSIONED OR CUSTOM WORK REFUNDABLE?
We fully support a Shop’s right to charge non-refundable deposits! Shops are responsible for indicating CLEARLY that a deposit is non-refundable in all descrWe fully support a Shop’s right to charge non-refundable deposits! Shops are responsible for indicating CLEARLY that a deposit is non-refundable in all descriptions of the listing.iptions of the listing.
How are Refunds processed by Independent Shops?
Refunds cannot occur process until the Independent Shop receives the returned item and has an opportunity to inspect it. Once a Customer submit a refund request for an order that was placed, it has to be approved by the Independent Shop. It is up to the discretion of each Independent Shop as to how they handle refunds. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully read through the Shop Policies located in the Policies tab on every listing! Reading the policies is the sole responsibility of the Customer. This information is necessary to make educated purchasing decisions and clearly understand your rights as a Customer. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eIf you are eligible for a refund and it is approved, when it is processed it will incur an additional 2.99% + $0.30 fee. The amount of your refund will not include the shipping fee (which was expended during shipment initially), tip and will be less the aforementioned payment processing transaction fees associated with providing the refund. Digital Products and Services are not eligible for refunds.
How do I check to see if I have a refund request?
In the Shop Manager Dashboard, select the Refund tab. If you have a refund request from a Customer with a valid order, it will appear in the table.
REPORTING PROBLEMS WHILE VISITING Makyn.me
HOW SHOULD I REPORT A PROBLEM?
The quickest way to get help with a problem is to open the Help Chat, located in the bottom-right corner of every page. OR use our REPORT AN ISSUE page.
HOW SHOULD I FILL OUT THE REPORT?
Please select the reason for your report, the URL, Shop Name, and describe in 1,000 characters what the issue you are experiencing is. This information is absolutely vital to helping us to quickly address any problems that arise! We require your email address in order to respond to the Report.
I’M EXPERIENCING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
If you are experiencing a technical difficulty, it is important that you let us know as soon as possible what happened and where it occurred. This will hopefully enable us to replicate the issue and solve the problem. Chances are if you are having a problem, it is also happening to others and so you will be doing the whole community a favor by reaching out to inform us of the issue you are having! To address the technical difficulties, we need as much information as possible about the problem that is occurring. The BEST WAY to get us this information is to use our REPORT AN ISSUE page. HOWEVER, if you need immediate assistance please use our Help Chat, located in the bottom-right corner of every page! We will respond as soon as possible, often even outside our normal operating hours! Your patience is appreciated while we review the Report you submitted u0026amp; address the issue as quickly!
RETURNS
HOW DO RETURNS WORK?
Eligibility for returns is determined by the Policies of the Shop you purchased and is up to the discretion of the Independent Shop Owner. In order to perform returns, Makyn.me charges an 2.99% fee + $0.30 to cover the cost of the electronic transaction due to the chargeback. You may also have to pay a restocking fee, if the Shop’s policies indicate that. Makyn.me solely sells virtual space and Shop Services. We do not offer products that are eligible for returns. When customization is requested by a customer, it may be difficult for an Independent Shop to resell items that are made to a particular customer’s specifications if a customer requests to perform a return. When an Independent Shop states that they do not accept returns on custom orders, and your order is custom then we will honor and uphold their Policies!
WHO PAYS THE COST OF RETURN SHIPPING?
IF the Independent Shop accept the Return in our System: Unless otherwise stated by the Independent Shop Owner in writing, the cost of return shipping, secure packaging, and any necessary insurance required to safely return the item is generally the responsibility of the Customer desiring to perform the return. In general, an Independent Shop will be unable to proceed with the Returns process or a Refund until they receive the return and have an opportunity to inspect it.
REVIEWS
MAY I LEAVE A REVIEW FOR A SHOP?
Yes! We encourage reviews, especially if you have a positive experiences you would like to share. This helps build trust in the Makyn.me platform as a whole as well as increases trust with consumers! First, you must login. Next, using the Shop Directory locate the Shop by searching by name or category Once you have located the Shop you wish to leave a Review for, tap the VISIT button. Then, select the REVIEW tab located just under the Shop’s Banner. Using the 5-Star System, rate the Independent Shop, product, or service you received on select features and leave a comment to share your experience with others! Finally, submit your Review!
DO I NEED TO LOGIN TO LEAVE A REVIEW?
Yes, users who wish to review for an Independent Shop, product, or service must be logged in in order to be able to submit a review!
IF I BOUGHT A PRODUCT OR SERVICE FROM A SHOP u0026amp; I WANT TO SUPPORT THEM, BUT I DIDN’T BUY IT ON makyn.me, MAY I STILL LEAVE A REVIEW?
Yes. As Makyn.me is such a new platform, for a limited time, we ARE allowing users to share their products and services to request that their Clientele post reviews without proof of purchase through Makyn.me for the purpose of helping to build trust for newer Shops. However, please note that any potential reviewer needs to register as a Customer in order to post a review.
MAY I MODERATE MY SHOP’S REVIEWS TO REMOVE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK?
No, but you can look at your reviews. In order to keep our review system honest and build trust with customers, we do not allow Shops to manage or moderate their own reviews. Makyn.me reserves the right, at our own discretion, to remove a review after consideration of the reason, circumstances, documentation provided, and whether the review is in accordance with our Terms andConditions. However, we are under no obligation to remove any review that was posted by another user.
REVISIONS
HOW MANY REVISIONS SHOULD I ALLOW?
Carefully consider how many revisions that you wish to allow Customers to make and indicate this information within your Shop Policies, located at Shop Settings – Shop Policies. This Policy area is a GLOBAL SHOP-WIDE SETTING, however, it may also be changed on an individual product level.
WHAT IS A REVISION?
A revision is when a Customer makes an explicit or implicit request to the Independent Shop to perform changes, revise, or otherwise edit an order. Independent Shops may set a limit on the number of revisions that they allow to prevent unnecessary work and undue hardship. This encourages Customers to be thoughtful about the requests that they make and helps protect our Independent Shops.
SHOULD I SET LIMITS ON REVISIONS?
Setting limits on revisions is a great way to set boundaries with your Customers! You may wish to stipulate that for an additional fee of $x, you are willing to perform x# of additional revisions. This will help you to get paid for doing extra work which was not in your original pricing calculation. To achieve this, you may create another listing, with the additional revision terms you wish to present in the description and including the name of the Customer it is for in the title. When you are making the listing, just be sure to check the box labeled Virtual. To prevent loss of time, it is advisable to wait to begin working on additional revisions until the Customer has paid. This can be seen as a form of extended contract with the Customer. Include any relevant details in the new listing.
SALES FEE
I HAVE AN UNLIMITED SHOP, IS THERE A SALES FEE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TYPE OF SHOP?
No. There is no Sales Fee associated with selling listings in our Marketplace FOR UNLIMITED SHOPS! Unlimited Shops pay a Membership Subscription fee to operate without the Sales Fee u0026amp; in doing so join our Community! As we grow, we will include additional benefits for our Unlimited Shops!
I HAVE A FREE SHOP, IS THERE A SALES FEE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TYPE OF SHOP?
Yes, Free Shops are charged a 5% Sales fee for each sale that occurs.
ARE THE SALES FEE AND THE TRANSACTION FEE THE SAME?
No. The Sales fee ONLY applies to Free Shops. This 5% Sales fees is assessed ONLY when a sale occurs. This is the only fee we charge for our Services for FREE Shops. To reduce this fee to 0%, consider UPGRADING your Shop UNLIMITED PLAN. UNLIMITED SHOPS PAY NO SALES FEE! Transaction fee applies to ALL SHOPS and is 2.99% + $0.30 per transaction. Transaction fee are charged by Stripe, our payment provider, for the privilege of performing an electronic transaction.
SECURE SHOPPING
HOW ARE SHOPPERS PROTECTED?
We use SSL to encrypt data transmitted on the site to protect communications between our Server and Stripe. Stripe uses secure API calls to transmit encrypted data about transactions that occur in the Makyn.me Marketplace.We use SSL to encrypt data transmitted on the site to protect communications between our Server and Stripe. Stripe uses secure API calls to transmit encrypted data about transactions that occur in the Makyn.me Marketplace. SEE WHAT IS AN SSL?
WHY DOES THE URL BAR HAVE A LOCK?
The URL bar features a LOCK to convey to Visitors that the website they are visiting is encrypted. This signifies that the website is serving information in your browser securely. It is common to use this as indicator in determining whether the URL of the website you are visiting uses the industry standard to provide protection called Secure Socket Layer, or SSL for short.
DOES MAKYN.ME HAVE AN SSL?
Yes! The information transmitted on this server is encrypted u0026amp; protected by Secure Socket Layers (SSL).
WHAT IS AN SSL?
An SSL is a type of of security that protects and encrypts data between servers. Learn more about SSL.
HOW DOES THE ID VERIFICATION BADGE HELP PREVENT FRAUD?
Independent Shops may apply for the ID Verification Badge by submitting their business card (if available) and a copy of a photo ID. This helps us to validate that there is a real person, who is accountable for the operation of the Independent Shop. Shops that do not feature the ID Verification Badge in their Shop Banner have not submitted the required information to receive this icon. It is a symbolic representation that Independent Shops may use to instill trust in their Brand and our Marketplace as a whole. This small gesture goes a long way toward helping Customers feel safe and more secure in purchasing from Shops in our Community.
SEO (SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION)
WHAT IS SEO?
SEO is the acronym for Search Engine Optimization. SEO helps people who are searching using keywords, phrases, tags, and terms to find what they are looking for.
HOW DOES SEO HELP MY SHOP?
In layman’s terms, SEO is how search engines like Google provide relevant results when a person enters a query into a browser and clicks Search. These terms also serve the purpose of helping web-crawlers to quickly identify what your product or service is to provide fast results. For our purposes, search engines essentially customers who are actively searching for specific products and services to the Shops that provide them.
WHERE DO I DEFINE MY SEO
Manage My Shop – Shop Settings tab. Please see our Knowledgebase Articles on the subject of SEO.
SHARING
Which social media platforms may I link from my shop?
Independent Shops may connect their social media and even a website via link from your Manage my Shop dashboard click the Social tab from the Profile. You may also click on the Social button located on the far right within the Shop Dashboard, just under the NOTIFICATION BAR. The social media platforms that are currently supported for sharing in this way are: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Pinterest, Tiktok, DeviantArt, Behance, Discord, Twitch, Website, and another link, like Linktree or any other social media platform you wish to add! If you choose to add a different marketplace, we don’t mind, however we ask that you add it to the website link or the another link field.
MAY I SHARE A SHOP, POST, PRODUCT, OR SERVICE WITHOUT SIGNING UP?
YES! Sharing a great way to communicate with friends and family about creative work that gets you excited! Simply use the social media sharing buttons, located on the bottom of mobile devices or the right-hand side of desktop view, to share any page you are visiting to virtually any platform you can imagine. Although you may have to sign in to connect to your social media account to share, sharing or signing in this way does not automatically sign you up with Makyn.me as a Customer or Independent Shop.
HOW DO I SHARE A LISTING TO A FRIEND ON SOCIAL MEDIA?
There are sharing buttons located along the RIGHT SIDE of Web views or BOTTOM on Mobile devices! Share SMS, email, and a wide variety of other popular social media platforms! If you do not see the social media platform that you wish to share on, don’t fret! Simply click the BLUE RECTANGLE WITH A + SYMBOL. Then you may select virtually any social media platform and continue sharing! You may have to login to that social media platform or confirm your identity, especially if it is the first time you’ve ever shared from the Makyn.me platform.
SHIPPING | SHIPSTATION & DISCOUNTED POSTAGE
MAY I USE A DISCOUNTED SHIPPING SERVICE?
Yes! We have partnered with ShipStation to enable access to a variety of carriers, with discounted shipping rates, and it allows Shops to print out shipping labels.
HOW DO I CONNECT MY SHIPSTATION ACCOUNT?
To achieve this, simply open a ShipStation account. Navigate to your Shop’s Settings and COPY+PASTE the associated key, located in your ShipStation Account settings into your Makyn.me Shop’s Settings, under the ShipStation tab. Using this connection, you may easily print less expensive postage from the comfort of your home, save time, and avoid the lines!
IF I DON’T WANT TO USE SHIPSTATION, HOW SHOULD I DETERMINE SHIPPING RATES?
You may look up rates on USPS.com and input them into the Shipping Method Flat Rate for Global Shipping Methods and on a per product basis when a listing varies from the usual rates. Locate the Shipping Options under Shop Settings in your Shop Dashboard.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY ORDER DIDN’T ARRIVE WHEN I EXPECTED IT?
Due to the pandemic, processing has slowed in almost every sector leading to longer times to receive things than normal. Please be patient and allow plenty of time for your shipment to arrive. The first thing that we always recommend is to look at your order information to see if there have been any updates or if the Independent Shop Vendor has included Tracking Information. This is the easiest way to track your package. If you are concerned about the delay, the best thing to do is contact the Independent Shop directly using a Support Ticket. Next, you may be able to reach out to the Shipping Carrier using the tracking information, where applicable.
SHOP POLICIES
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MARKETPLACE POLICIES, SHOP POLICIES, AND PRODUCT POLICIES?
Our Marketplace Policies or Global Shop Policies apply to all Independent Shops operating in the Makyn.me Marketplace. These types of Policies are located in the Footer of every page. Next, are Local Shop Policies created by each Independent Shop. We do our BEST to support our Shops, but we require that you clearly communicate and present all of the details of your Policies at the Local-level of your Shop to make your Policies unique to your Shop. These are your Default Shop Policies and will appear on all of your listings, unless you choose to set it at the Specific-level of an individual product or service listing. Adding a setting at the Specific-level overrides the Local-level Policies that you set and presents instead the more Specific-level Policies that are, as the name implies, specific to the Listing you create. Lastly, there are Policies which may be unique to each listing u0026amp; can be changed at the product level by the Independent Shop.
Why are my Shop’s Policies so important?
They are SO important that you have to communicate your Shop’s Policies before listing any products or services in the Makyn.me Marketplace. Shop Policies inform Customers of their rights in the event that they should need to request a refund, perform a return, cancel an order, or request an exchange. This information is indicative to Customers about what to expect, how long it will take you to produce (Processing Times), and what recourse that is available to them in the event of an issue arising with their order. Use this opportunity to provide detailed information about your Policies concerning custom work, refunds, non-refundable deposits, revisions (how many times you are willing to revise a work), and stipulations about Work for Hire. If you have a contract that you need to have signed before beginning work, you may wish to create a downloadable product and have the potential Customer download the form for FREE and send it back to you within a Support Ticket. You may also exchange email addresses or communicate through Inquiry. We love helping you support u0026amp; promote your business!
WHAT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY AS AN INDEPENDENT SHOP?
Our Shops are solely responsible for ensuring that they provide clear and complete details about any and all Policies which are relevant, such as cancellations, refunds, returns, shipping, et al. An Independent Shop’s failure to provide accurate and concise information relating to their Shop’s Policies is not the responsibility of Makyn.me to reconcile. Should this situation arise, the Independent Shop involved should accept liability and responsibility for performing any actions necessary to resolve the issue with the Customer. It is the sole responsibility of Customers to read posted Policies prior to purchase. Inquiries should be made before purchasing.
WHAT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY AS A CUSTOMER?
As a Customer, it is your sole responsibility to carefully read ALL of the product or service information as well as review that Shop’s Policies prior to purchase. Makyn.me’s Policies apply to ALL Shops. However, the individual Shops operate independently of Makyn.me and each has their own Shops that pertain to the particular types of products and services that they offer. If you have a question for the Independent Shop, it is up to you to make all inquiries and ascertain all necessary information required to make an educated purchasing decision before you buy any product or service in our Creative Marketplace.
SHOP REPORTS & ANALYTICS
How do I access my Shop Reports?
In Shop Manager, some relevant Stats for your shop are on the Shop Home tab of your Dashboard. You may also look at the Reports tab to learn relevant information about your Shop’s orders, and the Analytics tab contains the views your shop is receiving from different areas of the world!
SPECIAL PROMOTIONS TERMS & CONDITIONS


HOW DO I TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SPECIAL PROMOTION?
Visit our Open Shop page and select an UNLIMITED Subscription and proceed to checkout to immediately begin listing products and services for FREE in your NEW Shop!
IS STRIPE FREE TO ESTABLISH TRIAL SUBSCRIPTIONS?
YES! Stripe is ABSOLUTELY FREE to establish the Subscription!
WHY DOES PAYPAL CHARGE $1.00 TO CREATE A TRIAL SUBSCRIPTION?
Unfortunately, PayPal ONLY allows trials where they are allowed to initiate a subscription by charging a $1.00 fee to the connected bank account where it will charge the monthly or annual subscription fee we charge in exchange for our services. This establishes the subscription with PayPal.
DO I HAVE TO PAY SALES FEES DURING MY TRIAL?
No! UNLIMITED Shops enjoy the ability to sell their products u0026amp; services in our Marketplace Sales-Fee-FREE!
WHEN DOES THE SUBSCRIPTION BEGIN?
Subscription will charge at the selected Plan rate when the 30-Day Trial is completed.
DOES A SUBSCRIPTION CHARGE MONTHLY?
Yes, if you have selected a Monthly Unlimited Plan, it will charge on a monthly basis. If you have selected an Annual Unlimited Plan, it will charge on a yearly basis – and you can SAVE $10.00/year when you purchase our PREMIUM ANNUAL UNLIMITED PLAN!In either case, our system sends a courtesy notice to a Shop’s email as the renewal date draws nearer. If your payment information for your subscription is still valid, no action on your part is necessary when you receive this notification.
DO I NEED A SPECIAL COUPON CODE TO TAKE makyn.me UP ON THIS OFFER?
No, simply click the button just below this accordion and it will take you to view the details of our SPECIAL OFFER!
SUPPORT TICKETS
How do I open a support ticket with the Shop I ordered from?
Only Customers who have placed an order may open a Support Ticket with the Independent Shop about the issue you are experiencing. TO CREATE A SUPPORT TICKET: Login to your Account, navigate down to the My Orders tab. Open the Order you want to create a Support Ticket for. Click Support and complete the information requested in the pop-up. (Ensure that pop-ups are not blocked for this to work properly.) To view responses from Independent Shops, go to the Support Ticket tab in your Account panel to review your Support Tickets.
How may I respond to support tickets from customers?
Navigate to Manage My Shopu, click the Shop Support tab. Independent Shops have a responsibility to respond quickly and politely to Support Tickets. Support Tickets represent Customers who have already placed an order and who may be experiencing an issue. It is best to keep the lines of communication open through all steps of the process from order to review between Independent Shop and Customer so that they feel comfortable coming to you with any problems with their order.
TAX QUESTIONS
RESOURCES:
SOUTH CAROLINA NEXUS
SALES & USE TAX
FAQ’S ABOUT SALES TAX
WHAT IS SALES TAX?
SALES & USE TAX
STATE BY STATE GUIDE TO NEXUS
SOUTH DAKOTA V. WAYFAIR DECISION
❤️ WHO DOES MAKYN.ME PARTNER WITH TO HANDLE THE PLATFORM’S TAX NEEDS?
We are currently working with Avalara and at this time we are only able to accurately charge Sales and Use Tax, where applicable, in the United States.
WHERE DOES Makyn.me MEET NEXUS?
We currently ONLY meets the definition of nexus in the State of South Carolina. Therefore, we will ONLY charge taxes for Customers whose shipping address is physically located in the State of South Carolina.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN makyn.me REACHES THE NEXUS CEILING?
When we meet threshold for nexus in other States, we will be required by law to begin charging and remitting Sales and Use tax on behalf of Shops in the States. We will work toward compliance as we grow closer to the ceiling in each State. Avalara is there to help us keep an eye on when we are close to these ceilings, see their FAQ’s for more information.
WHO PAYS SALES AND USE TAX?
Sales and Use is a tax assessed at the time of purchase which the Customer pays! Sales and Use tax is not a fee charged to our Independent Shops, nor should it be perceived as one. Makyn.me is responsible for remitting the collected taxes to the appropriate tax collecting agency on behalf of our Independent Shops where Makyn.me meets the definition of nexus in that State. Until such a time that we reach Nexus in a State, no Sales and Use tax will be charged. For a number of States, these figures are 200 transactions in the State or $100,000.00, whichever comes sooner – just to give a rough idea of how quickly the ceiling comes. Our Partner Avalara will notify us when we have reached 80% of that ceiling so that we can apply to collect Sales and Use Tax in those States.
WHO RECEIVES THE SALES AND USE TAX?
Makyn.me is considered a Marketplace Facilitator. This means that we allow our Independent Shops to operate under the umbrella of the Makyn.me Marketplace. For more information, see South Dakota V. Wayfair Decision. Therefore, we are responsible for charging, collecting, and remitting sales tax once we have reached Nexus. It should be noted that the definition of Nexus is different for each State. Once Sales and Use Tax is collected, it is remitted to the collecting agency, often the Department of Revenue in the State.
How MAY I DOWNLOAD MY 1099 FOR TAX PURPOSES?
After the December 31st, Independent Shops with recorded transactions will be able to download your 1099 form for income tax reporting purposes directly from Stripe. ALL questions regarding filing income taxes should be directed to a licensed tax professional.
❤️ DOES MAKYN.ME HANDLE SALES AND USE TAX COLLECTION?
YES! We automatically collect sales tax from the customer at the time of transaction during checkout! As we are an online marketplace, sales tax is calculated based upon the end-location of the Customer/User, usually the shipping address where the product or service is received. We are in the process of fully automating tax collection to simplify and streamline the excellent services that we offer. Currently, we are able to properly calculate sales and use tax in the United States but are looking to expand to other countries in the very near future. The first countries that we will look into compliance for are Canada, the EU, and Australia. This will aid our Independent Shops with remittance directly to the agencies that collect sales tax.
TIPPING OUR INDEPENDENT SHOPS
(THIS PORTION OF OUR CHECKOUT IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE AT THIS TIME – WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE & HOPE TO HAVE IT UP & RUNNING SOON)
MAY I TIP A SHOP
Yes! Tipping is a customary way of showing appreciation across a variety of industries. Creative small businesses are known for going the extra mile to make you smile! As a Customer, a tip is an excellent way to express gratitude for a job well done, going above and beyond, or helping you bring your ideas to life!
HOW DO I TIP?
At Checkout, you may choose to Leave a Tip for the Independent Shop(s) that fulfilled your order. Customers may select a set dollar amount to tip or a percentage of the total cost of their order to show appreciation to the Creative for exceptional service or work!
TRACKING SERVICES WITH SHIPPING CARRIER
WHY ARE TRACKING SERVICES SO IMPORTANT?
Tracking services allow Customers and Independent Shops to locate a shipment during transit as it makes its way from the Independent Shop after creation to the shipping address that the Customer entered into our Checkout at the time of purchase. If the Shipment was eligible for tracking services from the Shipping Carrier, the Independent Shop should then input the tracking information into the order after Shipment and our system will send the Customer a notification via email.
MAY I PROVIDE TRACKING DETAILS TO THE CUSTOMER ABOUT THEIR PURCHASE?
Yes. If you purchased tracking services with YOUR shipping provider you may enter the tracking details and URL where it may be tracked into the order. Our system will provide tracking details through email to the Customer about their purchase. To add tracking details, simply visit the My Orders tab in your Shop Dashboard. Locate the order you wish to enter tracking information about and click on the order number to enter into that order.
TRANSACTION FEES
WHAT ARE TRANSACTION FEES?
Transaction Fees are Charged by our Payment Provider, Stripe, to the Independent Shops that operate on Makyn.me when sales occur in the Marketplace. Anytime an order is placed by a Customer or refund is approved, Stripe assesses a 2.99% + $0.30 fee for that transaction.
ARE TRANSACTION FEES CHARGED ON EVERY SALE?
Yes. Stripe charges a fee of 2.99% + $0.30 per transaction. This fee is removed by Stripe from the amount prior to being transferred to Makyn.me so that we are able to pay our Independent Shops.
ARE STRIPE CONNECT ACCOUNTS CHARGED TRANSACTION FEES FOR WITHDRAWAL?
Our Integration with our partner, Stripe, enables our Independent Shops to connect their account through Stripe Connect to receive payment. No fee is assessed when Makyn.me transfers funds to the connected account managed on Stripe. Occasionally, Stripe may require Independent Shops to provide additional information for tax purposes.
ARE TRANSACTION FEES STANDARD WITH VIRTUALLY ANY ONLINE SALES PLATFORM?
Yes! Transaction fees are ubiquitous u0026amp; fairly standard practice regardless of what online sales platform that you use. If we have many more vendors perhaps we could negotiate the terms of the arrangement. However, at this time, typical rates for Stripe and other payment gateways are 2.99% + $0.30 per transaction – and this is a common and are typical for the Payment Providers to require. WE DO NOT RECEIVE ANY BENEFIT FROM TRANSACTIONAL FEES! FEES ARE ASSESSED AND SUBTRACTED IMMEDIATELY BY STRIPE!
TUTORIALS
ARE THERE TUTORIALS THAT WILL HELP ME LEARN HOW TO NAVIGATE MAKYN.ME?
We are currently in the process of creating a library of guided video tutorials on our Makyn.me YouTube Channel. We believe this series of visual guides will help our Independent Shops andCustomers quickly learn to navigate to important features as well as increase ease and familiarity with Makyn.me! MORE TUTORIALS COMING SOON!! If you are as excited about this as we are you can SUBSCRIBE HERE and tap the Notification Bell to receive a notification when we post the videos!
ARE MORE VIDEOS COMING SOON?
Yes! Some changes are in the process of occurring. Rather than producing videos which will need to be updated, we are going to wait a short time before continuing to produce more tutorial content for our Community.
VERIFICATION OF IDENTITY
WHAT IS IDENTITY VERIFICATION?
Independent Shops who submit a type of identification for Verification and are approved, receive an additional Verification Badge in their Shop’s Header below their banner and in the Shop Directory. This Verification Badge indicates that the Independent Shop has submitted at least one form of identification to verify ownership and identity that has been approved. This process helps instill additional trust in our Independent Shops!
AS A SHOP, HOW DO I OBTAIN THE IDENTITY VERIFICATION BADGE?
Visit Manage my Shop and click the Shop Settings tab. Then, select the Verification tab located just below the NOTIFICATION BAR of your Shop Dashboard. Submit an image of at least one form of identification. When it has been verified by Admin, it will be either approved if it is sufficient, or rejected. When Admin has made a determination, you will receive a notification both in your Dashboard and to the email you signed up with. After approval, your Shop Verification Badge will appear in your Shop Banners.
VISIBILITY
❤️ VISIBILITY: WILL MY LISTINGS BE SEEN?
As a NEW Marketplace, there are a lot of great opportunities for Independent Shops to be seen, get views, and make a name for your brand as we grow! We encourage our Creatives to create prolifically and post as much as they like! However, because are small, your products and services have excellent potential to be seen by all of the visitors that we are actively directing to our Marketplace! This gives you the chance to grow with us and get recognized for your work! Here are some great ways to help grow your brand and increase your brand awareness! Do keyword research to identify your target audience. Include keywords and tags that your ideal customer would actually search for in a browser in every post, product, and service that you create! Tell your story in a compelling way to connect with your audience! Take excellent pictures that show off your work and include details! Title your work and include at least one tag in the title. Describe your work in such a way that creates appeal and interest in potential customers!
❤️ What kind of visibility will my Shop receive on Makyn.me?
Although we are small, this makes it easy to grow with us! There are a many ways to stand out on our NEW platform and get your work noticed in our Creative Marketplace! As we grow we will continue to improve visibility, brand awareness, and traffic by promoting and marketing our Independent Shops!
WISHLIST
HOW DO I VIEW MY WISHLIST?
Click on the heart-shaped icon in the MENU to view products and services that you added to your Wishlist.
HOW MAY I ADD PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO MY WISHLIST?
Users who wish to use the wishlist must create an account and be logged to add items to the wishlist. Users must also be logged in to add items from the wishlist to the cart. Only logged in users have access to the Wishlist. Beside every listing offered in the Makyn.me Marketplace is a heart-shaped icon. Clicking this icon will add the product or service you are viewing to your Wishlist.
WITHDRAWAL REQUESTS
WHY CAN’T I IMMEDIATELY WITHDRAW FUNDS WHEN I MAKE A SALE?
Only listings marked as Completed will be eligible to have the funds for sales transferred. Makyn.me is not responsible for products that are lost, damaged or stolen in transit or during shipment. It is recommended that Independent Shops purchase Shipping Insurance on their products to protect against loss, damage, or theft. We recommend that Independent Shops refund the Customer for shipments that demonstrably arrive in damaged condition. It is wise to ask for photographic documentation, where possible. Where the Independent Shop purchased insurance with the Shipping Carrier, then the cost and responsibility for resolving the damage, loss, or theft is shouldered by the Shipping Carrier.
WHAT IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO MAKE A WITHDRAWAL REQUEST?
In most cases, after the product has been set to PROCESSING a waiting period or Withdraw Threshold begins while the funds are in the process of being released. However, inaccurate payment information may delay payment. To change how you get paid or make edits to your connected account, visit Shop Manager Settings – Payment tab and change your settings as needed.
WORK-FOR-HIRE & WHY IT MATTERS
RESOURCES:
Circular 9 – Work for Hire
What is “Work for Hire”
Work on a custom-basis may be considered Work for Hire. The definition which most fits the use here is “a work specially ordered or commissioned for use.” This can sometimes result in loss of rights for Creatives. If a commission is considered as a then the Customer may have rights to make derivative works from your original work, see Circular 9 from Copyright.gov.
why does it matter?
To protect your rights, a contract may be necessary if you do not wish to release permission or grant usage rights to a work. A contract between the parties expresses the terms and conditions of the agreement and may help provide an additional layer of protection for your Shop. With contracts, all parties sign and date the agreement. To provide ease of access to Customers, create a Virtual Product with a PDF format of the contract and make it available for download at $0.00 in your Shop. It is also advisable to include information about the use-rights of your work in your Shop’s Policies. Use clear language and be specific about what may or may not be done with your commissioned work. Either of these methods will help protect your interests and provide recoursein the event that an issue should arise. This is especially important for concerns about intellectual property.
I have a question not otherwise addressed in this faq, what’s the best way to learn the answer?
If you’ve read through our FAQ’s & don’t see the answer to your question, please contact us!
Open the HELP Chat window located in the bottom-right corner of every page & ask Makyn.me your question! You may also use the forms located on the Contact Us page, which behave as a type of ticketing system.
If you are an Independent Shop, please take a moment and check in our Knowledgebase. We may have an article on the subject of your inquiry.