# The Popsicle Stick Controversy **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 5, 2019, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-popsicle-stick-controversy/829019 "2019-02-05T18:21:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2019, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-popsicle-stick-controversy/829019/41 "2019-02-06T13:09:52Z")
I actually kind of think it’s _cooler_ that it’s made of Popsickle _cough_ I mean craft sticks, and $8 is a bargain for something handmade like that, IMHO. That said, judging by all the responses, it does seem that you should describe it as being made from birch craft sticks or something to that effect. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2019, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-popsicle-stick-controversy/829019/42 "2019-02-06T14:37:39Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > It’s very pretty. The staining and the lack of perspective make it look quite a bit more substantial than it actually is. It looks weighty and old. You did a great job. > > But I’m in the “I would feel cheated” camp. As you say, there’s a negative connotation to popsicle sticks. It doesn’t matter how technically accurate you are or how cleverly you word it, you can reasonably expect that anybody buying this box might be miffed if they didn’t know \*exactly \*what they were buying. > > “Seller said these were made of white birch craft sticks. I didn’t know that was the same thing as popsicle sticks.” > > Maybe that makes the buyer a big dummy, but they’re still the customer and the one leaving feedback. Best to be super duper upfront. > > On preview: Knowing that it’s made from popsicle sticks, I’d probably pay eight bucks for that box if it feels as sturdy as it looks. I disagree. Ultimately it doesn’t matter whether she made it of birch craft sticks that she bought at Hobby Lobby, or if she laboriously cut, planed and sanded each individual plank out of 500 year old Japanese birch planted by some famous samurai. What counts is the finished product- is it well made, is it something that the customer wants to buy? Does it look good? Those are the questions that should be asked, not “Is this made from popsicle sticks?” ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2019, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-popsicle-stick-controversy/829019/43 "2019-02-06T15:15:22Z")
Honestly, I think the filtered Instagram picture makes it look very different than the unfiltered picture, and if someone bought it based on the former they would be very right to feel cheated by the reality. I think if you use the Instagram picture you should definitely disclose that it’s made of craft sticks. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2019, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-popsicle-stick-controversy/829019/44 "2019-02-06T15:36:39Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I disagree. Ultimately it doesn’t matter whether she made it of birch craft sticks that she bought at Hobby Lobby, or if she laboriously cut, planed and sanded each individual plank out of 500 year old Japanese birch planted by some famous samurai. > > What counts is the finished product- is it well made, is it something that the customer wants to buy? Does it look good? Those are the questions that should be asked, not “Is this made from popsicle sticks?” Exactly. Also, the intention is (was) to sell it on Etsy. Forgive me for being simplistic, but I thought this level of materials was what Etsy is FOR. ---
**Author:** ![Rough\_Draft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@Rough\_Draft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rough_Draft)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2019, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-popsicle-stick-controversy/829019/45 "2019-02-06T16:31:57Z")
I don’t think you’re under any obligation to state that the box is made of craft sticks. Describing it as made from birch is honest and accurate. I think it’s much more important that your Etsy picture gives a clear indication of its appearance, and that you state its dimensions (but I assume you’re doing that already). ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2019, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-popsicle-stick-controversy/829019/46 "2019-02-06T16:54:53Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Also, the intention is (was) to sell it on Etsy. Forgive me for being simplistic, but I thought this level of materials was what Etsy is FOR. Etsy’s more of a general craft marketplace; there’s a lot of really professional stuff out there, as well as a lot of amateurish crap. The main thing is that some artisan/artist/craftsperson can produce whatever weird or esoteric thing they want, and try to sell it on there without having to rent a table at a show or market or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2019, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-popsicle-stick-controversy/829019/47 "2019-02-06T18:17:25Z")
I looked at other listings on Etsy that are described as “birch box” and none of them looked like they were made of popsicle sticks. I don’t think you could describe yours as a birch box. That being said, you could describe it as “Lightweight wooden box” and put in the listing of materials “birch craft sticks.” I don’t think that would be dishonest. I also think you should steer clear of using “popsicle sticks” in your description. Yeah, maybe the material you bought was a big bag of popsicle sticks, but you did trim them to the point where they were just birch slats. You coulda just bought birch slats. There are legit “popsicle stick folk craft” items on Etsy too and yours doesn’t look like those either! ETA: If you use a banana as a size indicator, Redditors will be drawn to your listing 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2019, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-popsicle-stick-controversy/829019/48 "2019-02-06T18:29:57Z")
In any online market, your rating is your most important asset. So I’d err on the side of being overly honest and cautious. If there’s any piece of information that, if omitted, would cause a customer to be disappointed - mention it. A disappointed customer is far worse than a lost sale. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2019, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-popsicle-stick-controversy/829019/49 "2019-02-06T20:33:08Z")
I’d say the opposite; let your work speak for itself. There’s no need whatsoever to trumpet anything about it that might be perceived as inferior- that’s just shitty marketing. Just say it’s made of birch wood and leave it at that. If they suspect it’s made from popsicle sticks, then they’ll turn their nose up anyway, and if not, then great. The chance of someone liking it, buying it, and then \*somehow \*figuring out that it’s popsicle sticks, and \*then \*being upset about it is vanishingly tiny. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2019, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-popsicle-stick-controversy/829019/50 "2019-02-06T22:26:57Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I’d say the opposite; let your work speak for itself. There’s no need whatsoever to trumpet anything about it that might be perceived as inferior- that’s just shitty marketing. > > Just say it’s made of birch wood and leave it at that. If they suspect it’s made from popsicle sticks, then they’ll turn their nose up anyway, and if not, then great. The chance of someone liking it, buying it, and then \*somehow \*figuring out that it’s popsicle sticks, and \*then \*being upset about it is vanishingly tiny. Ha! People will negatively comment on _anything_. And I agree with someone upthread, negative comments will be worse for sales than upfront popsicle revelations. ---
**Author:** ![flaming\_yawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/cab0a1/32.png) [@flaming\_yawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flaming_yawn)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-popsicle-stick-controversy/829019/51 "2019-02-09T14:39:34Z")
I once bought a sewing pattern for a doll. Listing said “1 copy of doll pattern” I received a photo copy of the pattern. This was one of my first ebay purchases and I was a little miffed but I realized I got what I paid for a COPY of the pattern. As long as OP has good pictures of the product I think she is good to go. I used to sell a lot on ebay and still have 100 o/o if buyers have a question they can ask before hand. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-popsicle-stick-controversy/829019/52 "2019-02-09T16:47:20Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > A thousand years ago we saw a movie with Hayley Mills, and she said, “I made a bird cage out of popsicle sticks.” I wanted to do the same thing SO SO bad. My friends and I collected dozens of popsicle sticks just picking them off the streets, but no idea in the world how to actually make a bird cage out of popsicle sticks. I regret that more than anything in my childhood. [Here you go.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-4D4ADOsuw) StG ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-popsicle-stick-controversy/829019/53 "2019-02-09T19:06:27Z")
It’s a nice box. I’d suggest including something to indicate size. Maybe a dollar bill beside the box? Or a few quarters if it’s a really small box. People need to understand what will fit in the box. I’d describe it as a wooden box. There’s no need to say anything about craft sticks. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-popsicle-stick-controversy/829019/54 "2019-02-10T13:54:39Z")
I would put something in the photo to show scale, like a quarter. I think that’s much easier for people to understand than dimensions (although I’d list those, too.) Also, you definitely want a “clean” photo, not something that’s been filtered. Call it a wooden box. List in the details that it’s made of birch craft sticks. Then the first impression is the photo and “wooden box”. You don’t want someone to buy it who would feel cheated to learn it was made of craft sticks, so it’s a feature, not a bug, that those people will read the description and move on. ---
**Author:** ![Wisp00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/977dab/32.png) [@Wisp00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wisp00)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-popsicle-stick-controversy/829019/55 "2019-02-13T08:10:38Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Call it a wooden box. List in the details that it’s made of birch craft sticks. Then the first impression is the photo and “wooden box”. You don’t want someone to buy it who would feel cheated to learn it was made of craft sticks, so it’s a feature, not a bug, that those people will read the description and move on. Exactly what I was going to say ---
**Author:** ![MDfive21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@MDfive21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MDfive21)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2019, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-popsicle-stick-controversy/829019/56 "2019-02-13T19:03:25Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > I think you should make the next one out of the actual sticks from popsicles you or others have consumed. You can then say that the box is made from **post-consumer, reclaimed** birch. added [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-popsicle-stick-controversy/829019.md?page=2)