This Etsy Store Owner Shares How She Put A Rude 'Choosing Beggar' In Their Place

It's fair to say that the mass production of modern times has significantly changed the way we, as consumers, view and value goods. Despite this, we still love and desire items that are handmade and unique.

Etsy is undeniably one of the best places online to find such items—beautifully handmade with love. One of Etsy's store owners, Katt from Kraft Katt's Creations, recently discovered just how little value some customers place on the hard work that goes into handmade goods.

Katt received a request from a customer for a 100% wool queen-sized blanket, crafted in a complex stitch. Katt was happy to oblige; however, she soon realized that this customer was one of the biggest bullies and "choosing beggars" she had ever encountered.

"I’m just a hobby crocheter and trying to keep it that way," Katt said.

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"I rarely do commissions; usually, they are just done to reinvest money in my hobbies," she explained. "Most people are extremely polite when inquiring about prices; I’ve been told once before that I overcharge, and that was as rude as it got before this."

Digital marketing consultant Claire Beveridge says that although it may be tempting to let such demanding customers have it, it's important to always remain calm. "Leave their request until you’ve had a chance to calm down and reflect—whether this takes twenty minutes or twenty hours," she said.

"Of course, deadlines are important, but it’s worth taking the time to respond in a manner that will strengthen your professional relationship rather than destroy it. People hire freelancers because of their skill set and expertise, not as a dogsbody."

"If a client is going against your professional opinion, you have the right to explain why you think they’re wrong. If they don’t respect this, the options are simple: grin and bear it, or fire them."

Claire says the key to successful negotiation is to be clear and straightforward with the customer. "Communicating with clients is really important in getting to the bottom of their concerns," she said.

"If your client is truly abysmal to work with—get rid of them; life is too short!" Beveridge said. "Yes, they may be paying lucratively for your services (or, even worse, paying you very poorly—in which case, why are you sticking with them?), but are they really worth the hassle?"

Katt did a great job handling the situation. "I’m not a business, so I really don’t consider anyone a ‘potential customer,’ and if they’re rude, I have no problem dishing it back," Katt explained.

"I don’t need to worry about negative reviews or anything like that; the repercussions for me are virtually zero." You only have to look at Katt's reviews to see that the majority of her customers are more than happy with her service.

Here's how people reacted.