[lll-o-lll]

Why not go the Uber route. Both the seller and buyer get rated for each interaction. Enforce a little bio about the seller.

Then a small maker can quickly establish a good reputation, and cautious buyers can only buy from such, while more adventurous might take a punt on someone new. The open market needs information to be efficient; it looks like lack of reliable information is the root of this.

[toast0]

And then once you've established a good reputation, you can do some high volume dropshipping.

[lll-o-lll]

Hmmm, perhaps I am too naive to the devious nature of humans.