April 29, 2026
Sold for parts… or plot twist?
Tell HN: An update from the new Tindie team
New Tindie owners say “trust us” — commenters say “absolutely not” after blackout chaos
TLDR: Tindie’s new owners say they’re fixing the marketplace after a rocky takeover that left the site down and users in limbo. The community’s response is harsh: people are questioning who bought it, why the switch was so chaotic, and whether sellers will ever see the money they’re owed.
Tindie, the online marketplace where small hardware makers sell gadgets, kits, and niche electronics, has finally broken its silence after a messy handover. The new owner, EETree LLC, emailed users apologizing for recent downtime, saying the takeover was more complicated than expected and promising to fix payments, refunds, and access problems. In plain English: the shop went dark, people got nervous, and now the new bosses are asking everyone to be patient while they sort it out.
But the real fireworks are in the comments, where the community is serving up full trust-issues energy. One of the biggest concerns is who exactly these new owners are. Users pounced on the thin “About us” details, company-name inconsistencies, and links suggesting ties to a China-based parent company. That immediately kicked off suspicion about money, oversight, and whether sellers left unpaid will ever get clear answers. Others blasted the rollout itself as a disaster, basically saying: if your first move as new owners is taking the whole platform offline for weeks, why should anyone trust you with their business?
The mood swings between anger and dark comedy. One commenter joked they wouldn’t touch the platform with a “30 foot pole,” while another mocked the vague “we believe in Tindie” language with a big okay, but why did you actually buy it? Even a rival marketplace founder entered the chat, politely wishing them luck while also making it crystal clear that a two-week blackout is a brutal way to win back makers. In short: Tindie wanted a fresh start, but the comments turned it into a full-blown audition for public trust — and right now, the crowd is not exactly giving a standing ovation.
Key Points
- •Tindie’s new ownership team said the marketplace is now owned by EETree LLC.
- •The team apologized for recent downtime and lack of clear communication during the transition.
- •The transition was described as more complex than expected because Tindie runs on an older technical framework with many connected services.
- •The new team said its immediate focus is platform stabilization and resolving payment, refund, and order issues.
- •The statement said the long-term plan is to invest in Tindie, preserve its role in the maker community, and share more plans in the coming weeks and months.