What's going on with Etsy this week? Live Etsy seller Q&A

[@sandras8691]

Thank goodness about the mature content. I didn’t even know they allowed the stuff I’ve seen until I stumbled upon it accidentally

[@KaraBuntin]

Oh it would make your hair curl.

[@varvaraefpraxiadou9697]

Thank you Kara for all the great info. I need to go back and correct all the prices, for I have used cents on every one. I didn't know. I do know now, thanks to you. Enjoy the Fourth.

[@KaraBuntin]

Glad it was helpful!

[@grisfamscott5964]

Great points about whether to respond to reviews. With it being a part of the ranking factors, we really should consider it. Just like we should probably consider adding more holidays (processing days). Totally the carrot and the stick. If you can’t, don’t. If you can, do it to potentially advance your shop.

[@madelinesmith2380]

I totally agree on you comment about paper quality business cards. I have worked in the printing industry for years. Quality always makes a difference.

[@KaraBuntin]

People definitely notice it.

[@grisfamscott5964]

Re no tracking for local orders. I reached someone at Etsy over a year ago with this question and they advised: for shipping carrier put “other”, tracking # do “local delivery” and under other do “local delivery” again. Not been penalized since!!

[@ColetteO_]

Thanks!

[@delilahzarri8723]

I personally saw this video in a different way. I see a video that is mostly addressing sellers. Saying yes, we are allowing almost all things and this is your answer to all your comments about AI or POD. Nevertheless, not many will care and continue the way they want. This is a mass response to all the b!tching in forums about other accounts who sell whatever. I’m always shocked how many still complain about handmade Etsy. It isn’t.. it’s time to get over it. I’m really not interested to fight a public company that has profit as their bottom line. I keep my head down and do my thing. However, all these changes and experiments with bots has lost my items amongst the crap searches. So, this summer I’m making the change to my own site using Etsy as a funnel when I send them for a freebie or news letter or blog to my site. None of this is addressing buyers. Buyers aren’t going to Etsy and saying let me see, why is someone selling tee shirts and how is it done and who is their partner. Just my thoughts 😊

[@KaraBuntin]

I agree. But they're also addressing the shareholders who aren't seeing the profits they expect. It's pointless to worry about it too much anyway, I'm beyond caring about what they allow on the site, it is what it is and nobody's forcing anybody to sell onthe platform if they don't want to.

[@theencorechapter]

One more question…can you provide a link to where Etsy is announcing policy changes…the “forum”? I can’t find it. ❤

[@KaraBuntin]

It's the Etsy forums, the link is in the footer of the website homepage

[@sandras8691]

I go so excited about someone doing a favorite….checked their profile….33k plus favorite items 🥴😂

[@KaraBuntin]

Some people go nuts and favorite everything.

[@tonyasaylor1487]

Hmm...I sell digital and my sales have tanked over the last week. Maybe the filtering is why.

[@AmishGramish]

Billy and Mandy! That's what's what! 4:15

[@KaraBuntin]

That’s right!

[@julienetostes-kurz4114]

Hi Kara!!! I was one of the last questions...I re-did the pictures of 90% of my listings(close to 300), I always do use GIFT on my my tags, removed many of my old listings and them re done,....ahhh. And yes, I am noticing that my sales only happens when I do quick sales( 3 days during weekend) which SUCKS!! Now we have to become a SALE shop??? I have been doing some Pinterest,...in the end I spend THE WHOLE DAY on the computer to see if something happens. Any advice?

[@KaraBuntin]

I really think that we need to look at Etsy as a platform that we have to send our own traffic to at this point. It will still bring organic sales, but we hae to drive our own sales much more than we used to. My sales have slowed down on Etsy but I don't do any organic promotion of my own, I send everyone to my website or Goimagine. If I wanted to increase my Etsy sales it would be a matter of sending my own traffic, so using social media, newsletters, etc etc. The usual, unfortunately.

[@julienetostes-kurz4114]

@KaraBuntin Yeah...l hear you...l have been since Saturday sending WELCOME SUMMER coupons to all my clients on the platform...sales are happening and people writing thanking me for that🫢....by the way Kara my shop is coisas4u. Thank you so much, for everything. 😘

[@sandyjacksonadams7771]

I always do Christmas in July with bringing my own traffic.

[@julienetostes-kurz4114]

@sandyjacksonadams7771 It used to be my Xmas season organically but now...l working for every sale. 5 hrs of sleep😅 l'm in Germany and summer here is very short, we're still actually waiting for it🤷‍♀️

[@sallylees467]

I've gotten an email from Etsy stating I will need to check over all my information and tax information soon but not to do anything at the moment. Does everyone get these emails? Last time I got this email they shut my account down after a few weeks without telling me what happened

[@KaraBuntin]

That’s a real email. They’ll have something about it on your shop dashboard eventually.

[@theencorechapter]

I see a lot of sellers price high so that they can run a sale 365 days a year. Does this help them rank higher? Drive more sales? It reminds me of Kohls. It’s a gimmick and I wouldn’t do it, but I wonder if the average buyer knows it’s happening. More importantly, does it help them rank higher.

[@KaraBuntin]

It's illegal to run a perpetual sale, so I don't recommend that!

[@erinfarrell9961]

What does Etsy say a listing needs to be labeled a best seller by Etsy? Thanks

[@KaraBuntin]

They mentioned a couple of things but i don’t remember what they were. It’s something that’s out of our hands so i tend to not pay much attention to that stuff!

[@PDSParrotShop1]

Free Item: I make Bird Toys, My free item is a free foot toy. So it's for the bird. I don't do stickers and other stuff.

[@KaraBuntin]

I think the point about free stuff is people start to expect more than they paid for, plus it's cutting into your profit margins .

[@taffniebogart4232]

? I always reply to a kind review but I don’t ever show the response - us it better to show it - would have to be more creative in the responses🤣 I grateful for all purchases really and I want a buyer to know that. On a couple of occasions I have responded to a negative review by messaging the buyer with - 0: Sellers appreciate hearing if there is something they are

[@taffniebogart4232]

I want a buyer to message me with a problem so I can remedy and I have let a buyer know that sometimes they seem to think it’s required to post a negative when they could just contact us for a resolution If a buyer contacts me and is out of line I don’t respond I refund fully and cancel and I let them know they have been fully refunded It’s not worth any amount to me to get a not stellar review

[@taffniebogart4232]

One of these Tuesday’s I will be able to watch live I always get a pearl thanks really🍒

[@taffniebogart4232]

If I did miss something a chip or stain I ask what they would like but if I sense a battle or tone I refund immediately and cancel It has not happened very often

[@moniregb5682]

It's really annoying seeing all these coupons and sales and so much off. I'm tired of it all. Etsy us now worse than Ebay😢

[@KaraBuntin]

It does look very bargain basement at this point.

[@STUDIOPOOCHBOT]

The Billy and Mandy clip was a spoof of the John Carpenter film named They Live. On a side note i'm starting to wonder if it would be better to just get a website. 🤣Etsy makes way too many changes. obey clip for the curious kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5vakHerg9CCi9k