Why Is Everyone Quitting Etsy?

In this video, I talk about why everyone is quitting etsy & whether or not it's still worth it to start.
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[@TimKoa]

I looked through the fees for all three marketplaces again and depending on your country, Etsy does charge a separate 3% + $0.25 payment processing fee. This is a standard fee that goes to banks and credit card companies, but looks to be included in the eBay and Amazon transaction fees. This makes Etsy's fees more comparable to eBay and Amazon, but it's still the lowest out of the 3. Thanks for those who brought this to my attention!

[@yasminc.89]

they are taking much more fees actually - 6,5% on the price for the item and on the shipping, often taxes (for customs) from the buyers which is not less and not every mail will land in the customs

[@Lay_Aura]

The fees 😬

[@halcreasy4707]

As a long time eBay seller, when I saw everyone complaining about Etsy jumping 1.5% to HALF of what eBay took in fees from me, I was actually impressed that Etsy's fees were so low. Everyone is going to hate me for saying this but Etsy has the best fee package out of all the major internet marketplaces. Tim, thanks for deciding to make another video! I was starting to worry that KZbin was off the table for you. Keep it up and I bet your channel will blow up because the quality of your videos and what you give us in return for our time spent watching you is unbelievably good! Looking forward to the next one!

[@discoraven]

@@yasminc.89 This. Even though if it is cheaper in fees than Ebay and Amazon- those websites are not comparable. But small businesses are not able to afford these, especially creators.

[@financialchimes4546]

Another mistake in my opinion is that you count eBays listing fee as $0.30 while the first 200 or 500 or so listings are free on eBay. So for most sellers there's no listing fee on eBay. The Esty's fees are also not just on the product price but includes the shipping price. I'm not sure if this is the same for eBay and Amazon. (Although I expect that it's probably the same, otherwise you can just have a low product price and a high shipping price to avoid fees.)

[@Sarahshausofcrochet]

Etsy was founded on being a platform for small artist owned businesses. They created a successful platform from the work we did and then handed it to drop shippers.

[@CoreySchmick444]

facts!

[@racheljune688]

Sad too. I am curious where us artists should go now... 🙄

[@swishh7693]

You either adapt or get left behind

[@Anishshabbir]

@@racheljune688 start own websites thats best way

[@SierraAspenAutumn]

This.

[@soshio_]

As a consumer, I find it extremely annoying to have to sift through all the dropshipping products when I specifically searched for vintage pieces. If Etsy is not going to regulate these listings, at least open a category for them so they don't clog up other categories. That would also give visibility back to the handmade and vintage sellers.

[@fashiontotallyrox]

Totally agree!

[@fox__fox]

Etsy has a huge grey zone products. Etsy basically doesn't fight against it cos it brings lots of money to them. I already talked to customer support and offered them to legalize at least commercial hobby goods as long as millions of them are already on Etsy.

[@cocoll8635]

I can not agree more!

[@MemelordSupreme]

I was going to make the exact comment. It feels like it's turning into freaking eBay with all of the junk that's being sold on there now. They really do need to filter this stuff out or outright deny it on the platform.

[@juliat9211]

Fully agree

[@Krispymuffin]

Etsy was not working to stop drop shippers, small creative shops that make their items by hand can not compete with people selling trash made in another country with inferior materials. So the artisans leave the platform... tragic but tru

[@HoneyWelll]

Exact. Selling crap on platform for handmade products. Etsy has to have competitors!!!!

[@DigitalLobstershow]

I got scammed 3x by etsy for something promised made by hand but later i found out it was aliexpress shit.

[@HoneyWelll]

@@DigitalLobstershow Handmade can not cost cheap, it is unpossible! Aliexpress, alibaba products poisoned the market by quality and prices!

[@tiffanyschools845]

Hence why people need to start their own sites. You can't control these platforms. Spend time on your own platform and market yourself properly. You don't need to start using your own site...but once you've gained customers or social media followers you can start working on your own site.

[@cap4life1]

But people are buying the trash because it’s lower cost. So your product has to differentiate itself somehow.

[@kenbrown7334]

Thanks Tim for your thoughts on Etsy. Etsy used to be a platform for quality hand-made items where there was a level playing field for sellers. Now more and more shops are reselling cheap items that are mass-produced overseas. As a small shop making items by hand, I can't compete with those shops. I make unique items, but the resellers are sucking up a lot of the Etsy sales that don't end up going to the small shops selling true hand-made items.

[@Curvatude]

Etsy hasn’t been a handmade platform for years now. While this can suck it’s like most things in our ever changing world. The focus has to be on what you can do not what you can’t.

[@florharmon2558]

etsy want to become as big as amazon or e-bay , due to this they are taking all sellers with junks products from china where big manufacture produce them, so how a person who does hand made product can compete with that huge monters. so you are right Ken and you are wrong curvatude

[@Curvatude]

@@florharmon2558 Facts are wrong? It’s simple. Etsy is a billion dollar business with stakeholders to answer to. Sellers either figure out where they can fit in and work it or whine about it & continue to lose out. I know plenty of small businesses helmed by individual creators that make etsy work because they know that nothing stays the same and you have to learn to pivot or expect your business to plummet.

[@SageGodess1313]

Thanks for all tips u shared .I have been looking at different sites to sell& I do enjoy shopping on esty. I would love to learn more about selling on esty. Sounds like this really would be successful. Yes the world is expensive out there. U have a great positive mind. Thank u for video!!😊🧡💛💯

[@tigerspiritjourney]

So true! I even noticed that some "hand-made" jewelry Etsy shops are sneaking in and mixing in some Chinese stuff that I found on Ali Express, with their "hand-made" items!

[@noneyabness8761]

I actually started hating Etsy ages ago. Not as a shop owner, but as a shopper. I wanted a very specific type of handmade quilt. I would have paid just about anything, but my results were consistently drop-shipped cheap crap. Eventually, my MIL made what I wanted. Now this happened for several years and I gave up a year ago when my mother-in-law brought me my quilt that she made for me. So now that I am ready to have a shop, I really don’t want to open there, and recently I actually ran across some classes on Udemy on how to open a dropship business on Etsy. 😑

[@tessmoore3762]

Yes, I hate the drop shipping stuff. I bought 2 items that were listed as coming from Michigan. When they shipped the tracking showed that it was actually coming from Turkey. When they arrived one item did not fit, the other did. So I had to contact the shop owner who was supposedly in Michigan, but the real maker was in Turkey. So they had to contact the maker in Turkey to ask what to do. I wanted my money back. They ended up not having me return the too small item but gave my money back anyway. I think they were afraid to make me pay return shipping to Turkey. I would have complained to Etsy and as a shopper I would have won because of their false statement about where they were shipping from.

[@SuperJupiter33]

I have a hand made quilt available,made by a very special person in my life,it's been stored for 11 years it deserves a special home!

[@jeffgodsey2875]

they not worth it

[@tamacmcmillan3518]

Traitor

[@junkjournaldavao]

​@@SuperJupiter33That's so special I'm sure. 💙

[@aaronmiles3846]

You forgot the processing fee, which is 4.5% where I am. So that's 11% + 20c per listing on Etsy. I think most people would not mind the increase in commission fee if Etsy had better customer service. They have no live chat, no support line. Their moderation of sellers is all automated, leading to many new sellers getting banned for no reason. In other words, they are increasing their fees while cutting corners wherever they can. It's difficult to make a successful business anywhere, but Etsy aren't doing people many favours right now. It's a shame because otherwise it's a great platform.

[@jennsbond007]

I thought I was the only person going through this. My sales have decreased significantly. If it wasn’t for my recurring clients, I would have been closed/ broke already 😩

[@TimKoa]

Yup, a much higher portion of my sales are from recurring customers now. Be grateful you have them! That means you have a good product and happy customers :)

[@FallenAngelBrass]

If you ever think that you're the only one one Etsy, come to the seller forum. You'll find company for every ailment.

[@jordanloophole]

ever since this year started my sales have decreased dramatically. last year usually get $600-800 a month on average but now i barely get $400. it's so frustrating honestly. 😭

[@nighttodawntarot8946]

I agree that making a unique product and branding help set you apart from your competitors. I have found that custom requests have opened my eyes. Those people are telling you what they want and they are not alone. I have created new listings based on these requests and they have turned into Bestsellers! Listening to your audience pays off, literally! Also, hard times come and go, sometimes you just have to ride the wave. Love your videos Tim! Don’t be a stranger!😀

[@TimKoa]

Such a great point! Thanks for watching :)

[@KatieThomasCreative]

Totally agree with you! I don't do custom orders exactly, like a one on one, only for that customer situation, but I have it stated in several places on my shop that I will take requests for items in general to go into my shop. People reach out all the time and many of those items are my best sellers. Listening the customers is key!

[@nonnidreams]

Good advice. It’s good to learn what people want but still do your style of artistic interpretation. Good balance.

[@mrs.quills7061]

Yeah custom shops do super well or if you do commission work!

[@cabbycraft]

Thank you for sharing this. With so many things going on, recession and slow sales, we can take this time to focus on learning and improving ourselves &/or our products. I agree with you - we should not waste our energy on being angry. My Etsy shop has been slow but admittedly, its due to my inability to post items regularly, market etc. Your videos encourage me to keep at it. Thanks!

[@TimKoa]

Accountability is a such an important attribute for entrepreneurs. I have to admit I haven't been putting 100% into me shop either. Thanks for watching! :)

[@artsyyemily]

Thanks for sharing and being transparent! I've wanted to start an Etsy shop for so long but scared about shipping, no buyers, etc. It's cool to see you go through the journey on YT and grow :D

[@alissaforbes6580]

Hi Tim, I really appreciate how grounded and level headed your videos are. They are such a beautiful balance of honesty and encouragement and I'm so glad I stumbled upon this video this morning. I needed it. Thank you for the reminder to do our best and loosen our grasp on the things we don't have control over. You're wonderful :)

[@TimKoa]

Thanks for watching Alissa :)

[@jeffb5858]

Great to hear from you! I'd agree that its still worth it to set up an Etsy shop today - even though its slow going and kind of tough. I'm in the woodworking space, selling things like serving trays, tea displays/holders, valet trays, etc. The competition in that category is tough, too, and since a lot of wood products are 'one-of-a-kinds', its even harder to reach into whatever algorithm Etsy is using. I've tried carrying inventory, but the size of the items, space they take up, and sell through rate make that difficult. No matter what platform you are on, you will always have to adapt to however the market is changing. It can be a lot of work, but I like it, personally.

[@TimKoa]

Yeah there's a big difference between working for work's sake, and work that's really rewarding. If you like it, keep at it. Wish you the best :)

[@ModernIntuitionist]

Beautiful perspective. I love your positive energy. Thank you for sharing such valuable insights!

[@skymycat]

We’re rooting for you Tim. Good on you for the positive attitude and sharing your experience! All the best with your business.

[@SalunyaKayell]

There are a lot of shops reselling products from aliexpress and copyright products. I don't blame long time and/or true handmade etsy shop owners for getting upset. Etsy gets a lot of money from etsy sellers which should be going back into cleaning up their marketplace from untruthful and dodgy sellers. I've even seen yt videos promoting for their subscribers to resell products on etsy. It's like "what???" Thanks for the video.

[@TimKoa]

The platform has definitely changed over time. I do see them shutting down stores that are infringing on copyright from time to time, but they definitely still exist. Remember, Etsy gained 4.4 million sellers from 2020 to 2021, so they might have the resources or technology to identify these shops at this scale yet. Hopefully they can invest more into this and make some changes in the future. Thanks for watching :)

[@nonnidreams]

Yup, ads on KZbin how to resell🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

[@nonnidreams]

@@TimKoa, True, hopefully they make the positive change at Etsy.

[@ummanas]

Hi Tim, thanks for the update on your shop. It's good to see you're sticking with the platform.

[@Back_To_Basics]

Glad to see you back! Thank you for being the voice of reason. As always, great rational thinking and educational content.

[@breadyforlife08]

I love how calm you are everytime. Thank you for all your insights.

[@iLoveLeatherNYC]

Tim. I really like your videos but this one just misses the mark. We are mad about the FEE's being charged. Etsy + every little thing (credit card, shipping supplies, postage, forced advertising or you are downgraded) factors into the price. There is just no room left for making money. Etsy's revenue is growing because they are charging us through the nose. Customers have the same mind set and pocket book (pay less) - - and we are in the middle.

[@simplejoys9279]

Thanks for the great video! My shop has suffered since I got Star Seller back in Feb. Since then I've had low traffic, etc. One of the main reasons I went ahead and did my own site was because of Etsy's increase in site issues where customers couldn't place orders, etc.

[@TimKoa]

Congrats on your own site! It’s always good to be more in control of your business.

[@nirellediamond]

Thank you so much for this update! I just started my store a few months ago and your videos have helped so much. I haven't started selling on my own site cause I just don't know what's the best choice. Good luck with yours!

[@TimKoa]

I'm on Shopify right now and it's pretty decent! They do charge monthly though, so you have to make sure you're selling enough to make it worth it. Wish you the best! :)

[@misosoupafly]

So glad to see you back Tim! Always love your content and positive vibes 🙏🏻

[@krystalandrea3836]

I love your personality!! You’re so humble when delivering your information and you always share great tips!! Thank you for this insight!

[@TimKoa]

Thanks for watching Krystal :)

[@LinhVu-ei8me]

As a customer, I don’t like how Etsy became. For the last 2-3 years, it became a platform for mass produced items. They make it difficult to find small unique businesses.

[@stampbooth]

Love your content Tim!! Thanks for putting out such genuine content ☺️

[@thismomof5]

I’ve been so hesitant to keep pushing with my shop because I feel the same way. If there’s already a ton of established sellers offering what I have, how do I break through? And I’m a person that loves making everything, so choosing a niche has always been a major struggle. I’m going to try your 3 tips and apply each one to each listing, thanks for the information!

[@TimKoa]

Yeah I can totally relate to wanting to do everything. Just gotta try one thing a time and see what works. Wish you the best!

[@thismomof5]

@@TimKoa Thank you :)

[@ashashdfin51]

girl(gender nuteral) they have 100 companies selling socks somebody will buy your stuff do everything you love the sky is the limit love

[@brandi8040]

Do you think having a strong presence online helps with the success of an Etsy shop?

[@ocelotcat]

Thank you for the great insights on the Etsy gig..... I appreciate your knowledge. I haven't opened my shop yet but felt the same way that you do, when I heard about the issues with Etsy. Everything you said is totally correct. 🙏

[@tytruong8564]

Oh, Tim! I have been waiting for your KZbin video for such a long time. Couldn't describe how happy I was when I saw the notification of your video uploaded. Please keep producing and posting videos. :)))

[@TimKoa]

Thanks for watching Ty :)

[@kerryhartjen8651]

I just want to say thank you for your knowledge and your attitude. And I wish you tremendous continued success with your website.

[@malikastar9265]

Thank you Tim, your insights are useful and you were honest in everything you said. "No matter how angry you get, nothing is going to change", that is for every aspect in our life.

[@izznulismail510]

Finally after 5 months! welcome back Tim!

[@TimKoa]

Good to be back! :)

[@fairygrandma9127]

Got problems? Unfair review? Bad buyers who want a freebee? Are you spending money advertising on etsy and getting only "bot" visits? Fact- Etsy does not care. Any phone numbers to contact etsy? Nope! There's no way to talk to a real person at etsy. Literally, small sellers don't mean anything to etsy anymore. And no seller protections for small artist/ sellers like me. And, it's just getting worse.

[@lorioliver262]

Totally agree

[@christinelebrun3378]

So refreshing to hear balanced opinions in a cohesive easy to understand format. Thanks!

[@TimKoa]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@kurisu3000]

Start building your OWN website instead of relying on a company that outsources their workers and side with the customer with every case.

[@ItsRandomlyRae]

I got everything I needed to know from this single video. Thank you. I was taken by surprise when I saw the fees after about 10 years since last looking into a shop. That's how I got here.

[@Tk_jh]

I’ve been looking into making some extra money this year, so this video was very helpful! Thank you for your thoughts on this!

[@Garage95]

Hi Tim, great video. I would also like to mention that their customer support is terrible. I had my account hacked about 1 week ago and the person was able to change the bank account on file and Etsy doesn't even respond to my emails. All of my is compromised and they don't do anything about it.

[@mitsumiko]

Thank you for your video. I'm happy you posted again after several months. I have a handmade jewelry shop and a vintage one. My shops also boomed last year. But this year they really slowed down. A lot of people are experiencing the same. Probably has to do with the global crisis. We need to keep up, it's a cycle and those who will remain will be able to boom again after this crisis.

[@jlynn3859]

Yes, I have my own website and I did amazing in sales last year and this year it's totally dropped in sales big time. I think a lot of the sale issues going on has to do with the global crisis more so then the platforms themselves.

[@SummerBaby728]

I’ve been wanting to start a shop for a while now but have been letting all the negative hearsay make me hesitant. This video really empowered me. At the end of the day, it’s our mindset and our will that yields success! Letting others’ anecdotal chatter stop us from going for a goal is for the weak-willed. There are always circumstances that make any dream a risk; we should go for it anyway, or else live a life a dread, regret, and mediocrity. If what we were up to were quick & easy, everyone would do it.

[@quantumenergy3334]

This 100%. ♥️ And you never know where that will lead you.

[@haleybaley8786]

@@VirideSoryuLangley Maybe. In the end, she would still be more successful than you with your shop. 😘

[@Vartikas.illustrations]

I hope it works for you. Did not work for me at all. I instead lost money with membership and advertisements!

[@SummerBaby728]

@@Vartikas.illustrations what membership did you join? You mean the Etsy shop fees?

[@molonate]

I agree! I've been putting it off as well due to fear from all the negativity, but now I am just going to go for it and see what happens! :)

[@jonhatton4354]

Great video! I’m in a similar boat as you. 2020-21 was stellar! I had a few items pop off and now dozens of copycats. When the barrier to entry is low, the market saturates FAST. People love easy money with minimal effort

[@MJ-oj2qv]

Hustlers should be put in hard labor camps.

[@jonhatton4354]

@@MJ-oj2qv not really sure what you mean or how to respond to your comment 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@sophiemj3]

This is wonderful, thank you!

[@DrCarolFrancis]

Your videos are incredibly helpful, clear, content dense and…well thanks!

[@ugaldeiris]

Thumbs up just because your positivity is contagious (and the video was very informative as well) thank you!

[@ManiacKiller88]

Hi Tim, amazing content and I just love your editing skills and the simple way you explain things. Would you mind doing a video on how you edit your content and show what sofware and tools you use to create them? Cheers !

[@ki1ki1ki1]

Tim!! Happy you are back :) just went looking for new videos on your profile the other day

[@TimKoa]

Happy to be back! :)

[@JBMindfulness]

Great video, i'm just getting started out on Etsy since January and only had a few sales but haven't really pushed my shop. Found you advice informative. Subscribed

[@SteveMNash]

Thanks for the few videos I've watched so far. Helpful, and informative. Loving your attitude, too. 🙂

[@vintagejoy2538]

Awesome content!! Being angry won’t fix the issue!! Discover the problem Create a plan of action Implement the plan Assess the effectiveness of the plan

[@johnkavaudio4695]

I love your demeanour in how you present and disseminate information - you don’t shout at your audience, which I really appreciate!

[@shawntaylor8631]

Happy to see it’s not just me feeling a certain way about Etsy. My sales,views,shop favorites and visits have really declined this year to the point that I had to make sure that my shop wasn’t on vacation mode. It’s very frustrating to go from having some success to suddenly not being noticed or found.

[@strandslocsstitches6973]

Thanks for the advice. Greatly appreciate it.

[@hypedesignsboutique]

Awesome video! "Don't get angry. Focus your time and money on things you CAN control," 👏👏👏

[@peterxia]

Great tips, especially about focusing on thing within one's control. Thanks Tim.

[@johngrace763]

**Thanks for watching👆 send a direct message at the above number for more enlightement

[@Evajeanfreedom]

Very sensible! People can be too eager to quit rather than find solutions! It took me 6 weeks to get my first real sale. Then I got 3 in quick succession! Keep learning all the time 🙂

[@patsnationok1373]

How do you deal with anxiety ?

[@Evajeanfreedom]

@@patsnationok1373 I try and face it rather than running away. Running away just postpones the anxiety. Facing it means I get stronger, and have a sense of achievement xx

[@brigittedwhite430]

Thank you Tim, for the practical analysis and your insight.

[@TimKoa]

Thanks for watching :)

[@YasinNabi]

awesome tips and sharing !

[@cove.studios_]

Such a great video! I appreciate your insight as an Etsy seller!

[@stephaniea7881]

What a great attitude, the world needs more people like you. Thanks for this video! Keep smiling and speaking from the heart. Cheers

[@johngrace763]

**Thanks for watching👆 send a direct message at the above number for more enlightement

[@sparrowgeiller9360]

Great video! Thanks and Namaste. Wishing you much success with your business.

[@LL-ex1gp]

So happy you’re back! 😍

[@TimKoa]

Glad to be back :)

[@doglife9864]

Great content and Amazing words at the end 👌🏼 “don’t worry for things we can’t control 🙏🏾👏🏻

[@johngrace763]

**Thanks for watching👆 send a direct message at the above number for more enlightement

[@MysticHeather]

I think a lot of the frustrations come from people who really work hard creating unique one of a kind stuff only to be drowned out by the thousands selling copy cat crap in an attempt to get rich quick. All the non artist, non artisan people just taking advantage of the market

[@ingerichardsonauthor]

Thank you for a great video. Really appreciate it😊🌟

[@WarrenContrerasOldbuddy]

Great Video Tim, I have spent an afternoon looking at videos about selling digital products and got a feel for it, but your video gave me some faith that I can do this. I will start slow and see if I can at least make it pay it's own way to continue. I started out my current MMO path working for Satoshi (even smaller than pennies) so if I can turn any kind of profit I will be happy. Thanks for your encouragement.

[@Maria-Maria00714]

Brilliantly explained..thank you so much

[@tazzelmcbazzel]

I love your raw perspective. I personally don’t have issues with Etsy’s fees. I do think Etsy’s customer service to their sellers needs to be so much better. The fact they push the importance of so many things for sellers it should go for the support of sellers. Trying to send them a simple message seems like a mission. I think sellers see they are so easy to take but not so easy to give or be open to support for sellers. And your right there’s no use getting angry. But it could see a company go really well to crash and burning. I’ve also seen them allow non handmade products and also shut stores down for doing the same.

[@DarlingArts]

Thank you for sharing this insightful video. ☺️💛

[@shotsandbeerscandleco]

I was waiting on a video from you. Glad your back 😀

[@TimKoa]

Glad to be back :)

[@haman7227]

You must create a brand Not just a product A loyal customer base Not just chase prices Amaze your customers! I love Etsy Stop complaining and blaming, We don’t curse the winter ❄️ More competition but more customers- as Etsy grows, your sales base grows Grow yourself first as you are growing your business

[@cchloennicole]

I randomly came across this video and I don’t even have an Etsy shop or anything but this was very interesting. You got a new subscriber :)

[@ImDanielTovar]

AYeeee you posted! A nice well made video!

[@TimKoa]

Yeah it's been awhile 😅

[@maxi30081998]

Great video! Love the content. Quick weird question, what's the font you use for the overlay on the video haha? Love it! At 0:38 seconds

[@rustan.lucena]

Thank you for being so transparent! Btw, how much time do you put in for this sticker business? Do you go full 40hrs a week?

[@ceceyangg]

How d you manage your business financially? Like calculating your sales, supplies and marketing and selling prices? I really trust your advice and knowledge! Love your genuine and honest videos! How much does it generally cost to begin sticker making business? Including subscriptions… basically everything!

[@IamNikkira]

I like your advice. Thank you for the time you took making this video.

[@johngrace763]

**Thanks for watching👆 send a direct message at the above number for more enlightement 👈

[@ats5010]

You are BACK!

[@nellachavez7298]

Super insightful really appreciate this video

[@madshader]

Welcome back to KZbin. This video was in my recommended.

[@mynaturalperfume828]

You are so positive!! 🌹 ❤️ 💖 Wishing you lots of success!!!

[@johngrace763]

**Thanks for watching👆 send a direct message at the above number for more enlightement 👈

[@sirguy6678]

Fantastic video and great advice!

[@ashleywillenborg3838]

I have had my Etsy shop since 2016. Every year my sales went up 40-50% then in 2020 my sales skyrocketed and went up 200% from the previous year. It makes sense because of lock downs people were home shopping. 2021 was the first year sales went down from the previous year. As a parent who is spending money only on bare necessities. Growing as much food as I can. Praying that food prices don't keep increasing. I am projecting sales to be way down this year 2022 because I'm sure many people are in the same boat. No money for extras. Kids are getting oranges and a candy cane for Christmas this year.

[@heidileal8651]

Thank you for this video!

[@JessicaT2730]

YES! People complain about the fees and I always offer up comparisons. I would love to not have any fees at all, but I’ll take Etsy’s over other marketplace’s fees!

[@ladylizsworld9274]

I do not mind the fees I am so uncomfortable with doing my own sales tax right now so I would rather have them do it. My shop is new and weird lol so I have very few sales. so I do not see selling on a platform that has monthly fees to sell that is more then I make a month.

[@RICDirector]

There are easy ways to do sales tax , believe it or not. The way that I'm doing it is to hold out, from every sale, about 1% above the current actual sales tax rate in my area. Keeping proper track of all business inputs, expenses, sales, and tips is a MUST. Boring, but vital. By physically setting aside in cash the amount needed to cover sales tax, at the end of the year you will have what is required for state sales taxes, plus a 1% amount to pay for someone to double check your work, or to give yourself a head start on other taxes. I do the same in other areas. What I expect from every sale is enough to cover the costs of materials, overhead, labor, shipping, and marketing for that particular piece, PLUS 33-50% more to fund expansion of stock. Whatever is left after that, I take as profit snd sock away. Example: item X sells for $40. Sales tax is 7.5%. Total sale amount is 40 x 1.075, $43.00. From that I instantly stash 8.5%, or $3.66, for sales tax, leaving $39.34 to cover costs and laborxand profit. My cost to build that piece was $18, including half an hour's labor ($8). 150% of 18 is 27, so I set aside $27, leaving $12.34 as nominal profit. I now have three 'accounts': sales tax, reinvestment, and net income. If you want to ensure that your income tax is also covered, make another for that. And while you can do your own tax stuff at the end of the year, I choose to pay a pro to make sure mine are done right.. Hope that helps!

[@fonsly5077]

One thing you might not have thought of was google recently changed their search priority to target the biggest companies rather than the most relavant item. This likely is always placing amazon, ebay, etc above you on products, especially if youre just starting out. The top search priority makes or kills companies.

[@hannahmitchell87]

That's disheartening but not surprising

[@lalasstickercreation]

Congratulations on you Roland, I also purchase one in April

[@TimKoa]

Nice! Yeah it’s so cool to print on. First step into the big leagues :)

[@KueVue]

very inspiring! thanks :)

[@xyshomavazax]

Thanks for this. I’m just getting started making and selling crafts, and needed a counter argument to all the unexplained hate.

[@lchristoffer]

Reasonable to me! Very simple - diversify, maintain and look around. I don’t have a shop but business is business.

[@audreygeorge9003]

Great insight, thanks for sharing! At the end of the day, Etsy is a for-profit business. They’ve likely had to enhance their infrastructure to keep up with the increased customer demand base not to mention their increased marketing to bring in even more customers. We can’t expect Etsy to absorb those added costs, it doesn’t make good business sense for them. As an example, we’re seeing effects of this in the economy today - when the cost of goods goes up, part of that increase is passed on to consumers. It’s simple economics. You broke down your points so well, loved it!

[@MJ-oj2qv]

But free stuff! It's a human right and it grows on trees.

[@audreygeorge9003]

@@MJ-oj2qv 🤣 true, true

[@joyousjoyness]

Started with Etsy and quickly moved to Shopify. Only had good sales when I drove people to Etsy myself. On it's own despite trying all the SEO tricks, I couldn't get traction on Etsy. Quit Etsy to focus exclusively on my Shopify.

[@TimKoa]

Shopify is great and if you can get your own customers that’s where you want to be!

[@Kevin51611]

What annoys me the most with Etsy is they will suspend or ban your account for copyrighted material while there are hundreds or other shops using the same material.

[@Dustinisanartist]

The rise in fees is also a big one that's making everyone mad.

[@1doutlaw]

Great advice .. thanks . Anger is generated when you are surprised at something you did not expect or want . So people that expect to make the same were surprised and did not want that to happen . So clearly your advice is on target . You must Also realize Not all good decisions give you good outcomes , there iOS always somethings that can happen , although odds are in your favor that you will get a good outcome it’s not a 100% guarantee

[@hannahmitchell87]

I think it was Gabor Mate that said anger stems from fear

[@StoiresbyAI]

I actually started my shop because of Tim - Been a slow grind for me but I've done well for me as I'm just doing it as a hobby for now. I've not done any social for it though lol

[@MJ-oj2qv]

I'm yet to start my Etsy shop but have come to the conclusion that any socials/marketing should be done to your own website, since driving sales to a platform you don't control ends up benefiting the copycats. As someone who is yet to get going, I may be wrong. But I think it seems best to use these platforms for their free traffic and use an independent website with no copycats and competition to drive traffic to.

[@JSGilbert]

What it all comes down to is that you’re going into business. And not everybody is prepared to own their own business. Etsy is an “enabler”, but it is up to the shop owner to do everything they can to be the best business owner they can be. This means focusing 100% on the customer experience.

[@PlumBerryCherries]

Dude Great Video and facts.

[@leaha7064]

I just made a very long post and for some reason it's gone. I think KZbin thinks I'm a spammer for posting such a long comment LOL. Anyway, I have another unrelated comment. When I made my own site, the best marketing was free on Pinterest. I would make free stuff like lock-screen and background images and digital calendars. That drove a lot of traffic to my site and helped me to market without paying. Good luck with your new site. Also, I'd love to see a video on your new equipment!

[@TimKoa]

I feel like a lot of people are sleeping on Pinterest, me included! Definitely need to look more into and try it out for myself. Will make a video on the new equipment as soon I figure everything out!

[@ethan_lazzerini]

The numbers do support your theory. For me I saw sales drop over the last 5 years. I still feel this is an algorithm thing too. When adds appeared the golden years came to an end. Same problem on social media as we move away from organic reach

[@cynthiamaguire3209]

For me as an Etsy seller at the time, it was the way the worded the email as well. They were basically like because we’re doing so well and making so much money we are going raise the prices for our sellers. And I was already not making much:/ but regardless I do think it is a good place to sell your craft goods because of who they are. It’s a good way to get your name out there. But I don’t feel like they care about me as a seller 🥺

[@johngrace763]

**Thanks for watching👆 send a direct message at the above number for more enlightement 👈