Etsy Question

[togan]

 I noticed a lot of you guys have etsy shops in your signatures. How do you guys feel about Etsy's new "Free Shipping" policy for US buyers and do you think it is still the best platform for handmade jewelry? 

-Togan

[Irith-Rita]

I have given this some thought. Etsy is not as it used to be about 11 years when I joined. Many of the shops are obviously not handmade, and they seem to be doing quite well on Etsy. As I do not have much experience with other handmade sites, I cannot honestly tell whether it is the best platform for handmade jewelry or not. I suppose I simply feel more at home with Etsy because it is easy for me to run my shop as I choose.

[Michele]

I'm not lovin' this free shipping extortion. Basically, if you don't offer free shipping, your visibility in search, will not be very good.

[DawninCal]

I'm with Michele on this free shipping thing.

For the moment, I don't intend to change anything in my shop. I'm not found high up in the search results anyway, so that won't be a change. Mainly, I'd rather be transparent about my shipping costs than raise my prices to cover hidden shipping costs.

Unfortunately, there really isn't anything out there that's a good alternative. Many of us were on Artfire at one time, but they never took off. I'm surprised they are still around. Cat sells on Zibbet, maybe she'll weigh in on how things are over there. Other options are Amazon Handmade or one of the other platforms that allow you to build your own site, but I'm just not interested in learning how to navigate yet another selling site.

I'll bide my time for now, but it's becoming tempting to go back to consigning with some of the local art galleries and shops in my little town. I did pretty well with that. Supplementing it with Instagram or Facebook might be a viable option, but I'm not real hot on social media either.

Yikes, it's always something!



Dawn

[togan]

I thought about it after reading over the policy. I can see both sides I suppose, as a shopper and a soon-to-be seller. It's Etsy's race to stay relevant I think. To appeal to a broader market filled with those who like fast turn-around and quick (and free) shipping combined with low prices. Etsy has earned a name as a go-to for handmade, artisan, or unique items (not necessarily hand-crafted). I think their marketing strategists are placing some of the burdens of maintaining that platform and notoriety on the shop keepers. But I guess at the end of the day, it may still be worth it, to have access to an audience looking specifically for hand-made items and not having to do so much of the backend stuff on your own which can seem daunting.

I've had a few friends suggest that I work an Instagram account for exposure and leads, apparently it can be really effective.

Bedtime for me!

-Togan

[caeterle]

Unfortunately Zibbet has never taken off the way I would like it to, Dawn. They changed their strategy into offering sales channels which means you can manage your shops from there.
For me it is still attractive as I'm one of the lifetimers who got in very early and on a very good deal, but at the moment I'm selling more through some Facebook groups.
I do know Zibbet sellers, however, who are doing very well.

About the free shipping, it has always been a no for me, no matter where I sell. I remember when eBay used to push the same agenda, I'm still convinced they did it to turn it into a venue for the big guys who can eat up shipping easily and push out the small fries who don't make enough money for the venue itself.

On the other hand I'm so old fashioned I don't even have Instagram and I deleted my Twitter account as well.

[caeterle]

Adding .... has anyone noticed yet that Etsy dropped shop names from the search in the app? I can only imagine it coming to the other devices as well eventually.
I'm not on Etsy, but I thought this is not cool. It gives me the feeling they are really trying to turn into another Amazon leaving their makers (I'm not saying sellers on purpose here because of the all the non-handmade shops) behind.

[DawninCal]

Cat, I hadn't noticed that, but I don't use the app. That is so not cool. I'm going to go see how the search works on my laptop. They are doing a lot of stuff that is not going over very well with their sellers. A lot of people on the forums are thinking the same as you - they want to be another Amazon/Ebay. The new CEO is from Ebay so that makes sense.

Off topic, but I have never liked that the Etsy search isn't intuitive. If you don't type in the shop name exactly as it is spelled, it won't come back with possible results. Instead, you're told that there is no such shop. Not good if one can't remember or spell the shop name.

[togan]

@dawn - I agree with you on the Etsy search engine. I've experienced that so many times.
My YouTube feed has been full of angry Etsy rant videos in the last few days. I'm curious how they'll respond (if at all) to so much negative feedback.

Cat - It seems at this point they have focused their attention on buyers versus those that sell. I've noticed changes to the app as well which I use a lot. I guess I never really liked that the experience on desktop versus phone/tablet was never fully seamless. Little things here and there, like how the Save for Later and "buy from this shop only" options work.

Also, their Pattern website service is a waste on their part. 

[DawninCal]

If this situation plays out as other unpopular Etsy changes have, buyers will complain, things will settle down after a few weeks go by, Etsy life will go on and it will be business as usual. Etsy has the upper hand because they have no shortage of sellers and it won't hurt them if a few decide to leave. They are also one of the few venues out there where crafters can successfully market and sell their products. Many other selling sites have tried over the years, but none have succeeded the way Etsy has.

I stick with them because I have no interest or desire in building my own site or setting up shop somewhere else and starting over with a new learning curve. I'm also not in this to make a living, so other than storing a large inventory, the only part of me that's suffering is my ego.



Dawn

[caeterle]

I agree with Dawn. Etsy has moved from its original image and base a long time ago.
I have also read pleas to buyers not to boycot Etsy, so the sellers who decide to stay won't suffer even more.

[Michele]

I added $2 to all of my prices and am offering free shipping on orders over $35. I'll see how that works.

Etsy has no allegiance to their sellers. That ship sailed years ago.