Etsy comments

[Crowning_Glory13]

I used to be big in selling on EBay and Amazon. I will be rebuilding my feedback once if get settled from the move. I plan to do that here too.

I have gotten into knitting and other craft projects. Not amazing but good enough to where I could sell some of my items and get the cost of materials used for sure. It seems that Etsy is the better direction to go.

1. How do you feel about Etsy and their policy.
2. Is it better to have multiple items for sale or less.
3. What are some details I should include in my listings.
4. Do you have non completed items? Like requesting a sweater in a different size or color?
5. Anything I left to ask but should know about.

I do a lot of research before I jump on anything. All the comments help.

[Kiwi]

I'm looking to open an Etsy shop (I've got my name but can't go further because I don't have any stock to list yet), so I've been doing a lot of research too. I've found a couple Etsy sellers support groups on Facebook that have been great.

Some key things that have come up:
- good photos
- use all key words, this helps you be found in the searches
- multiple listings are better than few, more for people to find which will lead them to look at the rest of your shop
- yes you can do custom orders - you can either do options within a listing, or have the "request custom order" button
- fill out the policies, and all other info sections - about me, shop info, shipping, etc - the more complete the higher Etsy lists your items in searches
- you may want to sign up with EtsyRank - it evaluates your listings / keywords / shop / etc and gives a ranking

[Crowning_Glory13]

Thanks for some of the insight.

[Taxel]

The Joyful Entrepreneur is an excellent Facebook group for anyone who has an online store. I've learned a ton and gotten some great freebies, like a 30 minute phone call with a serious branding person who charges like $600 per for free. They also have a paid group with guaranteed accurate advice on every topic you can imagine (plus some you can't), but I haven't taken the plunge yet.

[Sweet_Stuff]

Following!

[Crowning_Glory13]

Can you limit how many requests/custome projects? Since some items I plan to put up can be custome or made to order, I do not want to get hit with 20 projects in one day and there is no way to finish them in a timely manner. I have a neat pet bed I am making. Not a long project and it takes me about 2 weeks to complete. Well there is no way to do 20 of those in a month. Is there a way to regulate how many you take on?

I do not see this happening with my work anytime soon, I just don't want to be caught off guard. I understand how EBay works and Amazon. It's list or not list. Do I have to list and unlist? Is there fees for that?

Thanks for all your comments and support.

[Taxel]

 

You can cancel orders for any reason and you can limit how many are available in your shop. You can also customize how long it'll take you to finish and ship orders, and can even edit that per order after they've been placed.

Listings have fees and you can deactivate/reactivate them. I don't think there's a fee if you temporarily deactivate and then reactivate later but I haven't heard a ton about it.

[Crowning_Glory13]

Can you do a deposit fee? Hate to start a project and find out they do not want it. I would use it towards the price.

[Taxel]

Yes you can! I think most people (in the groups I'm in, at least) just charge for the whole thing up front once an order is decided on. But I do know some people who charge some before creation and some after its done. Personally, I'd just charge it all up front because it would be easier to keep track of.

[Crowning_Glory13]

I can not thank you enough for all the details. Do you sell non created items? Like just ponies you cleaned up, or other random items.

[Taxel]

I'm happy to help!

Etsy is technically only for vintage items (so G1 and G2 are fine, G3/3.5 eh maybe, G4 no), supplies (paint, hanks of hair, beads, etc), and handmade items. There's a way you can sign up to allow your previously handmade items to be factory produced, but it seems pretty hit and miss along with a huge headache from what I've seen.

Despite that, there are many resellers with products bought in bulk from China (especially Taobao) who claim them to be handmade. Some alter them or add something (like lace) after its arrived, but many sell them as-is. So if you're buying you need to be very careful and wary of prices that are too good to be true. As a seller, you unfortunately have to compete with such stores if you sell similar items. Some people report them but Etsy doesn't even seem to care. One of the most prolific sellers is 100% from Taobao and has been reported countless times, but Etsy did pretty much nothing. I think eventually they got suspended or something and left, but I'm not sure. I don't pay much attention to that sort of thing.

And of course, people don't always listen! I've seen G4s for sale as "vintage". Its ridiculous.