ETSY is the Amazon for independent sellers and handmade goods, but has become a hotspot for further flung resellers in recent years.
It is one of the most well-known online retail destinations in the UK and US, and is present in 234 other countries.
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What is Etsy?
“Etsy connects people looking for unique goods with independent sellers around the world,” according to the company itself.
It is a global online marketplace that supplies millions of handmade, vintage, and craft supply items created and curated by millions of independent sellers.
These sellers can be long-time business owners, entrepreneurial hobbyists or even factories in China.
When was Etsy created?
Etsy is a US e-commerce company founded in 2005 by entrepreneur Rob Kalin and partners Chris Maguire and Haim Schoppik.
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The site really took off in late 2011, just two years after it began making a profit.
At the time, some 12 years ago, it had around 10million members.
Today, that figure stands at over 96million.
Is Etsy legit?
Etsy is a legitimate, reputable platform and has processed billions of dollars in transactions in the 18 years since its inception.
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But that doesn’t mean scammers aren’t lurking on the platform.
Out of the millions of sellers, are inevitably a handful of bad eggs.
Which is why Etsy has a customer support channel to help victims of dodgy dealers.
If you buy an item on and fail to receive it, or are sent the item but it’s not as described, you must first try and resolve the issue with the seller.
If they’re unresponsive, uncooperative, or you’re unable to come to a resolution, you can open a case with Etsy.
Etsy Support will review a buyer’s case by gathering information from both the buyer and seller.
They will mediate the dispute and make a decision based on the facts – and hopefully, users will get their money back.
Why is Etsy so cheap?
It’s not uncommon to spot a bargain on Etsy.
It’s a home to hobby sellers who may not realise the true cost of an item they made, or don’t care if they make a profit, unlike a business.
There are also sellers from other countries of a lower national income, that may sell something cheaper than a seller in a country with a higher national income.
There are also Chinese factories with stores on Etsy, because they can get more money on Etsy then sites like AliExpress or Temu for the same item.
However, not everything is cheap on Etsy.
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Many shop owners price their items a fair market rate.
But some may take that price tag up a notch because it’s handmade, vintage or bespoke – aka, hard to find or to make yourself.
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