Has Etsy created a culture of buyers looking for discounts?

[UnPaccoBello]

I had my shop in holiday mode since June and opened back up a couple of weeks ago. Since then I seem to have had a load of messages asking for discounts on single items. This never really happened before (and I've been selling on Etsy for 12 years!) and I'm wondering whether Etsy's encouraging shop owners to offer discounts on favorited items, items in the basket etc has created an expectation in buyers that they will be offered a discount?
Should I price my items higher so that I can then offer a discount and make my customers feel like they've got a bargain?

[anythinggoeshere]

My buyers very infrequently ask for discounts.

[UnPaccoBello]

Yes that used to be the case for me too, but it's happened so many time to me in the last couple of weeks that I'm beginning to think it's becoming the norm!

[CryzalisDesigns]

If I found out a seller was overpricing their items so they could offer a discount which is not really a discount and deceptive, I would never shop there again.

You may have been in some test when Etsy started this test for "make an offer" which was tested I believe among sellers who are in the vintage section.

Also have been asked for a discount 3x in the past 10 years 2 online and one at an event

[UnPaccoBello]

I am a vintage seller, that's interesting. I completely agree, and I would hate to raise prices because of this because it's unfair to the customers who don't ask straight up for a discount.

[CryzalisDesigns]

I can't remember which month the test was conducted but I think it was during the summer, Maybe one of the other vintage seller remembers the date.

This could be why your received a flurry of messages regarding discounts

[UnPaccoBello]

It's not a "make an offer" request though, just people messaging asking for discounts. 

[Vintorious]

The pilot was 'opt in' only. I know a lot of vintage sellers who wanted nothing to do with it. I offered a few items for the test, but didn't receive any requests, so I won't be opting in now that it's live.

[DragonflyDreams1]

I understand your view on this. However, you know that Etsy has recommendations on price increases showing up on dashboards based on previous sales? It basically states increase your prices by X percentage to cover the sales discounts you made in the past year. Yes, Etsy is recommending increasing prices to put items on sale at a discount.

[eileenb58]

I get asked about discounts a couple times a year because they think that multiple item orders deserve it. I do not do volume discounts and have many merchants who purchase far more than those customers and they know they are getting a good deal from me.

[TheHomespunLoft]

@UnPaccoBello 

It is fairly acceptable to ask for a discount in the USA for vintage and collectibles.

And our economy is in free fall with all the prices skyrocketing so I would really expect to hear more buyers asking for discounts this season. ( and more and more coming up with wild stories why they "NEED" your items for a gift)

You are still the boss.. accept them if you want or just say no.

[RiverCityJAC]

@eileenb58I agree that I've never understood the logic in that thought process that thinks just because they're buying more than one item that they should be rewarded by devaluing my items, that somehow the merchandise is worth less.. As a vintage shop every item is unique. I do not sell wholesale, and my pricing is fair.

As stated in my "About" section, "Prices have been pre-haggled for you, no need to ask."

[JustMeToo]

@UnPaccoBello   I think bartering on price is more expected with vintage than with handcrafted.  I never get asked for discounts here, although occasionally I was asked at Christmas shows.  I always stuck to my price.

[SoulStarChakras]

No. eBay is to blame for that. Oh, wait...

[UnPaccoBello]

Well exactly. I feel like Etsy is following the likes of Ebay, Vinted etc, in encouraging sellers to offer discounts on favorited items.
But the bottom line line is the bottom line, so the choice is either fend off all the discount requests or else give in, adjust your prices and offer the discounts. To be honest it just seems a bit pointless.

[TheVintagePorch]

I rarely get requests for a discount.  And I sell vintage, and I would expect to receive requests occasionally.  I am now participating in the Make an Offer option and have received offers on 2 items.  The offers were reasonable and I sold both items.

[bradgoodell]

I can't remember the last time someone asked me for a discount, and my price point is fairly high.  It likely depends on your products and target market.  

[WoodbineEverlasting]

@UnPaccoBello 

Etsy wants us to be a bargain basement now. Make an offer, 5 week long cyber "week" sale expecting shops to offer 25% off, wanting to run a 25% off sale for new listings, the list goes on. It's utterly absurd.

[UnPaccoBello]

Yes! The 25% thing is another one. And excuse me if I've misunderstood, but a sale can only be a sale after the item has been listed at the full price for a reasonable time? I believe I read that somewhere on Etsy itself that to do otherwise would actually be unethical.

[WoodbineEverlasting]

@UnPaccoBello 

It would be both unethical and illegal.

[timelapse]

This 5 week cyber sale is ridiculous. 

[MirageRiverCreations]

And, yet, I’ve seen sellers do it. There are literally sellers here who make items and put it on sale to celebrate it becoming available. Not sure about actual ethics and logic, but I’m relatively certain neither of those terms apply to Etsy.

[WoodbineEverlasting]

@MirageRiverCreations 

Etsy now offers shops (including mine) to run a 7 day  25% discount at the rollout of a new listing. It's part of the new listing form. It's just bonkers.

[PrairiePrimitives]

@WoodbineEverlasting  Yet another reason to hate the new listing form. 

[RiversEdgeRelics]

Not surprising since Etsy implemented the "make an offer" scheme. Shoppers know this and believe it gives them a green light to ask for a discount.