FREE SHIPPING was a bad idea from the start

[ToyandPropMasters]

Due to Etsy's free shipping fiasco my sales have dropped by $15,000 from 2019. Anyone else have the same problem?

[PocketWatchPanda]

I haven't had that big of a drop, but I think it hurt more than it helped, and the popping up higher in the searches never seemed to happen.

I get more paying hits from my social media than any adds from Etsy. It looks more and more like a company trying to scam sellers out of every dime.

I do hope the new improvements announced are better than the last, particularly with Facebook having their own platforms, paypal bought Bonanza etc.

[Queentiticollections]

Agree

[UniqueStuffBuyTommyG]

With free shipping its important to take into consideration many things. I personally only ship within Canada and the United States.  I have one customer in Italy but we communicate and he pays the price of my shipping cost. Limit the size of what you sell (regular mail to post). Many things I can ship for under $3 an item. I recycle packaging and wrap to lower my shipping cost. I also get supplies at local Sally Annes and Used stores with these shipping supplies costing pennies on the dollar. Canada Post offers discount card for small business. I use snap ship for larger items and they will even pick the item up if you want. The stamps I usually get off eBay discounted and can cut the cost by atleast 25-30%. They maybe lower denominations but they work. Tracking can add to your costs and its not something I normally use to save me and the customer money.  Maybe we can invest in carrier pigeons to send our parcels ... then we only need bird feed for postage : )   I hope you can benefit from this information .. wishing continued success. Peace and Blessings Tommy G

[Awoodplace]

I've had a shop for over a year and a half, but it's only been active about 7 months of that time.  I'm a novice. I have a friend who has a shop and is doing very well offering free shipping. I believe shoppers look for that and are more inclined to buy when there is free shipping. I haven't sold much, but I always use Etsy shipping labels. Nothing has cost me more than $3.50 to ship and the labels are very professional. Once I compared the Etsy price to the USPS price and Etsy was $1.05 LOWER. What I do object to, is the offer that Etsy gives to the buyer to get 1st class and, I assume, faster shipping. Things already go out 1st class and if a shop owner is on the ball, continental US buyers get their item within 5 days. 

[PocketWatchPanda]

It gets trickier if you send larger items, particularly since Etsy doesn't really allow the zoned priority shipping choices.

[Former_Member]

Absolutely, the day I joined the “optional” Free shipping boat, my sales went down drastically. I joined because of the better position offered, now I’m not as high as I was before. BS!!

[BirthdayGiftStation]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/817965400/canvas-and-framed-set-of-3-inspirational?ref=shop_home_active...