Etsy sales down 70% -- Can Anyone Help??? Please!

[#1]

If anyone out there can help, we would very much appreciate it.  We've been selling on Etsy since 2012 and have loved it -- until now.  Our sales are down 70% year over year and we have no idea why.  If you search for items, you can't find our products.  It's like we've been shadow banned.  I've tried calling Etsy and the person I spoke to told us that we're doing everything right.  Has anyone experienced something similar and figured out what to do about it?  We're willing to try whatever is needed. 

Desperate in PA

[SakuraGlass]

I am wondering if AI factors are starting to have a devastating effect? The new shops that appear in search seem to be perfect imitations of those who have previously been doing well, yet their items and prices are a complete joke - like 70% off for plastic printed rubbish.

[sharonjenkins1]

Yes, my shop is tanking and it’s really hard to get enthusiastic about adding more items.

[MoonstruckVintageXO]

My sales are down significantly too.  I think there are a lot of factors at play from algorithm changes to the economy....But as much as we lament that selling on Etsy isn't the same as it used to be, shopping on Etsy isn't the same as it used to be... It's much harder to find the unique things that made Etsy Etsy.  I think some buyers have moved away from this platform and are going back to art shows and antique stores where they can feel more confident about what they are buying.  Maybe some got tired of seeing millions of POD tshirts and mass produced items no matter what they entered in the search bar.  Maybe some got tired of trying to be a detective to figure out is this item really handmade or am I being lied to... Customers don't want to have to reverse image search and do a background check before they purchase something.  Older successful shops may be losing the base of customers that once loved to shop on Etsy and now have moved on.  

[SakuraGlass]

I'm curious to know if you have also seen a big change in how search is working for customers looking for your items? I think a lot of what you say applies to sellers like my self who have been selling on Etsy for years. When I search for stained glass items the vast majority of results are AI enhanced images of rubbish printed acrylic with the lowest prices possible. They are new shops with different names but the same products that dont seem to be selling amazingly well either.

Yet Etsy seems to really want customers to see these things!

[PrescilasChina]

There are similar chat threads in eBay forums with many contributors so it’s not just Etsy

[PhenomenalWomenShop]

That does not make me feel any better.

[JewelssByJessica]

We’re having the same issue. Since May. April was a record breaking month and then it has been a severe drought since then. Likes, inquiries, sales are all down. It’s incredibly frustrating because all we do is work on our shop and advertising