Etsy tries to make us believe customers are stupid and pay $10 for an item and another $10 shipping- BS. And a 1.5% increase isn't that much after 13 years in business- I'm amazed they didn't raise listing fees. I pay 15% fees on Amazon and still make plenty of profit- and I didn't have to raise my prices much I get these messages from Etsy when I ship an expensive item - "you are charging $9.45 for shipping- the average shipping price on Etsy is $4. Ok, so I am paying $7 for a small flat rate priority box and insured for full amount of $400 and I'm only supposed to charge $4?? That is where they are getting their information is my bet, people like me who charge EXACTLY what the label costs
If CG is around, I got a request for a cuff bracelet for a wrist with 14 cm circumference. Right now the cuff I have measures 5.1 cm in inner width and 4.4 cm inner height. Could this work?
I get messages all the time showing up when I ship an item, something like...'other sellers are shipping items similar to yours in the US for (eg) $4.75.
Well, it's the nail in the coffin for me. I've barely scraped by here for awhile now, and I just don't see Etsy being a viable venue for me going forward.
Most of my business is local clients and from other promotional avenues outside of Etsy. I looked at my trend yesterday, and I've had a complete die-off since January for no reason...no change in promotion, no change in quality of items for inventory, just a die-off.
I'm going to let items slowly expire, then keep my account as a buyer only. I've been looking into a few local shows and galleries and I think that may be a better fit for me right now.
If I feel that things are not so bad, then I may stay...but it's going to be a test until all items are gone from the shop.
I haven’t actually finished the cuff yet. I can make it flatter. Sometimes I find the bracelet mandrel a bit off in shape. This is bracelet mandrel shape, just to see if the blank I had was the right length. I guess it could work then!
I get those shipping messages once in a while. So, I just looked at the details and mainly the added % on $100. sale will amount to $1.50 and if the sale is international the added amount is $ .75 and an extra .25 domestic. The other problem is if you have to raise your prices or shipping to cover your latest donation to Etsy, you will also pay a larger processing fee to either Etsy or Paypal although it's only about an additional $.07 to $.10 on a $100 sale. I think my prices can handle that. I'm thinking of rolling my shipping into the item pricce. It now makes more sense to offer 'shipping included' which Etsy likes to tout as "free shipping" because you will no longer have combined shipping which apparently buyers like but which hurts the buyers more.
I agree on the free shipping Terri. I think I'll also be doing the same as things come up for renewal. Are you going to do free shipping on first class only? I'm thinking of just going to Priority shipping here on E. May make it easier.
Gayle for domestic under $100, Priority honestly doesn't make much sense to me if you have to add $7 or a bit more to the price to cover $6.85 for the shipping cost and the rest covers a bit of the fee. First class says 2-5 days and mostly gets there in 2-3, Priority isn't any better now days so that isn't a big plus to a buyer like it used to be. If you have a following used to paying over $200 to up to 500, nothing will deter them if they want something.
The only positive I see is this may effect those hobbyists that under price everything. For them to lose even more money may push them off Etsy.
I agree with that Pennee. I do hope that it makes it less economical for those that underprice their work.
I think what irks me the most about this...over and above the increase in seller fees...is the fact that the issues sellers have raised repeatedly are still not addressed. I don't mind paying a little higher %...that's fine. However, I feel like in order to be seen...I'm going to have to pay the monthly fee, even with the search still being crap. Also...is there still a listing fee? Are we still going to be charged $0.20 per listing and renawal? I didn't see that in the email.
I have a larger International following here than I do domestic...so the shipping issue has me concerned on International, where standard shipping to Australia can be upwards of $25 or more.
Chrissy you must be shipping international Priority?? I ship to Australia and NZ a lot and I charge $15 for first class international and that even allows me to insure at $100
Most of the purchases have been in the $250-$500 range, so yes, I'm shipping priority. I can't afford for the package to go missing. I also use calculated shipping.
I use calculated shipping too I don’t get messages. I will just add another 1-2$ to my package and handling charge to cover the extra costs. I may also forgo buying insurance
I'll have to look back...not sure what I use...it's usually the purchaser's choice...if they want to use first class international priority...I'll go that route, or first class international. I use calculated shipping...so it's the actual cost of shipping. I'll look back and see what I paid last. The last package I sent was a couple of months ago, and she purchased several pieces, so the weight was higher than normal.
