Quit selling on Etsy? Only when this happens...

I stop selling because they are robbing me they are charging way too much for listing processing and service fee like this is stupid at this point I’ve lost so much money selling in Etsy stay away from Etsy

No I stop selling on Etsy because it's a waste of time.

I really like your channel Kara and I have learned so much. However, I am about to just give up. While I was a full time teacher I worked with my shop part time and made about 3 sales a year doing nothing. When I retired December of 2021, I went to work feverishly, full time, taking free marketing classes, and using Instagram. Pinterest and Facebook to gain followers and lead them to my store. I also took and Etsy marketing Master Class and I'm just making the point that I have been working and posting almost every day in the beginning. Now it's dwindled to 1 time a week. I see other artists doing very well with different styles of work, and I have come to conclusion that what I am doing is just not marketable. Folks don't see to want my art . . .? July 26th was my last sale, and nothing since then.
A good day for me is around 30 views, which is not enough. So I started a printables boutique, and that is not selling either. I think my fine art boutique, artbycarolcross, has good products, professional art, but maybemy work is too unusual? The other shop, Paisley Park Printables, I have not been working on too much or promoting because I am so stymied by the other store. At some point, you need to realize your work is not gonna sell and just move on. I don't think the boutique will be successful no matter how hard I market it, if it's not what people are looking for. I would love some feedback from you or others if they have experienced this situation. Do I keep plugging, or just try something else? Anyone? Thanks so much for all you do Kara, you are amazing, and all my best. Carol

Thanks Kara, good information as usual. May I ask if you recommend a low price company to create and host our own websites ,
Thanks Glenny

Etsy removed most of my listings because they were against their policy! For some reason, they decided my products were not hand-made! Which is absolute nonsense, I design and make all my products at home. as of today, it's been 10 days since I contacted for help, they keep saying a specialist will email me!

Closing my Etsy store was one of the best things I could have done and wish I would have done it sooner. Now instead of wasting hundreds of dollars a month on ads and fees I can save that money for the things I love to do. No more stressing out about sales and making more items on my days off. Now I can just enjoy my craft and do it for ME, not some corporation. I can honestly say there has been nothing negative about quitting Etsy. At one time Etsy had a good thing going, but those days are gone. Plus, people don’t have as much disposable income these days to purchase crafts and handmade goods. We are living in very volatile times. The reality check is here. Leaving Etsy has been a huge weight off my back!

Wow... whats the mike you are using ? I really like the voice quality.

I started on etsy two weeks ago, was immediately suspended after a day with no violations or whatever. I emailed etsy and they admitted that it was their error. No compensations or anything for being shut down for a week. 😢

the fact that they can take 15% of your sale arbitrarily (off-site ads) is reason enough to drop Etsy on the long term

I earn pennies

this is off topic but did you see etsy giving people partial badges. lol i didnt make star seller but they gave me this purple truck icon to show that i ship on time with tracking. lol

So informative AND entertaining!

I love your clarity!

Great business my friend

Gotta love click bait!

To anyone considering closing their Etsy shop and starting their own site, don't. Keep your Etsy up while having your own website. If you're upset about fees, you're going to be paying double, triple or even 4x the amount in advertising to get people to your website, only to find out that they didn't buy anything.

Honestly, I am surprised Rachel admitted that they just want to see how many sellers they make mad. I mean, we all knew it, but it's another thing to actually hear them say it. 😂

Question from a UK seller: how do you deal with regional purchase tax (e.g. VAT, GST or state tax) on your own website?

I guess one good reason to use Etsy is that they take care of the transaction in this respect.

I just started to build my etsy shop. I uploaded 4 digital products, had only 1 view and no sales and etsy suspended my shop without any email or any explanation why. Wrote them three times, it has been a week and I still have no response. I have found from other people that they had the same, so am just hoping for the best and that etsy will re-open my shop soon.

I started building my own website due to the high fees I am getting. I run ads and get a lot off-site ads and get charged almost $8 to $10 for the ad fee. On top of regular fees. I am still planning on keeping my etsy shop running to help drive sales on to my website.

They're all quitting because they don't have the claw

What is your daily ad budget? I love your videos!

Yes, Etsy charges a lot! But what I like about Etsy, is you don't have to market HARD, people who have lots of followers, don't need Etsy. I'm horrible at marketing and yet I sell here. Do I sell lots and lots, not yet. Again, I have a full-time job. I did it the opposite of most people I had my own website first and no customers. I mean CRICKETS!! Tried Etsy, had customers. Also, I saw on their own websites, so many people were doing chargebacks. It's disgusting! On Etsy, if they do that, they will be blocked! So they don't do it as often. So Etsy charges a lot because they do most of the marketing for you. It's worth it for me. Also, I do Etsy bc I love what I do. It's fun but I am noticing very little money for now. (which Quite frankly goes to Donation for animals Shelters and now Ukraine). I also noticed people who are really good at computers, their Etsy page is decked out Sells more! Their products were substandard and had fewer choices than my page but their Etsy page was slamming! As always, Thank you Kara! Continue to Learn.

Well said Kara! :)

I love listening to your videos. Thank you.

There are also the people who blame Etsy when the problem is really them. They don't want to admit that they aren't going to be successful anywhere until they up their game. I realized this for myself. If I can't make it work on Etsy where customers are already there and wanting to buy things, there is no point in going anywhere else.

I agree having a website is essential. I just think that it isn't going to work unless my photos and items are top notch. I need to get to that point first before I even consider leaving Etsy.

Do you know other platforms to sell digital products on?

The only reason I'm debating on dropping Etsy is because I've made literally no sales since I started it. I spent months working on it and advertising for nothing. I started it in December 2021. The other thing I'm debating on is the fee going up. Since I'm making nothing then what's the point. It may be time to find a different way to sell my junk journals.

Just finished my website! It took me quite a while to do it. Yep, it was hard. It's one of the hardest things I've ever done. I see a lot of sellers thinking of themselves as an "Etsy shop" and not as starting a business or building a brand. A website not only makes you independent, but the pride in ownership factor is huge.

Great content as usual! Thanks! Very sound advice.

Thanks for helping me get my daily dose of common sense which is just as important to me as caffeine!

If Etsy had better customer service a lot of seller issue can be avoided.

I am in Turkey. I cannot sell. I can't do everything right because I'm taking care of myself. Shipping prices in Turkey are very high. Even if there is a sale, the cargo company earns more. I'm out of excitement. I produce but cannot sell.

The sellers threatening to leave Etsy, reminds me of all the celebrities that vowed to move to Canada if Donald Trump was elected...and they are still here.

I hate Etsy’s Wokeness; and considering we will eventually get the Chinese System, I think it is inevitable that only politically correct people will be allowed to continue to sell.

I was doing about $2000/25 sales per week…I stopped paying for all of their add on fees…now I get one or two sales per week. I’m moving my business.

The only time I have seen a shop quit Etsy was because the business got so big (they did trade shows here and Europe), the comparative pittance they made on Etsy wasn't needed. I miss that lady; she had great stories.

i never have sales i am quiting also

You always have the the most useful, trustworthy information! My shop needs a revamp, I’ve have to figure out how to get daily sells!

Hello. 🥰