Here’s what consumers have asked with answers from Etsy staff and previous consumers.
You don't. You can check feedback and hopefully it will be honest, not a fake review. Personally, after what etsy did to me as a seller, I would NEVER shop there again! If they treat the seller like $#*!, they won't be nuch better for a buyer who has a problem. Frankly, they have become all about the money and don't give a fig about buyers or sellers! Its a shame, they used to be a good company. Guess going bigger wasn't better for them... but they have to pay for that new bldg in NYC somehow I guess.
I would have to say no, with LOTS of exceptions. In the past few years Etsy has allowed business to claim handmade if it meets certain criteria. I often see many items that claim to be handmade but I have seen them on Alibaba being sold in bulk. That being said I look very closely and have purchased some wonderfu items from great sellers. The biggest problem with Etsy is that they no longer protect customers from fraud (they say they are not liable) but in doing that lots and lots or resellers and counterfeit items have saturated Etsy' s marketplace. I would never buy anything "vintage" there. What I have seen you are getting thrift store rejects or modern fake. Buyer beware! Investigate all vendors carefully!
I am agree with Ramina. 90% is not hand made. All comes from Factories. When someone has over 8000's item don't you ask who made it. They are all over from Pakistan to turkey east to west up united state. Etsy is happy just to take your money and every 4 or 5 months closing one store to show off and if you have some money as a credit they take it too. No customer service, no respect no manor, they made policy just for FUN and they have FUN with our pocket. Stay far from them FAR FAR.
I agree with Steve J on this one. A lot of sellers on Etsy work from home in the evenings for extra money. Most of them are not big businesses with massive inventories so I would give them the benefit of the doubt. Give them a little more time and if they dont send it out then file a case with etsy
Business checking isn't necessary (the banks now charge a monthly fee for a small business checking). You can pretty much set up a regular checking account
I believe this depends on each seller. Etsy is simply a platform for sellers, and often does not have any direct involvement with orders short of processing the payment. Certain items cannot be returned for safety and hygiene reasons, and sellers can refuse to do anything other than exchange. Contacting Etsy may or may not change the results.
If you do, I would be cautious about ordering from international sellers, use a credit card in case you need to contest the charges, and do NOT expect ETSY do a thing if you get ripped off. They are useless and could care less once the sale is final.
Yes, it certainly is. I've also been selling for many years, never had a problem. Using PayPal is great if you ever should have a problem, as you're protected in the event of theft. If you were hacked somehow would be the only way it would be a concern for me, so I am careful about using good passwords and changing them often (Etsy password) I would not worry about the safety of Etsy direct at all.