• Etsy

Etsy

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Overview

Etsy has a rating of 1.8 stars from 1,555 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Etsy most frequently mention customer service, credit card, and phone number problems. Etsy ranks 717th among Marketplace sites.

Is Etsy legit?

Founded in 2005, Etsy is a legit online marketplace focused on homemade products from close to 2 million sellers. Each seller on Etsy is different, so always read their individual reviews and policies before making an order. Over 2,000 shoppers have reviewed Etsy and advise that since sellers are from all over the world, shipping may sometimes take a while. If you experience issues with a particular seller, Etsy has a customer support team to assist you.

  • Service
    362
  • Value
    334
  • Shipping
    296
  • Returns
    251
  • Quality
    302

This company does not typically respond to reviews

Positive reviews (last 12 months): 14.6%
Positive
7
Neutral
2
Negative
39
209
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How would you rate Etsy?
Top Positive Review

“HELP”

Gicu M.
6/22/24

📢 Attention, Etsy Community and Support Team! My Etsy shop, NecklaceAura, was permanently banned right at the beginning of my journey with no explanation provided. To make matters worse, I was scammed as a seller on my very first day on the Etsy platform (Issue ID: #16571142). As a passionate and dedicated creator, I am deeply disappointed and seeking clarity on this decision. I kindly ask Etsy to review my case, unblock my store, and provide a transparent explanation. It is unfair to penalize a small business without a clear reason. My small business dream depends on it! #EtsyHelp #SupportSmallBusiness #NecklaceAura #EtsyCommunity

Top Critical Review

“If you're thinking about opening a shop on Etsy, don't even bother!”

Lione C.
10/4/24

I tried setting one up, and it was instantly and permanently shut down by Etsy without so much as a hint of explanation. There weren't even any listings on the store—literally, all I did was create a profile picture. I appealed the closure, and guess what? Denied. No reason, no transparency, nothing. Now I can't sell or buy anything on my account, and if I try to set up a new one, that'll be blocked too. And to top it all off? Their denial of the appeal is permanent—no second chances, no reconsideration. Ridiculous.

Reviews (1,555)

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Reviews that mention popular keywords

phone number (49) credit card (68) customer service (264) shop owner (42) post office (19)
Thumbnail of user janinem1
Michigan
1 review
3 helpful votes
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October 12th, 2013

I am a Top Rated Seller on Ebay with 100% positive feedback on over 800 sales. However, Etsy closed my shop erroneously and will not allow me to reopen it, even though I had 100% positive feedback. My craft is whole some. Yet a member of their staff has a smut nudity shop on Etsy. How can they justify this? I hope they go bankrupt. I won't buy anything on Etsy and will never recommend it.

Thumbnail of user judyj8
Maine
5 reviews
42 helpful votes
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April 17th, 2023

Order placed 4/5, when not received as expected I went to my "order details" to contact seller I find that the seller was no longer on Etsy & I was unable to contact them. I filed for a refund with Paypal & with Etsy. Etsy's response was essentially that they would do nothing since I had filed a claim with Paypal. Viewing other reviews re: Etsy's buyer refund protection, they are useless regardless the reason. As soon as this is resolved I will cancel my account & never order from an Etsy seller again. Unfortunate as their sellers have many unique items.

Tip for consumers:
Etsy's not so helpful customer service

Products used:
none

Service
Shipping
Returns
Thumbnail of user janeb651
Massachusetts
4 reviews
11 helpful votes
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October 2nd, 2023
Verified purchase

Paid $105.47 a year ago for Kantha quilts from this seller. Never received order. Two months of correspondence with "Java Devi" at LaressaGifts yielded series of lame excuses (e.g., it's a FedEx problem, a festival holiday, mother in hospital, etc.). No package or refund.

Trying to file complaint on ETSY site, both then and now, led to automatic electronic responses, round robins, and dead ends. It also directed me to PayPal, which responded with irrelevant robot statements.

In fairness, I have been satisfied with most ETSY purchases. However, I will not be using the site again, having discovered this lack of customer service in case of fraud.

Products used:
My ratings apply to one fraudulent seller: "Java Devi" at LaressaGifts on ETSY.

Service
Value
Shipping
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Quality
Thumbnail of user joer123
Indiana
1 review
3 helpful votes
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January 20th, 2014

Website is difficult to navigate, and very fragmented in approach. The sellers are all individual, which can be confusing. The checkout function can vary by seller. This checkout function is where my real problem surfaced. I had multiple items from multiple sellers in my "cart". At checkout, I completed all shipping & payment information for my items. However, one of the sellers was a "Paypal only" seller. So, I was redirected to Paypal to complete my payment. The seller then erroneously decided to ship to an old address on my Paypal account instead of the shipping info that I entered. The seller accepted no blame, and etsy.com left me out in the cold when I asked for help. So, it's definitely a "buyer beware" website. There is no buyer protection available.

Thumbnail of user mariof2
Illinois
1 review
2 helpful votes
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March 6th, 2013

I'm a seller of my own handmade jewelry on Etsy. The problem is that there are so many shops now that they claim their merchandise is Handcrafted but, if you Google some of those items you will find them on Ebay for chipper than Etsy and the worst thing is that they are mass produce in China. It's very disappointing to see that Etsy is just looking to make a buck and don't care about all hard working people.

Thumbnail of user etsyr
Canada
1 review
11 helpful votes
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October 11th, 2014

Ripped off for $200 item on Etsy. I also paid for insurance, and shipping. Seller shipped broken item and would not pay me back the refund they received from the post office. I reported this to Etsy, I had photos I sent to the seller of the damaged item I received and long history of Etsy conversations asking for my money back. Etsy's response? The seller has to rip off more than one person for them to act. See direct quote from
Etsy Trust and Safety:

"You can rest assured that sellers who continually demonstrate an inability to fulfill business obligations in a professional, honest manner are permanently removed from our marketplace."

Pretty amazing that a business will not act unless they rip off more than one person. "Rest assured".

Tip for consumers:
Buyer beware. Etsy protects sellers who send damaged items not as described, even if you send them photos. They don't care, not getting your money back.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user stephanien3
California
91 reviews
225 helpful votes
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April 21st, 2014

I love the idea that this site is giving small businesses (mainly artists) a venue to sell their art. I had a very good experience with my first purchase (a magnet board) and would try it again. Although, I bet your experience would vary based on the artist that you purchase from.

Thumbnail of user liamy15
Nevada
1 review
1 helpful vote
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August 30th, 2022

If your account is suspended or you have an item removed, Etsy is not singling you out. Someone has reported you! And it's usually another seller that is selling the same product, and trying to kick you off the block. Etsy has millions of sellers, so they are not picking on you! They probably don't even know you exist! And Etsy knows this, but they don't care! I mean they don't even bother to answer your emails. The best thing to do is, if you already have an account, open up another one for backup, so if you get suspended, you can just move your ads over & keep on selling... Because sellers are vicious! And will report you, especially if you're selling same things they are at a cheap price! They want you gone! So they can be only seller selling that product.

Service
Value
Quality
Thumbnail of user hillaryp
Arizona
1 review
16 helpful votes
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February 1st, 2015

Please read my seller review. I have sadly been a seller on Etsy since 2012. They have taken over $4000 in seller fees and continue to bill me for a closed shop. They have something called "Direct Checkout". This is where a buyer will pay me and Etsy holds the money for 5 working days. This is an escrow company that just makes money on our money. There is an 877 number to call that rang for over 17 minutes. No live chat, no actual human answering phones. Stay away!

Tip for consumers:
Stay away from Etsy.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user denisep1049
Florida
1 review
0 helpful votes
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January 19th, 2023
Verified purchase

I bought this vintage leather purse from Handmade greats and got it 2 days ago. Even though it is used, it looks brand new. No damage anywhere, metal zippers and several sections. It really is the most beautiful purse I've ever owned and I love it!

Tip for consumers:
I buy my special needs handmade bibs from Etsy also. Their products are all they say and more!! Now one of my favorite go-to websites!

Products used:
Leather purse

Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user stanislavy
North Carolina
1 review
6 helpful votes
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February 14th, 2017

I used Etsy shop for 2 month. Finally made my first sale. Suddenly with out any reasonable explanation my account was terminated. I tried to provide evidence that my shop is legit.
West. That how he call himself wrote me that they have right to terminate account for any reason and with out explanation.
Mean while I lost money and time setting up shop, marketing etc.
Very disappointing experience

Thumbnail of user lamiae1
Jordan
2 reviews
22 helpful votes
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April 21st, 2018

As a seller on Etsy, I really worked hard, and did my best to make my business successful on Etsy, I always got 5 stars from my customers. Now they closed my shop presuming that I sell commercial items. The items I sell are not commercial at all, they may look like other commercial items but quality are much different. Etsy use some tricks to close successful shops. I feel sorry for the way Etsy deal with their sellers.

Thumbnail of user gregoryz2
Virginia
1 review
7 helpful votes
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December 26th, 2015

Ordered a tee shirt for my grandson on Nov 21 from Trustworthy Tees through Etsy. Sight said tee was in stock and turn around time was 5-10 business days. Etsy billed my credit card Nov 23 but didn't respond to any email until I said I was going to contest the charge. Trustworthy Tees has not responded to anything. Xmas is over and so is my patience. Disputed the charge today and they can keep the shirt.

Tip for consumers:
Don't use this site.

Service
Value
Shipping
Thumbnail of user lolar1
Canada
21 reviews
80 helpful votes
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May 12th, 2011

etsy.com is awesome i got a truely unique purse from one of their vendors from somewhere outta the u. S, when i first learned this i was a little apprehensive, but my money/ information was safe, i payed via paypal and the vendor was so helpful with answering all of my questions. Good experience with them overall.

Thumbnail of user at399
Wisconsin
6 reviews
20 helpful votes
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December 20th, 2014

I buy things there all the time, so far it has been good. Only once did I not have a good exchange with someone who took money and I never heard from him again. But it was only a small amount so I will chalk that one up to learning a lesson. But other wise good site.

Tip for consumers:
Try it for yourself.Just be careful.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user birdw1
Bird W.
Canada
3 reviews
18 helpful votes
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March 6th, 2016

I've purchased a few things from Etsy over the years. As another reviewer noted - lately the items for sale are crap, wav over priced and with insanely expensive shipping. It was a pretty good site a few years back but not now.

Thumbnail of user jb95
South Carolina
1 review
1 helpful vote
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May 29th, 2014

I have been selling on Etsy for over a year now and have found it to be a great market place for selling handcrafted Items. As a seller Etsy is what you make of it, if you offer good customer service with a quality in demand product you will be successful.
As a buyer you must be smart about who you purchase from just like you do with any other market place. Check reviews, read policies and contact the seller with questions before your purchase and you'll probably have a good experience as well as a unique product not to be found anywhere else.

Thumbnail of user janeth629
GB
1 review
0 helpful votes
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May 17th, 2020

So pleased with my purchase from Emily at Etsy. The quality of the fabric is superb and her attention to detail was perfect.
Thankyou Emily for your messages and thoughtfulness throughout the transaction... I will definitely shop with you in the future...

Thumbnail of user mamaknowsm
Maine
2 reviews
18 helpful votes
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November 27th, 2013

I am a frequent buyer on Etsy, and also a seller. Much of what is shared in the way of reviews here and on other such review sites is the result of an organized group of disgruntled sellers who shout they are leaving to Zibbet if Etsy doesn't make changes. Of course, they go to Zibbet where it is 'friendly', and then realize they are making no sales. Then they bash Zibbet, and return to Etsy. It's all just a bit ridiculous.

Thumbnail of user karenk2546
Iowa
1 review
3 helpful votes
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April 23rd, 2022

I ordered seed through Etsy -- I've been messaging the vendor Seeds by Cheryl that my order was never shipped and I would like a refund - never heard back from them. I started to messaged Etsy for help in getting a refund, but receive a run around from them on this. It's been two months still no seeds or refund. I'll never use Etsy again!

Tip for consumers:
Make sure you have a phone number and address before ordering from a vendor on Etsy, so if there is a problem you can contact them, plus it shows they're a real company.

Products used:
Never received my order of seeds

Thumbnail of user autumnm27
New York
15 reviews
10 helpful votes
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July 25th, 2019

While searching for a lot of things online that I want, Etsy comes up as a suggestion on Google Shopping. I know several people that sell on Etsy, but I never have, so I can't speak for that aspect which is why I gave this review 4 stars instead of 5. However, every time I've bought from a seller on Etsy I've gotten the quality and promised item. I've never had a problem. In fact, once I wanted to change a personalized product after purchase and the seller was nice enough to correct the order right away and fix what I had done wrong in the description. Everyone I've bought from has been very nice and gives the quality they promise!

Thumbnail of user sharonp15
Pennsylvania
2 reviews
2 helpful votes
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June 24th, 2013

My daughter's store was shut down for no good reason. She has followed guidelines and knows how to give good customer service. This store is her only livelihood and no one at etsy will respond to her emails and there is no phone number. I believe from all of the complaints I have heart that etsy is making money off these sellers then yanking the stores and that is that. It's pretty shady. I think all the sellers who have had this problem with etsy should get together and sue them for a class action suit. I have advised my daughter to contact a lawyer. She is upset as she has orders still to fill and has no way to contact her buyers. This is ridiculous. And word of mouth is the best advertisement, I have nothing good to say about etsy.

Thumbnail of user sydniec
Arizona
5 reviews
19 helpful votes
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April 16th, 2014

The Etsy website has a very comprehensive cache of custom products available for purchase. I was able to find perfect custom invitations for my son's first birthday that will stand out from the rest, for sure! My transaction was completed easily and my order was sent to me the next day. I will definitely be shopping via Etsy.com again.

Thumbnail of user sallyh129
Colorado
1 review
7 helpful votes
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May 6th, 2019

I've had a few successful purchases on Etsy... but, and it's a big BUT... when I had a real problem, a $266 purchase that was basically unusable due to the product failing (it was 3 silicone molds), the seller just blamed it on me (what?) and when I opened a dispute, Etsy just took the sellers word that it was me that had damaged the product! (By the way, the seller is Resin Sun... so don't ever buy anything from her) They took less then 1/2 hour to make that decision, even though I sent pictures and even offered to send a video of how the product was failing. So, don't expect to ever get your money back if a sale goes sideways... it's truly just gambling that you'll have a good experience and not get ripped off.

Thumbnail of user brett11
Washington
3 reviews
16 helpful votes
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February 24th, 2019

I opened a shop and listed 47 items. I sold three things right away to the tune of about $110. After a few days the funds were not available to transfer. I spoke to them and they said the funds would be available that day but it never happened. The problem for me is that it can take 5 days after the request for funds to get the money so I figured, including weekends, it would be about 10 days from the sale date to get the money. I'm sure they spell all this out in their policies and many people will side with them because I didn't read them entirely before doing business with them. That's fine if you want to miss the point you have every right to do so. I don't do business with companies that hold my funds. That's just how I roll.

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From the business

Etsy is a marketplace for buying and selling crafts, handmade and vintage goods, as well as art and craft supplies. Etsy is a private company based in Brooklyn, New York and has raised more than $90 million as of May 2013.

Company Representative

Thumbnail of user alisas27
Alisa S.
Typically does not respond to reviews

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