When it comes to online shopping, Etsy would be one of the names that come to customers’ minds. Etsy.Com is quite similar to eBay, Amazon, etc. and since its establishment, Etsy has been supporting the local artists and crafters by buying their brilliantly created products. Etsy is an online shopping platform therefore; many buyers are concerned with the risks associated with the purchases from Etsy. So, today I will discuss all Etsy and help you find out whether it would be safe to buy from Etsy in 2022. Let’s explore!
What Is Etsy?
Etsy is an American e-commerce company that mainly focuses on handmade or vintage items and craft supplies. Etsy was founded on June 18, 2005, by Rob Kalin, Haim Schoppik, Jared Tarbell, and Chris Maguire. Etsy mainly focuses on handmade and vintage items, like clothing, jewelry, home decor, greeting cards, and more. Etsy’s main mission is to keep the human connection at the heart of e-commerce and to help talented sellers turn ideas into successful businesses.
Available Products Of Etsy
| Baseball & Trucker Hats Beanies & Winter Hats Sun Hats Hair Accessories Headbands Fascinators & Mini Hats Barrettes & Clips Ties & Elastics Wreaths & Tiaras Sunglasses & Eyewear Scarves & Wraps Belts & Suspenders Keychains & Lanyards Cosmetic & Toiletry Bags Gloves & Mittens Umbrellas & Rain Accessories Wallets & Money Clips Clutches & Evening Bags Shoulder Bags Pendants Chokers Charm Necklaces Crystal Necklaces Monogram & Name Necklaces Beaded Necklaces Chains Bib Necklaces Tassel Necklaces Stud Earrings Hoop Earrings Chandelier Earrings Ear Jackets & Climbers Cluster Earrings Cuff & Wrap Earrings Clip-On Earrings | Wall Decor Decorative Pillows Picture Frames & Displays Candles & Holders Clocks Vases Rugs Furniture Bedroom Furniture Dining Room Furniture Kids’ Furniture Living Room Furniture Wedding Invitations Wedding Invitation Kits Wedding Templates Save The Dates Barrettes & Clips Decorative Combs Fascinators & Mini Hats Hair Jewelry Hair Pins Wreaths & Tiaras Bridal Gowns & Separates Bridesmaid Dresses Flower Girl Dresses Mother of the Bride Dresses Baby & Toddler Toys Dolls & Action Figures Stuffed Animals Games & Puzzles Learning & School Kids’ Crafts Slime & Foam Sports & Outdoor Games | Skirts Jackets & Coats Pants & Capris Sweaters Costumes Hoodies & Sweatshirts Pajamas & Robes Shorts Swimwear Shirts Sweaters Costumes Hoodies & Sweatshirts Jackets & Coats Pajamas & Robes Shorts Decals & Skins Cameras Computers & Peripherals Car Parts & Accessories Docks & Stands Electronics Cases Musical Instruments Instrument Straps Recorded Audio Sheet Music All Movies All Music Picks & Slides Cell Phone Accessories Gadgets Video Games Tops & Tees Dresses |
Who Sells Products On Etsy?
Before ordering anything online it is very important to find out who the sellers are and where are they from. This information will give a clear idea about the product quality and how trustable the platform would be. Lots of sellers on Etsy are entrepreneurs with their own businesses. While there are many other sellers who sell items as a hobby to make some extra cash. However, there are some sellers on Etsy who create Etsy scams. These sellers are the reason why buyers write negative Etsy.com reviews.
Buyer Policy Of Etsy
Etsy’s buyer policy includes –
Anti-Discrimination And Hate Speech Policy
Etsy prohibits anti-discrimination and hates speech based on the following personal attributes –
1. Race
2. Color
3. Ethnicity
4. National origin
5. Religion
6. Gender
7. Gender identity
8. Sexual orientation
9. Disability
Other buyer policies of Etsy are –
1. Community Policy
2. Privacy Policy
3. Sanctions Policy
How Do Refunds And Returns Work On Etsy?
Etsy accepts returns and refunds but if you want to return a product then you have to contact the seller from whom you have purchased the product. This is because, each seller on Etsy manages their own orders, and makes decisions about cancellations, refunds, and returns. Therefore, sellers are not bound to accept returns, exchanges, or provide a refund if the return doesn’t match the shop policy. If the sellers agree to accept the return, then be sure to settle on the details below –
1. Where you should send the return
2. What time frame does the seller wish to receive the return
3. Who will be responsible for the cost of return shipping, if not written in the shop’s policies
4. What shipping method to use
However, if the seller doesn’t want to allow refunds or returns then you can open a case with Etsy. You can only open a case if –
1. You never receive your order
2. Your order wasn’t as it was described on Etsy
Payment Method Of Etsy
Below is the list of payment methods that Etsy supports –
1. Credit cards
2. Debit/bank cards
3. Etsy Gift Cards and Etsy Credits
4. PayPal
5. Apple Pay
6. Google Pay
7. Klarna Invoice payments (Germany)
8. iDEAL (the Netherlands)
9. Sofort (Austria and Germany)
Is Etsy Safe To Shop?
Etsy is a safe and secure platform for online shopping. While shopping on Etsy you should try to find out sellers who have a fair number of positive reviews with 5 stars. This way you will be able to avoid scammers. The best part of Etsy is sellers won’t see any information of yours. All the payments are processed by Etsy. When the transaction is completed, Etsy pays the seller directly once the buyer confirms that they have received the excellent item. Moreover, if you come across any scam seller then Etsy will intervene to resolve the issue with the bad seller.
Is Etsy Legit Or A Scam?
Etsy is a completely legit online shopping platform. Etsy’s brand value is at the same level as eBay, Amazon, etc. Etsy is a billion-dollar worth company and it is in the business since 2005. So, it also indicates the legitimacy of this shopping platform. If you’re planning to buy anything from Etsy then you can have peace of mind by knowing the fact that Etsy is a publicly-traded company on the stock market. So, Etsy is as legit as it gets.
Customer Reviews Of Etsy
Positive Reviews Of Etsy
Mandy Dowling Said –
“I ordered an item that never arrived, but Etsy support was very helpful and intervened to get my refund. I cannot praise Etsy enough. They were very thorough and kept me updated at regular intervals. I would highly recommend them.”
Donna Gerald Said –
“I ordered a custom-made sign with names and dates and tailor-made me the wrong sign. I go back to see if they can fix this it says no refunds. When I told Taylor about the signs, she sent me one out right away!”
Emma Said –
“Bought a lovely gift for a friend at Christmas. Beautifully made, received quickly, and great customer service when I got in touch. Surprised to see such a low rating for Etsy, I have only had a good experience here and would highly recommend”
Tina Gillon Said –
“Been using Etsy for 10 years as I like supporting small businesses, apart from one occasion of a seller not sending my item, I have never encountered any problems, I have purchased over 70 items, a lot of stuff designed for me, and I love shopping here, I have also made some friends here (sellers) which has been lovely”
Negative Reviews Of Etsy
Volker Said –
“Seems Etsy is just a platform for fraudsters to operate. Spend £430 for an item that is never shipped, never received, where inquiries go unanswered and your money disappears into the pockets of thieves.”
TsitsiBy Tsitsi Said –
“The support is absolutely useless! I logged a complaint regarding the verification of my ID details and they responded with something not even aligned to that. I have been waiting for them to be resolved for 5 days now.”
Despoina Karamitsiou Said –
“I bought items of 900 euros that were fake diamonds and Etsy is just observing the conflict with the seller. They are not helping me to get my refund and return the trash that I was sent. Very big frustration and a lot of personal waste of time trying to find a solution which still I have not managed. Be careful”
M. Smith Said –
“Don’t bother opening a seller account with them as they won’t send the small deposit to verify your bank account, so when you sell an item, they will keep your money as your bank account will not be verified. Bunch of scammers. Reporting to NCSC.”
Final Verdict
Finally, Etsy is a wonderful platform for online shopping. However, some immoral sellers are ruining the reputation of Etsy. My recommendation about Etsy is, you can shop from Etsy but be aware of the scammers!
References:
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.etsy.com
https://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/etsy.com