Etsy is a well-known name in the world of sales. But is Etsy a reliable platform for selling? I’ve previously written a blog about whether or not you should start selling on Etsy. This was in Dutch so soon I will translate that to English. Today, we’ll discuss whether Etsy is trustworthy as a sales platform. Interested? Keep reading!

Many sellers from all over the world list their products on Etsy, making the platform increasingly crowded. This can be beneficial because the more Etsy grows, the more people recognize the name and browse. However, there is also a downside to this: the platform’s reliability. But why? You might think that Etsy checks everyone thoroughly and restricts anything illegal. So how do you know if a seller is trustworthy?

Is Etsy reliable?

Etsy is a sales platform that follows guidelines similar to those of Amazon, Bol.com, and Marktplaats. Most people are aware that Etsy is an American platform. The platform itself is reliable. You do pay a lot in fees, in my opinion, but Etsy does stand by you if something goes wrong.

The reliability of the platform lies more in the individual shops that sell items through Etsy. Etsy itself doesn’t sell anything—this is important to understand as many people are unaware of this. The platform is nothing like Amazon, which has its inventory while also allowing third parties to sell on its site. Etsy is more like a global marketplace, similar to eBay. While eBay allows you to bid on items, Etsy only lets you buy items at the listed price. From physical items to digital patterns, stickers, nail art, and more. Everything can be found on Etsy. And within this bit of information lies a lot.

Individual Sellers

Etsy relies on individual sellers. Since Etsy has an automatic translator, sometimes a text may appear well-written in English, but don’t be fooled! See something you like? Always check the origin of the shop. This is where the issue of reliability comes in. Etsy has a list of approved countries that are allowed to sell on their platform. Countries like the Netherlands, Germany, England, and others are permitted, as well as countries like Italy, Turkey, Australia, and New Zealand. On closer inspection, you’ll notice that countries like Iraq and Iran are not on the platform. These countries are not allowed to sell on Etsy because the platform deems them not reliable enough.

But how do you know if a seller is reliable or not?

Check the Facts

To determine if an Etsy shop is trustworthy, carefully look at reviews and how long the shop has been in business. If a shop is new and has a large number of sales, there might be something suspicious. Why? Because an Etsy shop needs time to build a reputation, and a shop that’s only a week old with over 1,000 sales doesn’t add up. Often, these are shops where owners make bulk purchases themselves to make their shop seem reliable. Sales work as follows: each ITEM sold counts as one sale. So if you buy five products from one Etsy shop, it counts as five sales. This doesn’t necessarily mean there were five buyers.

Reading Reviews

Read the reviews of an Etsy shop. A shop doesn’t need to have hundreds of reviews, let me make that clear. A buyer is not obligated to leave a review. After two emails from Etsy, the request for a review stopped. If a shop has a few reviews and they are positive, you’re likely in good hands. If the reviews seem too good to be true, dig deeper into the shop. Do you see the same products in multiple shops on Etsy? It might be a copyright infringement or someone running multiple shops without disclosing it.

As an Etsy seller, you’re required to mention in your “About” section if you operate multiple shops. It’s also forbidden on Etsy to open multiple shops with the same items. I have two shops myself, one with patterns for making jewelry with Miyuki Delica beads and the other with my crochet work. If you see one person with 10 Etsy shops selling the same items, you might be dealing with a scammer looking to make quick cash before disappearing.

Suspicious Invoices and Support Messages

Nowadays, scammers and phishing attempts often try to deceive you with strange messages that appear to come from a support team. Unfortunately, this happens on Etsy too. Keep in mind: Etsy will NEVER ask for your bank details, request you to verify your email through a chat, or ask you to fill out a form for your PayPal information. Don’t fall for it—seriously, DON’T FALL FOR IT! If you are dealing with Etsy support, you can recognize them by the “support badge”; a fake account won’t have this badge. Clicking on the account, you’ll quickly find the actual name and email address from which the message was sent. Always check whether you are dealing with Etsy Support or if you have a scammer on your hands.

Conclusion

Is Etsy reliable? As a platform, Etsy is reliable. Research shops you’re interested in purchasing from. Read reviews, and check where the shop is located to avoid unexpected customs duties or high shipping costs. Check facts. Like whether a seller operates more than one Etsy shop and if this is disclosed, or if they are doing it secretly. Is the same product offered in another shop? Does the shop’s age align with a normal number of sales? If someone’s shop is one day old and has sold 1,000 items… well, that’s suspicious. So yes, Etsy is reliable, but always scrutinizes individual shops within Etsy. And if something doesn’t seem right? You can always report a shop anonymously to Etsy for investigation.