Etsy has no competitor yet, but when people start realizing that they're better off building a website of their own, the monopoly won't last long. It's a trap, more than anything.
I am so sorry that this has happened! Thank you for sharing this horrific experience. I am hoping that you will continue to be successful on another platform!
Wow I thought it was just me but I have been recently suspended for no obvious reason when I finally started making sales and now everything makes sense having watched this video. Thank you for always giving honest feedback.
My shop was also suspended in June after 4 years of putting in an immense amount of work daily, and I haven't received yet the money that I did back in June. I mean, they are keeping it for what? As for customer service, it isn't always that bad, unless, of course, you find it somewhere hidden at a help center. At some point, I was also scammed and had to change my debit card for direct deposits, After all these exciting issues, I really got tired and after the shop's suspension, I decided to never look back and since then, I feel so free and relieved.
4:01 Your conversions were low because of all the copy cat Etsy sellers clicking on your ads. Snooping around to see if they can replicate what you do. Best to stay under the radar and not use their ads platform.
Because those that do are mostly home base women in their 30's who don't bother to learn about POD or what its about. All they want is that MUG. Why question an opportunity to sell? Give it to them by the boatloads!! LOL
Thanks for the update! That's a bummer but these red flags are definitely concerning. You mentioned in your intro about what you're doing instead, but you never mentioned anything? I'm curious what are the best Etsy alternatives.
@@markonbusiness I see. How would you tackle getting enough traffic to get actually get some sales though, especially compared to a robust marketplace like Etsy?
@@iXzenoS Customized ads targeting through Meta's ad platform. Basically, I will drive traffic from Facebook and Instagram to my website. I am putting together a dedicated video on this, I just want to test it for 2-3 weeks first before I make some content on whether it works or not.
Shopify is the best, you will have more control with your store. The thing there you will need to work on your SEO and optimize your store and listings for Google search and use email marketing as well as FB and Instagram Ads. It's a slower progression but once its set up your good. It takes more work, hence less competition and less people wanting to do it and successful at it. Less competition more $$$$ . LOL
@@markonbusiness Awesome, looking forward to that video. And thank you for being engaged with your viewers along with providing great value-added content. You just earned a new subscriber :)
is it OK to upload the same products on multiple platforms? For example, If i am selling POD t-shirts on Etsy, can I also upload the same product for sale on Amazon or any other platform where i can sell POD t-shirts? thanks
My plan still is to sell digital art my myself make and print on maybe mouse pads, t-shirts and i have always wanted to make calendars with my art. B U T.... I have never understood the payment reserve thing with Etsy. It seems and sounds very sketchy. In my own opinion I do feel the company is hurting because of poor decisions and they are using this 'payment reserve' to cover for their own cashflow. I've never in my life heard of any company withholding funds from an artist like this. The payment reserve and the fact that there has never been a clear answer on what they are doing payment reserves for has kept me 100% away from the platform.
with everything I've heard and seen about Etsy in the past year, it is clear to me that I will NOT create an Etsy account. I'll save myself the trouble. 👍
I am ready to do it? Yes, I had some success. However, fees, ads, pricing and do on, took everything what I made. I strongly believe that few sellers, who started before, during or right after Covid era, took over this platform. They have few stores, coach courses, videos and etc. They completely took over the platform, on first pages. New starters have no, almost no chance to get the same or close to their results.
Had a bad experience with Etsy - Tried starting a shop but their bot flagged my account and just banned me without any explanation and their customer service rapport with seller was basically nil. Maybe was because am a Malaysian working out of a Malaysian laptop but having a European account cos I migrated to live overseas. But still, the experience was deplorable and painful.
The bot flagging is what's causing most of the problems. The fact that you can't communicate with an actual human being to present your case is baffling. Sorry this happened to you too.
I plan to restart my Etsy store soon. I haven't been using it while I retool and learn a new skill to bring new products that will not only separate myself from the crowd but also offer items that are one of a kind that people want (personalized ). Amazon holds up to 3% of my daily sales there but the thing with them I can always request to have them disburse $$ whenever I want and I love them for that. They also, have a section for self made goods there too just like ETSY and will be doing that soon. Thanks for the headsup on ETSY Ads.
@@jetd9716 Etsy can be a great side hustle, but you def cannot depend on it full time over the long term. Amazon is a good option, thanks for sharing your experience!
Yes! Etsy is sh$t! Move, log in from another computer, location and anything else you don't know about....your automatic suspended. It's finished! Other ways to get your stuff out there. Kartra seems very good but for a start up it's expensive per month.
Etsy are stuck in the 90's with their outdated systems. In a world where digital products can be sold from anywhere, it's pretty stupid to limit selling to location.
So that's mean the previous video's from you that i watched and subscribed for you because of that to make my Etsy business journey... You telling now you stopping this.......😐
First comment, pin it plz
There ya go.
Literally as i was watching your video i got an email from etsy saying " we've placed a temporary payment account reserve on your shop" great stuff :D
Problem: Etsy has no competitor, so they believe the world revolves around them.
Etsy has no competitor yet, but when people start realizing that they're better off building a website of their own, the monopoly won't last long. It's a trap, more than anything.
Amazon has no competitor and they’re making bank. By your reasoning Etsy should be doing the same.
Now I know, why I´ve never started on etsy.. thank you for your realistic insights
Thank you for watching!
The random suspensions are the worst.
Definitely a deal-breaker.
I am so sorry that this has happened!
Thank you for sharing this horrific experience. I am hoping that you will continue to be successful on another platform!
Wow I thought it was just me but I have been recently suspended for no obvious reason when I finally started making sales and now everything makes sense having watched this video. Thank you for always giving honest feedback.
I was about to start with etsy for POD thanks for this video
My shop was also suspended in June after 4 years of putting in an immense amount of work daily, and I haven't received yet the money that I did back in June. I mean, they are keeping it for what? As for customer service, it isn't always that bad, unless, of course, you find it somewhere hidden at a help center. At some point, I was also scammed and had to change my debit card for direct deposits, After all these exciting issues, I really got tired and after the shop's suspension, I decided to never look back and since then, I feel so free and relieved.
4:01 Your conversions were low because of all the copy cat Etsy sellers clicking on your ads. Snooping around to see if they can replicate what you do. Best to stay under the radar and not use their ads platform.
That may be the case, but that's exactly why Etsy needs a better ads platform. It's unacceptable in 2024 to not have detailed targeting.
Etsy: How many sane people are willing to pay $20 for a coffee mug that is not really hand made-- which is what I have to charge to make $1-$2 profit.
Because those that do are mostly home base women in their 30's who don't bother to learn about POD or what its about. All they want is that MUG. Why question an opportunity to sell? Give it to them by the boatloads!! LOL
hello, what platform u are using now to sell digital stuff??
Etsy is garbage and it is dying.
Thanks for the update! That's a bummer but these red flags are definitely concerning. You mentioned in your intro about what you're doing instead, but you never mentioned anything? I'm curious what are the best Etsy alternatives.
I will be building my own website and sell templates there.
@@markonbusiness I see. How would you tackle getting enough traffic to get actually get some sales though, especially compared to a robust marketplace like Etsy?
@@iXzenoS Customized ads targeting through Meta's ad platform. Basically, I will drive traffic from Facebook and Instagram to my website. I am putting together a dedicated video on this, I just want to test it for 2-3 weeks first before I make some content on whether it works or not.
Shopify is the best, you will have more control with your store. The thing there you will need to work on your SEO and optimize your store and listings for Google search and use email marketing as well as FB and Instagram Ads. It's a slower progression but once its set up your good. It takes more work, hence less competition and less people wanting to do it and successful at it. Less competition more $$$$ . LOL
@@markonbusiness Awesome, looking forward to that video. And thank you for being engaged with your viewers along with providing great value-added content. You just earned a new subscriber :)
is it OK to upload the same products on multiple platforms? For example, If i am selling POD t-shirts on Etsy, can I also upload the same product for sale on Amazon or any other platform where i can sell POD t-shirts? thanks
Of course!
My plan still is to sell digital art my myself make and print on maybe mouse pads, t-shirts and i have always wanted to make calendars with my art. B U T.... I have never understood the payment reserve thing with Etsy. It seems and sounds very sketchy. In my own opinion I do feel the company is hurting because of poor decisions and they are using this 'payment reserve' to cover for their own cashflow. I've never in my life heard of any company withholding funds from an artist like this. The payment reserve and the fact that there has never been a clear answer on what they are doing payment reserves for has kept me 100% away from the platform.
Yeah, the payment reserve in and of itself is enough reason to steer clear of the platform.
100% agree on all counts
I also abandoned it. Not worth it.
with everything I've heard and seen about Etsy in the past year, it is clear to me that I will NOT create an Etsy account. I'll save myself the trouble. 👍
Good luck with your venture, whatever you end up choosing!
@@markonbusiness that's very kind of you, thank you! wishing you the same 😃
I am ready to do it? Yes, I had some success. However, fees, ads, pricing and do on, took everything what I made. I strongly believe that few sellers, who started before, during or right after Covid era, took over this platform. They have few stores, coach courses, videos and etc. They completely took over the platform, on first pages. New starters have no, almost no chance to get the same or close to their results.
And their designs in a professional graphic designers opinions are lousy! Yet they are on the first pages!
Had a bad experience with Etsy - Tried starting a shop but their bot flagged my account and just banned me without any explanation and their customer service rapport with seller was basically nil. Maybe was because am a Malaysian working out of a Malaysian laptop but having a European account cos I migrated to live overseas. But still, the experience was deplorable and painful.
The bot flagging is what's causing most of the problems. The fact that you can't communicate with an actual human being to present your case is baffling. Sorry this happened to you too.
I am a company in China that makes custom women's shoes. I don't know how to find a suitable partner, and Etsy is not open in China.
No body is making hundreds of thousands of dollars 45 days into their shop. Etsy does this to keep the platform safe from scammers.
They closed my account for not reason at all; zero explanation.
I'm sorry that it happened to you too. How long have you been selling on Etsy?
There is also no recourse to get your account back up. And if you try opening another one using the same credentials/IP then good luck with that.
Happened to me too.
I plan to restart my Etsy store soon. I haven't been using it while I retool and learn a new skill to bring new products that will not only separate myself from the crowd but also offer items that are one of a kind that people want (personalized ). Amazon holds up to 3% of my daily sales there but the thing with them I can always request to have them disburse $$ whenever I want and I love them for that. They also, have a section for self made goods there too just like ETSY and will be doing that soon. Thanks for the headsup on ETSY Ads.
@@jetd9716 Etsy can be a great side hustle, but you def cannot depend on it full time over the long term. Amazon is a good option, thanks for sharing your experience!
Nowhere to run
Lots of options, actually, just have to know where to look.
Yeah there's no other option. Otherwise he would have mentioned it.
Yes! Etsy is sh$t! Move, log in from another computer, location and anything else you don't know about....your automatic suspended. It's finished! Other ways to get your stuff out there. Kartra seems very good but for a start up it's expensive per month.
Etsy are stuck in the 90's with their outdated systems. In a world where digital products can be sold from anywhere, it's pretty stupid to limit selling to location.
So that's mean the previous video's from you that i watched and subscribed for you because of that to make my Etsy business journey... You telling now you stopping this.......😐
Once you said you used AI for art, I was out.