Closing my Etsy shop after 10 years? Is Etsy worth it in 2024 online selling platform Tips + advice

I think you have grown so much, you don’t need the Etsy shop anymore. ❤ All those fees can go in your pocket instead.

I’ve heard so many stories like this from others. I don’t have an Etsy store but I have thought about it for my handmade craft. The more I look into it though the more I am turned off the idea. Thanks so much for this video!

I completely agree with you 100%. I've been selling on Etsy for 3 years now. I push my own traffic with the advertising I do myself. Yes, Etsy pushes my items as well. Yet I haven't gotten a sale in 4 months now. I get tons of views each day. Yet no sales. I have my prices set lower than what I want to. I do let my customers pay the shipping. I just can't afford to pay the shipping on all of my items. I'm paying a minimum of $50 each and every month to Etsy just to have my shop open. It is costing me out of pocket each and every month. In 3 years I can count on one hand the amount of money I have actually gotten paid out from my Etsy account. Etsy keeps all of my sales money to pay my account balance each month plus charging me the rest of the amount as well. I pre make all of my items so I can offer same day or next day shipping. I love Etsy as well. Yet, it's getting to the point it's not worth it. Specially when trying to compete with people that are doing drop shipping or buy for resale.

I've always known one doesn't make much selling through middlepeople. There tends to be more and more middle people alongside all the taxes one has to pay. Etsy is also publicly traded and the Boards and stockholders need their share of the profits which you and the other sellers on Etsy are subsidizing. And that is the biggest group of middle people ever.

I would remove products/available stock from etsy, but leave the store front with a link to your own website. That way previous shoppers can find you to buy more.

I'm leaving too. 11 years I've been on Etsy, I'm moving to Folksy as I want a slower pace, lower fees and somewhere I can shop handmade. I'm starting a new job, which I'm excited about and want to put that first. I keep saying to myself I will leave a few items in Etsy. But then Etsy is brain draining.

Spot on Taylah, everything you said is true and you've given a great analysis! Thank you for giving such good and matter-of-fact advice. Very sweet attitude about contributing to the bushfires too, go Aussie! ❤

Thanks for sharing! This was the final little nudge I needed to start my own shipify store 💚

I was so impressed with your comments Taylah. Good for you. I will take you advice. Sue from Australia

If you are only just starting out but are too scared to start on Etsy because of all the drama, what do you suggest?

I have a relatively small online presence and have had my Etsy shop for 3 years. Thankfully I’ve never been put in reserve or had any problems but I just know it’s inevitable. I started selling at in person markets this year and got a square reader for payment processing and then ended up looking into their free website builder and just launched my website this past Friday. I don’t have enough volume for a Shopify subscription to be justifiable vs Etsy fees but the free square site has enough features to be able to do what I want to. After watching this, I think I’ve just decided to let me Etsy listings expire as that comes up and just close my shop in a few months because I just don’t agree with the way they are running their business anymore and I don’t want to give them my money. And in the future, I’ll be sure to check for someone’s own website when I find something I want to purchase on Etsy.

This is fascinating to hear about, thank you so much for sharing with us all ☺☺

This was so eye-opening as someone who also uses Etsy. I have seen other small businesses have huge problems with Etsy. That is why I started my own website too, because I am worried if I get bigger, I will start losing more money. I have also noticed that Etst is not just homemade stuff now, which makes me a little sad how customers would rather pay less money for something that is not homemade. I would rather spend a little more money on something that is homemade and will last me so much longer. Thank you for sharing your thoughts :)

❤❤. Lots of valid points to consider

thank you for this information, I am wanting to do a online store in costumes and this is really helpful information. everyone's experiences is validated

Always have a back up store like your own website. If Etsy shutdown your store you still have other stream of income, plus with your own website you have your own customers.

follow your first mind and shut Etsy down, you are doing great and I love watching you

Hi Taylah happy Monday night to you and I enjoy your channel and you are amazing supporter

Put my Etsy shop on Holiday mode in March this year after 11 years for all the reasons you mentioned.

Now you closed down your Etsy shop will you be doing markets instead or not?