Etsy Yes or NO

[cathodge]

I'm not sure I'm on the right page. Does anyone our there sell on Etsy.  I've been thinking seriously about it, but am leary.  How do you get set up with paypal, how much does it cost? etc.  Do any of you have a user name I love to see it.   

[sgood]

I don't use Etsy.com but I see several of the projects I designed being sold there. Etsy has been around for a while and they are a trustworthy site to sell your crafts from. Getting started with paypal is easy. All you have to do is sign up. There is no sign up fee. There are no monthly fees. You pay a small percentage for every transaction. I don't remember the percentage off hand but it quite fair. Its an easy way to sell product online and accept credit cards. I have used them for years and never had a problem.

Selling crafts online is tough but a few people do quite well. You could write a book about what it takes to get buyers to visit and buy. Just remember that it takes time to build a following so be prepared for the long haul. If you are easily disappointed it may not be for you. If you are willing to be patient and work to build a customer base then give it a try.

[EdwardW]

I just started on Artfire about a month ago and while no sales as of yet. A good number of lookers and two items were picked to be shown in other folk's collections there..I like it so far. Trying to get into the groove of things on it. No experience with Etsy..

[mrsn]

I sell on Etsy. I have had things listed for several months, and just this weekend made my first sale.
Most of what I have been trying to sell is jewelry that I make (ironically it was a Christmas ornament that actually sold).
I am not sure if things are the same across all categories or if this is more true for jewelry, but  it takes some effort to be noticed and get sales. You need to post on their forums and list things alot to keep on the first few pages of stuff. It is more work then I want to do most of the time, I am not really committed to selling things and making money.
I really like that Etsy can give you lots of exposure, and "accidents" do happen. meaning someone could buy the first thing you list, it puts you out their and that is fun. I also like that it is fairly risk free, the 30 cents for the listing fee is worth the chance for a while. I also like that it allows me to tell people that I am online, and I don't have to figure out how to make my own website.

Personally the best thing I got from Etsy is a Hegner scroll saw. I was on Etsy for about a week and I got an email from a local paper asking if I would be interested in being a featured artist. It turns out the editor searches Etsy for new people in the area if she is out of ideas. After the article was in the paper I got another email from a lady who had read the article, her husband had been a woodworker and left behind a library full of woodworking books, a garage full of cedar and a Hegner scroll saw. We met and have become friends and I got the saw.

[julief]

Neat story, MrsN.

[MadHatter]

i also use etsy and was very surprised to see yesterday that i had sold 2 portraits to a lady and then 1 hour later i had sold another to a different person, 3 sales in one day wow i was happy and shocked so to speak, considering that sales on etsy have been very slow for me. last week i sold 2 items also. listing fee isnt bad and its good for 4 months per item you have listed, also 3.5% transaction fee on the final sale price. if you choose to use paypal then you will have a fee also when you sell an item. its fairly easy to set up using paypal and etsy.

[northie66]

I sell on etsy.  I started about a month or so ago and I've only sold one thing.  I don't do any of the advertising type things though.  I don't blog, and I don't try to drum up business on facebook.  I'm trying to learn about "search optimization" but it kind of gives me swirls in the head.  ha!

Honestly, I was gungho at first but I'm not really that into it.  I mean, I'm going to keep my store but just as a hobby.  I don't have high expectations.