Is Etsy legit and why is it so cheap?

ETSY is the Amazon of independent sellers and handmade goods, but in recent years it has become a hotspot for more scattered resellers.

It is one of the most well-known online retail destinations in the UK and USA and is present in 234 other countries.

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What is Etsy?

“Etsy connects people looking for unique goods with independent sellers around the world,” says the company itself.

It is a global online marketplace offering millions of handmade, vintage and artisan items created and curated by millions of independent sellers.

These sellers can be long-time business owners, enterprising hobby entrepreneurs, or even factories in China.

When was Etsy founded?

Etsy is an American e-commerce company founded in 2005 by entrepreneur Rob Kalin and partners Chris Maguire and Haim Schoppik.

The site really took off in late 2011, just two years after it started turning a profit.

Back then, about 12 years ago, it had around 10 million members.

Today that number is over 96 million.

Is Etsy legit?

Etsy is a legitimate, reputable platform and has processed billions of dollars in transactions in the 18 years since its founding.

But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t scammers lurking on the platform.

Among the millions of sellers, there are bound to be a handful of bad eggs.

This is why Etsy has a customer support channel to help victims of shady merchants.

If you purchase an item on and do not receive it, or if you receive the item but it is not as described, you must first attempt to resolve the issue with the seller.

If they are unresponsive or uncooperative, or you cannot find a solution, you can open a case with Etsy.

Etsy Support reviews a buyer’s case by obtaining information from both the buyer and the seller.

They will resolve the dispute and make a fact-based decision – and hopefully users will get their money back.

Why is Etsy so cheap?

It’s not uncommon to find a bargain on Etsy.

It is a home for hobbyist sellers who may not be aware of the true cost of an item they make or, unlike a business, may not care if they make a profit.

There are also sellers from other countries with a lower national income who may sell slightly cheaper than a seller from a country with a higher national income.

There are also Chinese factories with stores on Etsy because they can make more money on Etsy for the same item than on sites like AliExpress or Temu.

However, not everything is cheap on Etsy.

Many shop owners price their items at a fair market price.

But some may price it a little higher because it’s handmade, vintage-style, or custom-made – so hard to find or make yourself.

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