Etsy shop owners say they’ll stick with online giant despite fee increases
Etsy, an online marketplace where small-scale craftspeople and collectors can sell handmade and vintage items, raised the fees it imposes on transactions last month for the first time in its 13-year history.
The increase brings the fee Etsy imposes on every transaction from 3.5 percent to 5 percent and also extracts a 5 percent fee on shipping costs.
The website, which started in 2005, allows anyone with access to a computer and a knack for crafting to market and sell their products and now hosts 2 million sellers and almost 35 million shoppers.
In recent months, the company has made a shift away from its homespun, DIY image to that of an online retail giant focused on customer service. Although some have applauded Etsy’s efforts to market the site, the recent fare increase on transactions has more than a few of its millions of online sellers grumbling even as they resolve to remain on the website.
Several Pittsburgh-based sellers said they may have to increase prices as a result of the fees. Still, Etsy’s large customer base and low overhead for sellers means the website still has a powerful draw.
Although the fee change may not seem significant — the company says it is just a matter of cents — shop owner Sarah Korhnak said sellers should do the math to figure out if the fee increase will affect their bottom line.
“That’s a big difference,” she said. “That can really make the difference between whether you think you’re making a profit or whether you make a profit at all.”
Ms. Korhnak, who also works as