If you have an Etsy business....

[Anonymous]

Can you share more details? How much time does it take, and how much $$$ does it bring in?

[Anonymous]

The answers really depend on what you are trying to sell.

They only allow vintage (over 20 years old, so made before 2025), supplies, handmade original artisan items created by the store owner, and print on demand of original artwork (not things like college logos, pro sports teams or movie/TV/anime characters. Those are all trademark violations and will get your shop shut down with all the funds held back and refunded)

It is not an "open it and thousands of passive income dollars will pour into your bank account" type of website, in spite of what the tiktok scammers and gurus claim.

You can make a little money, or a lot, depending on what your niche is and how skilled you are at your craft.

If you give an example of what you intend to sell, I would be happy to give my opinion on it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The answers really depend on what you are trying to sell.

They only allow vintage (over 20 years old, so made before 2025), supplies, handmade original artisan items created by the store owner, and print on demand of original artwork (not things like college logos, pro sports teams or movie/TV/anime characters. Those are all trademark violations and will get your shop shut down with all the funds held back and refunded)

It is not an "open it and thousands of passive income dollars will pour into your bank account" type of website, in spite of what the tiktok scammers and gurus claim.

You can make a little money, or a lot, depending on what your niche is and how skilled you are at your craft.

If you give an example of what you intend to sell, I would be happy to give my opinion on it

*** VINTAGE on Etsy is made before 2005 not before 2025.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The answers really depend on what you are trying to sell.

They only allow vintage (over 20 years old, so made before 2025), supplies, handmade original artisan items created by the store owner, and print on demand of original artwork (not things like college logos, pro sports teams or movie/TV/anime characters. Those are all trademark violations and will get your shop shut down with all the funds held back and refunded)

It is not an "open it and thousands of passive income dollars will pour into your bank account" type of website, in spite of what the tiktok scammers and gurus claim.

You can make a little money, or a lot, depending on what your niche is and how skilled you are at your craft.

If you give an example of what you intend to sell, I would be happy to give my opinion on it

I’ve purchased a lot of items that are not vintage. Your description is wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The answers really depend on what you are trying to sell.

They only allow vintage (over 20 years old, so made before 2025), supplies, handmade original artisan items created by the store owner, and print on demand of original artwork (not things like college logos, pro sports teams or movie/TV/anime characters. Those are all trademark violations and will get your shop shut down with all the funds held back and refunded)

It is not an "open it and thousands of passive income dollars will pour into your bank account" type of website, in spite of what the tiktok scammers and gurus claim.

You can make a little money, or a lot, depending on what your niche is and how skilled you are at your craft.

If you give an example of what you intend to sell, I would be happy to give my opinion on it

I’ve purchased a lot of items that are not vintage. Your description is wrong.

God I hate smug posters. No where did the PP say Etsy only allows vintage items.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The answers really depend on what you are trying to sell.

They only allow vintage (over 20 years old, so made before 2025), supplies, handmade original artisan items created by the store owner, and print on demand of original artwork (not things like college logos, pro sports teams or movie/TV/anime characters. Those are all trademark violations and will get your shop shut down with all the funds held back and refunded)

It is not an "open it and thousands of passive income dollars will pour into your bank account" type of website, in spite of what the tiktok scammers and gurus claim.

You can make a little money, or a lot, depending on what your niche is and how skilled you are at your craft.

If you give an example of what you intend to sell, I would be happy to give my opinion on it

I’ve purchased a lot of items that are not vintage. Your description is wrong.

God I hate smug posters. No where did the PP say Etsy only allows vintage items.

It's like they can't read or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The answers really depend on what you are trying to sell.

They only allow vintage (over 20 years old, so made before 2025), supplies, handmade original artisan items created by the store owner, and print on demand of original artwork (not things like college logos, pro sports teams or movie/TV/anime characters. Those are all trademark violations and will get your shop shut down with all the funds held back and refunded)

It is not an "open it and thousands of passive income dollars will pour into your bank account" type of website, in spite of what the tiktok scammers and gurus claim.

You can make a little money, or a lot, depending on what your niche is and how skilled you are at your craft.

If you give an example of what you intend to sell, I would be happy to give my opinion on it

Second paragraph. THEY ONLY ALLOW VINTAGE
I’ve purchased a lot of items that are not vintage. Your description is wrong.

God I hate smug posters. No where did the PP say Etsy only allows vintage items.

It's like they can't read or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The answers really depend on what you are trying to sell.

They only allow vintage (over 20 years old, so made before 2025), supplies, handmade original artisan items created by the store owner, and print on demand of original artwork (not things like college logos, pro sports teams or movie/TV/anime characters. Those are all trademark violations and will get your shop shut down with all the funds held back and refunded)

It is not an "open it and thousands of passive income dollars will pour into your bank account" type of website, in spite of what the tiktok scammers and gurus claim.

You can make a little money, or a lot, depending on what your niche is and how skilled you are at your craft.

If you give an example of what you intend to sell, I would be happy to give my opinion on it

I’ve purchased a lot of items that are not vintage. Your description is wrong.

Vintage (made before 2005), supplies, hand crafted/artisan (this includes digital downloads) and print on demand of original material.

Etsy does not have heavy scrutiny at onboarding, but they will and do shut down shops, withhold funds from the shop and issue refunds to any recent buyers for violating this rule of what is allowed to be sold. These category requirements are all stated in the Etsy shop onboarding material and seller handbooks, which every store agrees to when they open.

Etsy is also regularly swept by big commerial companies for trademark violations, using keywords such as "onesie" or for reselling Disney merch or counterfeit college/nfl/mlb/etc logo gear. When that happens, Etsy will deactivate items and suddenly shut down entire shops, es required by law.

Anyone selling Taylor Swift, "new" Coach handbags, Nike shoes, video game systems, Washington Capitals, Tri Delta sorority, Mickey Mouse ears, etc is in violation of Etsy terms of service and often trademark law. They might be able to open their shops, but if they are caught Etsy is pretty merciless about shutting them down and keeping their money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The answers really depend on what you are trying to sell.

They only allow vintage (over 20 years old, so made before 2025), supplies, handmade original artisan items created by the store owner, and print on demand of original artwork (not things like college logos, pro sports teams or movie/TV/anime characters. Those are all trademark violations and will get your shop shut down with all the funds held back and refunded)

It is not an "open it and thousands of passive income dollars will pour into your bank account" type of website, in spite of what the tiktok scammers and gurus claim.

You can make a little money, or a lot, depending on what your niche is and how skilled you are at your craft.

If you give an example of what you intend to sell, I would be happy to give my opinion on it

I’ve purchased a lot of items that are not vintage. Your description is wrong.

God I hate smug posters. No where did the PP say Etsy only allows vintage items.

It's like they can't read or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The answers really depend on what you are trying to sell.

They only allow vintage (over 20 years old, so made before 2025), supplies, handmade original artisan items created by the store owner, and print on demand of original artwork (not things like college logos, pro sports teams or movie/TV/anime characters. Those are all trademark violations and will get your shop shut down with all the funds held back and refunded)

It is not an "open it and thousands of passive income dollars will pour into your bank account" type of website, in spite of what the tiktok scammers and gurus claim.

You can make a little money, or a lot, depending on what your niche is and how skilled you are at your craft.

If you give an example of what you intend to sell, I would be happy to give my opinion on it

I’ve purchased a lot of items that are not vintage. Your description is wrong.

NP. The part where PP says vintage is just the start of a list of several different categories of things allowed for sale on Etsy.

[Anonymous]

Etsy is impossible now. As a consumer and seller. So much garbage from Chinese knockoffs. People buying on temu and reselling. Terrible.
Some good vintage art and wares left and original art but so hard to find among the muck.

[Anonymous]

I know artisans who have stopped selling on Etsy cause it has gone downhill. As a consumer I agree- it is my least favorite place to shop because it is like a prettier Amazon marketplace - full of crap and sketchy sellers misrepresenting their goods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know artisans who have stopped selling on Etsy cause it has gone downhill. As a consumer I agree- it is my least favorite place to shop because it is like a prettier Amazon marketplace - full of crap and sketchy sellers misrepresenting their goods.

I am the first person who responded and I would agree with that


I think Etsy is recognizing that this is an issue and is trying to tighten up the onboarding and purge the chinese resellers.

There are still a ton of artisans and craftsmen on Etsy. They are just a lot more difficult to find. If you make things, the supply shops are very good. Craft and sewing supplies are really Etsy's strength


Try filtering to United States, then sorting by most expensive first. If a shop only offers paypal, then they are located overseas in a sketchy country, even if they claim to be from the US.

If you order something that says it is from the US and tracking shows it coming form China or Turkey (the other big scam culprit on Etsy) then you can "open a case" on Etsy for "not as described" Etsy will review the original order/listing information and issue you a full refund if you were misled by that particular overseas seller about their location.

[Anonymous]

Back to the original question.

OP, what are you trying to sell and how much money do you think you need to make from Etsy?

[Anonymous]

I used to sell the products of my hobby on Etsy, though I’ve long closed shop. I made silver and gemstone jewelry and had a steady clientele. I could sell each piece for at least $250 and I had at least 10 sales a month. I used to spend one whole weekend a month creating, and a few odd hours here and there. I could have made a lot more if I really hustled but I wanted to keep it fun and light.