How To Set Up Your Etsy Shop Policies
Etsy is known as the world’s top online marketplace for unique handmade and vintage products, and plenty of individual and small business owners have used the site to display and sell their own products over the years. However, just like with any other shopping site, business pages on Etsy are highly encouraged to have easy-to-understand policies that make the shopping process safe for both buyers and sellers.
Related: How to start selling on Etsy
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Why Do You Need an Etsy Shop Policy?
While displaying an Etsy Shop Policy is optional for Etsy sellers, using and showing one to buyers is the only way to protect the Etsy shop from dishonest shoppers. For example, a shopper that purchases from an Etsy shop without a shop policy can demand a refund for the items months after purchase without a distinct reason. On the other hand, a shop that has a policy stating that refunds can only be given to customers who return an item within 14 days can say no to a buyer looking to get money back without returning the item in a timely matter.
What Should an Etsy Shop Policy Include?
Every Etsy shop owner will need to decide what policies will and won’t apply to their individual shop. For example, shops that sell digital downloads will not need to include shipping exchange policies. However, most shops can include policies on returns and exchanges, refunds, cancellations, and privacy, while all shops are required to include Etsy’s general fixed policies.
Related: What are the most popular items on Etsy?
Returns and Exchanges Policies
Perhaps the most important topic for Etsy shops to include in their shop policies is information on returns and exchanges. For one, shops should state whether they accept returns or exchanges, and they should state a time window in which returns and exchanges are accepted. A good time frame you can use for this is a period of either 14, 21, or 30 days after an item is received by a buyer.
Shops should also state, if returns and exchanges are accepted, what reasons for returns and exchanges are acceptable. For example, a damaged item may be acceptable to some sellers as a reason for return while a simple change of mind in the customer may not be.
Another piece of information to include in a return and exchange policy is whether or not the buyer is responsible for shipping costs to return or exchange an item to an Etsy shop.
Refund Policies
Another key piece of any Etsy shop’s policies is information on refunds, specifically for items that are not going to be returned or exchanged. While this varies for every shop, too, a good policy to follow is one that offers refunds only for items that have been damaged during shipping, which is out of control of the seller’s hands. Sellers can refund buyers for this reason without losing money themselves if the sellers have taken out shipping insurance for any orders they ship. However, most shipping insurance companies will only offer insurance money claims to those who can offer clear photos of the damage done to items during shipping, so sellers should be sure to ask for these types of photos from buyers as soon as the buyers ask for a refund. Sellers can also protect their businesses further by stating in their refund policies that photos of damage done during shipping are required for refunds to be issued.
Cancellation Policies
Many Etsy shops also like to include information about their individual shops’ cancellation policies in their overall shop policies, and this can center around whether or not each shop accepts cancellations and, if so, for how long after an order is placed. For most shops that ship products to customers, cancellations are often accepted up until the point of shipping. However, some shops that offer customizable orders choose not to accept any cancellations at all because that would cause the shop to lose money and time that has already been put into the order.
Privacy Policies
The last policy type that Etsy allows sellers to add to their overall shop policies is a privacy policy, or a policy outlining how each shop uses and stores customers’ personal information like customer e-mails, addresses, and payment methods. For most global shops, a privacy policy is optional; however, shops based in the EU or that sell to customers in the EU are required to show a privacy policy that adheres to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Most Etsy shops can create a privacy policy acceptable to GDPR standards based on a template that Etsy provides.
Fixed Etsy Store Policies
Every Etsy store owner is covered by some of Etsy’s site-wide fixed policies, too. These additional policies include things like estimated delivery dates, payment options, and fees, customs and import tax obligations, and instant digital download options. These policies are not editable or changeable for individual shops.
Common Questions About Etsy Shop Policies
Should I have a return policy on Etsy?
Whether you do or do not accept returns for products sold through your Etsy shop, you should include a clear return policy in your shop policies. By stating to buyers up front that you do or do not accept returns, you can avoid having displeased customers post-purchase or possible legal disputes with Etsy itself.
Where are shop policies on Etsy?
Shop owners on Etsy can edit their shop policies through Etsy’s “Shop Manager.” On the sidebar of this page, owners can find their own shop policies through the “Settings” button. From there, there is a link to the shop’s policies, which can be viewed and edited.
Shop owners and shoppers can also view each Etsy shop’s individual policies by scrolling to the bottom of each shop’s main page. Shops that have visible shop policies will show underneath all of the shop’s product listings.
Who pays for return shipping on Etsy?
Every Etsy shop will have its own return and exchange shipping policies. For some Etsy shops, the buyer will be responsible for return shipping while, for others, the seller may pay for return shipping. However, most Etsy shops that cannot afford to pay for return shipping should outline a return policy stating that buyers will be responsible for paying return and exchange shipping charges.
Can you make “no returns” on Etsy shop policies?
Yes, Etsy shop owners may decline returns of any kind for their Etsy shops. Sellers who want to not accept any returns should, however state a “no returns” policy clearly in their shop policies. Sellers can do this by using a “no returns” policy template or by writing their own “no returns” policy in their Shop Manager.
Do I have to write my own Etsy shop policies?
Most Etsy shop policies can and must be created by using the policy templates provided by Etsy. Many of these templates are easy to fill out; for example, by selecting a checkmark or x-mark next to “I accept returns” or “I accept exchanges.” However, if you would like to add a privacy policy to your shop, you will have to write your policy yourself or with a template not provided by Etsy.
Can I Make Different Shop Policies for Different Products in My Shop?
As a new feature added in 2022, sellers can customize their shop policies to apply differently to different products. For example, a shop that sells personalized items and general items can create a shop policy that states returns and exchanges are accepted for the shop’s general items but not for the shop’s personalized items. If desired, sellers can also write specific shop policies for each individual item in a shop.
Can I Edit My Shop’s Payment Policies?
All Etsy shops must accept Etsy Payments from their customers, and no other forms of payment are allowed on Etsy’s platform. Therefore, individual shops cannot edit or change the types of payments collected on their shop. Etsy Payments allows customers to pay shops securely through the use of a credit or debit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or another country-specific bank transfer service along with things like Etsy gift cards and Etsy coupons.
