What people complain about in Etsy
21 reported problems name Etsy as what the person is currently using. Below is what they said was missing, and what they resorted to instead.
- Complaints
- 21
- Avg severity
- 3.0/5
- Would pay to fix
- 0
- Industries
- 5
What they wish it did
Capabilities people described needing that Etsy does not give them, taken from the highest-scoring problems first. These are individual accounts written in each person’s own terms, so two entries may describe the same underlying gap in different words.
- Automated listing audit tool that identifies why products aren't converting and suggests specific improvements across mockups, SEO, pricing, and thumbnails.
- Automated photo theft detection and takedown service tailored for small sellers
- A platform that provides a dummy-proof website builder and automated multi-channel listing for engraving products
- No easy way for small e-commerce sellers to find and manage micro-influencers for user-generated content creation.
- Direct e-commerce checkout on the brand's own website
- Platform comparison tool that evaluates platform policies, fees, and audience fit for specific product categories
- Automated marketplace performance analytics tool that compares sales data across platforms
- Centralized listing management for custom/made-to-order products across multiple marketplaces
- Tool that predicts marketplace fit based on product attributes like customization and fulfillment method
- An easy-to-use e-commerce platform designed for non-technical craft sellers that replaces reliance on fee-heavy marketplaces
- Mobile storefront app with on-site QR code ordering replaces card link
- Digital gallery and order management replaces physical samples
- Curated marketplace platform for professional home staging resources
- Industry-specific design template library with quality vetting
- A platform matching tool that considers product category, competition level, and seller resources to suggest optimal sales channels
- Plataforma de comparación de tarifas de envío internacional con descuentos por volumen y fácil integración con marketplaces.
What they do instead
The manual processes people built around the gap. A long workaround list is the strongest evidence a problem is real: someone is already paying for it in time. Where several people described the same workaround, it is marked.
- considers cold-calling local trophy shops and corporate gift planners
- contemplates using Etsy and Instagram for marketing
- Most sales happen through Etsy and Trendyol rather than directly through the website
- manually researching platform rules and suitability across multiple sites
- Manually comparing sales performance across Etsy and eBay
- Manually listing products on multiple marketplaces
- Handling fulfillment himself for custom orders without using FBA
- currently uses Etsy despite high fees
- uses business cards with Etsy link to direct customers
- brings physical sample prints from home for display
- searching Etsy for style guides
- asks Reddit community for opinions instead of using a data-driven tool
The problems themselves
Highest opportunity score first.
After 8 months and 200 listings on Etsy, seller has zero sales with only 10% profit margin and is unsure what is wrong with mockups, SEO, pricing, niche, or thumbnails.
5CriticalE-commerceSales and Client AcquisitionEtsyConvert ProSmall business owner had product photos stolen multiple times on Etsy, received no support, and closed her store as a result.
5CriticalE-commerceIntellectual Property ProtectionSnapGuardBuilding and marketing a business as an autistic individual with a language disorder, with no income, no health insurance, and no traffic or sales, despite having a portfolio, Etsy shop, and social media presence.
5CriticalMarketing & AdvertisingSales and Client AcquisitionNeuroLaunch AIA leather craftsman selling handmade goods at a consignment shop faces recurring theft of inventory, with $80 worth stolen in one week, and feels the loss of time, labor, and money without accountability or prevention measures.
4HighRetailInventory ManagementVendorShieldInvested $10k in a laser engraver but doesn't know how to find customers or market effectively.
4HighHome ServicesClient AcquisitionEngraveFlowA small business owner selling adult humor products faces difficulty finding online platforms that accept mature content while maintaining brand identity and advertising capabilities.
3MediumGeneral Business ServicesGeneral Business ServicesMatureMarketplaceSmall Etsy candle brand needs to find micro-influencers to generate user-generated content and attract more customers.
3MediumE-commerceMarketing & AdvertisingInflaSparkCustomers can learn about the product on our website but cannot easily buy it directly, relying on third-party marketplaces for sales.
3MediumE-commerceSales and Client AcquisitionDirectCart DTCBusiness owners using website builders like Shopify feel limited in customization as their business grows.
3MediumPet and Animal ServicesSoftware SelectionCustomizeProA vintage clothing seller on Vinted cannot sell handmade items due to platform rules and struggles to choose and migrate to a suitable e-commerce platform like Etsy or Shopify without losing their established reputation.
3MediumE-commerceSales and Client AcquisitionCrossSell Migration GuideTeachers have difficulty finding and commissioning custom illustrations for classroom materials like coloring pages, worksheets, and character illustrations.
3MediumEducationSourcing & ProcurementClassroomIllustrateSmall woodworking business owner struggles with low sales on eBay and wonders whether to invest time in selling on Amazon, given the complexity of listing custom, made-to-order products.
3MediumE-commerceSales and Client AcquisitionMarketplaceMatch ProA minor under 18 cannot create accounts on major online selling platforms like Etsy due to age restrictions requiring parental accounts, preventing them from selling handmade crafts online.
3MediumGeneral Business ServicesClient Management & BookingTeenCraft MarketplaceAn Etsy seller without coding skills needs an easy-to-manage e-commerce platform to avoid high marketplace fees.
2MildE-commerceWebsite Builder SelectionCraftStore SimpleA photographer wants to sell prints at a fair but lacks an on-the-spot ordering and fulfillment system beyond directing customers to an Etsy link on business cards.
2MildPhotographySales and Client AcquisitionFairPrint InstantA home staging business owner cannot find professional style guides to help with design decisions for staging properties.
2MildReal EstateGeneral Business ServicesStagingStyle ProUnable to decide which e-commerce platform to use for selling lip balm and gloss due to conflicting advice and lack of personal experience with Shopify.
2MildE-commerceSales and Client AcquisitionChannelSelectorA beginner 3D printer owner is unsure what products to make and where to sell them online.
2MildGeneral Business ServicesSales and Client AcquisitionPrintProfit PlannerUn vendedor español busca opciones de envío más baratas desde España a EE. UU. para productos de Etsy, actualmente pagando 22-27€ con Correos.
2MildE-commerceShipping & LogisticsShipEcon GlobalA fine art photographer is unsure which online platforms are currently effective for selling fine art photography prints and is seeking updated advice on sales channels and product strategy.
2MildPhotographyMarket IntelligenceArtPrint Market Scout
Read this fairly
These are complaints, and only complaints — nobody posts to say their software worked. A high count mostly reflects how many people use Etsy at all, so this page is not a quality judgement and should not be read as one. What it is good for is the shape of the gaps: the specific jobs people could not get done, which are the same whether the tool is popular or not.