My take on Etsy's Free Shipping Guarantee, part 1 - It Really Will Be OK!

It's been a while since Etsy introduced this new program but there is still a lot of division in the camp about it. Popular bloggers and YouTubers have panned the idea in very strong terms, and nearly every day I see angry comments on social media where someone thinks it's unfair, honestly believes that Etsy is trying to kill their business, or has decided to leave Etsy and try and sell on another platform.

I'm going to take the next few posts to discuss a few positive points about Etsy's free shipping guarantee, including some things to keep in mind whether you turn in on for your shop or not.

I have to admit that the negative response in many places was a surprise to me! My first feeling when I heard about the Guarantee was excitement. Offering free shipping is a win for many businesses- studies have been done that show, oddly enough, that more people are more likely to buy more items when a shop offers free shipping. For example, you're on Amazon looking for something and choose a $25 item with free shipping over exactly the same item where the price is $20 plus $4.99 shipping. Or you're buying online and spend $10 extra so you don't have to pay that pesky $5 shipping fee. It doesn't seem to make sense, yet most of us have done it!

Etsy getting onboard with offering free shipping is a good thing for Etsy sellers. Etsy wants more people to buy more things from more small businesses.

I have a feeling Etsy urges free shipping to get more people to come to the website and shop, instead of shopping through Handmade on Amazon or finding a brand through a web search. Etsy wants to be THE place to get all things handmade, so they're helping us sellers stay competitive with these other sites. They've added the incentive of placing items with free shipping higher in the search rankings, but this shouldn't worry you if you decide not to turn the guarantee on. (More on that in the coming days.)

Stick with me over the next few posts while I talk all things free shipping. 

(And let me know in the comments if you're one of the many who will spend $10 extra not to have to pay $5 shipping!)

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