Frequently Asked Questions (Buying)

Here you'll find answers to questions about buying on Etsy. Just click a question in the list below and you'll be taken to the answer.

There are more helpful resources linked on the menu to the left.

Making a Purchase

How does buying on Etsy work?
To buy items, you'll need to create an Etsy account (it's free and easy – see the General FAQ for details). You purchase items on Etsy directly from the seller, using whatever payment method you specify when checking out (e.g. PayPal, money order, check etc.). Keep in mind that every seller must be paid individually; you do not pay Etsy.

Each seller may have their own return policy, shipping options and payment options. Be sure to check the seller's Shop Policies page for that info. If you have questions about any of these, it's best to contact the seller directly before making the purchase.

Why am I required to register before being able to buy anything?
Our feedback system relies on being able to identify the parties involved in every transaction. Your username is the unique identifier which makes this possible.

It easy and free to register. Check out this step-by-step guide to learn how:

• Help Guide: Registering for an Account

How does the shopping cart work?
The shopping cart allows you to gather items you want to buy in one place and facilitates the checkout process. To add an item to your shopping cart, click on the green Add to Cart button on the right side of the item listing page. If you change your mind, click the blue Remove link near that item in your cart. Once you've got everything you want, click the big green Checkout button and following the on-screen instructions. You'll need to buy everything in your cart at one time.

If you are just browsing, save the items to your Favorites instead of your shopping cart. When you are ready to make a purchase, you can go to Your Etsy > Favorites, and then add the items you'd like to buy to your shopping cart. For more information on using Favorites, see the General FAQ.

See here for a detailed walk through of purchasing an item on Etsy:

• Help Guide: Buying an Item on Etsy

What happened to the items in my shopping cart?
Items in your cart are not removed from a shop or reserved for you until you complete the checkout process. The majority of items on Etsy are one-of-a-kind and thus tend to sell out quickly, so it's a bit risky to leave items in your cart for too long. 

If a seller sells an item you have your eye on, check their shop to see if they have restocked the item. You can also contact them through Conversations to get more information. 

If the listing was not sold, it is possible that the seller edited the listing while the item was in your cart. Simply remove the item from your cart, then re-add it from the seller's shop.

How do I pay the seller?
On the final page of the checkout, there will be instructions on how to pay depending on the payment method you chose. Please note that if you purchase items from multiple shops, each seller must be paid individually. If you navigate away from the check out page, you can access this information by visiting the Invoice page for this transaction. Just go to Your Etsy > Purchases, and click the Invoice link next to the transaction information.

If you're paying by PayPal or credit card via PayPal, there will be a big green button that says Pay Now with PayPal. Click here to be transferred to a secure PayPal page where you can pay the seller. 

If you are paying by check, money order or another method, please contact the seller via Conversations to arrange payment.

Is Etsy in USD? How do I handle currency conversions?
Right now you can only list items in United States Dollars (USD) on Etsy. PayPal (also used for credit card sales) will automatically convert your currency, but all other sales, such as money order and check, need to be calculated by you. We hope to offer built-in currency conversion in the future.

What is PayPal, how does it work on Etsy, and how do I buy items with it?
PayPal™ is an online payment processing company widely used on the Internet to facilitate sales transactions, including credit card payments. You might think of PayPal as a big credit card machine. They will "run" your card for the seller. The seller will never see your credit card number. Etsy is not affiliated with or subsidized by PayPal.

For more info and assistance with PayPal, check out these resources:

• PayPal: Help Center
• The Storque: How-to Pay with a Credit Card and Create a PayPal Account

• The Storque: How-to Pay with a Credit Card and Create a PayPal Account

Can I purchase a site-wide Etsy gift certificate?
No. At this time, we are unable to offer site-wide gift certificates. We love this idea though, and we are working to find a way to offer gift certificates in the future!

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Reporting a Problem

As a buyer, how I do I report a problem with a transaction?
If you have problems with your transaction, please contact the seller directly via Etsy Conversations to work toward a resolution. If the seller does not respond to your Conversations, and you believe that items have not shipped as promised, you may file a Transaction Report. If you paid with PayPal, you may contact their customer support to inquire about a claim for refund. Please use the feedback system to review the seller's product and service.

For more info and assistance with PayPal, please visit:

• PayPal: Help Center
  

How do I report a problem with an item I received?
If you have problems with your item, contact the seller via Etsy Conversations to work toward a solution. Please use the Etsy feedback system to review the seller's product and service. If you paid with PayPal, you may contact their customer support to inquire about an "item not as described" claim. If you believe you have received an illegal or harmful product, please contact qualified authorities.

For more info and assistance with PayPal, please visit:

• PayPal: Help Center
  

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• General FAQ - basic questions about Etsy
• Selling FAQ - questions about selling
• Help Guides - detailed info about using Etsy
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• The DOs & DON'Ts of Etsy - our site rules
• The Storque - our superblog
• The Forums - help from the community
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• Contact us - good, old-fashioned email

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