Etsy :: Help Guide: Alchemy

Alchemy for Buyers: Making a Request

Alchemy is a space on Etsy where buyers can post requests for custom goods. Sellers then bid on the opportunity to turn that idea into a real item.

This guide will walk through the buyer's side of an Alchemy transaction, from placing a request all the way through to leaving feedback for the seller.

For a more detailed description of the buyer and seller roles in an alchemy transaction, please see these additional Help Guides:

Posting a new request

Making a request is free

Preview request

Make sure it's correct

The bidding process

Accept, decline, or make changes

Payment and shipping

The seller makes & ships the item

Leaving feedback

Tell the world about your new item!

Step 1: Posting a new request

It's free and easy to start an Alchemy request. To begin, click the green Add New Request button at the top of the main Alchemy page. On the next screen, enter in all the details of your request. Let's go over each bit of the request form in detail:

Title: This is what members will see on the main list of requests. Try to make it short, but descriptive so that sellers will know quickly if they want to look further into bidding on your request.

Ideal Price: This is the amount you would like to pay for the item. Please try to be realistic in your estimate. Sellers can counter-offer on the price when submitting a bid. Ultimately, you and the seller will determine what is the fairest price. All transactions on Etsy, including Alchemy requests, are in United States Dollars (USD).

Quantity: This is the number of items you would like in this request. You can accept multiple bids from different sellers on the same request, or purchase the entire quantity from a single seller.

Deadline: This is when you'd like the item to be completed. Again, try to be realistic and understand that it might take time to find just the right seller. Also consider the time it may take to create the item and ship it to you.

Description: Be sure to describe your project in detail so sellers can make an informed bid. Include colors, materials, size/measurements and any other important info.

Tags: Tags are descriptive keywords. Tagging your request will help sellers find it so they can bid on it. This is similar to tagging item listings on Etsy. What is the item? Colors? Size? Who is it for? What words describe it?

Materials: What would you like the item to be made out of? You can specify certain materials like "wool, yarn" or "sterling silver, ruby".

Images: You can also upload relevant images, like sketches of your idea.

Shipping Address: Choose an address from your account information or enter a new one. Please be aware that your city, zip code, and country will be publicly viewable to allow bidders to correctly calculate shipping costs. Your entire address will only be visible to the seller once you both agree upon the terms of the bid.

Step 2: Preview request

You have a chance to look over your request before it goes live on the site. Make sure all the information is correct. If you need to make changes to your request, click "go back and edit this." If you're happy with your bid, click the orange Finish button.

You can edit your request before any bids are made. The request will expire 21 days after being posted.

Step 3: The bidding process

Sellers will now submit bids to create the item you requested. A bid outlines a seller's offer, including the estimated price (which may be different than the ideal price in your request), shipping costs and terms, payment terms, and a detailed description of the item they would create for you. Multiple sellers can bid on the same request. A Conversation is sent to both the buyer and seller when a bid is placed.

As the buyer, you now have a few options: accept, decline or request changes to a bid. You and the seller can communicate about changes by replying to the Convo that Etsy started. The seller can edit the bid at any time before it is accepted or declined by you, the buyer. A Convo is sent to both parties when the bid is accepted or declined, and the buyer has the option to include a personalized message. You can accept multiple bids on the same request, if you would like items from different sellers. Before you accept the bid, make sure the seller has edited the bid with all changes you may have discussed via Convo.

Sometimes things change in the time between a seller submitting a bid and the buyer accepting it. For this reason, once a bid is accepted by the buyer, the seller must confirm that they are still available to make the item. Once a seller confirms they will make the item, the request/bid becomes a transaction. An invoice page will appear on your Purchases page (Your Etsy > Purchases), just like a regular transaction.

By accepting and confirming a bid, both you and the seller agree to follow through with the transaction.

Step 4: Payment and shipping

Once the seller has confirmed the agreement, you should submit payment according to the terms of the bid. The seller may need to send you an invoice, which will likely be handled through email.

The seller will create the item and can upload images to show off the finished piece. Once the seller completes the Alchemy ticket, a listing is automatically created in the seller's Sold Items section of their shop.

Step 5: Leaving feedback for the seller

The seller now ships the item to the buyer at the address entered in the Alchemy request. Both parties can leave Feedback for each other by going to Your Etsy > Feedback > Items Awaiting Feedback.

FAQ

What is Alchemy?

Alchemy is a feature on Etsy where buyers can post requests for custom items, and sellers can bid on the opportunity to make the item. You can learn more about how Alchemy works in the questions below, or take a peek at these other helpful resources:

Are there any special rules for Alchemy that I need to know?

Yes! The basic rules for Etsy's marketplace apply to Alchemy, but there are a few additional rules you'll need to know as well. You can find them in the DOs & DON'Ts: rules for Alchemy.

Can I use Alchemy to request anything I'm looking for on Etsy, like a Supply or Vintage item?

Alchemy is for custom handmade goods only. (We may extend the feature to include sourcing for Supply of Vintage items at some point in the future, but for now please use Alchemy to request handmade items only.)

What currency is used for Alchemy transactions?

All transactions on Etsy, including Alchemy requests, are in United States Dollars (USD).

Who can create an Alchemy request?

Any Etsy member can make a request, since all members have "buyer" status. (Not a registered member yet? Join up! It's free and quick. See the Registration Help Guide for more details.)

Who can bid on an Alchemy request?

Only members who have signed up to be sellers can place bids, since this is a transaction. To convert your buyer-only account to a seller account, visit the Sell page. You'll need a valid credit card to create a seller account.

What are the Etsy fees associated with Alchemy?

There are no fees for buyers to make an Alchemy request.

Can I negotiate a bid with a seller?

Yes, you can communicate with the seller via Conversations if you would like to request changes to the bid. The buyer and seller should work together to find terms that are they both can agree upon. Make sure the seller edits the bid to reflect all the changes before you accept it. The bid reflects the terms of the agreement.

Can I accept more than one bid on a request?

Yes. A buyer can accept as many bids as they like. However, each accepted bid should be regarded as an agreement to purchase the item. Please do not accept bids that you do not intend to purchase. You can request changes to a bid prior to accepting it.

Does accepting a bid close my request?

No, your request will remain open to additional bids until you choose to close it or it expires. All requests expire 21 days after being posted.

How do I pay for my Alchemy item?

The buyer and seller negotiate the payment terms for an Alchemy transaction. The seller will include their preferred payment method in the bid. Some options include full payment upfront, payment by installments (50% as a deposit upfront and 50% when the item is complete), full payment when the item is completed prior to shipping. The seller is responsible for sending the buyer an invoice if necessary.

How do I make a private Alchemy request to a specific seller?

When you visit a shop on Etsy, you will see a link in the shop's sidebar that says Request Custom Item if that seller is open to taking private Alchemy requests. From there, you will see previously completed Alchemy items from that seller and a link to the request form. From there, a private Alchemy request is very similar to a regular Alchemy request, except that only one seller is involved.

What happens if a seller is no longer available to make the item?

Both buyer and seller are sent a Conversation by Etsy to notify them that the Alchemy transaction was declined. If the request has not yet expired, the buyer can select a different bid from another seller.

What if I have a problem with an Alchemy transaction (seller doesn't ship the item)?

Please contact support@etsy.com in this unfortunate event. We'll do our best to help set things right.

Does closing a request automatically decline all the bids?

No. You can close the request at any time. This just prevents new bids from being placed. You must accept or decline bids manually. There is also a tool to decline multiple bids in a batch.

What if I accept a bid, but the seller doesn't confirm it?

As the buyer, you can cancel an accepted bid up until the point the seller confirms it. So if you do not hear from the seller within a reasonable amount of time, you can retract your acceptance of the bid.

What if a see a request that doesn't follow Etsy's policies?

Please use the "Report this request to Etsy" to let us know that there is an issue with the request. We'll review the request and take action if necessary. This is an anonymous report.