FAQ
Got any tips about my shop name?
First, think carefully about it, since you can't change it! While you can open another shop, your transaction information won't carry over, so you will want to get a name you love! We discourage strange spellings and random number strings that may be hard for buyers to remember (and thus find you again!). Please check out this article for more helpful tips on choosing a username:
What's in a Name?.
Can I use a debit card or PayPal to become an Etsy seller?
You can use a debit card if it has a credit card logo on it. Otherwise, you will need a credit card to become an Etsy seller. We hope to be able to take PayPal soon, but right now this isn't possible.
What is the web address of my shop?
It's http://username.etsy.com. Only instead of username, it is your Etsy username!
My avatar and/or banner looks blurry (and it looks fine in the original file). Help me please!
You have probably uploaded an image which is too small, and the picture is stretching to fit. Make sure that your avatar is square, and at least 75 pixels x 75 pixels. Your banner should be 760 pixels x 100 pixels.
What sort of images make a good avatar?
Your avatar is an image which represents you in forums, chatrooms, and workshops. A clear, eyecatching photo of yourself, or one of your items is generally considered best, however any kind of avatar that is interesting and represents your shop well is great!
Got any tips for my Shop Announcement?
Keep it short 'n sweet! Long Shop Announcements will bury your items, and you want buyers to see your items when they first get into your shop! Make it friendly and light-hearted, and leave the long shop policy type stuff in your Bio. This is also a great place for important announcements, like vacation dates, sales, etc.
Why should I enter my location?
Many buyers like to know where their item is coming from (country and state or province) so they know when to expect it, or out of simple curiosity. Let 'em know, why doncha?
Why should I enter my birthday?
So you can appear on the
Birthdays page on your birthday. Also, many buyers like to know the astrological sign of the person they are buying from to make sure you are compatible (ok, we made that last part up!).
My computer skills don't pay the bills, and I need a banner! Help!
If the
banner tutorial didn't help, and you want to buy one from an Etsy seller, search for
custom banner in the search bar. You can create get a very basic banner using some pre-fab components with Etsy's
Bannerator.
What should I do with my shop while I'm on vacation?
Many sellers like to put their items in edit mode while they are on vacation, or otherwise unable to operate their shop. To do this, go to Your Etsy > Currently For Sale. Click edit next to an item. Then, click Currently for sale again, and click edit next to another item. Continue until all of your items are in "edit mode". They are now inactive, and no one but you can see them.
To reactivate your items, go to Your Etsy > Inactive listings, and click activate next to the items that you would like to make active.
How do I pay my Etsy bill?
Go to Your Etsy > Your Etsy bill. Here you can view your billing statement, and pay your bill. Click Make Payment Now to pay with the credit card on file. Please see
How Billing Works for more info.
Can I pay my Etsy bill with PayPal?
Alas, not at this time.
Can I have more than one shop?
Yes. However, it's not a practice we encourage or support. There are certain guidelines you must adhere to, including full disclosure of ALL your accounts in each profile. Additionally, your actions under one username will apply to all your accounts. So if you break the rules, the consequences effect you across the board. Please see the
DOs & DON'Ts of Etsy (under Member Accounts) for more information.
Can more than one person operate a shop?
Yes. This is called a "collective". Certain rules apply to collectives, and they are subject to review by Etsy staff. Please see the
DOs & DON'Ts of Etsy (under Membership) for the full policies for collective shops.
What is the Shop Policy page for? What should I include in my policies?
Your Shop Policies page provides information buyers need to know in order to make an informed purchase from your shop. On Etsy, each transaction happens directly between the buyer and the seller. Etsy has some site-wide policies in the
DOs & DON'Ts of Etsy, but it is up to each seller to determine certain sales terms for their own shop like payment, shipping and returns/refunds. You can edit your Shop Policies page by going to Your Etsy > Shop policies (under Shop Setup). For more information about writing your Shop Policies, check out this Storque article:
Customer Care Tips: Hello Policy.