In the Basket - 23rd May 2025

🔥 New on Etsy: Variation-Level Processing Times & Clearer Order Earnings

Etsy just introduced two powerful new ways to help you take more control over your shop: variation-level processing times and a detailed order earnings breakdown. Here’s what’s new, why it matters, and how you can put it to work, today.

🆕 What’s new

1. Variation-level processing times
   You can now assign different processing times to each variation in a listing. (Think: “ready to ship” vs. “made to order”)

2. Processing profiles
   A new tool that lets you apply processing times to multiple listings or variations at once, just like delivery profiles, but for dispatch times.

3. Order earnings breakdown
   A post-purchase summary now shows how much you made after Etsy’s fees, shipping costs, marketing, and more.

💡 Why it matters

• No more one-size-fits-all processing times that don’t reflect how you actually work. This means more accurate delivery estimates and fewer customer surprises.

• You get a better picture of what you really earn on each sale, making it easier to price confidently and plan smartly.

• Tools are built to save time and reduce stress, especially if you sell multiple variations or use multiple profiles.

🛠 How to use it now

• For variation processing times:
  ✅ Go to your Shop Manager > Delivery settings > Processing profiles
  ✅ Review auto-created profiles based on your listings
  ✅ Assign the right processing time to each variation in your listings
  ⏳ Do this before May 27 so buyers see the most accurate delivery estimates!

• For order earnings:
  ✅ Check your earnings summary after each sale (available on Etsy.com + the Seller App)
  ✅ Use it alongside Etsy’s earnings calculator to fine-tune pricing and shipping fees

🔍 Bonus tip: Listings with U.S. shipping under $6 are prioritized in search, check yours using the Etsy search visibility dashboard.

🧵 Bottom line

These updates are all about giving you more clarity and control. With variation-level processing times, you can set realistic expectations and avoid last-minute order stress. And with clearer earnings breakdowns, you can price with confidence and plan with precision. Take a few minutes now to explore these tools, your future self (and your customers) will thank you 💛

💡 Pro Tip: Don’t let surprise fees eat into your profits! Use our handy Etsy Fee & Profit Calculator before you list to make sure your pricing actually works for you, not against you.

Have thoughts on this one? We’d love to hear your take, pro, con, or somewhere in the middle.

❓ Ask Me Anything:

Q: I’ve been selling on Etsy for a while and thinking about setting up my own website with something like Shopify. Is it worth it, or should I keep focusing on Etsy?

Great question, and one a lot of sellers face once their shop starts gaining traction! The short answer? It depends on your goals, time, and how much control you want. Let’s break it down:

🧭 Why Etsy is a great place to start

• Built-in audience: Etsy brings the customers to you. You don’t have to worry (as much) about driving traffic.

• Low upfront cost: No hosting fees, no themes to buy, just listing fees and a commission when you sell.

• Easy to manage: No need to set up shipping calculators or payment gateways. Etsy handles a lot of the heavy lifting.

For many sellers, Etsy is the perfect launchpad. But if you're thinking about long-term growth, it might be time to explore your own site.

🛒 What you get with your own store

• Full control: Customize your brand, layout, and checkout experience to match your vibe, not Etsy’s.

• Own your customer list: With tools like Shopify or WooCommerce, you can build your email list and market directly to your buyers.

• No marketplace competition: When someone shops your site, they’re not seeing dozens of similar listings on the same page.

But keep in mind, your own store means your own marketing. Traffic won’t magically appear. You’ll need to put in effort (or ad dollars) to get eyes on your site.

💡 What many sellers do: both!

Lots of successful handmade businesses keep their Etsy shop and run their own site. Why?

• Etsy is your discovery engine (like a farmer’s market)

• Your site becomes your brand’s home (like a permanent shop)

Start small: Set up a basic site and direct repeat customers there. Use Etsy to grow your audience, and your site to deepen those relationships.

🧵 Final thought

You don’t have to choose either/or. Think of Etsy and your own store as partners, not competitors. Etsy gets people in the door. Your own site gives them a reason to stay.

Have a question? 🤔 Hit reply and ask, we might feature your question here in next week’s issue.

🧵 First Sale? Nope, It’s a Scam, How to Spot the Red Flags

Next a topic we constantly see catching new sellers off guard: scammers. 😠

Starting your Etsy shop should feel exciting, like you're finally putting your creative work out into the world. But for many new sellers, the first message they get isn’t a sale… it’s a scam. 👀

Scammers are getting bolder and more sophisticated, and right now they’re targeting newer shops who might not recognize the red flags. From fake support emails to shady “buyers,” it’s easy to get caught off guard.

🧵 Why It Matters

New sellers are especially vulnerable because everything feels new, new platform, new policies, new pressure to “do things right.” That confusion is exactly what scammers count on. One bad click can cost you money, access to your shop, or your personal info.

🛠️ What You Can Do

• ✅ Trust your gut
  If a message feels off, it probably is. Watch for bad grammar, urgent language, or requests to move off Etsy. Real buyers don’t need you to “verify your shop” or “confirm shipping” outside of Etsy.

• ✅ Ignore fake support messages
  Etsy never asks you to click links in random messages to fix issues. Go straight to your Shop Manager or help.etsy.com to check your account status.

• ✅ Use two-factor authentication
  It’s a simple way to keep your login extra secure, especially if a scammer gets hold of your email or password.

• ✅ Don’t click sketchy links
  Whether it's a fake influencer, a "collab offer," or someone asking to send you a file, don’t download anything unless you’re 100% sure it’s legit.

• ✅ Connect with the community
  Other sellers are often the first to spot new scams. Forums Social Media, and Facebook groups are great for gut-checking anything suspicious.

💬 Bottom Line

You worked hard to start your shop, don’t let a scam knock you off track. A little skepticism and a few safety steps go a long way toward protecting your business and your peace of mind. 💛🔒

🗞️ From the Blog