Etsy’s purchase protection program, introduced June 2022, has been benefitting sellers whose orders are typically under $250. If there’s a problem, Etsy will generally reimburse the buyer automatically, out of Etsy’s own funds, meaning the seller gets to keep payment.
But for orders over $250, or that don’t meet a list of qualifications, sellers report that Etsy is automatically issuing refunds out of their own pockets. We’ve seen cases where orders are marked as delivered (sometimes even with pictures), but if the buyer claims non-delivery or postal delay, Etsy auto-refunds.
We are researching potential options to fight this policy collectively, and help affected sellers recover lost funds. Please submit your information via this form to join our fight.
Who are we?
We are the Indie Sellers Guild, a grassroots nonprofit by indie sellers, for indie sellers. We promote the interests of online sellers of handmade, unique, vintage and craft goods all over the world. The information you submit in this form will be shared with our small team of volunteers working on this project, and with legal counsel. We will use the email address you provide here to contact you about this issue, and only this issue. We will not sell your information or use it in any other way.
Having said that, we hope you will choose to stick around! As a seller member of the ISG, you’ll have full voting rights, a listing in our membership directory, access to a worldwide community of online sellers, and, most importantly, the ability to unite and make a positive difference. Together we can have a voice to challenge the executives whose decisions impact our lives. Membership is free in our volunteer-powered union. Join us!
Spread the word
We could use your help getting the word out about this issue. We hope to reach (and help) every Etsy seller who has been burned by Etsy’s seller protection policy. Please download and share the following images on the social media of your choice!
Here is our copy-paste blurb you can use to explain the situation in full:
Etsy's purchase protection program, introduced June 2022, has been benefitting sellers whose orders are typically under $250. If there’s a problem, Etsy will generally reimburse the buyer automatically, out of Etsy’s own funds, meaning the seller gets to keep payment. But for orders over $250, or that don’t meet a list of qualifications, sellers report that Etsy is automatically issuing refunds out of their own pockets. There are cases where orders are marked as delivered (sometimes even with pictures), but if the buyer claims non-delivery or postal delay, Etsy auto-refunds. A nonprofit organization called the Indie Sellers Guild is researching potential options to fight this policy, and help affected sellers recover lost funds. Have you been burned by Etsy Purchase Protection? Visit this link to tell your story, and join the fight: https://indiesellersguild.org/etsyforcedrefunds
Or here’s a shorter, punchier option:
Is Etsy's Purchase Protection Policy really a Forced Refunds Policy? Sellers report that Etsy is refunding buyers out of their own pockets - not giving them time to respond to cases, and not requiring that the buyer actually ship the item back before getting a refund. Did this happen to you? Submit a report here:
https://indiesellersguild.org/etsyforcedrefunds