Etsy Return Policy

Last Updated on January 16, 2022 by Laura Ritterman

Throughout the last decade or so, small businesses and creators have found massive success selling their wares to people on Etsy. The awesome site allows customers to find custom products tailored to their exact specifications, and also gives smaller creators the chance to gain exposure and customers more easily than other traditional methods.

Many people who shop on Etsy, however, wonder about their return policy. Since many items are custom made or one of a kind, can you even return them? In this article we explore the ins and outs of Etsy’s return policy as well as many of the most commonly asked questions about the Etsy return process.

What Is Etsy Return Policy?

When it comes to returns, Etsy is unique in the sense that the website itself doesn’t have a blanket return policy. Each seller is in charge or their own orders, including making decisions regarding cancellations, refunds, and returns.

Etsy makes a note that they do not require their sellers to accept returns, exchanges, or even give refunds unless their shop policy explicitly states that they do/have to.

If you want to find the shop policy for a specific store in question, you can find it on the shop’s homepage toward the bottom of the page.

How To Return My Etsy Products

If you receive an Etsy product that you’re not happy with, the first thing to do is go to the Etsy store where you bought it and read the shop’s policy on returns/refunds.

If you can’t find any information or if they state that they accept refunds/returns, you should then reach out to the seller in a message and explain your issue with the product (in a polite way), and ask about the return process specifics.

Etsy suggests discussing the following topics in a message before you send the item back:

• Where to send the item you are returning
• The time frame that the seller feels is appropriate to return the item in
• Who will pay for shipping costs to return the item
• What is the best shipping method to use to return the item

If The Seller Won’t Accept Returns

In many cases, if the seller won’t accept returns you may be out of luck. However, you can always open a case with Etsy to dispute the seller’s stance on returns. This is the best course of action if you never received your order or if the item your received was different than what was described at the time of purchase.

How Strict Is The Etsy Return Policy?

The policies are dependent upon the seller in question, so there is no one size fits all answer to this query.

Etsy Exchange Policy

The Etsy exchange policy varies from seller to seller. Some sellers may not agree to exchanges, and some may be perfectly fine with this.

Etsy Refund Policy

Since each shop owner can set their own policies, their refund policies will vary depending on which shop you purchased an item from and also your reason for the return/refund.

Does Etsy Accept Returns After 30 Days?

This depends on the personal policy of the seller from whom you purchased the item. Some stores don’t accept any returns, some will only accept them within one week, and some will allow for returns whenever.

Does Etsy Have Free Returns?

If the seller from whom you purchased your item accepts returns, you will have to reach an agreement with them regarding return fees. It is possible that they will cover the fees but it is equally possible that you will have to.

See Also: Does Best Buy Have a Return Policy?

Who Pays For Returns On Etsy?

Typically the buyer is the one who pays to return an item on Etsy, but this is always a case by case basis.

How Long Do Etsy Refunds Take?

If your seller allows for returns and refunds, it will usually take around 2-5 business days for your refund to appear on your bank statement. Etsy notes that some card providers cause longer delay periods so it really depends on your card. If you live outside of the U.S. it usually takes as many as 30 days to see your refund.

Can I Return Etsy Products After Use?

Some sellers will not have a problem with this, but some will not accept returns if you have used their products. Naturally this also depends on the product in question. Each seller has the right to set their own policies, so you will have to reach out to your seller specifically to find out the answer to this.

See Also: Amazon Return Policy

In Conclusion

Etsy return policies are many and varied, and each is set by the individual seller in question. If you would like to initiate a return on Etsy, reach out to your seller to begin the conversation.