Etsy Sellers for a Fair Etsy Global Marketplace

The Issue

Etsy is a global handmade marketplace where people around the world connect to make, sell and buy unique goods. Both sellers and buyers love that Etsy brings the world together for a unique, handmade shopping experience. On October 16th Etsy announced new local shopping experience in UK and Australia by giving preference to local sellers in Etsy search results. Etsy sellers all over the world are feeling the impact in sales and views from this new search algorithm change. It is also clear that Etsy has been testing this new search algorithm in other regions as well, and we fear this could be implemented globally in the future.

While we agree that we would like more local exposure, we feel that ultimately shoppers should have the right to make their own choices regarding their shopping experience. This could be improved by adding a localized search option button on the search bar rather than manipulating the sellers and buyers into buying and selling locally.

We call on Etsy to remove the new local search preference algorithm and make Etsy once again a fair global marketplace. 

 

avatar of the starter
Karolina KrokosPetition Starter
Media enquiries
This petition had 5,712 supporters

The Issue

Etsy is a global handmade marketplace where people around the world connect to make, sell and buy unique goods. Both sellers and buyers love that Etsy brings the world together for a unique, handmade shopping experience. On October 16th Etsy announced new local shopping experience in UK and Australia by giving preference to local sellers in Etsy search results. Etsy sellers all over the world are feeling the impact in sales and views from this new search algorithm change. It is also clear that Etsy has been testing this new search algorithm in other regions as well, and we fear this could be implemented globally in the future.

While we agree that we would like more local exposure, we feel that ultimately shoppers should have the right to make their own choices regarding their shopping experience. This could be improved by adding a localized search option button on the search bar rather than manipulating the sellers and buyers into buying and selling locally.

We call on Etsy to remove the new local search preference algorithm and make Etsy once again a fair global marketplace. 

 

avatar of the starter
Karolina KrokosPetition Starter
Media enquiries

The Decision Makers

Etsy
Etsy
Responded
“From our earliest days, Etsy has been a global marketplace connecting buyers and sellers around the world. Etsy provides buyers with access to the work of artists and collectors from far away places. We’ve heard from many sellers that having customers from other countries gives you a unique thrill and helps drive your sales. We have no plans to change the global nature of Etsy. Products that ship to a country will always be available to buyers in that country – no matter where they’re shipped from. We also believe that it takes more than simply making products available to build a people-centered marketplace around the world. The change that we made to search in the United Kingdom and Australia made some items from shops based in those countries easier to find in search. We often hear from buyers outside of the US that they prefer items from their own countries due to factors such as lower shipping costs and customs fees. We are making it easier for buyers to find items from shops in their home countries. We’re happy to report that since we’ve made this change, we’ve seen buyers in the UK and Australia buying more, making for a positive experience for buyers and sellers in those markets. Helping buyers have a better experience ultimately helps sellers be more successful. We know that our announcement created concern for some of our sellers. We’re committed to building local marketplaces globally. With search, we want to help buyers find the right items, but we also want to support the long-term health of the marketplace. Some sellers have asked why we made this change if location filters are already available to narrow search results. We have found that very few members used location filters because they weren’t familiar with the functionality. In the future, we may test improvements to this functionality. We are not currently testing this search algorithm in other markets. Here are some steps you can take to benefit from this adjustment to search: + Learn more about the types of shops we feature on Editors’ Picks: www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/introducing-etsy-editors-picks... + Be sure to set your profile location: www.etsy.com/help/article/67 Set up a shipping profile to indicate where your items ship from: www.etsy.com/help/article/190 + If you’re participating as a seller in an local market, add the event to Etsy Local, or join the event if it already exists. Get more information about improvements to Etsy Local in the Seller Handbook: www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/improvements-to-etsy-local/245… You can read more about our global strategy here: https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/supporting-etsys-global-marketplace/34461594427 Sincerely, Nicole Vanderbilt Etsy VP, International”

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Petition created on 21 October 2015