Chapter 5
Sell Yes: Understanding What You Can and Can’t Sell on Etsy
IN THIS CHAPTER
Figuring out what you can sell on Etsy
Identifying what items Etsy doesn’t allow
Understanding the consequences of selling prohibited items
Reporting prohibited items
An aimless turn through the Etsy Marketplace can reveal such a bizarre array of items — hand-painted capybara earrings, a pen holder shaped like the human intestinal tract, a “microbes” cross-stitch pattern, PEEPS-shaped soap, and so on— that one might reasonably believe it’s possible to buy literally anything on the site. Actually, though, Etsy allows the sale of only certain types of items. This chapter outlines what you’re allowed to sell on Etsy and what’s strictly verboten.
Yes, We Can! Figuring Out What You Can Sell on Etsy
In a nutshell, you can sell three types of items on Etsy:
- Items you made or designed yourself
- Vintage goods (20 years or older)
- Supplies for crafting
The following sections describe these three categories in detail and address questions you may have about them.
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