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Post by Mini Mia on Jul 22, 2020 22:27:21 GMT -6
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Post by Phalon on Jan 10, 2022 7:38:25 GMT -6
I did it on a whim, much like I do a lot of stuff - no research, no understanding of what was involved, no idea of how to do it, or how much time it would take.
Early December, I was looking on Etsy for a Christmas gift for my boss. I never found what I had in mind, but saw lots of other stuff that I thought was cool. I can do that, I thought. I decided I'd open up shop on Etsy by January 1st.
I was a day late, but within a week I made my first two sales!
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Post by Mini Mia on Jan 13, 2022 1:31:22 GMT -6
That's probably the best way to do it. Instead of overthinking it and never getting around to doing it. Have you checked out Fiverr?
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Post by Phalon on Jan 15, 2022 6:38:15 GMT -6
I hadn't heard of Fiverr, and the link makes you sign up to even check out the website. I looked it up in a drill though, and am not sure I'm understanding what it is or what it does - a freelance gig site for digital stuff?
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Etsy.com
Jan 15, 2022 16:26:16 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by Mini Mia on Jan 15, 2022 16:26:16 GMT -6
I’m not a member of Fiverr, but some of the YouTube channels I follow for passive income information are. They show the website on their videos sometimes, and share useful info on how to make money on there. I think it’s mostly digital, but I think I’ve seen some physical items being sold on there as well. It’s strange that the website won’t give anyone a peek into their business. I’d think a peek would be beneficial to getting more members. You can do a search on YouTube, and the channels sharing passive income information there will have in-depth videos on the website. They could tell you more than I can. I’ll post videos when I’m on the laptop. (There may already be some in threads here. I have several Passive Income threads.)
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Post by Mini Mia on Jan 15, 2022 22:03:06 GMT -6
I bumped up three passive income threads with Fiverr search links. Although we're not good at keeping a thread on track, I thought I'd move the topic to different threads.
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Post by Phalon on Jan 19, 2022 8:21:35 GMT -6
Checking it out, Fiverr isn't for me. Selling on Etsy for me isn't a money-making endeavor really - it's just a fun craft/hobby thing to do in the winter when the nursery is closed. I hope to have enough stuff listed by the time the nursery reopens in spring, to ride through the summer without restocking anything. We'll see.
I sold three more items last week, and still trying to figure stuff out - mainly shipping costs. It's just like when I used to sell stuff on eBay years ago - I lose money on mailings. I honestly don't get it - how can something weigh less than the listed weight, and cost more to mail?
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Etsy.com
Jan 21, 2022 5:57:22 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by Mini Mia on Jan 21, 2022 5:57:22 GMT -6
I thought they had it set up so you could add in the S&H once you found out what it was? Maybe hike up the price a little?
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Post by Phalon on Jan 22, 2022 9:03:57 GMT -6
Hhmmm, I'm not sure - I don't think so, because when someone buys an item, they pay for it at that time, shipping and any taxes included. This is unlike eBay; when something goes to the highest bidder, it's up to the seller to request payment if they don't pay immediately - it was frankly at times, a pain in the @ss to collect payment.
I dunno - right now, it's just small items I'm selling (I sold three more this week), so what I'm losing in shipping isn't much. I still don't get it though - if someone is paying shipping based on the size and weight of a package, how can it cost more to mail if the actual weight is less than the calculated weight?
When I start making larger items, I think I'll raise the price a little over the cost that I have in mind.
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Post by Mini Mia on Jan 22, 2022 23:11:08 GMT -6
I think the increase would work. But, could you find out the S&H price before putting the item on Etsy?
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Post by Mini Mia on Jan 22, 2022 23:11:15 GMT -6
LONG TERM MENTALITY For Selling Digital Files
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Post by Mini Mia on Jan 22, 2022 23:31:06 GMT -6
WHAT I WOULD DO if I were going to start an Etsy Digital Products Business in 2022 💵 (STEP BY STEP)
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Post by Mini Mia on Jan 27, 2022 23:15:40 GMT -6
WARNING: Contains Graphic Images
How to Sell Digital Downloads on Etsy (2022)
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Post by Phalon on Feb 4, 2022 8:44:12 GMT -6
A month into my Etsy endeavor, still learning as I go, and I ran into a bit of a snag.
I sold 10 items in January. Throughout the month, money from sales was regularly deposited into my banking account, which is nice. Listing fees and Etsy's commission are taken out before the deposit, so no worries there.
The Snag: Again, it has to do with shipping. A buyer paid for First Class shipping, which is supposed to arrive between 3 and 5 business days. It's been three weeks, and nothing! I've been checking the tracking on the package, and it basically stops once it left the post office here; it does not show it ever even arrived at the Grand Rapids sorting destination, which is the first place everything goes once it leaves our post office. The only other entry is "package arriving late" and that was posted on January 24th.
I messaged the buyer this week, and told her I'd refund the shipping cost, and if the package didn't arrive by this coming Monday, I'd issue a total refund. I'm pretty sure it's lost in the mail, probably in a snowbank somewhere.
And February's "Finances" show a negative balance. Hopefully, I'll have some sales this month to cover the refund.
The Learning Part: Should there be refunds, try to coordinate them before the last deposit of the month. That way you're not left with a balance due for the following month.
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Etsy.com
Feb 4, 2022 13:42:48 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by Mini Mia on Feb 4, 2022 13:42:48 GMT -6
Maybe there aren’t enough truck drivers to get the mail out? Sometimes my UPS & FedEx tracking are different from my USPS tracking. I’ll either get it sooner, or later than one or both say. I’ve had tracking claim a package was moving back and forth between two places, and when I called the post office, they said it was in a storage unit at the St. Louis post office. They didn’t know how long it would remain there.
I’ve called a couple of times on such information on packages, and gotten the same reply. It’s in a storage unit until they get to it. Sometimes it took a while to get. The holidays is usually the culprit. Too many packages, and not enough workers/trucks to get them out on time. I’ve even had packages put on the wrong truck, and then had to be rerouted back to the location that screwed up the first time. Hopefully they will get their package soon.
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Post by Phalon on Feb 5, 2022 8:12:58 GMT -6
Yeah, it could be anything - winter weather, trucking issues, lost forevermore - who knows. I'll check at the post office Monday (I sold another item this morning to I have to go there anyway) to see if their tracking shows anything different than it being in limbo somewhere. I'm betting it's lost, because it should at least show it arrived at the sorting facility in Grand Rapids after departing here.
I don't think tracking at the post office would show anything different than what I can pull up with the tracking number, but it's worth asking before I issue a refund. I remember, I think it was the Christmas before last, that I received an e-mail from either an Etsy or an Amazon seller apologizing for a late package, (I can't remember if they were going to refund it or not) when I'd already received the package long before I'd got the message saying it'd be late.
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Post by Mini Mia on Feb 5, 2022 20:02:51 GMT -6
The ice/snow storm that came through probably isn't helping it.
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Post by Mini Mia on Feb 5, 2022 20:03:36 GMT -6
Selling Digital Products On Etsy Etsy Digital Products How To Sell Digital Products On Etsy
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Post by Phalon on May 18, 2022 4:33:39 GMT -6
Esty update after four and a half months in: Sold a few things in February, and a few in March - enough to cover the refund of the lost package, buy some supplies, and still make a profit. April exploded with 18 sales. Five sales so far for May. Based on what I've read in forums, that's pretty good for a new shop - a lot of people don't get any sales for months when they first open, even with Etsy advertising and social media. I don't use either - you have to pay for Etsy advertising, and I don't use social media, even for personal use.
I'm pretty content right now with the number of sales. Actually, I'm having a hard time, with work at the nursery as busy as it is, finding spare time to make and list new stuff. I've got a lot of stuff started, but not complete yet - and more ideas keep popping into my head, without time to act on them.
Oh - and that package that was lost in the mail in January, is still lost in the mail.
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Post by Mini Mia on May 19, 2022 19:21:16 GMT -6
Would you quit your nursery job if Etsy matched or exceeded that income? And do you think you could get that amount over the next few months if you could spend full time at it?
Have you thought of including Amazon &/or Facebook Marketplace as selling options?
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Post by Phalon on May 24, 2022 4:49:30 GMT -6
OMG, no and no. What I'm selling is only around $10 - $20; it'd be impossible for what I make on Etsy to match my pay at the nursery, even if I did Etsy full time or expanded to Amazon or Facebook. It's just a hobby.
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