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Sellers lamented the introduction of complicated fee structures and were increasingly burdened by new policies that felt unfair. Many long-term users saw the essence of Etsy diluting, which led to widespread dissatisfaction and protests, including a notable boycott in early 2022 against the fee hike.
New Policies and Seller Discontent
A significant source of frustration among sellers is Etsy's controversial free shipping policy. Since 2019, sellers have been encouraged to offer free shipping on orders over $35, but as shipping and inflation costs have risen over the years, this policy has created further financial strain on small businesses. Many sellers report losing significant profit margins due to rising shipping costs and the lack of flexibility in the shipping policies.