Seller Handbook

We know that every Etsy seller has their own unique approach to pricing their items. Some of you have told us you need more flexible pricing options. That’s why in addition to features you might already use like thank you offers and promo codes, we’re working on an optional tool that’ll allow you to receive price offers on your listings. Make an Offer will give you more flexibility on how you price your items and move inventory so you can grow your shop on your own terms. This tool is only available to sellers who have their shop currency set to USD for now. You can manage your Make an Offer listings in the Marketing tab, under Sales & Discounts. Read on to learn more.

How it works

Select which listings to include

We know it's important to be able to customize your pricing and discounting strategy. You can pick and choose which listings you'd like to allow offers on, and have the flexibility to decide when is the best time to allow offers on your listings. You’ll also have the option to allow offers on all of your active listings.

Set the maximum discount you’ll consider

Next you’ll set the maximum discount you’ll consider so you don’t have to sort through lowball offers. Discounts can be 20, 30, or 40% off your list price. Wondering how your maximum discount will work? Let's say you have a $100 listing and you choose a maximum discount of 20% off. If a buyer submits an offer below $80, we’ll let them know their offer is too low and you won’t be notified (so you don’t have to waste time on offers you wouldn’t accept).

You’ll also have the option to “Receive all offers”—choose this option if you want to be notified of every offer you receive, no matter the price. Seeing all the offers you receive may give you more info about shoppers’ price expectations—helping you shape your pricing strategy.

Receive and review offers

Buyers will see a “Make an offer” button on the listings you choose to include. If a buyer is interested in an item and wants to discuss the price, they can submit an offer. Buyers can also request a specific quantity of items if they’re trying to purchase in bulk.

You’ll receive offers through Etsy’s Messages tool. If you want to accept a buyer’s offer, just follow the prompts to send an adjusted price to the buyer. Then they can continue to checkout right from the message. The adjusted price is only valid for 48 hours and can only be used by that customer and on that specific listing. If buyers have other targeted offers or promotion codes for the listing, only the offer with the highest discount will apply at checkout—with the exception of free shipping coupons, which can be used in conjunction with other offers.

You also have the option to discuss pricing further with the customer via Messages. Once you reach an agreement, you can send them an adjusted price for that amount.

Tried it out and it wasn’t for you? That’s OK!

You can opt listings in and out of Make an Offer as it works for your shop. Want to clear out inventory or introduce a new product line? You can decide when is the best time to enable offers for your listings.

4 reasons to consider allowing offers

• Clear out stale inventory: Need some shelf space? Allowing offers on older items could help you create room for new inventory.
• Encourage shoppers to buy in bulk: Review shoppers’ offers based on the quantity of your items that they’re purchasing.
• Make sales you might have missed: Sellers who’ve tested this tool have seen that most accepted offers are purchased in under three hours. Allowing buyers to make offers could help you make the sale quickly!
• Test your pricing: Have a unique item that’s hard to price? Find your sweet spot with your shoppers while still setting your maximum discount.

What’s next

We want to hear from you!. Let us know your thoughts and ideas by filling out this quick survey.

While Make an Offer is currently only available to sellers who have their shop currency set to USD, we’ll be sure to let you know once we expand this tool to more sellers.

Got questions? We’ve got answers.

How do I accept offers?

Just follow the steps outlined above. A quick heads up: Because this is a work in progress, this feature isn’t currently available in the Etsy seller app. For now, if you want to turn it on, you’ll need to log in to Shop Manager in a browser on your desktop or mobile device.

Can any buyer make an offer?

Buyers who have their currency set to USD will be able to submit offers on enabled listings. However, because we’re still testing the feature to get it just right, not all buyers will see the “Make an Offer” button on all enabled listings.

Can I edit which listings are included after opting in?

Yes! You can pick and choose which listings you'd like to receive offers on. You can also decide when is the right time to allow offers on your listings so you can use the tool when you see fit. We recognize that it’s important to be able to adjust your discounting and pricing strategy for your listings over time.

Is the buyer’s offer binding?

No, buyers’ offers aren’t binding. If you send the buyer an adjusted price, they have 48 hours to check out at the price, unless the item sells first. Buyers can choose not to check out after you send them an adjusted price. Other buyers will be able to make offers on that listing or purchase it at the original price—the deal isn’t complete until the buyer checks out! We know your time is valuable and are working on ways to make sure buyers respond to your adjusted price quickly.

How does Make an Offer interact with other sales and discounts in my shop?

If a listing has multiple active offers, only the offer with the highest discount will apply at checkout - with the exception of free shipping coupons, which can be used in conjunction with other offers.

What happens if I change the price of my item once I am in the process of negotiating with a buyer?

We strongly recommend not changing the original price of your item while you're actively negotiating with buyers. When you change the original price of your item while an offer is open, the original offer will be void and the buyer will need to resubmit an offer.

Do offer messages affect my Star Seller response rate?

No, although you’ll receive offers via Etsy’s Messages tool, those messages don’t count toward your Star Seller response rate. We still recommend responding to offers quickly, so interested shoppers can complete their purchase ASAP.

Can buyers return items they make an offer on?

Whether or not an item can be returned or exchanged is determined by your return policy for that listing. If buyers make a purchase after receiving an adjusted price, your return policy for that listing still applies. Learn more about setting your return policy here.

If a buyer makes a purchase after agreeing to a final price, does that order qualify for Etsy Purchase Protection?

Yes, but in order to be eligible for Etsy Purchase Protection orders must meet the usual eligibility requirements.