Etsy, the popular online marketplace for handmade and vintage goods, has seen a wave of protests and strikes by its sellers. Thousands of Etsy sellers worldwide have gone on strike in recent weeks to express their dissatisfaction with changes in the platform’s policies.

So, what triggered such an upheaval among the sellers who have come to rely on Etsy as a vital source of income?

It all began when Etsy announced that it was changing its checkout process to allow for more direct payments between buyers and sellers on the site. The move was intended to streamline the checkout process and has been hailed as a necessary step to compete with other e-commerce giants like Amazon.

However, in doing so, Etsy began charging its sellers a transaction fee of 5%, which is in addition to the existing fees sellers pay for listings and advertising. This new fee structure has received a lot of criticism, as many sellers have noticed a dip in their profits and an increase in overall costs.

Another reason for the protests is Etsy’s decision to prioritize shipping times in search results. Sellers who fulfill orders quickly and efficiently are given preference in search results, while those who may take longer to produce their goods are lost in the shuffle. This puts undue pressure on sellers, who are often small businesses operating on a tight budget and limited resources.

The Etsy sellers who have gone on strike are hoping to bring attention to these issues and force the platform to listen to their concerns. They believe that the fee changes and preference towards fast shipping times are hurting the Etsy community and making it harder for small businesses to succeed.

Many sellers also feel that Etsy has strayed from its original mission of supporting artists and artisans. The platform was once beloved for its focus on handmade goods and its commitment to supporting small businesses. However, as it has grown, it has increasingly prioritized revenue over community, leading some sellers to feel that they have been left behind.

The strike has taken many forms, from sellers suspending their shops for a day to others removing all their items from the site for weeks or even indefinitely. Some sellers have also taken to social media, using hashtags like #etsyshopstrike and #stillwithEtsy to raise awareness of their cause.