Part 3/9:

The Profit-Driven Shift

The transition to a publicly traded company marked a pivotal moment in Etsy’s history. With the change came a slew of policies that felt less supportive of small makers and more aligned with corporate greed. Transaction fees rose from 5% to 6.5%, with hidden charges—like credit card processing fees and relisting fees—offering little transparency for sellers. On top of this, Etsy began aggressively marketing its platform, often to the detriment of independent crafters who started to feel squeezed by increasing costs.