In case you are unaware, Etsy sellers will be going on strike beginning today, April 11th, to April 18th. In February, the CEO of Etsy, an e-commerce company allowing people to sell their products online, usually handmade and unique items you cannot get anywhere else, announced that transaction fees would be increasing from 5 percent to 6.5 percent in April. Although the CEO Josh Silverman shared the good news that sales revenues were as high as they have always been, he would be increasing the fees by 30 percent. Now, many Etsy sellers are striking and boycotting the company, as they believe that the charges from Etsy are harming sellers more than anything. So now, many sellers will be putting their company on vacation mode, meaning that they would not be selling anything, hoping to send a message to Etsy.
You can join the effort both as a maker and a buyer! If you want to learn more and sign a petition asking Etsy to cancel the fee increase, please visit https://t.co/QYzkOiGbDs (2/2)
Share the word and don't cross the picket line!! #EtsyStrike pic.twitter.com/0twGGTuIhA
— Kittygorian ???? San Japan ✨???? (@Kittygorian) April 7, 2022
Not only are Etsy sellers striking, but they are also asking buyers to boycott as well and not buy from sellers who are not striking, hoping to send the message to Etsy even further. A campaign asking Silverman to cancel the fee increase has also been set up, with over 15,000 signatures. Although the strike is important, many also noted that it was important for community purposes. Since many work with Etsy alone, as they create their own products and sell them independently, this sense of community became very important.
How Twitter reacted
Online, especially with this idea of added community, the strike from Etsy workers became discussed online, causing #EtsyStrike to trend online. Many began to share what they are receiving in fees to show those who are not sellers what fees might look like, indicating why an increase in fees could be detrimental to some sellers. One seller on Twitter felt like she was being used as a small business, writing that her $60 sell meant that she had 16 dollars in fees. An increase in fees may mean someone has to increase their prices to buyers, which could decrease sells on their side.
okay. just made a $60 sale on etsy and will be receiving (drum roll) $16 after various fees. this is fucking bullshit nonsense. they're abusing small businesses and independent artists to make millions.
who's got experience switching selling platforms? I'm abandoning etsy asap
— dirtsquirrei.bsky.social (@dirtsquirreI) March 26, 2022
For those interested in helping, many Etsy sellers were encouraging people to not cross the picket line, which means that people should not buy from Etsy this week. Not only this, people encouraged others to spread the word online, as strikes work the best when more people are aware. Many also said that spreading the news means that media companies would pick up on this sentiment and hopefully continue to ask Etsy for a statement, which could mean bad press.
Please get #EtsyStrike trending this week by saying you stand in solitary with sellers, signing and sharing the petition, etc.
The more media outlets who press Etsy for a statement, the more bad press they get – that's more likley to make change than the seller strike itself.
— HAJiME (@saiyanhajime) April 11, 2022
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Many are hopeful that since the strike began to pick up and trend on Twitter, especially since it is only the first day of the strike and already picking up attention online. The strike continues for the rest of the week, and many are hopeful that by the end of the week, sellers will have answers about the fee increase and if it will be canceled.
